Page 231 of Phoenix's Fire

"Okay," he relented. "I will make you a deal. Because we are friends, Ayla, and because you asked, I will letyoukissme. But it's just practice, okay?"

"How?" I asked, leaning closer so I could see him better.

He moved his hands to my waist, making sure I was stable. "You lean in, press your lips to mine, and then you part your mouth a bit. When mine opens, you can use your tongue."

I giggled. "I feel stupid asking."

"It's easier to learn by trying," he admitted. "But! I am going to put my hands right here," he said, pulling one out of the water and resting it on the rocks, then the other. "So you have to do this, and I will not force myself on you, okay? But you can try all you want."

I grabbed his shoulder and pulled myself a little closer in the water. "I'm nervous."

"You don't have to do it," he pointed out.

"But I want to. I'm just scared I'll do it wrong."

"I will tell you if you do."

I moved my other hand to the side of his face. "Ready?"

"Mhm."

So I leaned in. Halfway there, my eyes slipped closed, and then I felt his lips. They were warm, and when I pressed my mouth against his, I felt him open. The problem was, I didn't know what came next, but Rymar leaned in just a bit and his tongue met mine.

Slowly, he kissed me, showing me how it was done, and I followed. With no one watching and no reason not to, I leaned in a little more until my body was crushed against his. My hand slid deeper into his hair, holding his mouth against mine. My other hand moved down his chest, feeling all those muscles under my palm.

And our mouths moved.

Feeling brave, I explored him, tasting the fruit of the wine and shifting my body to give me more access. Again, then again, I slid my mouth over his, finding the rhythm, but I wanted more. I wanted to be closer, to feel his arms around me. My hips pressed in, and something was there.

Rymar gently lifted his mouth from mine. "Ayla, that," he whispered, "is not my tail."

I sucked in a breath and jerked back. "It's your…" I swallowed. "Oh."

A hand shot out to catch me by the waist. "Stop squirming and you’re fine," he promised, pulling me back up against him. "I'm not going to do anything,Ayla. I swear. You're drunk, and I'm not some kind of predatory fucking asshole."

I nodded, accepting that. Rymar had never hurt me. Instead, I traced the splotches of color down his neck, smiling at how they overlapped. His arm was wrapped around my waist, holding me up, but he kept a handspan of water between our bodies. When I realized he was watching me, I looked up, unable to focus completely on his face.

"It's pretty."

"You're pretty. Those are just scales." His eyes darted across my face. "Why do you always trust me, Ayla?"

I giggled. "Because you're kind and caring. You're my friend, and you never make me feel stupid when I don't know things. You're nice, Rymar, and I didn't think men could be that way." I pushed closer to him so this time, I would be the one whispering in his ear. "And men aren't horrible and ugly without clothes."

His fingers tightened on my skin, the tips of his nails just barely poking me. "Maybe they were right to keep you Mole girls locked up after all." But he said it with a devious smile.

I pushed away from him with a playful huff, making for the bottles he'd set on the rock. "Why?"

He smiled, then turned, shifting behind me just as I reached the edge. When I stretched for the bottle, he grabbed my waist and lifted, giving me that extra inch. I felt my chest break the surface, but he was behind me, so I decided it was okay. I grabbed one bottle, and he held me there easily.

"Get both, because I need some too."

"Okay." I grabbed a bottle in each hand, and he lowered me again. "I don't think you're drunk," I informed him.

His grin said I was right. "Not quite," he admitted as he reached for his bottle. "I'm also not entirely sober."

So I tapped his chest again. "Why do they keep us locked up, Rymar?"

He took a big drink, emptying the last of his wine. Tossing the bottle towards the blanket, he stepped closer to me. "Did you read any stories about dragons in those caves?"