Page 110 of The Gathering

“Will you come to my beach?” he whispered.

“Highly doubt my sister will let me go anywhere near your beach after yesterday,” she bantered.

He pulled back, smiling softly. “Perhaps I'll come back for you... Declare war against your kingdom once I've taken you as my captive—”

He grabbed her legs beneath her backside and lifted her off the ground, causing a soft yip to emit from her lips as she grasped her arms around his head. She laughed when he buried his head between her breasts.

“Okay, okay, put me down,” she laughed. “Nadir!”

She was met with a wide grin on his face when her feet hit the floor, and her chest swelled at the sight of it. Her hand pushed to his cheek, his own wrapping around it as he kissed her palm.

“How are you doing this to me, Commander?” she whispered.

“I could ask you the same,” he breathed.

The warmth of his lips spread over her extremities, and after a moment, she found herself simply wrapped into him, her head buried in his chest as he hugged her close.

“You should get your things packed,” she whispered.

“Another minute,” he said softly.

She pushed her arms into a navy blue day dress when he finally let her go, tying half her hair up and placing her tiara on her head. Nadir walked her out the bedroom and down the hall, holding her hand the entire time, only stopping when they’d reached the room his things had been left in. She insisted she should go on down to the gates, and that her sister would be waiting on her. He'd swept her off the ground one last time, her heart hurting when he gave her a final kiss.

Her hands burned with the last of his touch, and she wasn’t sure why her heart hurt so much.

Dorian met her in the next hall, a grin spread over his features upon seeing her. He shoved his hands in his pockets and waited on her to reach him.

“Don’t start,” she warned, pointing a finger at him.

“I said nothing,” he mocked.

“You were thinking it,” she said as she brushed past him.

“What—that you’re looking very flushed and yet briskly satisfied this morn—ow!”

She’d punched his rib, glaring up at his stupid face. But it didn’t deter the grin from appearing on his features. He chuckled under his breath and shook his head as they walked the hall, a quietness lingering between them. She knew he was itching to ask whatever it was he wanted.

“Oh, spit it out,” she muttered. “I know you want details.”

“You like him then?” he asked finally.

Nyssa fumbled with her hands, staring at the ground before them as they walked. “Ah… He’s quite funny.”

“I’m funny,” he mocked. “Doesn’t mean you’ll be sleeping with me.”

“That’s disgusting,” she argued. “It’s just… With him…”

Dorian frowned down at her. “What?”

Nyssa felt the heat creep up her cheeks. “No one’s ever made me feel as wanted as he did just in these two nights.”

“That’s fair,” Dorian agreed with a shrug. “Probably because he was risking his life to be with you.”

She smiled at the ground, warmth pulsing over her skin at the thought. “Sounds romantic when you put it like that.”

Dorian laughed quietly, and then he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “You’ve been chasing romance your entire life, wrapped up in Dreamers who cared nothing more about you than your beauty and title, Belwarks who you could toy with and put on their knees. At least Nadir is an honest man. That’s not saying I approve—” he added, brows raising at her.

She couldn’t help her chuckle. “As if you would approve of anyone,” she muttered. “You and Drae both. I’m keen to think the pair of you want me to find nothing more than unrequited lovers for the rest of my days.”