Page 40 of The Pactbound Angel (The Soul Mirror Duet #1)
Something he’d said needled me. “Wait. Settle for? Don’t you mean settle with ?”
He looked back into his pouch. His expression was blank, schooled. “No, because while the one you marry would be lucky, you will always be settling.”
My fingers fidgeted with the wineskin stopper. “Why’s that?”
He finally looked up at me. His teasing grin did not match his eyes, and I wasn’t sure which to believe. “Because I have my doubts that anyone is good enough for you.”
I played off my rising awareness with a nervous chuckle, then stoppered the wineskin with gratitude that my monthly was over.
"With that, I think I would like to break our half-week streak tonight if you'd allow.
I'm afraid the moment I saw you lounging I was rather done.
You are, unfortunately, quite beautiful. "
"As are you." He snapped his fingers. The lanterns went out, save a small flame where his thumb and finger met, and then we were somewhere far more private.
"I hope you'll forgive a bit of dramatic entrance.
I think I said last time that we'll be breaking another streak, this lesson should be less intense than the others.
More playful. As it has been a little while since our last lesson, I thought not jumping into the deep end was a wise course of action. "
With a laugh, I looked around to see if there were any hints regarding what he had in mind and didn’t see any. "I don't mind. You know, the theatrics used to scare me, but that was well before I knew you. Theatrics are for distracting others or to give a thrill. I think, for you, it's both."
"Both are usually most effective. I talked about exploring appetites. We'll be taking that literally." He moved to the large table, where a bowl of what looked like white fluff sat.
Damn, I missed that.
Wait…
“Whipped cream?”
“Yes. Do you like whipped cream?” He said as he made his way back over to me, bowl in hand.
“I do, on pies and pastries. I’m not sure why you have it, unless you’ve somehow installed a bakery between the library and bathing room. In which case, I should warn you that I hate rhubarb.”
He dipped his finger into the cream and, with a speed I didn’t know he was capable of, he put a tiny dollop on the tip of my nose. He grinned, and I couldn’t help but return it.
He leaned in and licked the dollop away.
A half-hearted swat of my hand accompanied my laugh. “Why did you do that?”
Ramiren did not answer. He dipped his finger in the cream again and this time, when he raised his hand, he slowly spread it over my bottom lip. Something told me not to lick it off.
He leaned in to kiss me. His tongue flicked out, taking half the cream away, before sucking the rest off as though savoring it.
He drew my lower lip in between his two, and I closed my eyes, lost in the sensation.
His tongue brushed against mine with a tentativeness that seemed uncharacteristic of him.
The sweetness of the cream mixed with his own taste, and I swallowed hard.
Oh.
My eyes opened to see him staring down at me. He reached up to take his glasses off, and my knees nearly gave out from the heat in his gaze, now revealed.
Ramiren rolled out of the bed, placing the empty cream bowl on the table.
"Exceptional. Not everything playful needs to be passive or soft, and your instinct on when to switch to something more intense, nearly aggressive, was good.
You show how much you want it, and we're both rewarded for the result.
" He turned back toward me. "I'll need to give some thought on the next lesson.
I didn't assume we'd spend only one on this topic. "
I stared up at the silk canopy above the bed, feeling dazed and sticky. "Take your time.” My head rolled on the pillow to look at him. "And thank you."
"You're welcome. We can rest here for a time. We don't need to depart until we wish. Again, no time at all will have passed when we return. There is no hurry. We're free of that specific pressure here."
With a slight chuckle, I turned to look upwards again. "I mean for your compliment. Calling me beautiful earlier. I've been told that before, but I’d never really heard it until now."
His smile softened. "I meant it. I've been surrounded by enough beauty in my life to recognize it, especially when I know the person, and not feel hesitant to be honest about what I see. There may be secrets I keep, but that isn't one of them."
Speaking of. Time for bravery.
When I rose to sit on the edge of the bed, I met his eyes.
"And my secret for the session. A small part of me is envious of every single woman you've ever touched.
" There was no feeling of shame, but I also didn’t feel proud either.
"It's not coming from a place of resentment.
Merely regret that those touches weren't mine. "
His jaw clenched as he remained silent for a long beat.
Is he angry with me?
But when he spoke, there was no anger, just understanding.
"I think that being able to recognize that feeling and confront it, even to the point of saying it aloud, takes a rare kind of strength.
I've been around for some time, but even I can find myself pleasantly surprised now and again.
Factoring in memories, I may need to consider re-evaluation of the spiced red wines of Kibel, at least placing them as equals with those from Pouroe. "
I tried to hide my relief in a deadpanned joke. "Do you, now? That’s utter insanity, Ramiren. Practically sacrilege." I shook my head at him, tsking a few times.
Collapsing back onto the soft mattress with a bounce, my voice turned pensive. "No matter the subject, whether religion, politics, or the innate evil nature of orcs, anything can bring about differences of opinion. However, I think everyone can agree that Camlite wine is complete shit."
Ramiren let out a barking laugh. He climbed onto the bed next to me and reached over to brush hair out of my face. “Yes, I believe all can agree on that.”