Page 69 of Winds of Darkness

“You misunderstand me,” Briar said, leaning imperceptibly closer. “Iwantto learn how to speak with you.”

“Why?”

He huffed a small laugh. “I can see I was not clear when I kissed you weeks ago. I want to learn everything there is to know about you, my dear. If you are amenable to that, please clarify what you were referring to when you asked if this was common practice.”

Ashtine was silent, mulling over his words before saying, “I find you both intriguing and perplexing, Briar Drayce.”

“And I only find you captivating, Ashtine Evermorn,” he replied, his thumb brushing along her bottom lip. “Now tell me.”

She nodded once, gathering her thoughts. “I simply wonder if it is common practice to wake next to someone and have a conversation.”

“That depends.”

She rolled towards him once again because no one had taken the time to learn how to speak with her, let alone try to explain social expectations to her. It was just understood she would be theWind Princess with her head in the clouds and whispered nuances in her ears.

“What are the qualifiers for such an interaction?”

“It is quite common to ask of another’s wellbeing, but in this case, I am a friend who is worried after finding you in such a state earlier today,” he answered.

She nodded slowly, processing that. “So if we were not friends, the interaction would have been different?”

“If we were not friends, it would have been inappropriate for me to sit in a bed next to you while you slept,” he replied. “Then again, it was likely inappropriate either way.”

“Because of our titles,” she said in understanding.

“Fuck our titles, Ashtine,” he replied. “When it is just us, I care little of our titles. It was inappropriate because while you slept I let my mind wander to what it would be like if I could steal kisses and touches without worry.”

“It breaks laws of old,” she whispered.

“But to answer your question,” he went on, ignoring her comment. “Ifthatwere us, I would have still asked how you were faring when you woke. Then I would have kissed you until we were both breathless.”

“That would never happen. I have magic of wind and air,” she answered.

He huffed a laugh. “Then my lips would have likely strayed away from yours. Ideally, I would already be wearing little clothing, and you would be in the same state.”

“Your thoughts wandered too far,” she admonished.

He caught some strands of her hair, winding them around a finger. “You wish to stick with conversation then?”

“I …” She watched him for a moment, seeing his lips twitch. Her eyes narrowed. “You are teasing me again.”

“I would never, my dear.”

“You are a liar, Briar Drayce.”

“Perhaps,” he conceded, releasing her hair, before rolling to his back and stretching.

“But I …” she started, pausing when he turned to look at her again.

“You can speak plainly with me, Ashtine. Always.”

“I know. I simply … I enjoy this,” she said. “I did not think I would.”

He smiled softly. “As do I.”

“I think I would enjoy the intimacy as well.”

His blue eyes seemed to darken. “We could put the theory to the test?”