I sigh, securing my arms tighter around his neck.
His thumb strums my spine. “You know I would banish them forever for you, if I could.”
“Yes.” I look up. “I do know that.”
Kissing Rex is the most natural thing in the world. It’s the only choice. The only activity I want to perform with my mouth for the rest of my life. If my feet weren’t already dangling down by his knees, I would levitate. He slowly traces the seam of my lips until they part on a breath and then he ducks his head, marrying our mouths together. The pace of the kiss increases until I’m tugging at strands of his hair and Rex is clutching my bottom, his big chest puffing up and down, faster and faster—
A door creaks open.
“Do my eyes deceive me? Rex is here and…he’s brought a girl, if you can believe it. An itty bitty one. Kissing the face right off her, he is. Just there in the side yard!”
A different voice joins in. “What? Where?”
And a third. “A girl? How much do you reckon he paid her?”
Laughter belts out from within the house and I’m suddenly shoved behind Rex’s back, my lips still tingling from the passionate kiss. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that where we could be seen. I got carried away,” he mutters to me over his shoulder. “I’ll make sure they’re discreet.” He looks back at his sisters and I don’t have to see his face to know it’s stern. It’s right there in his voice. “Mind your manners, now.”
“Go on, let us have a look at her.”
“Yes, let us make the acquaintance of the bravest woman in Downsriver.”
Rex sighs. “Katrina, Jane, Beth, Paulina and Priscilla. Allow me to please introduce Her Royal Majesty, Queen Britta.”
A beat passes before five peals of laughter ring out.
“You always were a joker, brother.”
“Be honest, that’s a sheep with a wig on.”
With a wince, I remove my shawl and step out from behind Rex, producing five identical expressions of horror. And to my horror, all five of them drop to their knees, heads bowed.
“I beg your forgiveness, Queen.”
“Queen Britta, it is an honor. Please accept our condolences about your parents. There never was a fairer king and queen.”
I pang catches me in the throat. “Thank y—”
“Our brother was kissing the fecking queen,” comes a furious whisper.
“There is no need to apologize. Or kneel.” Face burning, I signal them all to rise. “Your brother was kind enough to invite me tonight. I hope I’m not imposing.”
“Heavens no!” They all begin making sweeping gestures toward the door. “We are honored, Queen Britta. Please do come in.”
“Thank you.”
I’ve never been inside of home full of so much…warmth. There are pots simmering on the stove and paper decorations affixed to the ceiling. Shoes discarded by a crackling fire. The bottom floor is one connected space containing a small kitchen, a long dining table, then a circle of comfortable chairs by the fireplace. Towards the back, there is a staircase which I suspect leads to the bedrooms, although I imagine a house this small can only fit two or three.
“Is this the house where you grew up?” I ask Rex, watching as he ducks to avoid a hanging paper lantern.
“It is.” He nods toward the back of the house. “But there are stables out back. That’s where I made my bed most nights.” He tweaks the nose of one of his sisters—a young, dark-haired girl who shares Rex’s brown eyes. “To escape the squabbling.”
Another girl, one who appears to be the oldest, gasps, waving her hands. “Do not malign us in front of the queen!”
Rex snorts. “That ship has sailed.”
“Incorrigible, you are,” she says, coming forward. “I’m Katrina, Your Majesty. The oldest daughter and the one with the most decorum. Please come sit down and I’ll get you a drink.”
“I will be getting her the drink,” Rex says, his eyes heating.
He’s turned on. Because he’s serving me.
I’m suddenly breathless in a room full of potential new friends. This can’t be the correct way to get off on the right foot—lusting for their brother. “I, um…” Deep breath. My eyes seek out the youngest-looking sister and I notice for the first time that she’s wearing a pink paper crown. “It must be your birthday. You’re…Priscilla?”
“She knows my name,” breathes the girl. “Yes, Your Majesty. I’m sixteen today.”
“A very important birthday,” I say, smiling as an idea occurs to me. Reaching down, I unclasp the jeweled cuff bracelet around my wrist