It was small, I almost missed it, but I was pretty sure I saw him flinch.
“Cora –”
“Men call women who they care about that. My Dad calls my Mom that. He loves her. Deeply. He has for nearly four decades. Please don’t sully that by using those words, words you don’t mean, on me.”
He held my eyes and I let him. Or, more accurately, I couldn’t tear mine away.
Then he said quietly, “No.”
I pulled in my top lip and bit it. Then I nodded. Then I looked out the window.
“I need to make some enquiries,” he told my profile.
“Of course,” I whispered to the window.
“Don’t leave this table,” he commanded.
“Right.” I was still whispering.
I felt him move but didn’t look then I felt his heat at my side.
“Cora.”
I closed my eyes. Then I turned my head and tipped it way back to look up at him. When I did, his hand lifted to cup my cheek and he bent low and touched his mouth to mine.
I felt a tiny tear split through my heart.
When he lifted his head, he murmured, “For my people.”
That loving gesture was for the crowd.
“Right,” I whispered.
“Don’t move from this table.”
I nodded but made no further retort even though he was being bossy and repeating himself to boot. When I didn’t speak, his eyes examined my face as his thumb tenderly swept my cheek.
That tear split deeper into my heart.
“Gods, I wish this was real,” he muttered.
It is, you stupid man! my mind shrieked.
But my mouth didn’t move.
“I’ll be back,” he stated.
“I’ll be waiting.”
His thumb swept back and his eyes held mine.
Then he let me go, straightened and he was gone.
Chapter Nine
I’ll Hand You the World
I woke half on and totally wrapped around Tor again.