that smile transformed his face. “Believe me, if the train still existed, I might’ve whisked you to another cell, so it could be just the two of us again.”
“How romantic.”
He chuckled, and his laughter tickled my lips. On a mission to swallow every last vibration, I lowered my hands to his shoulders and gripped his slick skin to steady myself as I touched my mouth to his still curved one. His lips unbent instantly, and then a sound between a growl and a moan filled him, and then filled me.
His arms slid around my waist to pull me closer, fitting my body into the crook of his elbows, bones and muscles roiling against my electrified flesh. As he chased my tongue, I threaded my fingers through his hair and drew his face higher, closer, deepening the crush of our lips.
How I’d hated him.
How I’d wanted to cry when Iba suggested tying my essence to his.
How I’d yearned to scream when the Cauldron’s magic had licked up my body and bound me to Gregor’s heir.
And now . . .
I murmured my wonder against his lips. “My fiancé . . .”
He nipped the corner of my mouth, then kissed his way across my cheek, stopping right at my ear. “I hate that this is what my grandfather wanted. That we’re playing right into his scheme.”
“What he wanted was to get you on the throne. I highly doubt he had any hopes you and I would fall for each other.”
“Is that what we’re doing? Falling for each other?”
The beats of my heart intensified until I was sure they were the only reason the water rippled around our bodies. “That’s what I’m doing. Can’t speak for you, though.”
He loosened the lasso of his arms but didn’t release me. “Why do you think I followed you through that portal, Amara?”
“You’ve been very vague about that, Remo.”
“Because I didn’t want you to end up anywhere alone.”
Oh. Heat spread and swirled through me, almost as though my fire had returned. “I don’t think anyone’s ever fallen so literally for someone else,” I teased.
“They do say actions speak louder than words.” He pulled my body down until I was perched on one muscled thigh.
“You do realize I come with lots of strings though? A whole net, for that matter.”
“Hard not to when I’m already tangled up in them.”
“Good.” I nudged his mouth back open and kissed him until a loud splash made us spring apart.
Remo swallowed thickly. “That must be your uncle. Back from the dead.”
I sighed. “I can’t believe he’s actually in here.”
“Can’t you? I can.” His abrasive tone revealed yet again the simmering anger Remo felt for his grandfather.
I curled my hand around the back of his neck. “You know how I feel about your grandfather, right?”
“You mean, about my entire family?”
I expelled a long breath. I didn’t even want to wonder what it would be like once we returned to Neverra. Would Faith and Karsyn try to keep us apart? Would we be strong enough to stay together if they did? Would our union be the balm that would finally heal the relations between our families? “Just remember that although your grandfather cares little for people, he cares a whole lot for you, Remo.”
“So, what? I should just forgive him?” He grunted. “He might care a whole lot for me, but he’s lost my respect. And there is no love without respect.”
I stroked the vee of hair at his nape, kissed his hardened mouth one last time before shimmying off his thigh. “Come on. You need to teach me how to skin a tigri.”
“Hmm.” He stood, spearing his fingers through mine. “I’d rather teach you other things.”
The ground dipped and made me lose my footing. “I’m sure you would, and I’m sure I’d like all of them a heck of a lot more than butchering a dead animal, but I have to pull my weight around here, or Kiera and Quinn will keep looking down their noses at me.”
He stared at their blurred bodies beyond the thundering sheet of water. “Noses are easy to break.”
“You sound like Geemee. He’s all about peace through physical mutilation. Not that Neenee allows him to enact Gottwa reprimands.”
“I’ve always held your uncle in high esteem, but I might actually like him more for it now.”
I rolled my eyes. “Let’s forget about breaking noses for now and concentrate on making me look capable.”
Remo reeled me back into his body. “Make you look capable? Amara, you’re not some delicate, prissy courtier.”