His eyes darted back to hers. “Lies, you’re staring at mine.” He feigned a scowl. “Don’t you dare treat me like a piece of meat. I will not stand for it.”
She laughed harder, swatting him before shoving him down onto the bed. Her cheek found its place on his chest, her arms around his ribs, and he wove his fingers through her hair, breathing her in.
“You smell like peaches.”
“You smell like wine.” She giggled.
“Well, that makes sense. I’ve been drowning in the stuff since I lost you.”
“It’s a good thing you’ve found me again, then.”
Her leg looped over his, and one of her fingers traced up his stomach, drawing those wonderful swirls along his skin. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking this, right here, is the single greatest moment of my life. And I never want to leave your bed.”
“Is that because my breasts are pressed up against you?”
“No, but I do like that a lot,” he said.
“Cosima’s are bigger.”
“Don’t compare yourself to Her. God, I don’t even want to think about Her.”
“Did She really say those things?” Leila lifted her head. “About Brontes and the other woman?”
“She did. Among other things.” He glowered, visions of the previous night bombarding his mind. “When I told Her not to touch me, She mocked me in response, like I was miles beneath Her.”
“You’re not beneath Her. You’re a good man.”
“I’m sorry I kissed Her.”
“Don’t. You were protecting me. You should’ve never been put in that situation to begin with.” Leila shook her head. “I’m so sorry for what She did to you. She’s become someone I don’t recognize. My Sister… Gone.”
Tobias didn’t respond, savoring each peaceful second in Leila's company—a bliss doomed to end. He scooped her face in his hands. “I’ll never hurt you again. I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life, however short it may be.”
She pulled away from him. “Short?”
“I left Cosima’s bed for yours. I’m fairly certain that’s not a forgivable offense.” His nerves stirred, threatening to ruin the moment. “It doesn’t matter. I mean it does, but…” Exhaling, he shook his head. “I tried doing what I was supposed to do. It turned my stomach.” He took her hand. “This is the only decision I can live with. Whatever happens because of it, it doesn’t matter. This is what’s right for me.”
“You’re not going to die.” Her voice came out stern. “I won’t let that happen.”
“That’s very kind of you, darling, but between my transgressions and the Culmination today, I find that hard to believe.”
“Your transgressions will be ignored,” she said. “And you’re not going to compete. Kaleo and Flynn will fight alone, and you’ll remain safe and sound.”
“How do you know this?”
Leila said nothing, the look in her eye equal parts fierce and afraid.
“Does this have something to do with what you need to tell me?” he asked.
A strained silence lingered, until Leila squared her shoulders, speaking with purpose. “I believe you and I have some matters to discuss.”
Tobias nodded, eagerly propping himself up onto a pile of pillows. As Leila wedged herself between his legs, her eyes widened.
“What?” he asked.
“You’re hard.”
“You’re beautiful. And naked.”
Leila giggled into her hands, her cheeks bright pink.
“What now?” he said.
“I’d never seen one before.” Her eyes became larger. “A cock.”
Tobias laughed. “Really? Is that right? You’ve killed a man, but you’ve never seen a cock. I swear, you baffle me. Well, I hope I didn’t disappoint—aesthetically speaking, that is, since we’ve yet to put it to work.”
Her giggling turned into a fit, and she shook her head.
Tobias cleared his throat. “I suppose I have a confession of my own. I’ve never… I mean I’ve done things…but I’ve never—”
“Fucked?”
“You’re so blunt.”
“But you’re so handsome.”
“And you’re beautiful. What’s your excuse?”
She glanced around the room. “I’ve been here, locked away in the fortress.”
“Well then, I suppose that’s my excuse as well.” He wove his fingers through her hair. “You’ve been here, locked away in the fortress.”
The widest grin spread across her face. “Well, this is all wonderful news. We can be terrible at it together. I’ll feel much more comfortable knowing you’re just as clueless as me.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I’m clueless, it’s just…”
Leila had already moved on from the conversation, peeking beneath the sheets at the third member in the room.
“Leila!”
Her eyes darted back to his. “What? I only got the briefest look last night.”
“You degenerate.” He laughed.
“It’s fascinating. How do you even walk with all that flopping