guess I can give him credit for a few things.” Then he shifted the topic. “What did you mean by ‘diplomatic tensions’ earlier?”
She looked uncomfortable. “Well, I mentioned my problem with Sylandrea, but I didn’t tell you the details of what happened.” He waited, so she continued, “He came into my room one night and kissed me.” Selene stopped. “No, that’s not quite right. I kissed him, but that’s why he was there. He knew what would happen. I realized my mistake almost immediately, but he wouldn’t let me go, so…”
“So…?”
“I broke his nose—accidentally.”
“You mean on purpose,” said Will, feeling a small bit of satisfaction.
Selene frowned. “I hit him on purpose, but I didn’t mean to break his nose, so it was an accident.”
“What did you hit him with?”
“My forehead. I jerked away and headbutted him.” Will began to laugh, but she went on, “Anyway, it turns out his uncle is rather important, so my stay there became something of a problem. Your bargain with my father to get rid of the heart-stone enchantment couldn’t have come at a better time.”
Will studied her for a moment, then spotted a small cut on her forehead. It looked to be just a few days old. “Is this from the headbutt?”
She nodded, with pouting lips and large, woeful eyes. “Think it will scar?”
He smiled, then kissed the wound. “I hope so. For me it will be a splendid reminder of your love. For others it can serve as a warning.”
Selene rolled her eyes again. “No one will know what it’s from.”
“You can wear a sign,” he suggested helpfully, laughing when she punched him.
“I don’t want an ugly scar,” she lamented. “At least not there, right in the middle of my forehead.” Will pointed at his cheek, which still retained a long, silvery mark from a coachwhip in his childhood. “That’s different. It’s actually sort of dashing,” she commented.
“Well, I’ve been thinking for a while that you needed to be uglied up a little bit anyway,” said Will.
Her mouth went wide, into an ‘o’ of surprise. “What does that mean?” she demanded.
“You’re too pretty. I was thinking you should start wearing sackcloth dresses, or maybe chop your hair up, but a scar would probably do just as well.” He grinned. “We have to find some way to keep the men from chasing you constantly.”
She growled. “Is that really what you think? And if I’m ugly, what’s going to keep you chasing me then?”
“That’s easy. I’m not after you for your looks.” She smiled, but then he continued, “I’m actually after you for your money and the wild sex.” Selene tackled him, and they wrestled for a moment before he cried uncle, laughing as he capitulated. “I repent, I repent! It’s actually your inner beauty, your intelligence and personality.”
“I’ll show you some personality!” she warned.
He held up his arms. “Please, no. I surrender. I can’t take any more personality. Maybe in a few hours.”
She stood up and snatched the bedcovers away, exposing him to the air. “Weakling!” she declared imperiously, though her eyes were twinkling.
It was then that the door opened. Janice stood there, her expression blank, while Tiny stood behind her with a clear view over her head. Moving without haste, he put one hand over Janice’s eyes, then helped her back out of the doorway. From behind them, Laina’s voice called, “What is it? Is he in there?” Her head darted around the doorframe for a second, then her cheeks reddened, and she jerked back. Tiny’s hand appeared—then slowly closed the door.
Will and Selene had remained frozen, but now they looked at one another, exchanging embarrassed looks. Through the door, Will could hear their friends talking. “I’m scarred for life. I’ll never be able to unsee that,” said Laina.
Janice’s tone was calmer. “At least he didn’t have to pee this time.”
Tiny simply laughed.
A short while later, the married couple timidly emerged from Selene’s bedroom. Laina hurried to give her best friend a long hug, while Will attempted to shift the focus elsewhere. “Is anyone hungry?”