Page 40 of The Never List
Kal chuckles, grinning pridefully. “Right?”
I take another bite. It’s all warm and sweet and savory at the same time—pure decadence on a plate. How can anyone ever complain about their lives in these cities when they can eat like kings every day?
I clean my plate, and Alice returns to clear it and refill our mugs with more coffee.
“I can see why you’d own a place like this,” I say, my head a little buzzed from the food and company.
“This isn’t mine.”
“I thought you owned everything in the Ruby Aire.”
He grins, shaking his head. “I own the land by birth, and some establishments I’ve created from the ground up. I have control over our imports and exports with Cardraytonin the southwest—they give us a great deal of the livestock used to support the other cities of Lumathyst. And I’ll always help my people when they have a dream they want to accomplish, but mostly I encourage them to build their own wealth.”
My lips part, surprise tangling up my words. His simple response makes my heart expand. Hearing him put words to dreams I’ve had myself is something I wasn’t expecting. I clear my throat, reaching for my coffee with shaky fingers.
“I guess that’s why they call you the Dreamer—” I miss the handle of my mug, toppling it toward Kal and searing one of his fingers with the hot liquid.
He hisses, drawing his hand back.
“I’m so sorry!” I’m up in a flash, rounding the table to his side with my cloth napkin as I try to clean up my mess. Mortification slides over me in a suffocating wave, and I can practicallyfeelthe Occuli reporting my absolute blunder. Royalty doesn’t spill coffee.
“It’s fine,” Kal says, shaking out his hand. “I promise—”
“Let me see,” I say, grabbing his hand before he can reply. His index finger got most of the damage, his smooth skin now an angry red. Instinctively, I bring it to my mouth, wrapping my lips around it without thinking. I swirl my tongue around the wound, treating it like I would my own if the same had happened to me.
Kal goes still, and I snap my eyes up to his. Something intense flickers there as he watches me.
Heat flares in my center as it dawns on me that this is likelynotnormal mate potential behavior. There’s probably some unspoken rule tonotbe physically intimate in public with the Legends, but Kal doesn’t seem to mind.
In fact, he looks completely into it.
I swirl my tongue around his finger another time, taking it a little deeper in my mouth before pulling it out. “Better?” I ask, slightly breathless at the way he’s looking at me.
“Not even close,” he answers, his voice rough.
I lean in, lowering my voice to a whisper. “Now we’re even,” I tease. “You left me tense and aching last night after that kiss—”
“Come with me,” he demands, grabbing my hand.
As quickly as it came, the heat is gone, replaced by a tightening in my chest as he drags me through the café, almost too fast for me to keep up. Shit, I definitely crossed a line. Either my bold words or presumptuous move embarrassed him in front of the Occuli—
He barrels through a side door, letting it close behind us as he grips my shoulders and presses me against a wall. It looks like a washing chamber, but the lighting is so dark in here, I can’t really tell.
For the first time since meeting him, I can see the Legend of Chaos everyone talks about in Kal. The one with infinite strength and a temper to match. The hard cut of his jaw, the determined set to his eyes, the no-room-for-escape power.
I’m inhiscity. He can do whatever he wants to me, and I’d never be able to stop him. A sliver of icy fear creeps into my blood as he leans closer, and I can’t help but think I’ve ruined things before they’ve even begun.
13
Kal
“Kal, I’m sorry—I didn’t mean—”
I cover her mouth with mine. Every instinct in my body roars at me to touch her, taste her. She gasps against my lips, opening for me as I stroke inside her mouth. I draw back, heart pounding against my chest.
“You’re not angry with me?” she asks. From the look in her eyes, I can tell she’s serious. I frown as I study her. Why would she think I’d kiss her like this if I was angry with her?
“You said I left you tense and aching last night.” I drag my lips across hers again. “It’s only fair that I soothe that need. If you want me to stop, now is the time to say so.”
