Page 75 of Journey to the Elderoak
“Switch partners!” Quinn announced.
Thorne let go and continued his dance with Quinn as Casimir strode toward Ava eagerly. He grasped her waist and yanked her close, entwining his fingers into her other hand. She couldn’t slow her heartbeat and he didn’t break eye contact while he led her through the crowd, spinning and dipping.
The feel of his hand low on her waist shot warmth through her body as she lost herself in his eyes. Those eyes. They were beautiful. Everything about him was beautiful. His smile, his soft hair, the scar running from his jaw to his collarbone. She wanted to touch it, to kiss it.
They were so close, bodies barely a breadth away as he led her through the crowd as if no one else was present.
Breaking the silence, she whispered, “You’ve been quiet tonight.”
“I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
His eyes dipped to her lips as she cleared her throat. “Like what?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” he answered as he pulled her closer.
She inhaled sharply. “Yes, I would.”
He dipped her low and pressed his lips right above her collarbone. Her skin came alive as she gasped. He lifted her and spun her around.
“Does that answer your question?”
“Yes,” she breathed, her stomach tightening. “But?—”
“But what?”
“You haven’t acted on anything since dinner at Jorrar’s house.”
“I was respecting your boundaries.” He leaned in and whispered into her ear. “This is me acting on it.” He placed a kiss on her neck, and she arched into him, eliciting a quiet growl from his throat. They looked back at each other as they continued their dance and Ava remained silent.
“Say something,” he whispered after several minutes, concern in his eyes.
“I—” She had no idea what to say. Why couldn’t she talk to him? Tell him how she felt? They’ve talked about so much together, opening up about their pasts, but they’ve never talked about this. About them.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to push you.” He let go and took her by the hand. “Let’s go sit down.”
He led her back to the table, this time sitting next to her. Arm on the back of her chair, he toyed with her hair, sendinggoosebumps down her spine. The way he was so gentle when he touched her made her want to cry.
The rest of the group joined, seats all switched around. Thorne and Quinn could barely keep their hands off each other as she sat in his lap, kissing him. Ava glanced around and saw no one cared that the king was in the tavern, making out with one of their captains. As if this was normal.
“They’re cute together,” she whispered to Casimir.
“They are. They’ll never make it official though. Too complicated.”
She glanced over at Jorrar and Kai, who were whispering with the promise of pleasure in their eyes. Raine had brought over the couple he had pointed out earlier, the woman in his lap while he was kissing the man’s neck sitting next to him. It seemed everyone had their own personal plans for the rest of the night.
“This is…”
“Getting awkward.” Casimir chuckled. “Would you like to leave?”
“Actually, yes.”
Casimir rose, Ava following suit, and they both said their goodbyes.
Raine caught Ava’s eye and winked. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, you two.”
“That means nothing’s off the table,” said Quinn.
Raine grinned. “Exactly.” He turned to the woman and kissed her.
