“When?” Blue eyes narrowed in mild concern. He figured she was bluffing and glanced to Liliana in hopes of finding some cue there.
Her next question provoked a physical response. His hand traveled to those softly coiled tresses, considering. “Do you really think that’s the case?” She was distracting him, which spoke volumes to someone who knew him in the capacity which Audric Palais did. Andrew wasn’t one to be distracted. Of course, Audric had seen how haggard her capture left him. There was no doubt how much she meant to him. Even Liliana, for all that he could not deny the appeal of the nymph, couldn’t compare when emotion factored into the equation. Melisande was lovely. She might not notice the eyes on her, but Andrew did. Still, he doubted she shone so brightly to anyone else as she did in his regard. “They don’t give me all this sass.”
Those expressive features of hers commanded his attention, the pout tugging at him in ways he would have been hard-pressed to explain. Then she was seeking out a kiss and how could he deny her, even with the audience being what it was. He noticed more than he let on. He saw the disapproval in some faces, the blatant curiosity of others. And the few that were pleasantly accepting. But he did an admirable job of ignoring it all, especially once he was looking at her. So his lips found hers, a tender caress. Love was foremost between them. It hardly meant the passion was not there, and he had no complaints in regard to her new levels of desire. He was glad to give up sleep for more tempting endeavors, though perhaps that vigor would not last forever. It showed no signs of waning for now. They were still discovering their limits in regard to intimacy before Gabriel brought everything to a stop, and now they had to start over. It wasn’t an exquisite endeavor. Their relationship was an odd combination of novel experiences and the quiet comfort of an established love. The friendship preceding everything attributed to that more than anything. He had loved her long before he was in love with her, and the transition had been incredibly seamless, to the point that he wasn’t sure just when it had changed.
“She’s got a good idea, you know. Halfway, anyhow. Come dance with me?”