"Then, as I said, they undoubtedly understand. Do they sigh as well, Ringmaster?" Leaning up onto her toes, Elia's lips teased at his jaw, pressing feather-light kisses against the warm skin. Always warm. She could taste his magic on the back of her tongue, hot and rich with ancient spice.
Only his change in tone made her pause, leaning away just enough to catch his eyes again. "You sell yourself short," she offered – although he didn't, and she knew it. "Thrills are what I get with my friends, when we break the rules. You are certainly not a thrill, or the giver of them. Payoff is what happens when a gamble comes out in your favor, or when you've worked hard to behave and deserve not to be ignored. For instance."