He licked his lips, and swallowed. "Why would you want to do that?" he asked, the words barely more than a whisper. "There's no courtiers here to astonish."

"There's one," I said. "And I'm really enjoying astonishing him."

Dain glanced out towards the path as if he could spot whoever was spying on us before the realization that I was talking about him settled in. His wolf-gold eyes darted back to my face, searching my expression, as if he looked at some incomprehensible beast instead of a human woman looking up at him with quiet happiness.

"Can I put kissing on the table?" I asked. "I should have asked you before, but maybe you'll give me some leeway on that." I gave him a rueful smile. "I really liked doing it, and only some of that was because I was defending you like I said I would. I'd kinda like to see what it's like when it's only the two of us."

"You would?" Dain asked, his voice throaty.

"Yeah." I smiled up at him. "Really a lot, actually."

His eyes searched my expression for a few moments, scanning my face. "I would like to place one condition," he said softly.

"A bargain?" I asked, lifting one brow.

With a little huff of laughter, he nodded. "Only put kissing on the table if you're ready to... leave it there," he said, with a small waver in his voice on the last words. "I don't mean for an eternity. Only for the next thirty-four days. But if you want to kiss me, I..." Dain swallowed, then took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I don't want to come back from that, Leah," he said quietly. "So I want you to be certain it's what you want from me while we're together."

Narrowing the options, I thought as I looked at him. Pruning the bonsai, and choosing a rappel route. But it wasn't like anything purely platonic was an option for me, anyway, at this point. We were only pretending we could be best friends forever.

I pushed myself up off the bench, Dain tracking me as I moved. I didn't go far; I pivoted and got on top of him, straddling my prince like I was a teenager at prom. The noise that escaped him was positively filthy, a low groan of pleasure that came with parted lips and hazed eyes. He started panting, staring into my face like he could not believe this was happening to him. I took his hands and settled them onto my sides, then rocked my hips up against him.