Too soon, he pulls back, leaving us both breathing hard into the night air.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to?—”
“Don’t apologise,” I interrupt, panting, “I liked it. I’ve never tried that before, and I…”
Kyle’s brow creases. “You’ve never kissed anyone before?”
My damn cheeks flush again, and I nod. “There was one time, but it wasn’t by choice, so I don’t think it counts. Have you?” I ask, but I can tell he most likely has.
His expression hardens and he balls his fists. “Someone kissed you against your will?”
Oh no. I shouldn’t have said anything. “It’s nothing.”
He gets to his feet and punches his fist into the side of the house, causing a dent, and I jump, startled by his sudden outburst. He turns to me, his features laced with anger. “No one has the right to touch you unless you want them to. You know that, right?”
I glance down at my fingers, fiddling with my nails. “Yes, I know. And he knows that now, too.”
“Who was it?” he demands.
I lean forward and drop my head into my hands. “You don’t need to know this. Can’t you just forget I said anything?” I ask as I peek at him through my fingers.
He runs a hand through his hair. “No, I can’t. Not until you tell me.”
Sighing, I lean back on the swing and pull the blanket back up. “His name’s Finlay.”
He nods, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Okay, I’ll remember that. Who is he to you?”
I swallow, picking at the edges of the blanket. “He’s my second.”
He steps toward me, his brows creased. “What does that mean?”
I take a lock of my hair and twist it in my fingers. “When I’m not available, he is here, watching over you.”
He closes his eyes for a moment as his features twist with rage. “I look forward to meeting him.”
That was a bad idea. I shouldn’t have said anything. Now when he meets Finlay, he’s probably going to hit him. To be fair, Finlay will deserve it. Sure, I already hit him myself, but he can probably do with another one.
“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” he asks.
I can’t help but laugh. “I’m remembering the time I punched him in the face, actually.”
He raises his brows. “Wow, I’m impressed.”
I pat the seat next to me and hold the blanket up for him to sit, and then I cover us both once he does. “So, there’s no need to worry. I took care of it myself. We’re okay,” I explain. “Now, back to our conversation. You’ve kissed someone before?”
He scratches the back of his neck, and I can tell he was hoping to avoid this conversation.
“Well, yeah. Quite a few times.”
My heart sinks at the thought of him kissing other females. It never occurred to me he would have, but things are different down here on Earth. Although males in my Kingdom are known to kiss a lot of females, so it shouldn’t surprise me. I just hoped Kyle might be different.
He cups my cheek, gently caressing it with his thumb. “Hey, why do you look so upset?”
I shrug. “It’s nothing.”
He drops his hand. “It’s clearly something. Does that bother you?”
I bite my bottom lip, wishing I could just put my veil up and disappear.