Page 153 of The Demon Tide

“I’m entranced by you, Tierney,” he breathlessly enthuses, every last bit of pent-up longing unleashed. “I have been for some time. And I don’t just think you’re beautiful. You’rebrilliantandcleverandtalentedandbrave. And I want to kiss you every time we’re together. I lie awake at night imagining it. Imagining how soft your lips would feel against mine...”

Or’myr wrests the necklace off at the same time Tierney does, his besotted passion immediately dampening into stunned mortification.

“I’m sorry,” he says, barely able to hold her wide-eyed look of astonishment.

Those beautiful Asrai eyes. Eyes I could drown in.He pulls in a long, shuddering breath, desperate for a trace of composure as he lifts the necklace. “Looks like they...actually work.”

Tierney nods slowly, a flush suffusing her blue cheeks to a deep purple. Or’myr suppresses the urge to reach up and caress her gorgeous cheek. He glances away, longing twisting his heart as he takes in the jubilant purple crowd streaming by around them.

“How long have you felt this strongly about me, Or’myr?”

His embarrassment spikes to something approaching vertigo, but what does it matter now if she knows everything? He meets her gaze. “Since that first night you came to my Wyvernguard laboratory and dared me to hate you because you’re friends with Trystan Gardner.”

She holds his gaze for a protracted moment. Then, to his vast confusion, she steps forward and, quietly, almost ceremoniously, holds her hand out for his Xishlon’lure necklace. Thrown, he gives it to her and watches, with immense surprise, as she slips her Xishlonnecklace back around her neck and moves to place the other necklace back around his, pausing, chain outstretched, waiting for his permission.

“Tierney...” Or’myr whispers, barely able to get the word out, but the heartfelt look she’s giving him stokes his courage anew. He angles his head slightly down, eyes locked on hers as she slides the Xishlon’lure back over his head.

There’s a sudden deepening of the world’s purple light as Or’myr’s tension loosens and his suppressed affection for Tierney suffuses his entire being once more. He pulls in an unsteady breath, all the purple of the world shimmering as Tierney draws closer.

“This is actually quite nice,” she says as she fingers his necklace’s chain, her eyes flicking up to meet his invitingly. Then she reaches up and runs her fingertip along the base of Or’myr’s neck.

He shivers.

“It is,” he agrees as they shyly move to embrace each other, Tierney’s hand tentatively coming to his shoulder, his palm sliding around her waist. His heartbeat deepens as he thrills to the feel of her body lightly pressed against his as the swirling, celebratory world around them fades to a dreamy, purple haze.

“All right, then, Or’myr,” Tierney says, tilting her head up. “I’m ready for your lightning.”

Or’myr’s heart practically trips over itself as he leans his tall frame down, then touches his lips to hers, holding his firelines in check as purple affinity heat sizzles through his body.

Her lips are so warm and soft, the whole lavender world suspended by her enticing kiss, but Or’myr manages to keep his magic at bay as he deepens the kiss, ever so slightly, drawing her body toward his as she pulls him closer in turn and they kiss for a suspended, magical moment. Tierney presses her lips more firmly against his and makes an irresistible little sound of surprised pleasure, her full breasts soft against his chest, her hand coming up to caress his neck with unmistakable want.

Lightning breaks free of its magical constraints and flashes through Or’myr, through his lips and straight into hers.

Tierney cries out and jerks back, breaking the kiss. Her hand flies up to her mouth and she stumbles backward, threads of violet lightning crackling over her lips, as wave after wave of remorse swamps Or’myr.

He roughly yanks off the necklace. “I’m sorry,” he says as his fire magic pounds through him. “Tierney... I’m so sorry.”

“Or’myr... I’m all right,” Tierney insists, contradicting herself as she massages her mouth and studies him with a look of concern bordering on pity that makes Or’myr feel even more torn up, although he’ll be damned if he’ll let it show.

Tierney pulls off her necklace and studies it, seeming a bit dazed. “Well...at least I can say that I’ve finally been kissed.”

“Thatwas your first kiss?” Or’myr shakes his head, another knife-strike of remorse spearing through him. “Tierney, I’m sorry. Truly.” He looks away, not able to hold her pitying stare. Wanting to wrest all the gorgeous, glowing purple flowers from the ground then raise his wand and blow up the damned Xishlonmoon.

Tierney reaches out to touch his arm, and he reluctantly meets her entrancing gaze. “If I was Fire Fae,” she says with a slight, rueful smile, “I imagine we’d get on quite well.” The suggestion in her tone only serves to make him feel ten times worse.

“It’s no matter,” he brusquely states, looking west toward the mountains and then up at the cursed moon. “This idiotic festival will be over soon enough, and it’s a good thing too. It’s making us all lose our minds, and the military here is operating on a skeleton crew.”

Their eyes meet in morbid understanding, that blasted warmth sparking between them once more.

Tierney cocks her head as if considering something. “If I kiss your cheek, will it trigger more lightning?”

“I don’t know,” he answers, frustrated.

Tierney reaches up to touch his shoulder and Or’myr’s breath hitches, another flash of lightning forking through his lines. She brings her warm lips to his cheek and gives him a gentle kiss. Then another on the edge of his jaw. Another on the very edge of his mouth, thoughtfully tracing her thumb over his lower lip.

“Happy Xishlon, sweet Or’myr.”

Or’myr swallows. “After we’re done decimating Vogel’s forces, feel free to visit me in my geomancy lab,” he offers. “Or anywhere really...for conversation...or tea...or to kiss my cheek as often as you like.”

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