Page 27 of Waves
He gave a careless shrug. “They can try.” His eyes traveled over my shoulder, and I followed his gaze to spot Gita floating along in a shimmery white gown with green paint loaded into her hair and onto her skin. Instantly, I was certain I knew where Humberto’s inspiration had come from.
“Oh, a pair of ghosts, you should go compliment Gita on her costume,” I urged, attempting to play matchmaker.
Sahar seemed to agree with me based on her smug demeanor when the man wasn’t looking.
“Majesty, you look edible,” Valdez shot forward, trying to claim my attention. “Can I escort you?” His proximity made my spine melt a little, though I tried to hide it.
“Of course,” I slid my hand into the crook of his elbow and let him lead me around the edge of the crowd. As we swam, I became aware of our height difference, particularly when my left wing inadvertently tapped him, the tiny point of connection sending a tremble through me.
“Careful with those wings, Avia. Or I’ll start thinking you’reachingto touch me,” he flirted.
That made me giggle a bit, though I rolled my eyes, not wanting him to know he had the upper hand. “I’ll work on restraining myself.”
“Well, don’t work too hard. You wouldn’t want to hurt my feelings.” he retorted, somehow managing to slide my hand around his waist and his around mine simultaneously. Our torsos pulled together, and I became certain that my pounding pulse had to be obvious.
“You have those?” I sucked in air between my teeth, faking a cringe. “Ew.”
His laugh shook his entire body, his mirth jostling my side. The smile I gave him was both proud and teasing. “What? I’m serious. Feelings are for fools.”
“Well, you know what they say…” he trailed off just as his thumb traced a circle onto my hip.
“Hmm?”
He turned in the water, both hands suddenly surrounding my waist, fingertips digging deliciously into my hips as he leaned down, those glowing eyes burning holes right through me. His lips hovered just a breath away. “They say fool me once—” His lips brushed over mine, a tempting ghost of a kiss. “Fool me twice—” His lips pressed harder and for a second, his entire body dragged against the front of mine.
This time, when he pulled back, I nearly chased him, and I was certain he knew it.
“Fool me three times…” He hovered over me, tempting mouth only an inch away.
I closed only half the distance. “There is no saying for getting fooled three times.”
“There is now,” he murmured before sweeping me into a deeper, open-mouthed kiss that sent sparks shooting gloriously all the way to my toes. Breathless urgency swept over me. Thistime, when Valdez retreated, he had to wrench himself back out of my grip.
“Had to make a fool of me,” I murmured, though I wasn’t mad at all. Except, perhaps, for the fact that we were in public.
“On the contrary, I’m a foolforyou,” he countered with a wink as he slid my hand right back into the crook of his elbow and swam on like he was a gentleman and not a dirty rogue.
“Is it gentlemanly to compete for my hand due to a bet?” A real question slipped out of my lips unbidden, loosened by his kisses most likely.
The pirate paused, his expression thoughtful as he turned and peered down at me. “I like to win. In everything.”
“But doesn’t that turn everything into a game?”
“Are you implying you’re just a game to me?”
I simply gave him a dark look in response.
Leaning back down so that his lips brushed against the shell of my ear, Valdez’s whisper was so potent that it drowned out the crowd around us. “I take my games very seriously, Majesty. I don’t let up. I don’t lose. I don’t walk away.”
“You will have to if you’re cut.”
“I won’t be.”
“Or if I tell you to.”
"You know that telling me not to do something is nearly a guarantee that I'll do it, right?"
"Well, then, you definitely shouldn't kiss me again."
