Page 54 of Kiss of Ice

“No. It’s confusing. You’re usually more horrible.”

“Apologies, my Lady. I’ll try to be more consistent.”

He hovered on an updraft and she glanced down. Marid were not made for flying and she couldn’t help pressing herself a little closer to his body.

As if sensing her trepidation, he tightened his grip.

“I won’t let you fall.”

“You’d better not. It’d be an embarrassing way to go after such a lavish engagement party.” He laughed. She watched his mouth curve and was pleased she’d amused him. “You know, you should do that more often. You’re much more handsome when you smile.”

Her inner self sat up in shock.Gods, where did that come from? Are you drunk?She waited for him to say something cutting but instead he laughed again; a low rumble that did something strange to her insides..

“I’ll try to bear that in mind.”

“Not that you’re not handsome when youdon’tsmile,” she added hurriedly. “I mean, you’re handsome all the time, obviously. It doesn’t just switch off. Your nose, for instance. You have a very nice nose.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been complimented on my nose.”

“Well, you should. Your nose is lovely. But when you smile your face is completely different. It does this… thisthing. Yes. A thing.”

She nodded, satisfied she’d explained it all perfectly. He quirked a brow.

“A thing?”

“It gets all light and golden. As if there’s something glowing inside you. Like an angel.” The corners of his mouth tugged upwards once more and a thread of warmth stole into her stomach. “See? Like that. You should do more of that.”

“Duly noted, my queen.”

In the recesses of Ren’s mind, her annoying inner self beat frenziedly against her wine-fuddled senses.Are you flirting with him? Are you fucking mad? But she shook it off.

“You have a nice mouth too.”

“A nice noseanda nice mouth? Now you’re just trying to give me a big head.”

“I don’t think I’d have to try very hard.”

His laugh was louder this time and she was absurdly proud she’d made him do it. Impulsively, she reached out and touched her fingers to his face.

His smile died. She frowned in concentration as she traced her fingers over his cheekbone, his jaw. The gesture was strangely intimate and his gaze drifted to her mouth. To those delectable rosebud lips.

“I’m sorry you didn’t get your perfect first kiss,” he said softly.

A delicate blush stole over her neck.

“Do you… do you want to try for a perfect second one?”

The moment stretched.

It would be so easy, he thought. Just tilt his head down. Cover her luscious mouth with his own. Kiss her long and deep. Kiss her until his thoughts unravelled and his senses blurred.

Something clenched inside him.

“I think you’ve had too much to drink.”

She started to deny such a ridiculous accusation and emitted a loud hiccup instead. Embarrassed, she turned her face into his shoulder.

“I just need to rest for a second, that’s all.”

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