Page 27 of Courting the King of Cliffs

“Not that I remember.”

“Then it’s a pleasure to meet you, Dissiri.” His lips curved upward, and I stopped trying to fight my own smile.

“The pleasure is all mine, Tremaine.”

He chuckled, and my smile widened. “Tell me about yourself. I feel like I’ve missed everything that matters.”

“Oh, no. Hardly anything ever happened when I was younger, because I was always hiding away inside. No one ever told me much about you, either. In hindsight, I guess I understand why.”

“They’re all a bunch of bastards,” he mused.

It didn’t sound like an insult.

“They are,” I sighed.

But that wasn’t really new information.

And we still loved them, so that was what mattered, I supposed.

“What do you do for fun?” he asked me.

Turning my head, I stared out at the wall. “I don’t know that I really do anything for fun. I like to cook—there’s a kitchen in my room, if you saw. I’m not good at being around a lot of people, so I can’t just go to the castle’s kitchen and cook along with everyone else. I’m not even really good at cooking, honestly. But I think it’s relaxing. I have to focus, and that’s good for me.”

“I’m sure you’re better than you think. And definitely better than me.”

I laughed. “Your kitchen doesn’t look like it’s ever been used.”

“It hasn’t,” he agreed. “It would cause me too much pain.”

I sighed. “Aren’t we a mess?”

“We are. We’ll figure out how to make it work though.” He squeezed my hand, and I realized he was still holding it.

I loved that.

“And if our magic works this well together…” I bit my lip.

“We could rule the fucking world.” Tremaine’s grin told me he was joking.

I laughed, hard. “I don’t know about you, but I’d absolutely hate ruling the world. I like my freedom too much.”

“I don’t even like ruling my kingdom. I kept hoping you’d show up and steal my throne.”

“Not a chance.”

He grinned anyway, and I grinned back.

Tremaine’s hand slid over my cheek, cupping my face. I leaned into his touch. “Can I kiss you?” he asked, voice gentle and smile growing softer.

“Please.”

The whispered word was enough.

He slowly took my lips in his. It was just a gentle press of his mouth against mine, first. Nice, though not world-shaking.

But then his tongue found the seam of my lips, and I parted them for him.

And then, we were really kissing.

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