The rest of the day passes lazily and well. Ben and Luca come back to the room with us, and we light a cozy fire. Ben stretches out in front of the hearth with his head buried in a pillow, and even though I insist that he go sleep in my little nook for a bit he protests that he’s fine. So I settle f
“I mean, I’m going to win,” he says with a confident shrug, a little smug but also a little offended that I’m doubting him. I sit back a little, half torn by my allegiance and my faith in him and half knowing that his confidence…is not going to be enough to pull him through. Luca looks around at
“Luca,” I growl, shoving uselessly at his shins, “let me up.” Luca just glares at Jackson at the door and then over at me. He can come to you, Luca says into my mind, possessive and predatory. I narrow my eyes at him, pissed. But there’s no time to think any more about it, because suddenly Jacks
I just sigh, and nod, and send back an impression of the dream state, letting him know that we can talk about it more safely there. Luca just nods, and closes his eyes, and continues his nap. That night, after dinner has been eaten and Luca and Ben have finally shuffled off to bed, I finally res
Luca pulls me again against his chest and then turns his body so that my back is flat against the mattress, my hair spread out around me. “Nice addition to the dream forest, Princess,” Luca murmurs, hovering his face over mine and pressing kisses to each of my cheeks. “What else can you do?” “Oh
“Um,” I say, my face suddenly burning with my blush as I glance downward, not knowing what to say – Or how to feel – Because, I mean, it’s not that I don’t…don’t like it…because I think I do!? I just – this is all very new, and very fast… Luca inhales sharply as he takes in my blush, the direc
I lean forward, wanting to kiss him very much again, but suddenly his words register fully with me and I give a little squeak, sitting up straight. “What?” Luca asks, suddenly concerned. “Wait,” I say, looking at him askance as I let my knees fall on either side of his waist, straddling him with
“I’m serious, Luca!” I say, looping my arms around his neck and forcing myself to pout a little, wanting him to be just a little more serious. “I mean…” I blush lightly, because I know I’m going to sound naïve but…well, I want to know. “You can’t have loved them all. Did you love…any of them?” “A