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What surprised her most was that she hadn’t needed him to say it. Somehow, she understood the invitation in his gaze before he spoke, as though she’d learned to read him without realizing it. She crossed the room until she stood in front of him.

His eyes softened as he looked down at her. “Witch,” he said again, but this time there was something different in the way he said it. The word carried a warmth that made her chest tighten. It sounded almost like an endearment.

He reached out to cup her face gently and pulled her closer for a kiss. She smiled into it immediately, her hands finding his chest as she leaned closer. Kissing Asterion was becoming dangerous. Maybe it was the way he always seemed to meet her where she was, never rushing her, never demanding more than she was ready to give. There was a confidence in him that made it easy to relax, to simply enjoy the moment rather than wonder what came next. His size should have made her feel overwhelmed, but somehow it had the opposite effect. Wrapped in his arms, she felt safe. Protected. As though the rest of the world could wait a little longer.

“You know…” she said, her cheeks warming, “I’ve never brought a boy to my room before.”

“A boy?” The word rumbled from him in an amused guffaw. “Witch…” He leaned in until their noses nearly brushed. “I’m no boy.”

Before she could come up with a suitably sarcastic reply, he kissed her again.

His hand settled firmly at the small of her back, drawing her effortlessly against him as his mouth claimed hers with a confidence that stole the breath from her lungs. It wasn’t rough or demanding, but there was a certainty to it that made her knees feel just a little weaker. The kiss lingered, unhurried and impossibly thorough, until she found herself smiling helplessly against his lips. When he finally drew back, his golden eyes danced with unmistakable satisfaction.

“There,” he said, his Scottish brogue thickening with amusement. “That’s a kiss with horns behind it.”

“I stand corrected,” she laughed, her forehead falling lightly against his chest.

“You do?”

“Mmm.” She looked up at him with a teasing smile. “I have to admit…”

He waited.

“It was worth the wait.”

The grin that spread across Asterion’s face was every bit as victorious as if he’d just won a battle. “I had no doubt you’d say that.”

“Come on, warrior.” She rolled her eyes fondly before taking his hand once more.

“Aye?”

“The tattoo artist isn’t going to find himself.”

“Unfortunately.”

“Later,” she promised.

His fingers tightened around hers. “I’ll hold you to that.”

A soft humming drifted up the hallway, and she pulled away from him at once, though her smile lingered. Clearing her throat, she stepped back and glanced around her bedroom as if suddenly reminded of where she was. “So…” she said a little too brightly, gesturing toward the shelves. “These are pictures of me and my friends from high school.

“This was after finals,” she said, picking up a framed photo of herself sandwiched between two laughing classmates. “We all looked exhausted.”

He stared at her for a moment, clearly confused by the abrupt change in conversation. Then realization dawned on him. His gaze flicked toward the bedroom door just as the humming grew louder. He let out an understanding grunt.

A second later, Korinnae appeared in the doorway. “There you are! Granny Ismene said you should come downstairs for some food before you leave.”

Ria closed her eyes for a brief second. “We’re just going to ignore the timing of that.”

“The timing of what?” Korinnae blinked.

“Nothing.”

The calf accepted the answer without question.

Ria turned to Asterion and pointed a warning finger at him. “And under no circumstances do you sit down and eat.”

One corner of his mouth twitched upward.