“Absolutely.” He lowered his head and swept his lips across her cheek, then brushed softly over her lips. “And I’m very grateful you aren’t leaving.”
“So am I,” she breathed.
His eyes darkened, and his mouth lowered, hovering over hers. “You make me very happy, River Waterborn.”
“Me, too.”
Another long moment passed, and River couldn’t look away from Nikhail’s lips. She waited for them to fall on hers, for him to hold her close and kiss her senseless, and she justknewit would be incredible.
But before his lips could do more than brush over hers, the door to Atlas’s room snicked shut.
They jolted apart like teenagers who had just been caught kissing in the broom closet. River’s cheeks heated, and Nikhail’s gaze smouldered.
“Later,” he whispered.
Atlas smirked, looking between them, as he headed to the front door. He grabbed a heavy jacket and slid it on.
“I’m heading out.” Atlas pulled on a blue knitted hat. “The sun’s shining, and the land is calling my name. A hike’s in order before I get back to grading.”
River glanced out the window, where, sure enough, the sky was blue and fresh snow glistened on the lawn. Frost was gathered on the window, and though it was rather picturesque, it looked chilly.
“You’re going hikingtoday?” she asked, unable to suppress a shiver. “Outside?”
Winter had firmly set in. There wasn’t much snow, but the air in the Central Region could be biting on the best of days.
The earth fae chuckled. “That is generally where hikes take place, yes.”
“I’m aware,” River replied. “But… the temperature. It’swinter.”
It seemed she was stuck on that.
“Hence the hat.” Atlas grinned, as though the thought of venturing out through snow-covered forests and up mountainsinvigoratedhim.
He’d never been less relatable.
“I was going to ask if you two lovebirds wanted to join me, but…”
“We have plans,” Nikhail interjected smoothly.
River glanced at him. “We do?”
“Or at least, I hope we do. I’d like to take you out for a late lunch.”
“Like a date?” She liked the sound of that. A lot.
Nikhail’s eyes twinkled. “That’s what I was hoping for.”
Their first date.
Honestly, it seemed a little backwards, considering everything they had gotten up to the night before, but that didn’t stop River from breathing, “Yes.”
“Yeah? You’re in?” He grinned.
“Yep. I’d love to go on a date.” River peered over her shoulder. “Sorry, Atlas. I’ll have to pass on the hike.”
The earth fae shook his head, laughing softly. “Not a problem, River. I have a feeling you’ll enjoy the date much more.”
So did she. Racing out of the room, River called out over her shoulder that she needed twenty minutes to get ready. She had to get dressed and dry her hair, but first, she had a phone call to make.