The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

how I feel about you. Nothing should ever make you forget
that I laugh because of you.”
Shuddering, he pressed his lips to my temple and then
folded one arm around my waist, resting his hand on my
hip, where his fingers traced idle circles. He didn’t say
anything as he rested his chin atop my head, and neither
did I. Words weren’t always needed, and inherently, I knew
this was one of those moments.
We just were as I watched those dancing around the fire
break into smaller groups, some drifting out toward where
the waves ebbed and flowed over the sand, and others into
the canopied tents. I caught sight of Kieran once more. He
was with who we thought was Lyra. Or at least I thought so.
I honestly couldn’t be sure. His arm was around the
woman’s shoulders, his head bent toward hers as they
walked into the shadows of the bluffs.
I looked away, watching those who were still at the fire
for a couple of minutes before I glanced back toward the
bluffs.
My lips parted. I had no idea how Kieran and the female
had gotten from where I’d last seen them to him leaning
back in the sand and her kneeling between his legs, her
hands in the general vicinity of an area that would definitely
be considered naughty.
“Are they…?” I sucked in a sharp breath as Kieran’s
head fell back. My eyes widened.
Casteel’s chuckle was dark and soft. “Do you still need
me to answer that question?”
I swallowed. “No.”
The hand at my hip continued moving in small,
distracting circles as I watched who I thought might be Lyra
move her head back and forth in a way that reminded me of
how I moved against Casteel.
“Are you scandalized?” Casteel whispered.
Was I? I wasn’t sure. Maybe I should be because I
definitely shouldn’t be watching. Every single social