The dinner was nice. Dy’s father didn’t come home, though. He was apparently working overnight. But it was nice. I had never had anything remotely close to family dinner as my parents took their meals in their chambers and I took mine with my tutors and Quinn. Mostly just Quinn.

Dy and I were to sleep in her room. The house wasn’t very large and only offered two bedrooms on the second floor.

Dy had put a bedroll on the floor and took up the little space there was. She had given me the bed. Which was ridiculous. It was more than wide enough for both of us. She really didn’t have to lie on the floor.

“You don’t have to lie down there. You can come up here, if you want,” I said after we had settled in for the night.

“You sure about that?”

“Just get off the floor.” I pulled the blanket aside, and Dy crept under it. The bed tipped a little under her weight and then we were both laying on our backs, looking up at the ceiling.

I turned my head towards her, and she did the same. I moved closer and softly pressed my lips against hers. She exhaled loudly and then she smiled, her teeth grazing over my lips.

“Did you just invite me to the bed so you could take advantage of me?” she murmured.

“Definitely,” I breathed and kissed her again.

She kissed me back, her lips parting. My tongue met hers, and she turned on her side, raising herself up a bit.

It felt like my stomach turned itself on its head. My pulse was pounding in my ears, and I wanted to grab her face with both of my hands. I ended up just cupping her cheek with my left hand, smoothing my thumb over her cheek. She had really soft skin on her cheeks.

“I think that’s as far as we should go,” she said then, pulling back.

“What?”

“Your injuries, Al. I don’t wanna rip any stitches. Or cause more damage to your arm.”

I couldn’t think of a response but just pouted instead. “We could be careful…” I muttered.

“I don’t intent on being careful,” she murmured and kissed me again.

Well, I could hardly argue with that.