“You showed care for me,” she murmured. “And for my cousins. And each other.”
“You see,” Ciran teased his friend from her side. “You and I are sweet too.” Hattori laughed, soft but unmistakable. He petted the long straight locks that had fallen across her breast, not arguing any more. The niggling tension in all of them released.
“Happy natal day,” he murmured.
Kat lifted her sleepy head from his arm. “You know about that?”
“Princess Jules instructed her sisters not to mention it this morning. In case it bothered you.”
Overcome by emotion, Kat hid her face in his shoulder.
“Good present?” Ciran suggested, wriggling higher to share the pillow. His long arm draped her companionably. She was glad he’d decided this wasn’t presumptuous. When his fingers started playing over Hattori’s bicep, her smile broadened. Hattori must have felt her mouth curve. He let out a low and satisfied rumbling sound.
“The best present,” she felt bold enough to confess. “In fact, this year’s gift was so good I might have to open it again tomorrow.” Hattori’s cupping hold on her breast tightened. His thumb fanned warmly over her nipple. “All summer, princess,” he corrected. “We three are going to get to know each other much better.”
“Much, much better,” Ciran emphasized.
Kat’s bright grin couldn’t be contained. Surely no exile had ever been as nice as this one.
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