Once Ghosted, Twice Shy (Reluctant Royals, #2.5)

by Alyssa Cole

Likotsi Adelele, mother of schedules and slayer of inefficiencies, would usually have been quite annoyed with her train being stuck on a bridge for half an hour with no explanation, but it was a special day: she had off from work.

“Took you long enough,” she said, finally. Somewhere, the polite part of Likotsi’s mind chided her for blocking the flow of pedestrian traffic, but she didn’t start walking. She slowly adjusted the lapels of her coat and then the hem of each cuff. “Well. I’m certainly worth the wait.”

“Goddess,” Likotsi breathed against Fab’s mouth, the exhalation full of humor and anticipation and reverence. “You’re gonna put it on me, aren’t you?”

“Was that the chivalrous version of ‘that dress would look even better on my bedroom floor’?” Fab asked, grinning.

“Finding a sexual partner is easy,” Likotsi replied. “Finding someone that makes you need to know more about them is not.”

“I guess we should get going. Your butt isn’t broken—yet. What are these plans you have later that you need a fracture-free booty for?” Fab asked, her gaze on the ice and her arm around Likotsi’s back. “Making love to you again. If you want.” Likotsi waited. Steeled herself against rejection, but then Fab squeezed her tight. Fab looked at her and the right corner of her mouth lifted. “You’re gonna put it on me, aren’t you?” Heat suffused Likotsi’s body. “That is the plan.”

“And I trust you. That’s kind of what happens when you love someone, I’ve heard.”

both of their bodies were hot to the touch despite a day spent in the cold—Fab imagined they were heated by this love between them to the perfect temperature for bending and reshaping,