“And if I want to tease you, tesoro?” She can feel his breath on her ear. It sends a shiver down her spine. “Then what?”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean,” she whispers. “If this is a game, I– I don’t want to play.”
Viago looks as though she has slapped him. “You think I’m toying with you, Ashara? You really think so little of me?”
“No! I– Don’t be cruel, Viago. You’ve clearly spoken to Teia, and she told you–” She tries to pull herself away from him, tears threatening to spill over, and that just won’t do, she spent so long painstakingly applying the kohl around her eyes.
But Viago snakes his arm around her and presses her against him, and she gasps as her breasts crush against his chest. “Vi–”
His knee slots between her legs, and she looks up at him, eyes glassy, confusion that borders on distress colouring her expression.
“I have wasted so much time,” he murmurs, leaning down and breathing the words against her lips. “I won’t waste another moment, mio tesoro. May I kiss you, Ashara?”
Her heart stops. Time stops.
“Is this real?”
Because if he kisses her, and that is all he wants, it will ruin her.
“Si, uccellina. This is real.”
“... Please.”
And his lips are on hers. Soft at first, gentle, probing, and as she gasps into his mouth and her hands fly up to his shoulders, it is like a fire is lit. He crushes her to him, his mouth claiming hers. All she can feel is Viago, Viago, Viago. The kiss is everything, and she allows herself to be swept away into it, clutching at his doublet.