Chapter 135

He Came Back

"I asked them to make it from only the most beautiful flowers they had. I hope you'll like it."

A bouquet, held out with a slightly shy hand.

Southern flowers — bold, vivid reds, richly layered petals, exuding a perfume as thick and heady as if someone had upended a flagon of scent over the whole arrangement.

The fragrance hit me the moment it came near enough, sharp enough to make my heart stutter in surprise.

"They're absolutely lovely. Thank you."

I smiled as I said it, and he tilted his head toward me slightly in response.

"Lovely — I don't know about that. I brought them because they reminded me of the color of your eyes, Lady Aisha…"

His fingertips drew my hand naturally toward him. Our gazes caught and held for a breathless instant — and then his lips had already touched the back of…