When History Repeats Itself

Exposed

"I didn't know you were going to drop your fork and that loudly too, I must add" he smirked as we stole away to his hut, drapes drawn to keep out the sun but mostly for privacy.

"What did you think would happen?" I quizzed, sitting in the cane chair that was stirring up memories of last night's cuddling.

"I underestimated the effect I have on you" he teased

I rolled my eyes. He came over to sit by me, "Well next time send a warning my way before you do something like that"

"Like what? Morse code?" He snickered and I fought the urge to laugh.

He was right.

Then he began to tickle me, he had me cornered in the chair. I tried to wiggle out of his reach and he finally released me. I could feel tears brim my eyelids, laughing so hard.

He was close enough I could feel his breath on my face and it tickled my skin. He however kissed my forehead lightly and whispered in my ear, "soon"

Soon what? A kiss? More? Whatever it meant, my skin was on fire.

I hated being so hot and bothered around him when he had so much restraint. My hormones were throwing a fit at this point.

I understood he wanted me to trust his feelings for him but what difference did a kiss make? He wouldn't even have to kiss me deeply, just his lips briefly touching mine would be enough. I knew that was a lie but I wanted to believe one little kiss was okay.

I broke free of his embrace and climbed into his bed. He sat back and watched me intently before joining me on the bed. He took the remote and began to flip through channels before settling on Entertainment news.

He had one arm draped around me, and even with my leg resting between his, he wouldn't look down.

I watched his profile, waiting.

He saw me—of course he did—I caught the way his gaze flicked toward me from the corner of his eye. But he didn't tilt his head. Not even a little.

I pressed a feather-light kiss to the base of his neck.

He shifted, almost imperceptibly.

Something definitely stirred.

Self-control of a monk? I was about to test its limits.

That's when he said, casually, "Christopher did mention how flirty you are."

I almost fell out of his arms.

"Christopher said what?" I pulled back, blinking, heat rising in my face like I'd just been caught whispering in church.

He smirked. "He told me about Sumaya's sister and her best friend. Said the two of you always flirted with him. Boldly too. Even when Almara was around."

My jaw dropped. "Oh my God."

"Apparently, you used it to do it to annoy her," he added. "But he said you both had high school crushes. On him."

I groaned and buried my face in my hands. "This is so embarrassing."

"Don't worry," he said, amused. "It's kind of cute."

I peeked through my fingers. "Please stop talking."

"This is not as embarrassing as what I'm going to say next" he laughed as I peered through my fingers to look at him. What could be possibly worse than this?

"Promise you won't freak out"

"Just tell me. The suspense is killing me"

"What if I told you that you actually did admit your crush on Christopher to me?"