TimeLess (Time Tells, #2) (ON-GOING)

Chapter Three

A clearing throat has both my husband and I turning and staring at the walls.

"Have the two of you subconsciously decided to ignore one of the many suggestions that the counsellors made?" Houston asks.

Kri and I remain silent, Lord knows anything we say can and would be held against us.

"You'll need to make public appearances outside of those that involve the initiative's interest." Houston reminds us, ever the gracious one.

I flick my gaze to Kri and tilt my head.

"I'm not going to perform for people." He says and starts to head into the house.

"You won't be," I say, following after him, "It'll just be you and me. Hanging out. Having fun."

I shrug and walk right into Kri when he stops and turns. I look up at him.

"What does that entail?" He asks.

"Beach?" I suggest, then smiling sweetly "Or...dinner?"

Hint hint, nudge nudge, you missed a date with me, husband.

A slow smile spreads along my husband's lips.

"I'm sensing more than mere diplomacy in your suggestion, wife."

I straighten, dropping a hand over my chest.

"What ever do you mean?" I ask, looking aghast.

A giggle destroys my innocent proclaim as Houston's chuckles bloom from the speakers.

I just flutter my lashes as my husband's gaze narrows. Slits of icy blue scrutinise me, but I see that his jaw his relaxed and his lips are twitching.

"What games are you playing now, Alanna?" He asks me.

"Ones that you always win, baby." I say, smiling.

His hands are buried in his pockets and he stands less than a foot away from me, head lowered to look at me, when I feel the gentle pressure of shadows curling around me and drawing me against him.

"And my victory is always your gain, isn't that right?" He asks.

Laughing, because he had quoted a statement of mine, I place my hands on his arms.

"Perhaps I should be worried of what I say given your ability to remember everything?" I say.

His teeth flash against midnight skin.

"The author measuring her words for me?" Kri asks, "I should be flattered."

"In my defence, no one pays as much attention to what I say as you do. If you were me, you would be careful too."

He removes one hand from his pocket, the watch I bought him glinting in the light as he rubs his thumb along my jaw down to catch my chin between his fingers. He lifts my face higher and leans down.

"You never have to be careful with me, wife." He murmurs, "Your words last in my mind because they're important. Not because I'll hold you to them."

I run my hands up and down his arms and smile up at him, "I know. I was teasing."

He smiles in response to mine, before a contemplative look fills his eyes.

"What?" I ask.

He keeps his eyes on mine as he murmurs something in a low voice in his own tongue. Houston replies in kind.

My brows furrow and I foot my gaze between the two of them.

"What is—" I'm cut off when Kri drops his arm and takes my fingers in his and draws me behind him.