Chapter 16 The Kiss“Aerys…Back to reality, sweetheart,” the familiar enthralling masculine voice invites me. The darkness around me is warm, comforting, safe, but nevertheless I find myself swimming out of its blissful embrace to join the voice elsewhere. My eyes flutter open to see amber flames, somehow emanating concern instead of heat, against a backdrop of pearls on black velvet. Where am I?
“What happened?” I mumble. Dmitri s face materialises from the flames, which still flicker in his eyes, mesmerising me. He laughs gently at me with a smile that does not penetrate his flaming irises.
“Of all the things you could have done when I kissed you, fainting was the last thing I expected,” he answers, a hint of bitterness underlying his teasing tone.
“I m sorry. I ve never….” I attempt t
