He turned on his side, looking down at her in warm interest. "There are a couple reasons why we stopped," he told her. "One is that I didn't know you wanted to continue." He paused before sneaking in another kiss. "I figured you were too dignified to... continue."
He raised an eyebrow before continuing. "Good to know. Second, my sister is in the room right next to us. Do I need to say more about that?"
He laughed almost mischievously, but his voice was warm and affectionate and soft. He reached over and brushed her hair back before whispering in her ear. "And third, I don't know if you've noticed, but I look like *squee!* right now."
She closed her eyes, a grin on her face as she tangled her legs with his. "You'll always look beautiful to me."
A low chuckle escaped his chest and he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him abruptly and playfully. "Sorry, Princess, but I would be a fool to handle pearls with calloused hands," he said smoothly in her ear.
His laughter was gleeful and contagious and he kissed her deeply. "God, I love you," he murmured appreciatively. "Some other time, okay?"
A week had passed. They had moved away the day after the plan had been made, leaving Sylvaele behind them. Both Ferris and Alyssa agreed that Romero worked quickly; they didn't have a lot of time. By the time 24 hours had passed, Fleur had quit, her apartment was empty, and they had fled. The city they moved to was larger than Sylvaele, a bustling town full of life. It wasn't as soft as Sylvaele had been, but Fleur's time in the city would let her realize that any city can be harsh and unforgiving. This one seemed like a new chance. Ferris was unboxing some of Fleur's stuff, sweeping a hand gently over the mantle to clear off some dust. Alyssa was out looking at the college in town, but she would be back within the hour.
Fleur was working on her room, her brows furrowed. She was anxious about working somewhere new, but was determined to do well. She had finished hanging up her clothes (and one of Ferris's shirts for the month they would spend apart) and was now placing up the decorations to make it feel more like home.
