Memories flashed before her mind; she and Zavian eating at the diner, running in the rain, the kisses, how he touched her...
"Are you going to stare at me all afternoon, Neera?" Zavian asked.
Neera brought herself to the present, and instead of looking away bashfully, she smiled up at him.
"You have a really handsome face. Has anyone ever told you that?" She asked instead. Zavian was taken aback by her words. This was new.
"Why does someone need to tell me what I already know?"
"Your Majesty, where is your humility?"
"I forgot where I left it ever since I became King," he smiled, closing the gap between them.
Neera threw her head back and laughed with careless abandon. It must be the outdoors. Something had unlocked in her the minute she was out the gates and this inhibited version of her, this other side of her whole, Zavian loved it.
