Aris: A Sexy Romance Novel (Thief of Hearts Series Book 1) by Elody Knight Page B

back across to Denise,  “Speaking of twenty questions, Ms. Inquistor, what’s all this Jerith stuff?”  she glanced down at Aris, cradling his jaw in her hand.
    Denise giggled,  “Yum-my.”
    Saoirse rolled her eyes, “Oh god.”
    Denise burst out laughing.  Saoirse put her hand out for the glass. 
    Denise handed it to her standing up, “I’m going to bed.  I have to be up early.”
    Saorise sat alone beside the dying embers of the fire looking down at the sleeping god beside her.  His dark wavy hair fell back from his face.  He looked so peaceful.  Contented, as if there was nothing more in the world he could want.  She snickered at herself.  ‘Of course, he doesn’t have any wants.’ Looking at the empty glass she decided it was time to go to bed herself.  She hadn’t bothered with dinner so the alcohol she had split with Nise was making her sleepy. 
    “Aris, come on, you have to go to bed.” she shook his shoulder from where she sat at his head.
    “Mmm?”  Aris opened his eyes dreamily.
    “Come on, the fire’s about died out.  It’s time to go to bed.”
    “Good night.”  Aris closed his eyes again.
    “No.  Aris, come on.  Get up.  You gotta go in and go to bed.”
    “Bed?  I don’t need to go in.  The sand is warm, I’m comfortable here.  I’ll see you in the morning.”
    “You can’t sleep on the sand.  Come on.  I’m tired, I need to go to bed too.”
    “What’s wrong with the sand?  It’s safe here.  There’s no worries.  Go on to bed.  You don’t have to wait for me.”
    “Oh for pete’s sake.”  Saoirse stuck her glass in the sand.  She stood up putting one foot on either side of Aris’s hips.  “Come on.  I’m tired.”  She reached down to pull on Aris’s hands.
    The pulling startled Aris enough that he was fully awake now.  “What is it?  What’s wrong?”
    “You’re supposed to be going to bed.”
    “Do you need me to take you up to the house?”
    “What!  The house is right there.”  Saoirse pointed to the lights thirty yards away in the darkness.
    “I don’t understand.  What’s the problem?”
    “You can’t just sleep out on the sand.”
    “Why not?”
    “Huh?  Well, because you’ll get chilly, the fire has died down.  What if you get sand fleas in the night?”
    Aris smirked.  “If I were going to get sand fleas, they would have found me the minute I hit the sand.”  Aris started to settle back into the warmth of the sand.
    Saoirse dropped to her hands and knees over him, “Come on.  I’m getting tired of this.”
    Aris looked at her.  This was probably the closest she had been to him of her own accord since they got here.  He wasn’t too clear on what the problem was with him sleeping on the beach, but Anaya’s words echoed in his head. 
    “Alright, come on.  I’ll walk you up to the house.  I have the rest of my life to sleep on the beach.”  Aris got up on his elbows.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?  I don’t need you to walk me to the house!”
    Aris put his hand up to her cheek, “Stop this.” he said gently.  “It doesn’t mean anything.”  Aris let his hand fall back to the sand shifting his weight back to both elbows with a slight yawn.  “I have slept out here thousands of nights.  I’m sure this won’t be the last chance I’m ever going to have to do it.  I don’t understand why you feel that I have to be inside.  It’s not anything to be upset over.  You want me to go in the house.  I’ll go in the house.” 
    Aris was going to push up on his arms to sit up farther, but Saoirse hadn’t moved.  He could see in the dim light that she was staring at him.  He wasn’t sure if she was lost in thought or if she was preparing her next argument.  Either way he laid there, waiting for her to say something.  It was difficult to be certain in this light, but it seemed as if she was leaning closer to him.  Her lips brushed against his.  For a moment he considered