That genuine smile of his lit up his features, his eyes crinkling with it. “You’d be useful, Amira. You aren’t useless in any way.” He curled a strand of her hair around his fingers, watching it with a soft exhale. “You’re many things I am not. Much more mature and open to the emotions of others.”
“I don’t really believe that, but how exactly would those things be useful against a god?” She asked, the glittering appearance of the colored rings around her pupils visible with the close proximity. “Would a sword not work better?” Trickery, in fact, tended to work well. And she was decent enough at that.
“You cannot win against a god with just a sword and brute strength, Amira.” He rumbled in return, admiring the rings that shone so pretty in her eyes. She was a treasure far more precious than any ring. “I need someone to help me too… with myself. I don’t understand emotion like you do. What other people are feeling is especially dark to me.” His entire life he had been taught to ignore the emotions of those under him, it was too exhausting to care for those who didn’t matter.
"I'll teach you then." She decided, nodding in affirmation of her own statement as her eyes sparked with determination. "My father taught me everything I know about…understanding people. My mother proceeded to teach me how to use that knowledge against people, but I prefer using it for their benefit. And you…I can do that. I can help you, or at least, try. You keep speaking like that, mentioning your issues and your negative feelings for yourself."
A soft note of gratitude fell from his lips before he could stop it, a smile plastered across his relatively smooth features. He was starting to get a little stubble back. Facial hair was not his style.
“I don’t think rather highly of myself, Amira. I let everyone around me know that. You can’t tear down someone who never had anything built in the first place.”
Amira studied his features closely, for a few long moments, nothing but silence and their breath between them, before she spoke again. "But I can help you build something up." She said finally, shifting to press a kiss to his cheek, maybe just a tiny bit close to his mouth, thanks to the position they were in. "Hallaski, a man who views himself as nothing will be viewed as just that by the people he is attempting to lead. You influence the people around you more than you realize."
Butterflies erupted in his stomach. That small kiss sent him over the edge for a moment before he could control his nervous emotions. “Then help me. Build me up. Teach me how to be put together or at least teach me how to look like I’m put together. I’ll give you anything in the world for it too. You could take whatever you’d like regarding riches or resources.”
She made a face at him, frowning as she shook her head. "Riches or resources? Absolutely not. Do you take me for some sort of personal trainer? No, darling, this is a favor for…a friend. Listen to me, and listen closely. I will do more than put you together on the outside, if I can, I will help you put yourself together inside as well. And I will let you know when you have payed me back for that, but it will not be with anything material."
“You don’t want anything?” He asked gently once she had finished, taking her hands in his. “That is fine… I am glad you see me as a friend, Amira. But you must let me pay you back somehow, I couldn’t have you do so much for me and give you nothing in return.”
"How about we start with a hug." She said in all seriousness, giving his hands a gentle but sure squeeze. "You can give me a hug, and we'll call that…an installment." Bringing one of her hands up to her mouth, she pressed a kiss to his, arching an eyebrow at him as her eyes sparkled.
His mind seemed to draw a blank, the soft kiss taking him out of his senses for a moment. “A hug… th-that would be alright. I’l give you a hug for it…” He mumbled, stuttering over his words as he tried to hide his blushing face.
"Perfect. Oh dear, you look a bit red. Are you alright, hallaski?" She asked, the teasing note lining her voice giving her a slight purr, a sound like the tiger sitting outside the tent might make. "Should we get you out of bed? Maybe you're too warm. Unless…I wouldn't be the cause of that, would I?"
A low, growl-like sound left the runaway-prince's throat as she continued to tease him. "No. It's just too hot in here." He rumbled in embarrassment, his pride confronting her tease. He didn't want to admit she made his mind blank and his heart flutter. She knew far too much of how much he felt towards her already.
"Oh, that's good to here." She hummed, his growl only lifting the corner of her mouth in a sly smile. "So if I were to, say-" She wriggled a bit, pressing herself against his chest and leaning her head in close enough to brush his nose with her own. "-move a bit closer, would you mind, or not? Or would that not really help the warmth?"
Nordali was sure the heat radiating from his face could be felt by Amira as close as she was. He sucked in a breath and studied the close proximity of her face. She was beautiful in everyday and he just couldn't focus on anything else. "Mind…? I don't, no I don't mind… Thought I think it's making me a little more warm…"
“You know, if you want me to move, I will.” Amira said, tilting her head so that her lips were damn near brushing his, still just too far away. “All you have to do is say the word, darling.” Who knew a few innocent kisses could turn him into a red faced mess? An interesting turn of events, for sure.
For a split second his eyes closed, his whole body just feeling her next to him. He had never thought of anyone in any sort of romantic way but Amira seemed to have broken that. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her, to close the gap between them even if it was momentary.
“And what if I don’t want you to move…” he managed to croak out, eyes flickering down to her lips as an eagerness filled his face. “I-I like having you close…”
“Then you’re going to have to make that obvious, Zar.” She said softly, noting the direction of his gaze. “You want me to stay next to you? Prove it.” She was absolutely messing with him, baiting him into making the first move that she desperately wanted one of them to make. If that look meant anything, it was a yes. But that was up to him to decide.
He let out a soft sound, one that was a mix of tangled emotions, and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Amira.” He murmured gently before he closed the gap between them and pressed his lips to her’s
Maybe she was. But it was a game she was absolutely willing to play. Especially for an end result like this. She hummed in acknowledgement, more a happy sound than anything, as she reached up to press a hand to the side of his face as she pressed happily into the kiss just a bit.
Nordali wasn’t a bad kisser at all, despite his inexperience. Rather, he was soft and gentle in all the best ways, holding out the kiss in a sensual manner that left him hooked on her like a sweet drug he would never want to forget.
His fingers found her hair after a moment of resting on her back, tangling carefully into the locks.
Amira was fairly certain she’d never been kissed like this. Sure, she’d had good kisses, but none of them had so successfully wiped her kind of any and all thought. For someone obviously new to this, he sure was incredible at it.
As his fingers tangled in her hair, a small noise was drawn out of her. That was definitely something no one had done, and she was obviously loving it.
As much as Nordali wanted to kiss her forever and ever, he pulled gently back, checking her face for any signs of regret or horror. He didn’t find any, however.
A soft smile graced his lips as he kissed the corners of her mouth a few times. “Are you sure you aren’t some sort of succubus?” He teased gently. “Some siren come to kill me? Or maybe you have some secret love potion.” Nordali was completely joking, stroking her hair with a loving gaze.
Amira let out another one of those soft giggle sounds as he kissed the corners of her mouth, unable to keep the bright smile off her face. “Last I checked, that was a no to all of those, sorry to disappoint.” She said, huffing a small laugh. “Just a girl.”
“Oh I’m not disappointed at all.” He replied mischievously, peppering kisses across her face. “In fact I’m delighted to have just Amira at my side. I happen to really like her. And although the idea of some siren seducing me sounds like an adventure, I’d rather it be Amira who falls for me:”