As they finished the last of their coffee, Leia leaned forward and reached for his mug. "You can stay here. I'll be back soon," she said softly, rising to her feet.
Before she could take a step, Lucien's hand closed gently around her wrist. He stood with her, plucking both mugs from her hands and setting them back on the table.
"The servants are here for such things," he murmured, closing the gap between them. His gaze lingered on her mouth, then lifted slowly to her eyes, trapping her in place.
Leia swallowed. "What do you want, Lucien?" she asked, though her voice betrayed the fluttering in her chest.
"Perhaps this," he replied.
Before she could draw another breath, his lips brushed against hers. He nibbled gently at her lower lip, his hands sliding down to her waist and drawing her closer. Her eyes fluttered shut as she melted into the kiss, the quiet of the garden wrapping around them, broken only by the soft chorus of birdsong.
