They stood there in the car park for a while longer, neither of them in any real hurry to let go of the moment.
Derek finally pulled back, just enough to look at her properly, and his hand came up to smooth a stray piece of hair away from her face. His eyes moved over her slowly, taking her in, and something in his expression softened.
"You look stunning," he said.
Kira laughed, tilting her chin up at him. "Well, I couldn't exactly turn up looking like I rolled out of bed, could I? I'm representing Dravengard tonight. There's an image to protect."
"Is that so." Derek's mouth curved, and there was that rare glint in his eyes, the one that only ever showed up when it was just the two of them. "And here I thought you dressed up for me."
"Careful," Kira said, poking him lightly in the chest. "Your ego's already the size of this pack house. I'd hate to be the one who made it any bigger."
"My ego," Derek said, "has survived worse things than you, Your Highness."
