Page 91 of Mermaid on Heels
A knowing smile tugged at the corners of Liriya’s lips. “I was confused, uncertain, and scared then.”
The distance between them evaporated as Luke stepped closer, his fingers continuingly grazing her cheek. Liriya’s breath quickened, her gaze fell to his lips again and a sudden yearning for their connection, the possibility of tasting his kiss, aroused in her.
“And now? What do you feel now?” Luke lowered his voice.
Her eyes met his with unwavering certainty. “Certain and burning in love.”
The moment those words escaped her lips, her fate was sealed. A thrill went down Liriya’s spine as the distance between their lips lessened and lessened by each second and finally made contact.
Something in Liriya burst open, love overflowing from her for the man cradling her in his arms. Her heart soared.
Luke’s arms tightened around her, pulling her closer, their bodies pressed against each other as if they were trying to meld into one. His fingers tangled in her hair and Liriya released her grip on his shirt, her fingers sliding up to caress his cheeks, tracing the contours of his face.
The same lips that had kissed her hand, her cheek, forehead, hair, and temple, that had called her name so lovingly so many times before… They were now on her lips, in undeniable softness and warmth, moving in perfect harmony. They molded against hers as if they had been created solely for this purpose—to fit perfectly with hers.
How had she not thought of kissing them before, or being kissed by them, especially after their almost-kiss? Her senses were overwhelmed by the taste and feel of him, and time lost all meaning. They could’ve been standing there for minutes or hours—it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the taste of each other’s lips and the feeling of completeness washing over them.
This kiss felt like a declaration of the emotions they had been somewhat tiptoeing around, declaration of love with each stolen breath, everything finally falling into place.
Liriya broke the kiss when she couldn’t breathe, unwillingly, and Luke rested his forehead against hers. She kept her eyes closed, wildly dizzied from their first kiss, their breaths mingling.
“Liriya,” Luke whispered a moment later, his tongue caressing her name, and all she could think was kissing those lips again.
“Luke,” she whispered back and slowly opened her eyes. She craned her neck, not breaking the contact of their foreheads, and met his eyes. They searched her soul with an intensity that made her feel as though he could see every hidden corner of her heart.
“My beautiful, little mermaid,” he called her lovingly, drawing out each syllable leisurely. Pure adoration shone in his eyes as he cradled her face in one hand. “I’m in love with you—hopelessly, madly, irretrievably in love with you. Tell me you love me. Tell me I have captured your heart. Tell me you’ll never leave my side—ever.”
“Oh, Luke.” His name escaped her lips as a contented sigh, a small smile gracing her lips. “My handsome Luke, my mystery human…” She cupped his face in both of her hands. “I love you.”
Luke’s eyes fluttered close in satisfaction. When he opened them, they shone with tears.
Liriya slid her fingers to his hair and tangled them in his curls, her own eyes dampening. “Yes, you have captured my heart. I think you did that from the moment I saw you underwater, you had my heart all this time, all along. And I promise you, with all my heart, I will never leave your side—ever.”
Tears streamed down her face.
Luke’s fingers caught them and wiped them away with gentleness. His eyes illuminated with contentment. “I have loved you from the moment I saw you, my love—Oh, you have no idea how long I’ve been longing to call you that,my love.” He released a soft chuckle. “You claimed my heart the moment I laid my eyes on you, it was lost to you on the spot and I didn’t want it back. Oh, my love…” He sighed with a smile. “I knew it was you the moment I saw you. How can I ever thank the Creator enough?”
He pressed a long kiss to her lips.
“That makes the two of us,” Liriya agreed in a murmur, heart content with euphoria. She was home, officially home. “When you told me that you saw our future in my eyes, on the first day, I could not accept it. But, that future is all I see when I look at you now—since I realized I was falling in love with you.”
“And when was that?” he asked with a curious, small smile.
“After the archery.”
Luke tilted his head with a mischievous smile. “And I wouldn’t have believed archery was romantic if someone had told me before—before you.”
“That is the thing, Luke,” Liriya agreed with a gentle laugh. “Before you, I did not findanythingromantic. After you, the world I live in became a sea of romance that I wanted to swim in forever.”
“Likewise my love, before you, I was terrified of the idea of marriage—the whole Bridal Selection.” Luke leaned in, brushing his lips against hers. “But after you, it is the most beautiful thing I could ever dream of.”
He leaned back and looked down at her.
“Princess Liriyalda of Pearltuna, the miraculous answer to my prayers, my beautiful little mermaid, I love you with every ounce of me and I swear to love you with every breath I breathe for the rest of my life. I’m supposed to ask you this only on the final day of Selection, but I want to know your answer before I ask it in front of everyone.” Luke paused, before asking, “Will you marry me?”
Liriya’s heart did a backflip and she cried, “Yes, I will! Oh, yes, I will!” just before Luke’s lips met hers in a fierce, passionate kiss.
Chapter 20