United Eden by Nicole Williams Page A

that sad puppy face you have that youre deprived. She looked up at him with a heavily lidded expression. But I know better. She turned his exaggerated frown over with a lingering kiss. Come on, she instructed pul ing on him. You wil be greatly rewarded for your assistance.
    Joseph fol owed her, shrugging his shoulder into Wil iams as he passed. See you guys in a few, or whenever you decide to stop pretending to be utterly, sickeningly enamored by each other. He stared at the two of us entwined on the dance floor before lurching forward from a yank from Cora.
    A few paces away, Cora came to a screeching halt. Looking back at me, I knew whatever she had to say wasnt going to be to my liking. Oh, and Bryn? she said, sugar-coating her tone. I might have forgotten to mention that youre not al owed to see Wil iam until your Unity ceremony.
    What?! I shrieked, sure Id heard her wrong or she was teasing . . . or exaggerating. Please tel me youre not serious.
    Oh, I most certainly am, Cora replied, eliciting a moan from both Wil iam and me. Another ancient tradition. It makes the Unity ceremony that much more special going without seeing each other during the Betrothal period. She was grinning in a wistful kind of way. I could have strangled her.
    So you better enjoy tonight because, come sunrise, you two are official y cut off from each other, Cora said, pul ing her earrings out and sliding them into Josephs pocket. Stil looking forward to that long, drawn out Betrothal, Bryn? she asked, reviewing my expression.
    Words were difficult to form in this shel -shocked state, but in my desperation I found a few. Cora? I cal ed out as she and Joseph continued towards the exit. She looked back at me, knowing shed won. Do you think we could get a Unity ceremony put together by tomorrow night? I asked, only somewhat teasing.
    Theres the Bryn I know and love, she yel ed across the room. Dont worry, wel get this thing rol ing. You can count on me.
    Wil iam nuzzled my head back from his chest, his face glowing. You want to be United with me tomorrow night?
    Tomorrow morning if it means not seeing you until we are, I answered, mirroring his expression.
    There is something so sexy about knowing you cant stand to be away from me as much as I cant stand to be away from you, he said, his voice low. It makes me want to ditch this party and Coras just-announced after party.
    The vibrations of his voice heavy in my ear sent tingles down my spine. Something tel s me that the certainty weve been given tonight would upend our threadbare restraint. I dont think we better chance being alone.
    You just denied me, he stated, sounding appal ed, but his eyes were excited. Even sexier. His words came out muffled as they positioned at the height of my neck, journeying down . . . and down”
    Eh-hmmmm, one of Wil iams guards announced himself, looking uncomfortable interrupting our moment.
    Yes, Max? Wil iam asked, barely removing his lips from my col arbone. He obviously didnt care how uncomfortable the guard or I, for that matter, was.
    Might I inquire as to how much longer youre planning on staying here? Max asked, eyes circumnavigating the room, mine fol owing suit. Save for the four guards interspersed around the dance floor, several members of the orchestra clasping their cases closed, and a couple dozen waiters, the place was empty. The world Wil iam and I created had eclipsed into the realm of ignorance to everything around us and that was dangerous. A room of hundreds of Immortals had emptied out and wed been none the wiser.
    Wed have to make more of an effort to pul ourselves from our blissful bubble of there being no one else in the world except for us.
    It seems we real y know how to clear a room, Wil iam said, scanning the room with me. Ready to move on to the next place?
    If we have to, I sighed, al owing him to lead me from the dance floor we hadnt left since our Betrothal was announced.
    My sentiments exactly, he grinned back at me, nodding over to