Another awesome chapter! The it's-not-a-date date to the museum. I love seeing this much progress in Remin and Tano's relationship in such a short time. It's so exciting. And Orinakin and Bade are almost home! Yay! Here are some of my favorite TanoRe parts:
There was a moment of silence as everyone absorbed and ruminated. Remin felt Ilanosa’s presence and almost instinctively glanced around the room, wondering if there were a budding romance nearby.
This cracked me up. One day, Remin will look back and think to himself "Man, I really was dense." He's so focused on everyone else that he doesn't even think to apply something like that to himself. I don't think he realizes how significant his friendship with Tano is.
“Ah, Tano,” Remin murmured, and hugged him. “If I didn’t have the gods to keep me honest, I would still have you to keep my feet on the right path.”
Le sigh... And the Kudorin going to Desin for a hug because he just had to hug somebody was adorable.
“Tano.” Prince Remin’s smooth, authoritative, marvelously sexy voice was low and amused. “People are staring.”
“People watch you wherever you go. You must be used to it.”
“True.” Prince Remin conceded the point with a note of amusement in his voice. One hand rose from Naritano’s shoulder and-
-oh, ah, oh-
-Prince Remin’s fingers ran lightly through Naritano’s hair, just above his nape, fingertips brushing his scalp-
-and Naritano shuddered with lust, barely biting back a groan, gasping softly and pulling away, needing to back up, needing to turn aside and inhale and not come in his pants, oh, gods above-
-gods above-
-and Prince Remin chuckled, turning away. “Come, Tano. I want to show you the display on what our ancestors ate.”
How remarkable was that? I found it astounding on a several levels. One, it was very public. Two, it was very intimate. Three, Remin did it with no anxiety, no trepidation about taking a man into his arms, no uncertainty about Naritano. Four, Remin obviously knew the effect he had on Tano and he welcomed it, enjoyed it. And five, he didn't make an excuse to part from Tano's company to recover. He just let the moment be the lovely moment it was and continued showing his friend around the museum. How extraordinary!
And this was wicked hot:
He heard the gentle, encouraging tones of Prince Remin’s beautifully manipulative voice in quiet greeting to someone, polite conversation, a warm blessing. Then, quietly, masterfully, “Come, Tano.” And, helplessly, Naritano obeyed.
*delighted shiver*
I also enjoyed Selorin's impromptu boyfriend selection and Desin's wrestling match. Orinakin and Bade's moment on the balloon was lovely, too, but I feel bad that Orinakin is so deeply affected by missing parts of his brothers' lives. It makes me think, though, that his and Bade's arrival will coincide with much more rapid, line-crossing progress in Remin and Tano's relationship. I don't think that the gods would let Orinakin and Remin be apart during such a significant development. Orinakin was home for Talin's engagement and betrayal, home for Kudorin and Xio Voe's courtship, and he was even there when Anosanim and Ritek got together.
