The kissing was good. No, the kissing was sublime. They had never done this before, necking in public like a couple of teenagers. On the Chain Bridge, even under cover of the night, neither of them dared to so much as cop a feel, so they kissed it out instead, slowly, lusciously, savoring each other as if just finding out about each other.

"Come home with me," Everett murmured when they came up for air.

Shuri moaned in regret. "I cannot."

"Please, Shuri. Come on. Let's go. We can be in my bed in less than seven minutes."

"Stop tempting me."

"Now why would I want to do that?"

"Because I have things to do tomorrow. And because this is how we got into trouble in the first place. Remember? Bedding each other before we even knew each other?"

"Give me a pop quiz. I've been studying you for the past three years."

"Do you mean to say you can tell me everything you have learned about me in only seven minutes?"

"Ten minutes," he said. "I'll drive slowly."

She laughed in delight at his audacity. "You are incorrigible."

"And you are irresistible."

"That may well be, but I am afraid you must resist me. I have no intention of going home with you tonight."

"If that's the case, if you really weren't meaning to start something, then why did you wear this little dress?"

"Ah, so you remembered. I was lucky to even find it. You did rather destroy the first one."

"I promise I won't destroy this one. I'll slide it from your shoulders gentle as anything. I'll even hang it up before -"

"Before?"

"Honestly, right now what I want more than anything is for you to ride my face wearing nothing but these boots. How did you ever get these on? They're like a second skin on you."

"Invisible zippers up the back."

"Oh..."

"When the boots come off, they leave lines up the backs of my legs, like the seams in a pair of stockings."

"Jesus, Shuri ... I am in honest-to-God pain right now. Let's go, please, okay?"

"I feel for your pain, truly I do, but you will have to tend to it yourself tonight."

"Only if you're there to watch."

"Everett!"

"My God, I've missed you. I've missed your laugh, and I've missed your scent, and I've missed this strand of baby hair that curls in the opposite direction of all your other baby hair. I've missed you. All of you. Every inch of you. Every taste and sound and texture of you."

"Such sweet words. Are you trying to seduce me?"

"Of course I am. Try to keep up. Have you missed me, my princess? Please tell me you have. Even if you have to lie."

"I do not have to lie. I have missed you, my Everett. I have missed this dimple, and I have missed the way your voice drops when you want me, and I have missed the way you hold my hips as you are holding them now. As you say, I have missed all of you, every inch of you. Every taste and sound and texture."

"Then come home with me."

"Do you think if you keep asking my answer will change? Take me back to your coffee house at once. I must gather the Dora Milaje and return to my hotel."

"Cruel woman. When will I see you again?"

"When you come to Wakanda. The new airport is open, you know. There is a direct flight from Berlin."

"And you'll see me if I come?"

"Of course. We are married, after all."

"And then?"

"And then," she said, "you will court me in the time-honored fashion ... chastely, and with deference to my station, my family, and the tribal council."

"Wait, what?"

"Are you not up to it?" Shuri asked. "Very well. Stay in Budapest. I am sorry to have wasted your time."

"Shuri ..."

"Everett?"

"I'll book my ticket first thing tomorrow."