With that said, she sped away, her shimmering gold light fading in the distance.
“Bria?”
“I am here,” she called out, hearing the worry in his voice.
“It was so quiet, I grew worried,” he said, dropping down to start a fire with the wood he had gathered.
“That someone hurried off with me,” she said jokingly.
“Aye, and I wasn’t there to stop them.”
He was serious and she went to him, resting her hand on his back. “I would have fought and screamed out for you. I would not have gone peacefully.”
“Know if you were ever taken from me, I would come find you. Nothing would stop me. I would find you.”
It was meant as a vow and she heard as one, though it was not necessary. She knew he would come for her no matter where she was taken and that was what frightened her. For he would join her in death itself and think nothing of it.
“Where do we go from here, since I assume we will not return to Ogga, though do we worry what she may do?”
“The council condemned her to that fortress for a reason. If they stripped her of her place among them, I suspect they also limited what power she could wield beyond its walls.”
“You believe her threats are empty?”
“I believe she remains dangerous and should not entirely be disregarded. She will certainly send someone after us if we don’t return.”
Bria realized then. “You want it to be Braden.”
“I would rather he come to me than I search for him, and I prefer it to be outside of Driochmor.”
“Less magic to contend with,” Bria said, understanding.
“Aye. So, first we see about the pendant, then find a council member so you can learn about the Wise and then?—”
“Take news to the king,” Bria finished.
He shook his head. “You forgot about the troll, but that can wait until tomorrow. Now we eat and get much-needed rest.”
Kaelan was not thinking of rest when later he was stretched out on the ground his wife tucked snug against him and his arm wrapped around her. Desire for her brewed steadily in him and had been easy enough to manage until now, here in the cave alone with her pressed against him. His hand itched to drift over her, get to know all her gentle curves, but he stopped himself.
He could not go from a hasty coupling in a cell with his wife to a quick coupling in a cave. It wasn’t fair to her no matter how hard his manhood was complaining. He needed to be sure that the next time they joined he could take his time and make it memorable for her, not leave her disappointed once again.
“Your desire runs high,” she whispered, her warm breath tickling his neck.
“Bloody hell, Bria, you don’t step inside me, feel what I am feeling without permission,” he scolded.
“It wasn’t intentional. It came on its own. I couldn’t stop it.” She paused for a moment. “And I did not want to.”
“This is no place?—”
“It is the only place we have and my desire for you mounts as well. Will you deny me?”
“This is not how it should be,” he argued.
“How should it be?”
“A warm room to start, a soft bed, softer bedding, and you naked upon it so I could take my time and touch you, come to know every part of you, what you like what you don’t. Tease your nipples with my tongue until they are rock hard, then enjoy them even more.”
Bria wondered if her husband realized his hand was exploring her as he spoke and she closed her eyes, willing an image of him doing just that and wishing she could feel his hands on her naked skin.
