He removed his hand and entwined his fingers with my free hand, as the other held my drink. I wasn’t too sure if I could do
any of this as it was, and now we were required to spend the total night together.
“Why is that?” I asked the question before I thought about it fully. “I mean, why must we share a bed together the night
before our wedding? Surely that seems a bit scandalous.”
He laughed and I huffed in response. Surely it wasn’t a silly question. I grew up believing you shouldn’t share a bed with
anyone until you were married to that person. But I guess it was a bit redundant, seeing as though I’d already been forced to do
that.
“There’s no need to laugh at me!” I scoffed, standing up and walking to the fire. Despite being already warm to the touch, I
needed to feel the extra heat.
“I’m not laughing at you. I am just laughing at the fact any woman would kill to share a bed with me, and as always—in
Ornella fashion—you keep me on my toes.”
I heard the seat shift and his warmth appeared behind me as his pine scent wrapped around me. I kept my arms crossed,
staring into the fire, unsure if I should move aside or stay firmly still. He placed his hands on my shoulders and then ran them
down my arms. His fingers were light to the touch, almost as if he were caressing me with his shadows. I still felt his touch
linger as I dropped my arms to my sides and he took hold of my hands.
Leaning into him with my back against his chest, I could hear his heart beating. His breath caught on my skin as he dropped
his head down to my neck, kissing it lightly, and sending shivers down my spine.
“May I embrace you like this?” he asked, his voice raspy.
I simply nodded and hummed, closing my eyes. We stood there quietly listening to the crackle of the wood as it burnt in the
fire. The rain lightly tapped against the windowpane and the flicker of candlelight gave the room a warm glow.
One minute he was telling me he didn’t want me or want companionship. Then the next he was pressed against me, making
me crave him more.
We weren’t those children in the woods anymore. We were adults locked into a deal, which I still wasn’t sure if it was a
mistake or the Goddess’s doing. Bringing us back together after many years, it all made me question everything in my life.
“It’s hard to breathe sometimes, when you are this close,” I admitted and tried to take a deep breath.
“I know what you mean,” he said lazily.
Letting go of me, he took one of my hands and led me towards the other side of the room. His face seemed sure of what he
was doing and what he wanted. I was sure mine was giving away my nerves and apprehension. We stopped in front of a large
mahogany door, and he then grasped both my hands once again, smiling down at me.
“Ornella, we will go at your pace. But I do believe we should start with the bath. If we get that out of the way, I’m sure we
