“You made a noise like you were dying,” Theo smiled at Lyra, lying down next to her, “and then made the cutest little sigh as you came back to. It was adorable.”
“Oh god,” Lyra groaned, rolling her eyes. She pretended to try and move away from Theo. “All right, you’ve ruined the moment. Never call me or my orgasms ‘cute’ ever again.”
Theo bit his lip, smirking and trying to keep his laughter to a minimum. He wrapped his arms around Lyra and pulled her closer to him, rejoicing internally when she didn’t protest.
“Of course,” he pretended to agree solemnly. “You’re always terrifying. The scariest.”
“That’s better,” Lyra huffed. Her indignation was greatly outweighed by the way she curled into Theo’s chest and fell asleep.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Despite Theo's personal preferences, the sun rose the next morning, bright and early. He turned over and tugged the edge of the sleeping bag, surprised to find something or someone hogging the other end of it.
It took Theo's sleepy mind a moment or two to come back online and realize it was Lyra, curled up against him and sharing the sleeping bag. She had spent every other night in the water, and he'd somehow completely forgotten falling asleep together the night before. He froze, studying the sleeping woman in his arms.
He'd never seen Lyra asleep, looking so peaceful. In fact, he could count on both hands the number of times he'd seen her truly smile. A sleeping, serene Lyra was like looking at one of the lost wonders of the ancient world. Her eyelashes fluttered against her high cheekbones as she dreamed, undoubtedly of diminishing lesser men, her fingers loose and draped across Theo's chest. His heart was racing, and he attempted to will it to slow down, but not much these days was going according to Theo’s will, and this was no exception.
Theo waited as long as he dared, watching the sun rise above the water, the sounds of the forest around them slowly coming tolife. They had to be on the road before long, but he put off waking Lyra until the last possible moment.
“Lyra?” Theo asked gently, his voice barely above a whisper, his hand resting on her shoulder. “Lyra, we need to wake up now.”
Lyra grunted and shook her head, tucking her hands under her chin and burying further in the crook of Theo's neck.
Gods help me, he thought, his will tested with every second Lyra spent curling closer and closer to him, the cold, crisp air of a Scottish morning much less appealing than the warm sleeping bag they currently shared.
“Lyra, it's best we get moving,” he prodded again. This time, he earned a small hiss from Lyra.
“Good to know you have weaknesses then,” Theo chuckled, amused by Lyra's grumpy, sleepy expression. “All someone has to do to get the best of you is to fight with you before noon.”
That, to Theo's correct assumption, pulled Lyra from her dozing. She sat up straight, practically jumping to attention, and barely avoided damaging Theo’s future ability to have children.
“How dare you?” Lyra sneered.
Theo noticed there was much less heat in it than in all the other times she had sneered at him, which were plenty.
“I’m sorry,” Theo grinned, not remotely apologetic as he climbed out of the sleeping bag, “but you'd be just as mad at me if I didn't wake you up. If we don't start moving, I’m sure, well…” Theo looked around at the suspiciously still river. “I actually don’t know what would happen, but I'm sure you'll tell me.”
Lyra narrowed her eyes at him, but didn't argue. “You're right. We do need to get?—”
“I’m sorry?” Theo stepped closer to Lyra, cupping his hand around his ear. “What was that?”
Lyra crossed her arms over her chest. “You have to be kidding. Please tell me you are not this immature.”
“I didn't hear you.” Theo was smiling from ear to ear. “Would you mind repeating that, please?”
Lyra took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, closing her eyes as she did so. Theo had never imagined that one day he'd take such a delight out of intentionally antagonizing someone, but his banter with Lyra was enjoyable for a multitude of reasons. The greatest of which was how beautiful Theo thought Lyra looked when she was angry.
“You are right.” Lyra sounded out the words, speaking slowly as if she were speaking a foreign language that Theo didn't understand. He was still grinning like a happy child at the admission, unbothered by Lyra's attempts to downplay it.
“Ah, I thought that was what you said.” Theo shrugged. “Carry on.”
Lyra looked ready to murder Theo, and the thrill of danger awakened parts of him in ways that he was sure Lyra wouldn’t appreciate. That assumption was incorrect, but it wasn't the time for those things.
“We can't stay in one place for very long,” Lyra continued, “especially after the kelpie. It seems the bounty on your head is just too damn good for some folks to ignore.”
Including myself,Lyra's thoughts stabbed at her heart, reminding her that, of all the people who were going after Theo, she was the worst. She was pretending to be his friend. More than that, based on the night they’d spent together already.
“Lead the way.” Theo agreed easily, bending down to start packing up their campsite.
