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“I hope you don’t mind the golem, Lady Sorceress,” Liam said softly. Of course his sharp warrior’s eyes would notice me checking for attack. “I borrowed it from a friend. Some people don’t like it, but with you being a sorceress and all…”
“It’s fine. Totally fine.”
“Let’s go then.” Liam stopped. Turned back and touched my cheek with reverence. “This night—it means everything to me, Lady Sorceress,” he whispered with rough passion.
“Jennifer,” I said.
“Lady?”
“The other name—that’s what the fae call me.”
“Of course, Jynnfahr. Thank you for that privilege.”
I restrained myself from rolling my eyes when he turned his back to climb on the horse and managed a smile for him when he held down a hand for me to mount behind him. I settled in, wrapping my arms around him for stability. Fortunate that he hadn’t wanted me in front of him. That might have led to groping and, well, I just wasn’t quite in the mood, yet. Never mind that the image of Dragonfly wilting on the front of Titania’s horse still haunted me.
This is a mistake.
This is important research and don’t you dare chicken out now.
“Second thoughts?” Liam asked softly.
I turned my cheek into his woolish cloak. It smelled of leather and man, sweat and horse. Not unpleasant. Liam’s horse had a smooth gait and the night flew past.
“No.” I barely whispered it.
“Lady—I mean, Jen?”
“No.” I said it louder. “Just anxious to get there.”
Liam chuckled. A satisfied, masculine sound.
I could hear the waves crashing on the shore by the time we pulled up at a dark cottage. Liam held out an arm for me to steady myself as I dismounted. He swung down and brought the reins around to tie off the horse on a stunted tree in front. My hand slid into my cloak pocket, fingers wrapping around the now-familiar dagger handle. Just as Liam had taught me.
Nothing like making yourself vulnerable to the guy who taught you everything you know about hand-to-hand. I’d better be ready with some spells.
“Isn’t the enemy camp nearby?” I asked Liam.
He turned to me. “You don’t trust me? Why are you here if you don’t trust me?”
I didn’t know what to say.
“We rode out at a diagonal—the enemy camp is on the other side of the strand.” Liam’s face was stone. “And I think I should take you back now.”
“No!” I grabbed a handful of his cloak. “I’m just…nervous. You know. It’s been a long day.”
Liam softened, tipped the hood of my cloak back and cupped my face with his hands. Two hands at a time, I thought—cheating.
No, this was good. No bargains here. No deceit. Oh, except maybe on my part.Not enough to break an oath, that’s what matters.
I held still as Liam lowered his bronze head. Then, better, slid my hands into his parted cloak and set them on his waist. He grunted in satisfaction and kissed me.
A soft brush of his lips, followed by deeper kisses, urging me to my earlier heat. He’d shaved smooth now and smelled of what I would have called bay rum in my old world. I opened my mouth to him, and he kissed me deeply.
I tried to give over to it. Waited for the swimming spin of desire.
Not quite there.
“Let’s go inside. I’ll build you a fire and we can do this properly.”
