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He kissed me with desperation and once I got over my shock, I kissed him back with the same fervor. My hands slid up his chest and around his neck, pulling him closer.
He broke the kiss, pulling back enough so he could press his forehead to mine.
“I tried not to care about you, and you fought me every step of the way making it easy. I almost succeeded until you risked everything including your life to save me and my people.” He breathed in through his nose, like he could pull me into his body. “I care about you. Regardless of my past or yours. I need you close. Your presence calms the wolf inside. I’ve embraced this curse, resigning myself to an uncertain future,until you entered my life. Caring about someone caused all of this but I can’t stay away.”
I took a breath, unsure how to handle his declaration. I’m glad we aren’t butting heads any longer. He’s a good man, one my father trusted but this was happening very quickly. We went from hating each other to relying on and needing the other in the space of a few weeks.
Is this how love worked?
My father used to say that he knew immediately when he met my mother that she was meant for him. They hadn’t started off as enemies though.
“I care about you too.” I admitted, then plowed on, determined to speak my mind. “I’m glad we aren’t enemies anymore and I look forward to figuring everything out together. But…remember to be patient with me on this.” I gestured from his chest to mine. “I want to explore where this could go but I’ve never done anything…”
“Shhh, Arrow. We’ll go slow. Get to know each other. There’s more to me than what you’ve seen, and I know there’s more about you that I don’t know. Consider this a friendship.”
“Friends that occasionally kiss?” I smiled, admitting to him that I enjoyed kissing him. Probably too much.
“Occasionally?” He chuckled, then pressed his lips to mine again. “Let’s get some rest.”
I nodded, then began to take off my bison cloak, thanking Brex and the Gods silently that I wasn’t wearing a corset. My dress was next, leaving me in just my undergarments that were loose and comfortable.
Turning I found Einri’s back to me, giving me privacy. I scurried to the mound of furs and blankets on the ground, laying down so Einri could turn around.
“I’m decent.” I announced, running my hands over the soft fur that I’d pulled over me.
Einri turned around, shrugged off his cloak then kicked off his boots. He eyed me then shrugged and pulled his shirt over his head leaving his chest bare. I let out a squeak then rolled over to face the tent wall, my cheeks aflame.
I could feel his amusement at my reaction, but he didn’t comment on it thank goodness. I’d seen his bare chest before, but it was different now that we’d acknowledged our mutual attraction. How was I going to sleep in the same tent, let alone the same bed with him?
The fur lifted and I felt him slide under the furs, the temperature rising with his impressive body heat. A shudder worked through my body as warmth seeped deep into my bones. I sighed, finding my eyes so heavy with tiredness that I almost forgot about Einri.
He slid closer, curling his larger body around my smaller one, his arm draped over my hip. I hummed appreciatively as my body soaked up his warmth, relaxing my muscles I basically melted into his embrace. Forgetting the fact he was hardly dressed.
“Sleep, Arrow.” He whispered in my ear.
I fell asleep before I could tell him that he couldn’t order me around.
* * *
A minuteafter I closed my eyes, I’m being woken up by Einri extracting himself from the furs. I groan, reaching to pull him back into the warmth. He was better than any fire I’ve ever had.
“Where are you going?” I asked groggily.
“Tuck just got back.” He replied, pulling on his boots.
“And Will?” I sat up reaching for my dress.
“He’s with him but it sounds like he didn’t come willingly.” Einri replied, pulling his shirt over his head.
I cursed, standing and pulling my dress over my head. I grabbed my cloak next wishing it was thicker, the temperature outside had dropped even lower, and I found myself fighting to keep my teeth from chattering.
“Here.” Einri said, grabbed my cloak and wrapped one of the furs around me then fastened my cloak over it. “I’ll get you warmer clothes even if I have to make it myself.”
Imagining Einri’s big hands trying to sew by firelight brought a smile to my face.
The fur was still warm and seemed to hold heat better than my cloak. Maybe I’d make a cloak out of fur. That thought reminded me of Rekker and his men wearing wolf cloaks from rogues they killed. I imagined Ruby’s russet coat being turned into a cloak and it made my blood boil just thinking about it.
“Let’s go.” I said, pushing the tent flap open.
