“Come, let’s go. I know a place,” he says.
He lifts me back onto his horse and hops up behind me. Now that the shock has worn off, I can’t help but notice the way his body envelops mine. He’s hard and warm and . . . hard. I blush, grateful he can’t see in the dark.
It’s only natural. Our bodies are cramped together on this horse and every jolt makes me rub up against him. It’s just his body’s response.
Thinking it might help, I lean forward a little, but all I manage to do is grind my rear against his hardness. A grunt comes out of him, but he seems too polite to complain. If anything,myface turns an even brighter shade of red.
Lovely. What a great start to our elopement.
The silence is awkward, so I break it. “How close are we?”
“It’s not too much farther,” he grits out.
“I’m sorry, I don’t ride much,” I admit. “I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable.”
He laughs. “It’s fine, love. Just try to relax—it will make it a little less bumpy.”
I try my best to sink into him, his arm holding me tightly enough that I won’t fall.
We finally make it to a clearing in the woods. It must be a common enough place to rest, as there is a firepit in the middle encircled by charred stones. Large logs are set around it, providing seating for weary travelers.
“How do you know about this place?” I ask.
“Believe it or not, this is a popular spot for some of the younger members of court to get away, especially during the spring months when the evenings are warmer. We light fires and dance and drink the night away.”
“Sounds fun,” I say. Not that I would know. I hardly ever leave the house; I certainly would never attend a court party in the woods.
Kian hops off his horse and reaches up for me. I grab hold of his arms as he takes his time lowering me to the ground. My breasts brush up against his chest, and the tingles that shoot through me are almost embarrassing. Once again, I’m grateful for the dark, my face surely a beacon of redness.
His hands gently squeeze my waist before he steps back and goes to tie up his horse.
I take a seat on one of the logs and look up at the moon and stars. They glitter, almost as if Luna approves of the evening’s shenanigans.
Kian comes back with an armful of branches that he throws into the pit, and I jump to my feet. “Do you need help?”
“I’ve got it, love. Just take a seat and I’ll have a fire going in no time.”
“Okay,” I say meekly. It’s kind of nice having someone take care of things—take care of me—again.
Kian returns with another armful of wood, and after depositing it, he cocks his head, likely noticing the way my arms are wrapped around myself and rubbing at the thin material of my dress. In my rush to get away, I forgot to grab a cloak. “Here,” he removes his own and drapes it over my shoulders before I can protest. “I’m sorry. I should have offered sooner,” he admits.
“I didn’t ask.”
“You shouldn’t have to,” he scoffs. “Hells, I’m already doing a bang-up job as a husband, aren’t I?”
I can’t help the small laugh that comes out of me. “We’re not bound yet, Kian.”
“We will be.” His devilish grin sets something alight in my stomach. Hells. I can’t fall for my soon-to-be husband.
Chapter Twenty-Four
KIAN
After arranging the wood in the pit, I grab a flint from one of the saddlebags and make quick work of lighting the fire. The evening is only growing colder, and we still have quite a few hours until dawn.
I tried to prepare as best I could for this night. Alex was sent to procure a priestess and will meet us at first light just outside the city. The last thing I expected was to find Raelyn hanging off the roof. The way my heart almost stopped in my chest . . . I throw up a quick thanks to the gods that she’s all right and that Phantom and I were able to catch her. For a moment there, I thought she’d changed her mind.
With the fire coming to life, I grab the bedroll and the rest of the supplies I brought with me. Raelyn arches a brow as I set the roll down near the fire and begin arranging a picnic for the two of us.
