BRIGID
You are so dangerous to me.
My hand hovered above Torion's sleeping face, tracing the shadow of stubble that'd grown over his jaw in the night, down to the long tendon of muscle in his throat. The sun hadn't risen over the horizon yet, but night had eased away enough for me to make out the thick of his lashes, the lock of hair that plastered to his cheek, engraved there by his pillow.
His wings were stretched out behind him, and his bare skin was pressed to my side, heating me through my shift. I'd woken with my toes still tucked against his calves. His arm was heavy over my belly, elbow bent so his hand cupped the outside of my breast.
We'd fallen asleep still kissing.
This was terror and temptation, so easy to fall into it made my heart thrash in protest. Was it too late? Had I already let myself enjoy this man too much to brace against the disappointment when it came?
Biting my lip and eyeing the first rosy glow out the window, I started to twist away, inching to the edge of the bed.
Torion's arm tightened around me, hand shamelessly squeezing my breast.
"No," he growled, his other arm snaking under my hip, tugging me back into the long stretch of his body. His cock prodded against my bottom, but he didn't grind against me.
"It's time to get up," I said, fighting the urge to wiggle into him.
"I know, but…no," he answered, burrowing his face into my hair, his hands moving over my belly and arms wrapping me in a tight hug. "Another minute like this first."
I squeezed my eyes shut. He was too sweet. It crushed me. It showed me all the ways Malcolm had truly demonstrated how little interest he'd really had in me.
"I'm sorry," Torion sighed out, and I flinched. "You're so tense. I shouldn't?—"
"No," I blurted out, covering his hands with one of mine, forcing myself to relax against him once more. "You just…surprise me sometimes."
Torion hummed, but I was grateful he didn't ask me to explain myself for once. His chin tucked over my shoulder, breath stroking down my chest, our fingers tangling together beneath the sheet.
"I'd like there to be a feast at the keep after the selection ceremony," Torion murmured, his voice so deep and soft, it sank into my bones, into my core, warming me from the inside out.
The selection ceremony. Where he promised not to choose an omega to replace me. I tried not to care.
"I'll make sure we're ready," I said. "But I… It's time to gather certain herbs from the woods. I know I might not be doing so much healing lately, but I would still like to be prepared. I usually gather near the cottage, but I think I could find some of what I need nearby."
"Let me fly you," Torion said.
I tried to look at him but ended up just bumping our noses together and receiving a soft peck of his mouth against mine. "Don't you have something you need to do?"
He huffed a laugh against my jaw, nuzzling his scruff into my throat until I shivered. "I've been busy because I like to be. Today, I can be busy helping you. Besides, you should check on your cottage. I've had a man visiting, keeping an eye on it, but you'll know if there's anything else that needs doing there."
Please don't, I thought.Please don't be so kind. Please don't help me. Please don't make me spend the day so close to you.
My daily reprieves from Torion's tender company had been keeping me sane, keeping me from sinking into the ease he created between us. But flying would save time, and I had been gone too long. And I needed to plan a feast here at the keep now too.
"Brigid?"
"Hm?" I was frowning as he pulled away and rolled me gently onto my back, my head still trying to stomp away fondness and feelings as he appeared above me, perfectly handsome and rumpled.
"There's somethingI'vebeen meaning to do too," he said.
I blinked at him stupidly. He grinned and tossed the sheet back.
"Spread your legs for me, omega."
My breath caught in my chest. I hadn't really thought he'd meant the promise to start a morning kissing me between my legs. I'd been almost afraid to let him do it again, afraid of how good it felt, how much I liked his mouth there and his eyes staring up at me.
But not so afraid that I hesitated for even a moment to do as he asked.
