She’d almost stabbed him again.
But it didn’t mean they hadn’t spent the last two nights at sea getting to know each other’s bodies in the ways that they could.
Aya shut down the memory of his lips trailing down her chest, her stomach,lower, and snatched his hand, muttering something about payback as her cheeks heated.
‘Oh, I look forward to it,’ Will purred.
‘Let me focus,’ she snapped, pressing her lips together to fight off her smile. She ran her thumb over the scar, tracing the thin ridge slowly. She paused, biting her lip as she looked up at him. ‘You’re sure?’
Will simply squeezed her hand. ‘Undoubtedly.’
She didn’t ask him why. He had given her space to sort through her own mess – she would give him the same. Especially when it came to Gianna. He owed her no explanations.
Aya closed her eyes and focused on the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips. She reached for that healing light, coaxing it until it grew, until she could feel the light flaring from her as she focused on that scar – on removing the pain of that vow.
The vow he had made for her.
To protect her.
To be near her.
Even if he had to make her hate him in the process.
She’d fallen for him anyway. For his cunning and his loyalty. For his confidence and his courage. For his willingness tofeel. To live. To be. He had chipped away at the ice she had kept wrapped around herself for years. Had blown heat into her very soul.
Aya opened her eyes, her thumb tracing the smooth skin of his palm.
Will gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his gray eyes bright as he pulled her toward him. ‘Thank you,’ he murmured, his lips coasting across her jaw. His hands moved to her hips, and Aya bit back a small sound as he kissed the space beneath her ear. ‘I have one more request.’ His voice was low, and it heated her blood as he nipped at her skin.
‘Someone’s feeling greedy,’ Aya breathed. She felt Will grin against her neck, his hand trailing from her hip to her leg.
‘When it comes to you? Always.’ Air rushed in as he stepped back, the knife she’d strapped to her thigh now in his hand. She blinked. She hadn’t even felt him take it.
‘Ass,’ Aya muttered.
Will flipped the blade, handing the handle to Aya. ‘Let me take a new oath.’
She glanced to the outstretched blade, then back to his face, her eyes widening as his request sank in. She shook her head as she took a step back.
‘I can’t ask that of you—’
‘You didn’t.’ He dropped the blade and reached forward to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, his thumb skimming her cheek as he cocked his head. Considering her. Reading her. ‘Of course, ifyouhave objections—’
‘I don’t,’ Aya interrupted. But he had hated the oath to the Dyminara.
Perhaps because it hadn’t been to the Dyminara. Not really. It had been to Gianna.
‘I don’t have objections,’ Aya said. ‘I just have a condition.’
‘A condition,’ he repeated.
‘Yes.’
‘By all means,’ Will drawled, his arms folding across hischest. ‘Negotiate away, Aya love.’ She slid her hands up his arms, letting them meet at the base of his neck as she stepped closer.
‘Together,’ was all she said. Will’s eyes flared as he registered her meaning. He scanned her face, as if searching for the proof there.
‘You’re sure?’ he breathed.
