“I love you,” she whispers as she slides her fingers across his temple. “You, Cerian. My elven prince.” His hair is softbeneath her hand. The tips of her fingers graze the base of his ear, and his heart pounds so fast it thrums in her own ears. “My fire wielder.”
His breath hitches, and his eyes slide shut as she caresses the upper edge of that pointed ear of his. A faint moan slips past his lips, and he sways against her.
When she lowers her hand, his eyes flash open, but before he can say anything, she reaches for him.
“Come with me,” she says softly, and he doesn’t resist as she pulls him toward the enclosed part of the treehouse.
She pushes open the small door, and he ducks to avoid hitting his head. It’s cozy inside, with nothing more than a bed lining the back wall, but the room is tidy, and it even has glass windows. It’s free of cobwebs and dust, and it smells fresh. He must have visited right before he left for Nunia.
He probably didn’t expect to be back so soon. Especially not with her.
She kicks off her shoes and lowers herself to the bed, scooting over until her back rests against the wall. It’s a long bed, but it’s not very wide. It was clearly designed with one person in mind.
They’ll be cozy tonight. The thought makes her heart race.
“Come lie down,” she says, and he only hesitates for a moment before sitting on the edge of the bed and unlacing his boots. Setting them aside along with his knapsack, he lies back as she guides his head into her lap.
“Tell me if it’s too much,” she says, and he nods.
Both their hearts pound as she brushes the hair back from his face.
“Just relax,” she whispers.
He’s probably not very good at relaxing, but he breathes out slowly and lets his eyelashes dust his cheeks.
With a gentle touch, she slides her fingers closer to his ears, giving him time and space to anticipate her touch and stop her if it’s too much, but he doesn’t. When the pads ofher thumbs caress the upper edges of his ears, his breath hitches.
She keeps her touch light and gentle at first, unsure exactly how sensitive his ears are, but when she presses a little more firmly, he groans.
His eyes remain closed, and she studies him, watching his reaction to every touch. The edges right beneath the tips of his ears seem to be the most sensitive, and when she focuses her touch there, he almost flies off the bed.
“Too much?” she whispers.
“Don’t stop.” His voice is hoarse, and he presses his ear against her hand.
Stars above. He’s enjoying this.
“I love you, Cerian Westaria. Today and tomorrow and every day until the beating of our hearts fades.”
He blinks his eyes open in the darkening room. His voice catching, he looks up at her and murmurs, “From this moment on, I bind myself to you, Arisanna Montarac. Until my end of days.”
Leaning down, she presses a gentle kiss to his lips. “Happy birthday, my elven prince.”
He kisses her in return, and her stomach flips at his eagerness. But then he drops back and sighs.
“I want...” He searches for the words, and she doesn’t rush him as she plays with his hair. “I can’t...my fire magic. It’s too hot for...for...”
She suspected as much based on the heat growing within him just from doing this. “I know. It’s all right. I’ll be here tomorrow and the next day and forever. There’s no rush. Everything in time. That’s what your mother said the day we met.”
“I do not wish to talk about my mother right now.”
She laughs as she returns her hands to his ears, gentling her touch and avoiding that extra-sensitive spot. His sighs become lighter until his breathing evens. Once he’s asleep, she carefully extricates herself from under him andstretches out on the narrow bed at his side. He stirs enough to wrap his arm around her waist and pull her close. He’s so warm. She won’t grow cold tonight.
“I love you,” he murmurs against her hair.
“Sleep, my elven fire wielder.” She yawns as she nestles closer to his chest. “I’ll see you soon.”
I Want You to Stay
