He glances at the springs again, and his heart accelerates.
Does he want to go in the water?
The thought tightens something in her belly as both their hearts race.
“We should get back on the train.” He extinguishes his flames and steps toward the open doorway behind her, keeping his gaze on the ground.
“Cerian,” she says softly. “Don’t run.”
Just Be Mine
Episode 54
Cerianbreathesoutslowlybefore looking up at Arisanna. The cabin rises from the snow behind her as steam from the hot springs curls around the overhanging eaves of the chalet, as she called it.
“I love you,” she says softly as she steps toward him. “You are and always will be safe with me.”
She shivers in the cold air, and he castigates himself. She’s hardly dressed for snow with that scandalous dress of hers.
“Come here.” He holds out his arms, and as she snuggles against his chest, he lets heat flow through him, encircling her in a pillow of warm air.
“Mmm. Thank you,” she murmurs.
He rests his cheek against her hair but says nothing.
Why is this so hard? He planned it all in his head, though he imagined their lake rather than hot springs and snow. But the words were there on his tongue, waiting for him to say them.
And when the time came, he ran back to the train instead.
It doesn’t help that thoughts of Elowyn keep intruding on his mind. It’s hard to focus on this moment when he’sstill shaken from what happened and worried that his vision was an omen that something is wrong.
But he can’t do anything about Elowyn from the heartlanding.
“I love you,” Arisanna whispers against his chest again.
The words threaten to stick in his throat, but he pushes them out anyway. “I love you, too.”
She snuggles even closer, and he sends her more heat.
He should just say it. Ask her to go in the hot springs with him. That would keep her warm.
Whistling wind. Suddenly, the idea seems presumptuous. She kissed him. Ran her fingers over his ears. Curled up with him to sleep.
But...
“Yes.” Her voice is muffled against his leathers, and he frowns. Is she talking about the springs? He didn’t even ask her yet.
“Yes?”
“Always yes.”
Does she even know what she’s agreeing to?
“Arisanna, I—”
“Yes.”
A smile sneaks up on him, and he buries his face in her hair. It smells like that honey-laced soap here in the heartlanding, too.
