With a shiver, she shuffled closer, holding her hands out to the flames. That was enough for me. I got to my feet, retrieved my blankets, and then swung them over my shoulders. Fern jumped as I settled myself behind her, going to rise, but an arm around her waist put her right where I wanted her.
On my lap.
Gods, I needed this. Stifling that feeling, I whisked the blankets around the two of us and, sure enough, the shivering stopped. My mouth hovered over the nape of her neck, the need to kiss her pressing hard. Instead, I said, “There. That has you feeling better, doesn’t it?”
“The warmth is welcome.” That prim little voice had me smiling. “The company? Not so much.”
“Well, misery loves company and I…” My grip on her waist tightened. The way her body moulded to mine, the softness, it drove me mad, which is probably why I said this. “I like yours just fine.” Holding her close like this, every second was another blow, destroying my restraint. “So much so I’m putting you in my bedroll for the rest of the night.”
“What?” Her yelp echoed across the campsite and the snuffles from the others had her going perfectly still. “You are not. I’ll go back to my own bed?—”
“Where you’ll keep me awake half the night with the sound of your teeth chattering.” I tightened the blankets around us, hoping to make clear just how snug and warm she’d be if she let this happen. “Take pity on a man who’ll be spending most of the day in the saddle. If I slip and fall, how can I show you the Tomb of Terror?”
“Just to sleep?”
That little voice had me grinning, but I didn’t bother with a verbal reply. Instead, I scooped her up and then carried her over to Slate’s side. My dragon’s eye opened a crack, and he snortedin response to what he saw, then closed it again. I laid Fern down on my bedroll. I might not have Dain’s visions, but my very vivid imagination showed me what this would be like if I were laying her down on my bed at the estate. She’d wear a pretty dress, made just for the handfasting ceremony. She’d be mine, and I’d be hers…
I was getting ahead of myself.
The woman stared up at me from my pallet with a strange mixture of fear and curiosity, and that meant I had to lie down beside her and throw our blankets over us.
“I thought we might sleep in our own blankets,” she hissed. “Surely we can share body heat effectively that way.”
“Not as well as this.”
Tucking her head against my arm, my body against hers, that was what I needed to let out a full breath. The way her face fitted into the hollow of my neck, it was like we were two parts of the same puzzle.
“But—”
“Sleep, Lady Fern. You have all your clothes on and I have most of mine. No impropriety will happen tonight.” My eyes opened a crack as I peered down at her. “Not unless you want it too.”
“You are insufferable!”
Her hands planted against my chest, trying to shove herself away, but I had her now.
And I didn’t intend to let go.
“Insufferable? Yes, but also warm. Focus on that and go to sleep.”
I was about to follow my own suggestion, when I heard a small voice.
“Master Dain, it was a true dream that plagued him, wasn’t it?”
“Probably.” Slowly but surely, my mouth came to rest just above the crown of her head. Fern smelled of roses and sunlight, now my favourite scent. “But we’ve been dealing with his visions and making sure the worst doesn’t happen for yearsnow. Whatever it is, we’ll keep you safe from danger, don’t you worry.”
Strangely, that was what it took for her to go limp in my arms. Soft, sweet and warm, those feelings washed over me, growing and growing until I fell back to sleep. That pleasure, the feeling of rightness infiltrated my dreams, right up until a sharp voice cut through the soft haze.
“Get up.”
Lance stood over us wearing an impressive scowl. Fern caught that too, resulting in her trying to scramble free.
“No need to hurry off, lass. If the lieutenant wants to join us.” I glanced down at her. “I’m sure we can make room.”
“Kael…!”
Her strangled cry was followed by her hurried exit from my bed. Watching the swivel of that shapely arse was almost enough to soothe the sting of Fern’s rapid exit.
“You—” Lance snarled.
