With a start, I realized that there was nowhere to go for privacy in this tent. A small partition separated the main room from the washbasin, but the rest of the space was open.
Heat suddenly flooded my veins at the thought of Kizzi removing her clothes. I cleared my throat. “Of course.” My voice was gravel.
I turned and stared at the canvas wall. My ears perked at every sound, every rustle of fabric, every brush of skin against skin. It was torture, being here,knowingshe was undressing, but not being able to do anything about it.
My cock swelled painfully in my trousers, and I was suddenly thankful that I was facing the other direction and she wouldn’t be able to see it.
I was frozen, barely breathing.
Eventually, her soft feet padded across the floor, and she slipped into bed. I remained where I was, rooted in place.
My heart thundered in my chest. I silently begged it to slow.
She laughed quietly, and my cock hardened even further. “You can move now. It’s safe.”
It took long moments for her words to break through my haze of lust, but eventually, I forced myself to move. I cleared my throat twice before I could speak. “Right. Yes. I guess I’ll just—” I let the half-formed thought drift away as I shuffled to my bag in the corner. I kept my back facing the bed as I unfastened my cloak and let it drop from my shoulders. I tossed it onto the floor.
I glanced toward the bed to find Kizzi watching me, her eyes gleaming in the darkness. She had the blanket pulled up so high that it was covering her nose, and only the top half of her face was peeking out. Her witch eyes were not as keen as mine, but she still had decent vision. She could see me perfectly fine. I smiled wickedly.
“You can watch, if you’d like,” I murmured as I slowly reached for the laces of my tunic.
“I would never,” she said quietly, but her eyes never closed. Never looked away.
I untied the neck of my tunic and tugged on the laces to loosen them. Slowly, trying my best to look sensual and not awkward, I grabbed the hem and tugged the garment over my head. It was a bit chilly with so much skin exposed, but not uncomfortable. The blanket on the bed would keep me plenty warm.
I tossed the tunic aside, not caring where it landed. I shucked my boots off and kicked them aside too.
Next, I reached for my trousers, relieved to find that my cock had softened enough to not jut vulgarly from my body. I tried not to think about Kizzi’s eyes feasting on my flesh—that thought threatened to send my blood racing again.
I unfastened the button and let my trousers slip down my thighs. They pooled around my feet.
A quiet inhale of breath from the bed let me know that the little witch was still watching.
I stood for a moment in just my undershorts, debating if I wanted to don my sleep pants. I would be uncomfortably warm if I did, but they would add an extra layer between Kizzi and me.
Did I want an extra layer between us? Absolutely the fuck not. But did she?
I could still feel her eyes boring into my back, nearly burning me with their intensity.
I decided to take a risk.
I kicked the trousers aside and strode to the washbasin, quickly washing my hands and mouth. When I turned to the bed, Kizzi’s eyes were closed, but she was breathing too quickly. Her lids were clenched too tightly.
She was faking.
I cracked a grin. Sneaky witch.
I poked the fire and slid the grate aside until the flames were low but steady, and most of the light was blocked out. Darkness ascended. There was enough glow to see by, but only just.
I made my way to my side of the bed and slipped under the covers.
Kizzi didn’t move a muscle. She remained perfectly still as though she were made of stone. Tense, rapidly breathing stone practically vibrating with restrained energy.
I turned on my side to face her. The bed was warm from her body heat, and her sweet apple scent delicately perfumed the air.
For long moments I just watched her. The side of her face, the slope of her nose, the way her upper lip flicked out just slightly. Her eyelashes draped across her cheek like feathers.
I began to feel drowsy, but the desire to stare at her pretty profile overrode my desire for sleep.
