It would take almost nothing for my hand to shift, for my fingertipsto find the sensitive bud of her nipple. Then scuffling turns to grappling, and the choice is made for me. My thumb slides along the warm curve of her breast, and I drop my weight to pin her again. Her lips part farther, this little gasp even sweeter than the first. When she arches into me again, her breast fills my hand. I thrust against her without meaning to, and desire sparks in her eyes.
But there’s a flicker of uncertainty hiding there, too.
That reminds me to tread carefully. Her palm is still against my face, so I turn my head to kiss her hand. Then her wrist. Her fingers drift along my ear, brushing through my hair.
“I thought you didn’t want to tussle,” I murmur.
“I want...” But then her eyes flick left, and she inhales sharply. “Asher.”
I freeze in place, then cast a glance in his direction, too. He’s no longer facing the fire, but he’s still lying on his stomach, propped on his elbows. His expression is in shadow, unreadable.
I have no idea how much he saw or what he thinks is happening, but I’m rather clearly pinning her to the ground—and I have been for a while.
“Ky,” she says swiftly. I can’t quite figure out the note in her voice, whether it’s guilt or regret or simply shock. “Let me up.”
I do. The princess shifts to sitting, but her cheeks are still red. Mine aren’t. Hostility sizzles in in the air, and I wonder if Asher is going to make me finish that fight he tried to start earlier.
But he doesn’t move. “Did he hurt you?” he says softly.
She looks up. “Asher. We weren’t—it wasn’t—”
“I know what it was,” he says, and his eyes flick to me. His words, however, are for her. “Did hehurtyou?”
“No.”
“Did he force you?”
“No!” The color in her cheeks deepens. “Asher, that is not what we were—”
“Do I need to stab him for any reason?” He still hasn’t looked away from me, and his gaze is so piercing, even in the shadows. “The rest of them are asleep, so it’s the perfect time.”
Bleeding skies.I can’t tell if this is jealousy or anger or just plain belligerence, and I’m pretty sure he can’t either. But I’ve begun to learn that all of Asher’s posturing is really just a mask to hide a man who’s terrified of losing the few things he’s been able to hold dear.
He’s still propped on his elbows, glaring up at me, so I roll onto my knees until we’re close. Before I can think better of it, I touch a hand to his chin, letting my thumb drift right below his lip.
“Your princess is safe,” I say softly.
He’s stopped breathing, probably the instant I touched him. His eyes are glittering in the moonlight. When his gaze shifts, I realize the princess has rolled to her knees beside me.
She touches a finger to his chin beside mine. “I’m safe,” she says softly.
His throat jerks as he swallows. But then he turns away, pulling free of both of us.
“Fine,” he says, and his voice is rough. “You win.” He shifts on his bedroll, turning to face the fire again.
The princess studies him for a moment, but she frowns. She tucks the loose hair behind her ear and looks at me. “It’s late,” she whispers. “We should sleep. I know you wish to depart at dawn.”
“I do,” I say.
She bites her lip and nods, then retreats to her own bedroll by Lady Charlotte.
Before she lies down, however, she looks over. “Dane really would have a fit,” she says.
It makes me grin. “I look forward to the next time, then.”
She smiles in return, and the heavy organ in my chest feels lighter than it has in days. Weeks.Months.
But then I glance toward Garrett, sitting at the opening of the ravine, watching for any sign of trouble. I remember why we’re camping here atall, and the weight of tense worry crashes into my chest again.
