Kit dipped his head in a solemn nod. “I threatened his life. To save yours.”
He was quiet after that, lost in his thoughts until I prompted, “And that’s not allowed.”
Something stormy crossed his features, abrupt and angry enough I thought he might shout, but instead his words came out seething.
“Forget what’s allowed, Penny. I wouldn’tallowyou to die. So, I put a knife to Harlan’s throat and dragged him back here, and he…”
Emotion choked him, and his fingers dug into my sides as he looked down. “He betrayed me once, and he’ll probably do it again, but there was no other option. Not one that didn’t end with you dead.”
Kit slouched, burdened by the admission of guilt. Hewas always so quick to apologize and ready to take the blame for things that weren’t his fault. I wouldn’t have him disparage himself for taking care of me.
Pressing into him, I slipped my arms around his chest and pulled him in. He hung his head over my shoulder, and I kissed his stubbled cheek.
After a long moment, we broke apart. Kit’s hands rested on my waist as he searched my face.
“I would do it again,” he said.
I couldn’t ignore what was as plain a profession as any. I smoothed my hand over his jaw and smiled. “I love you too, Kit.”
His eyes shuttered, breaking our visual lock.
The tub had filled with water that flooded the tiny bathroom with steam. I wobbled a bit as I stepped back and tugged at Kit's clothes. He got the idea and shucked his shirt and trousers before closing the gap to me.
I hung onto him for support while we climbed into the tub. The hot water stung my legs as I lowered myself into it less gracefully than I meant to. I'd barely sat before the exhaustion that still plagued me took root, and I tucked myself into Kit's strong arms.
He sat beneath me, and I nestled sideways into his lap, one shoulder against his chest and my face buried in the curve of his neck. He scooped palmfuls of water into my hair and let it course over my closed eyes and cheeks.
Inhaling the moist air eased the pressure crushing my lungs, so I breathed deep and slow, pausing only to dot Kit’s throat with feathery kisses.
“Perfect man,” I hummed against him. “Perfectly mine.”
The words seemed to resound, weighty with sudden meaning. I thought of Reimond planning a marriage that would never happen, and waiting for the perfect momentto propose. I didn't want to wait any longer. Life was tenuous. Fleeting. And I'd seen enough death by now to have learned not to take even a day for granted.
I loved Kit deeply. Desperately. I wanted to keep him with me always. Which meant there was something I needed to ask.
Shifting my position atop Kit's thighs, I swiveled to face him. He tilted his head as my expression betrayed the nerves that tangled like a nest of snakes in my gut. He might think me impetuous, or too young, or insist that we didn't truly know each other after only four months. But I knew how I felt, and I was more and more certain I knew how he felt, too.
“Kit, I want…” I swallowed. “Would you…”
I knew what to ask, but not how, and I floundered to phrase it before a knock at the front door brought a stop to everything.
I cast a scathing glare at the closed bathroom door and huffed a breath. “I thought this was a private residence, not a meeting hall.”
Kit snorted. He carefully slid me aside, then stood and stepped over the edge of the tub. Watching the water course down his bare body snuffed out my irritation, and I watched with unmasked interest until he took a towel from the hook on the wall and wound it around his waist.
“Stay here and keep warm,” he told me. “I think the heat is good for you.”
Kit tugged his shirt on before opening the door and ducking into the hall. He'd barely left my line of sight before I rose to follow.
A few minutes apart would have given me time to consider my request, but I had already begun fretting over who might be calling on us and why. Perhaps Merrick hadcome to verify we were still alive. Or Levitt was bringing charges against Kit for forcing the herbalist to help me. In either case, it was not something Kit should face alone.
Securing a towel around my hips, I ventured out of the balmy bathroom. The house was cold without a fire in the hearth, and my skin prickled with goosebumps as I hurried toward the entry. I could already see Kit holding the front door open and peering at someone outside.
My hair dripped water down my front and back, where it rapidly cooled. My teeth chattered, and my muscles tightened with a fit of shivers about the time Kit noticed my approach.
“Penwell Oliver!” His exclamation brought me skidding to a halt. “Get back in the godsdamned bath! I'll only be a minute.”
His expression went slack as he returned his attention to the guest at the door. It was a hooded figure, one of the faceless messengers often sent to announce the Oaths. The drifted snow was starkly bright behind them, making them look like a hole carved out of the world.
