Gods, my cock still throbs with need, straining against my trousers. I gather the cool air in my lungs, willing some of that ice to flood my lower regions, but it’s no good. The memories won’t leave me. I can still feel the soft mound of her breast in my palm, the hardness of her nipple between my fingers. Can still feel the curve of her bare ass against my hips. And that’s only what happened after we awoke.
The dream itself…
Now that was a fucking experience. I meant what I said when I told her I don’t dream, for I rarely do. It’s uncommon for Shadowbanes. When I do dream, I see nothing but blood and shadows, see the faces of Incarnates, of every person I’ve slain. When this happens, I tend to thrash in my sleep, which is why I take private quarters whenever we post up in a village. What I didn’t tell her was that there was another reason I knew the dream undoubtedly belonged to her.
Because I saw that dream through her eyes.
It should have unsettled me, finding my own face staring back at me while my tongue painted circles over those spectacular tits. Itshould have felt like I was fucking myself. But it didn’t. Because I was more focused on the fact that Inana’s view of me—her fantasies about me—drew so much pleasure from her. That was enough to stir my own. To make me so half mad with desire when we awoke that I nearly rolled on top of her and finished what we started.
It was the shame of that thought that had me springing away from her. What kind of asshole can only think of fucking when he wakes up next to the girl he spent all night and half the morning caring for?
An asshole like me, that’s who.
But only because it’sher.
Blowing out a heavy breath, I finally don the rest of my clothing, pulling my shirt over my head, followed by my jerkin. The gods must be punishing me. Inana is the worst person I could be alone with. The worst person to be stuck with. But I can’t regret it now. Even if I could choose again, I’d still jump into the river after her. When I saw her slip away from me, time stood still. My chest felt like it had collapsed with the bridge. I couldn’t see her face behind her mask, but I could feel her terror. Her shock. I gave myself only the briefest moment to consider what to do. Just long enough to assess the situation on our side of the bridge once more. Just long enough to meet Calvin’s eyes and exchange a knowing nod. Then my mind was consumed with saving her.
“You’re welcome,” Pride says, reading my train of thought. Under the light of the sun and in the brightness of the snow, he and my other two shadows are relegated to pools of gray near my feet. “What a fucking nightmare that was.”
“I can’t believe you made us swim,” Lust says.
Sloth is the only one whose commentary lacks disdain. “Turns out I’m an excellent swimmer.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. I know they didn’t like being submerged in running water. Our connection allows them to cross it just fine, but that doesn’t mean they don’t hold at least a fragment of the same fear wild Shades do. Yet they aided me, lending me their strength to hold Inana up and battle the current.
Footsteps approach, and I stiffen. Inana emerges out into the snow. She blinks profusely, snowflakes coating her hair and lashes at once. “Oh,” she says, “it’s awful out here.”
It seems her mood has calmed as much as mine. Perhaps we can be civil now. She waves a hand before her to bat away the falling flakes, but it’s no use. There’s nothing but white and trees and flurry to be seen. She takes another step forward, and I thrust out an arm to bar her path.
She halts, then leaps back when she realizes she was about to walk off the edge of a cliff. It’s only a five-foot drop, but I doubt she’d find it pleasant. “What the hell? Where are we?”
“Come,” I say, ushering her back into the cave. Thankfully, she doesn’t argue, and we step back under the shelter. I point to the left. “There’s a short trail this way that leads to the river. I pulled you out not far from here.”
She dusts snow from her cloak, then from her red-gold hair. “How did you find this place?”
“I was looking for a wide enough tree to take shelter under and found this instead. It was much easier to see before the snowstorm hit.”
She looks out at the several inches built up outside the cave, weighing down the branches of the pines. It’s a far cry from the mild dusting we traveled through the last few days. “This all happened overnight?”
“It did.”
Silence falls between us, growing taut with every breath. I want to break it but I don’t know how.
We turn to each other at the same time, but she’s the one who speaks.
“Thank you,” she says, her words flying from her mouth as if they escaped on their own. She keeps her eyes on my jerkin as if she can’t bear to meet my gaze. “You saved me from the river and ensured I didn’t catch my death from the cold. I…I probably owe you my life.”
It takes me a few breaths to find my words. “You don’t owe me anything. And I meant it when I said I’m sorry. For how you woke up. That was—”
“It’s fine,” she says, her eyes flicking briefly to mine. “I was confused, but…I didn’t hate it. Being warm, that is. I know the logic of body heat and nudity. It was…smart.”
Something brightens inside me, pride at having been called smart.
I force the feeling away. What am I, a fucking schoolboy? I clear my throat. “Are you injured? Lacerations? Broken bones?”
She arches a brow. “You mean you didn’t get an eyeful when you were undressing me?”
I glower, but she merely grins.
