“Now?” He slowed his steps. He’d turn around if he had to.
Her arms tightened around his neck. “After.”
Despite her emphatic answer, he hesitated. He’d only seen Bel run out of magic once, and how vulnerable she’d been after she drained all her resources still horrified him. But he trusted her to know herself. If she said she was okay, she was.
He continued toward the woods. “So the claiming’s still on?”
She chuckled faintly. “Wild centaurs couldn’t drag me away.”
Scowling, he gave her the side-eye. “You think you’re funny?”
She shrugged, still smiling. “Alittle.”
He huffed, humor still mostly buried under a layer of ash. “What about other magical creatures? The woods might be full of them.”
Sitting up straighter, she said loudly toward the forest, “If anything bothers us, we’ll kill it.” More quietly, she added, “I’m pretty sure everything’s long gone. Now take me somewhere where the soldiers can’t see us.”
“Oh, darling, we have to make sure they can’thearus, either.”
Her brows crept up. “Fine. Do what you need to do,” she said impatiently.
He would. Two close calls today were too many, and he didn’t think his chest would fully unclench until Bel was his wife, in heart and body.
Moving into the trees, he picked his way over rocks and charred roots at the edge of the forest. Bel glowed a little brighter to light their way, warming his arms and chest without burning. Her magic flickered, proving just how much she’d given in that final blast, even with the Shard of Olympus helping her. Worried, he asked, “You’re sure you’re up for this?”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, darling, as long asyou’reup for this, we’ll be fine.”
Unexpected laughter tore at his sore throat. He should’ve known better than toOh, darlingBel. She one-upped him every time. “I’m already up. Shouldn’t be a problem.” His stiff groin ached for her.
Her smile slipped, suddenly less convincing. “But Iama little nervous.”
His grip around her tightened. “Just be yourself, and you’ll be perfect.” Desire deepening his voice, he slid his mouth toward her ear and whispered, “And I’m going to make you so hot and wet and ready for me that you’ll beg me to slide inside you, and you’ll take every inch of me more easily than you ever imagined.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she stared at him with such heat in her wide, magic-bright eyes that he nearly stopped right there and stripped her naked.
Breathless, she said, “A year ago, I never would’ve guessed such things could come out of your mouth.”
“A year ago, I wasn’t being myself.”
She slipped her nose along his jaw and kissed his cheek. “Then be yourself, and you’ll be perfect.”
He smiled, a little wry, a little skeptical, but if Bel believed it, then maybe he could, too.
She nuzzled his neck and ear as he moved deeper into the forest. His body thrummed with anticipation, his blood hotand pumping. He’d never wanted to be inside a woman like he wanted to be inside Bel—hiswoman. His other half. “You’re a fucking dream,” he rasped to the soul that completed him. “Mydream.”
Her breath shuddered against his neck. “I like it when you’re coarse.” Her woodsmoke whisper tightened every muscle in his body even more. She flicked her tongue out, and need made him groan aloud.
“Do you?” He’d never used crude language around the women in his life, but Bel brought out the beast in him every time.
“You don’t have to hold back with me or pretend to be something you’re not. The gods know I never have.”
And he wouldn’t have it any other way. “Good. Then tonight, I’ll make love to you. It’s our wedding night. But next time, I’m going to fuck you senseless and then do it again.”
Her eyes flared, brightening her whole face, but there was no panic or shock in the look she gave him, just heat and excitement. “Good,” she echoed huskily. “I guess we’ll find out, but I’m pretty sure fucked senseless is going to be more my style than lovemaking anyway.”
Carver nearly stumbled. “You’re killing me.” He adjusted her in his arms, holding her more securely as he picked his way over the rough woodland floor.
“Don’t say that. We haven’t even started yet.”
