“Go on,” he sneered, nodding towards his shoulder. “Before I change my mind and drag you off somewhere less public to blow off more steam.”
I rolled my eyes, but my heart pounded, as I leaned in and placed my head against his shoulder.
His lips pressed against my hair, and I felt a sudden safety.
CHAPTER
37
Iwoke up slowly.
The first thing I felt was warmth, and then the solid weight of an arm around my waist.
It took me a second to register where I was, the faint smell of ash, leather and steel grounding me before I realised I wasn’t just near Malakai, I wasonhis lap. His jacket was draped over us like a blanket, his chest warm and steady against my back, his chin resting lightly on my head, while his other hand rested on my hip like it belonged there.
“You’re awake,” he said, his voice low and warm as he lifted his head.
I swallowed, suddenly aware of every place we touched. “You moved me.”
“Mhm.” I could hear the grin in his voice. “You were cold, and I felt generous, any objections?”
I tried to sit up, but his arm stayed firmly around me, not letting me go.
“Stay,” he murmured, his breath ghosting against my temple.
It was infuriating, and far too easy to obey.
Across the campfire, Ashley sat rigidly, polishing the same dagger for too long, her eyes somewhere far away. Had she even slept? She looked stiff and tired. I saw how Nate busied himself packing things, even offering to help others pack, too. Neither of them looked at each other.
“Funny, isn’t it?” Malakai’s voice was velvet against my ear, far too smug.
“What?” I asked, though I already knew.
“They’re acting like the world might explode if they accidentally make eye contact,” he murmured, amused.
His hand left my hip only to run lazily through my hair, combing through it with his fingers. The action was so casual, so intimate, it made my chest feel tight.
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” I muttered.
“Of course I am.” His fingers brushed against the back of my neck, and he tugged lightly on a few strands of hair, hard enough to tilt my head back towards him.
Before I could protest, he kissed me. Slow and deliberate, like he had all the time in the world, like he wanted to remind me of yesterday.
When he finally let me breathe, I was dizzy, staring into his scarlet eyes.
“I told you,” he said softly, his grin wicked. “I’d cherishevery secondof it, and now everyone knows exactly who you belong to.”
My face burned. “You can’t just—”
“Sweetie,” he interrupted, stroking a thumb over my flushed cheek, “I absolutely can.”
I brushed his hand away from my face, but it only made his grin sharpen, pleased with himself in a way that made my stomach flutter.
By the time I got to my feet, Ashley turned her head and smiled at me, an awkward one. I strolled over to her. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” she smiled, looking down at her boots. “I only wish I knew everything would be fine, you know? The future… it’s so unknown, it makes me hesitant, sleepless apparently.”
I patted her back. “Well, sometimes we have to focus on the now to even get a future.”
