“I can go first.”
She grabbed my hand. “We can go together.”
Fingers threaded, we entered.
CHAPTER 36
Wolfe
My hand immediately went to my sword, but as the space came into focus, my mouth dropped open.
From the outside, this had looked like a dank, dark space, but candles floated in the air above our heads, and it was warm—and dry, which shouldn’t have been possible. Niamh sank down onto a thick purple circle rug that lay across the floor, running her hands over the plush fabric as water dripped from the ends of her hair.
I studied the walls, covered in bright sketches of the hearth witch, and then I saw the basket of offerings sitting against one wall. I thought through what I might have to offer the godwitch, and Niamh reached into her cloak and pulled out a gold coin, holding it up.
“I think this will do as an offering.” She flicked the coin into the basket, on top of dried flowers, jewelry, and trinkets other travelers must’ve left when they stumbled upon this little haven in the middle of nowhere.
Niamh knelt in front of the basket, touching her palm to her heart. “Thank you, hearth godwitch, for providing this shelter.”
I peeled off my wet cloak and shirt, laying both over a rack standing against the back wall. Niamh turned, her gaze lingering on my chest, and heat flooded me at the desire lighting her eyes.
“We’re both soaking wet,” I said. “We need to get our clothes off and get you warm.” I nodded toward the bedrolls, two of them, rolled neatly with blankets sitting on top.
Niamh’s eyes darkened as she took a step toward me. “What other things could we do to get warm?”
Godwitches almighty. “Niamh,” I warned, glancing at her fingers. “Don’t you think we should take it easy?”
Her laughter pealed through the air. “We’re safe now. We found a warm, dry place. And we’re all alone.”
Blood rushed to my cock as she swept her cloak off her shoulders, and I took in her pale green dress, molded to her body, showing off every dip and curve. Her hard nipples peeked through the wet fabric, and my mouth watered at the sight.
I stepped forward. “Are you sure about this?”
“That kiss in the rain didn’t clue you in?” Her eyes danced.
I scratched the back of my neck. “It was in the heat of the moment. Now that we’re safe and out of the storm and our emotions have calmed, I just want to make sure that you won’t... that there will be no regrets.”
Her face softened, and she took a few steps forward. “Rafe Wolfgang, you are not something I could ever regret.”
I reached out and pulled her to me, and a sharp exhale escaped her. “I didn’t get your jar of firebugs.”
“Well, that just means I’ll have to keep working on my fear of flames. I’ve already made some progress, thanks to a wise but grumpy man I know.”
My lips twitched.
“You know you want to smile,” she pointed out.
My voice dropped low. “There’s a lot of things I want to do with my lips right now, but smiling is not at the top of that list.”
“Oh? Then what is?” She drew a finger down my chest, and Ishuddered, then leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the hollow of her neck.
“This,” I murmured against her soft, wet skin, making her go still. I wanted to savor this like I would a good meal, so I let my lips linger, teeth grazing her, reveling in the way her breathing became uneven, the way her pulse spiked under my tongue. I dragged my mouth over her collarbone and my fingers trailed to the laces on the front of her dress, undoing them while I pressed kisses across her skin, loving her sweet, flowery taste on my tongue.
“This is worth facing every fear I’ve ever had,” she said, voice breathless. I smiled against her skin, unable to help myself, and she took my face between her hands, forcing me to look her in the eye. “Is that an actual true smile?”
“Don’t you dare tell anyone.” I tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear. “And what’s worth it?”
“You,” she said simply. “Just you.”
