He stared up at her as she stared down at him and the silence fell heavily around them.
All he wanted on this earth was to protect her, defend her, and give her reasons to smile.
He wanted to rip apart the people who had hurt her and destroy them so utterly that they could never threaten her again and she could be free of their poison forever. But he knew that if he returned to Kaerlud, he would die. And then she would be alone.
He leaned forward, wrapping his arms around her and letting his cheek rest against the warmth of her belly as his voice fell to a gruff rumble against her skin. “I promise not to go after him.”
He felt the air leave her body as she sagged against him.
“But….”
She stiffened once more.
“If—when—he comes after us, then I will defend you with everything I have. I will do what is necessary, even if that means the death of the king.”
She sank to her knees and wrapped her arms around him, silently accepting his words. And they stayed like that, holding each other in the darkness.
Chapter Thirteen
Alanna laywith her back pressed against Val’s hard chest, listening to the rain falling gently on the tent. His arm lay heavy over her waist, and she knew that she would never be able to wiggle free without waking him. Not that she wanted to.
She probably should get up and help. Outside she could hear the movement of the Hawks as the watch changed and breakfast was begun. It had started to rain during the night, which would make everything more difficult, and soon they would need to start packing up their tent and preparing to leave with everyone else.
But for now she was warm and safe, surrounded by Val, his breath tickling the back of her neck. Their bodies pressed together in a way that made every one of her senses spark with vibrant awareness.
They had spent the night talking and kissing. Constantly touching each other, as if to be sure that they weren’t dreaming, until they fell asleep in each other’s arms, her in a long shirt she’d borrowed, him still wearing his breeches.
Thank the Bard, someone, Nim most likely, had taken pity on them after dinner and pushed a plate filled with bread and cheese through their tent flap before whistling loudly and walking away, so at least they’d had something to eat.
He had obstinately refused to have sex with her. But he had kissed every part of her again and again. Running his lips over her scars and over her body, all while telling her how beautiful she was.
Finally, after so many days of aching to be near him, after the long nights watching him sleep, she had been able to touch him as much as she wanted. To let her fingers glide down those heavy muscles, following the masculine trails of hair until he groaned. To rub her face down the leathery softness of his wings where they wrapped around her as he held her. To press herself against him, feeling him down the full length of her body. To know what it was to be wrapped in his big arms, his strength surrounding her.
She smiled and dropped a soft kiss onto his arm. She had told him the main reason she wanted to petition the assizes, but not everything. It was time to request an annulment and end the travesty that had been her marriage, and she couldn’t wait to surprise him. Only a few more hours until they were in the temple.
And then, once they were done, she had plans. The time they had spent exploring each other had given her an array of ideas that had fleshed out her fantasies in a way that left her hot and tingling. Yes, she had plans, and the next night they spent together was going to be even better than the first.
Someone grunted loudly outside, and she knew from the slightly annoyed tone that it was Tristan.
Val stirred behind her, and she pressed another kiss to his arm.
“Time to get up.” Yeah, that grumpy voice outside their tent was definitely Tristan.
“We’ll be there in ten minutes,” she called, giggling as Val tightened his arm so that she couldn’t move. She wiggled against him, trying to get free, and he let out a tortured sigh as she rubbed up against him.
It delighted her, the way he responded to her, his open appreciation of everything about her. It soothed the tattered ribbons of her self-esteem, stitching them gently back together, making her feel alive for the first time in her life. And it made her want more.
She lifted her leg and wrapped it over the top of his thigh, pressing herself against him, wanting him to be as greedy for her as she was for him.
He stilled behind her, but he didn’t let her go. And she knew he was fighting an internal battle between what he wanted and what he thought she needed. She gave a slow grind of her hips and was rewarded when he let out a soft groan.
“What are you doing to me, Alanna?” His voice was gruff, his breath hot on her neck.
“I just… I want….” She didn’t know how to explain, and she could feel her cheeks growing hot.
“What do you want?”
In answer, she tilted her hips, pressing her bottom against him, hoping he could feel her through his breeches.
