“I’m certain we can manage.” He winked. “Besides, there are things I’d like to do, and I’d rather we not have an audience.”
Already, my core tightened. Need burned through me, so overwhelming I was tempted to stroke his horns again, just to get him going. Now that I knew what he liked, I wanted to do it a million times.
“I quite like the sound of that,” I said.
He slid his hand along my curving hips. “Only problem is, you are perfection, love. I’m not sure I can wait.”
“I think I hear some drunk dwarves coming,” I told him, pointing out the door when another round of singing reached my ears. They couldn’t be more than a ledge or two away, which meant they might be coming here.
“Hmm, that would definitely get in the way of what I want to do.”
Tormund held out a hand, and I took it. And then I led him back to my cottage, where I showed him my plants, my bed, and anything else he wanted to see. It turned out he wanted to see it all.
23
ASTRID
I’d never had a better night’s sleep in my life. Tormund’s chest rose and fell beneath me, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat like a song that called to my soul. I nestled into his shoulder and loosed a contented sigh. Regardless of the loss I had to face, I thought I could be happy here like this. My dream of grass and sunlight would always stay with me, but I could learn to be content without it.
I could be content withhim. If only he could stay.
His breathing changed, and a moment later, he pressed a kiss to my forehead. Something about it felt far more intimate than anything we’d done the night before.
“Good morning,” he murmured against my hair.
“Morning to you, too.”
“You feel awfully nice pressed up against me like that,” he said, his voice rough with meaning. “If I had my way, we’d stay in your bed all morning, all day, and all night again.”
I giggled. “Might get a tad hungry if we never left the bed.”
“Then I’d have just have to go find some food and deliver it to you. You could even lick it off my chest if you’d like.”
“Only if you promise to lick it off mine, too,” I said bravely.
I’d never spoken to anyone like this, but something about being in his presence gave me a jolt of confidence. In fact, I felt like I could say or do anything, and he’d not only refrain from laughing, but he’d welcome it eagerly.
Gods, it felt good to be wanted. I’d never really felt special before. Sure, I was one of the unlikely few who lived with a curse, but I didn’t broadcast it. It didn’t really make me different from anyone else when it came to what mattered. I was just a normal woman with a normal job who liked normal things. And I was fine with that. I never really wanted to be anything else.
But to be special in the eyes of someone else…well, it felt bloomin’ good, all right?
I rolled over onto my stomach and gazed up at him. “I worry if we get up now, this will all turn into a dream.”
“I can promise you this is very real.” He tucked a curly strand of hair behind my ear. “Just like everything you make me feel. No matter what happens, I want you to remember that.”
My heart pounded. “Are you going to leave The Deep?”
“Not just yet.”
“But eventually, you’ll have to go.” I searched his eyes for confirmation. “You have to search the world, far and wide, for Tahir.”
“For you, too, Astrid,” he murmured, trailing his fingers up and down my bare arm. “There has to be a way to help you both. And Iwillfind it.”
I looked away. “I’d rather…” I blew out a breath, suddenly unable to say it for fear he’d turn me down.
I’d rather you come back here after you help Tahir. Don’t worry about my freedom. Just come home to me.
“What is it, Astrid?” he asked. “You know you can tell me anything.”
