Page 165 of Hood of Secrets

This quiet version of his life still surprised and delighted him on a daily basis. He'd had no understanding, no preparation for what this particular scene would look like as he had never even allowed himself to imagine it.

His entire body was at rest, and he almost felt uncomfortable with how comfortable that felt. He still was not quite used to the feeling of his body and his mind wanting the same thing, having the same thing.

And right now, he knew exactly what he wanted.

She was standing right in front of him.

Somewhere far behind them, faint through the trees, the music of the wedding still drifted on the warm night air—laughter and song and the low murmur of his family, her family, all of them gathered under the same stars. But here, in the soft glow of the flames it was just the two of them.

Robin slipped her cloak off of her shoulders, laying it on the ground in front of him like a blanket.

Ian remained where he was. Content to be.

She dropped to her knees, half kneeling, half sitting in front of him. She reached for his hands. “Shall we see who is better with a bow, now?” she asked.

He smiled softly. It was so very like her, to say one thing and mean another. To hand him a challenge when what she was truly offering was herself. “We both know the answer to that,”Ian replied. Her face was slightly higher than his, as she was still sitting on top of her feet.

She leaned forward, covering his mouth with her own.

And his hands, which had stayed so still all evening, reached forward to encompass her face.