Page 46 of The Forgotten Throne

Instead of making a formal matter out of it we ate right there at the butcher block in the kitchen dreading the thought of having to make it up to the fourth floor. “Would it be wrong of me to have Vasin fly me up to the third floor so I don’t have to do the stairs?”

“Looks like someone is out of shape having enjoyed the relaxed life of studying and being carried around,” Becka teased.

I scowled at her but she was right, I hadn’t been training like I should have with everything going on. “At this point I would do the obstacle course twice with a bag of rock before having to scrub another floor.”

“Never thought I would see the day someone would volunteer for that kind of punishment.” Abbott laughed.

Cole heaved himself out of his chair and walked over to me sprawled out in mine reaching out a hand. “Come on little mouse, let’s get you upstairs before you become one with the chair.”

“Only if you let me have a piggyback ride,” I said with a pout on my lips, to which he just bent over and kissed.

“Fine, now get up before I change my mind,” Cole whispered into my ear, letting his teeth scrape the outer shell.

Stunned, it took my brain a moment to catch up to what he said and get moving so that he couldn’t back out on his offer. Squatting down with his back turned in front of me, I wrapped my arms around his neck and as he stood my legs around his waist. He then wrapped both arms behind cupping my ass in the charade of not letting me slip.

“Damn Cole you are one well trained puppy,” May sassed with a hoot of laughter. The others joined in teasing him as we walked away and began the journey to the fourth floor.

Cole didn’t say much and neither did I, as I just enjoyed his closeness and the steady beat of his heart. Once we got to the third floor I spoke. “You can let me down now, I’m sure I can make it up one flight of stairs on my own.”

“You my little mouse are going to stay right where you are,” Cole ordered, giving my ass a squeeze.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re expecting favors for carrying me up to my chambers,” I answered in mock surprise. “Don’t you know that I’m a noble lady?”

Cole chuckled looking at me out of the corner of his eye. “You are no noble and I’m not a gentleman, what do you say we take the risk?”

Laughter burst out of me as he quoted what he said to me the night we first met, and I threatened to kill him for seeing me in my nightgown. “You were absolutely right, I’m not a noble lady, being a mercenary has been far more exciting.”

As we reached the fourth floor instead of walking into the central community space he headed down the hall to the right. There had been so many other things to deal with I hadn’t explored the rest of what this level had to offer so when Cole brought me to an open bathing room I was shocked. Two large stone pools of steaming water greeted us with the welcoming aroma of lavender and mint. Cole set me down next to a stone bench that had woven baskets on it to place our things in.

“I thought this might be a welcome treat after the hard work you’ve been doing the past two weeks,” he explained as he rested his hands on my shoulders.

“How is this possible?”

“With a little help from a dragon or two and natural spring water flowing from the castle is built into. There are massive ovens below the pools that we stock with wood and let the dragons set it ablaze leaving us with enough coals to keep these pools warm for a long time. I learned the hard way not to get in without checking the temperature, though I was going to be boiled alive.”

“Is it safe now?” I questioned as I walked over dipping my hand into the steamy water. It was definitely hot sending shivers of delight up my body but it wasn’t boiling.

Cole’s hands slid up my stomach to the tie for the leather vest I was wearing, pulled the string then began to undo the rest, slipping it off my shoulders. “I think we should find out together,” he murmured brushing aside my hair to kiss along my neck.

A soft sigh left my lips as I bent my head to give him better access. “That sounds like an amazing idea.”

At my agreement Cole gathered the bottom of my shirt and pulled it up over my head leaving me just in my pants and cloth bindings. He untucked the end of the binding and slowly turned me in his arms, unraveling me like I was a present. I could feel his gaze washing over my body as the cloth fell away leaving me bare to him giving me the courage to meet his eyes.

“Never hide from me Cassarah,” he whispered, brushing a thumb along my cheek. “I know it took me longer than it should’ve when we first met to see the beautiful soul you have and the courage that radiates off of you. We both know I’m not the world’s easiest person to get along with, but if you’ll allow me, I would like to be by your side for as long as you will have me.”

“Cole, there is no way that I could do this without you by my side—I love you,” I shared, cupping his face between my hands. “I’ve loved you for a long time. I just wasn’t willing to admit that to myself yet because I was scared, but I’m not scared anymore. This world is full of uncertain events and I refuse to let another day pass where I don’t tell you that I love you.”

“Cassarah,” Cole breathed before he wrapped me up in his arms kissing me like I was the air he needed to live. His large hands spanned across my back digging in as if I might disappear if he didn’t hold on tight enough.

I tugged at his shirt, needing to feel him against me to know this was real and we were finally admitting the truth to each other. Quickly as he could, Cole ripped off his shirt and then kicked off his pants before tugging mine off my legs. I yelped as he picked me up and carried me into the pool where he settled us in the warmth of the water making me moan at how wonderful it felt.

“Oh just you wait little mouse I’ll give you something to moan about,” Cole whispered into my ear as he shifted so I was on the stone seat and he was kneeling before me. Spreading my legs he looked up at me, his eyes full of heat and love as his fingers slid up my thighs to where they joined the rest of my body. “I don’t need specifics but have you already done this with one of the others? Just need to be sure I don’t hurt you.”

“Yes, last night,” I answered truthfully. Honestly I’d expected to be sore today from all that Jade and I did but it wasn’t too bad or maybe it was just that the rest of my body was achy as well.

This made Cole pause. “Was that your first time? If it was, this might be too soon. I don’t want to make you more uncomfortable.”

He started to pull away but I caught him, guiding him back to me. “Trust me when I say you are not making me uncomfortable, I want this as long as you are okay with it.”