Page 77 of Feathers and Thorns

“And Rook?”

“Yeah?”

“Stay tomorrow, too?” It was a question, not a statement.

Asking him to stay with her on a continuous basis was not something she was sure she was ready for, but she did know one thing—she felt better when he was around.

She waited nervously as he took his sweet time to answer.

“As long as you’ll have me,” he responded, kissing the soft spot where the curve of her neck met her jaw. “Now get some sleep.”

“Always so bossy,” she quipped with a lazy smile.

He held her tight as her breathing softened and her body fell into a rhythmic sleep. He stayed awake for a while, savoring the moment, for he did not know how many nights like this they might have together.

“I love you,” he whispered, not willing to admit just yet how much he wished for her to say it back.

He allowed her dreams to be her own for the night and let his mind drift until sleep took him.

* * *

Morning came too soon, and Soren immediately regretted staying up so late. She stirred, opening her eyes, and found herself looking into Rook’s sleeping face. I must have turned over, she thought. She ran her hands through his hair, enjoying the feel of him being so close.

His lids fluttered open, and his eyes met hers.

She couldn’t help but grin at how cute he looked all mussed with sleep. His normally rigid demeanor was softened, and she enjoyed this was a part of him that no one else got to see.

“Good morning, little bird.” he said.

“Morning,” she replied, feeling suddenly awkward. She sat up, running her fingers through her tangled hair.

“Did you sleep okay?”

“Eh.” She shrugged and started picking at her nails. “Thank you for staying.”

He turned to rest his head on his arm and grabbed her hands with his free one to stop her nervous habit. He brushed his lips along the curves and valleys of her knuckles and kissed each fingertip. “It was my pleasure.”

The action sent a tingle of warmth to all her nerve endings, but she gently pulled her hands from his grasp. “I’m sorry about last night.”

“What do you mean? The tent thing was an honest mistake. If you no longer want to share, we can confirm with Evelyn where the other tent is.”

Soren gave him an incredulous look. “First of all, this is my tent. Second of all, I’ll decide if I want to share depending on if I like you today.”

Rook laughed at this, and Soren could feel the vibrations rumbling from his chest through the bedroll.

“That is not very promising since you hate me every day,” he said, leveling her with that smirk she loved so much. Sometimes, she let herself forget how unbelievably attractive he was.

“I mean, true, but that’s not what I was apologizing for.”

He gave her a questioning look.

“I’m sorry for freaking out.”

“You’re apologizing for having a reasonable emotional response to what you thought was a stranger threatening your life?”

When he put it that way, it made her feel ridiculous for even broaching the subject.

“I just don’t like people seeing that side of me.” She looked down at the worn blanket but turned her head back to Rook as he pressed up from the cot to sit beside her.

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