Page 13 of Heatbound Hearts

The thought flits through my mind before I can stop it. I shake my head, trying to clear it.

I force myself up and out of the bed. My wings unfurl as I stretch, the muscles loosening after being cramped all night. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Bronwyn watching me. It's killing me, pretending not to notice her gaze trailing over my body.

I flex my wings, extending them to their full span. The morning light filtering through the windows catches on the membrane, creating a shimmering effect. I roll my shoulders, my back muscles rippling with the movement.

"Morning," I grunt, not trusting myself to say more. I turn slightly, giving her a better view of my profile. Two can play at this game. I reach up, running a hand through my hair, knowing full well how it makes my bicep flex.

It's taking every ounce of self-control not to turn around fully, to not drink in the sight of her in my bed, wearing my clothes.

But I resist. I won't make her uncomfortable. Not when I want her to trust me. Even if it might fucking kill me to keep my hands to myself with this incessant way that she is calling to me.

I quickly pull on my clothes, trying not to stare at Bronwyn as she sits up in bed. But fuck, she's gorgeous.

What a solstice.

"Help yourself to anything you need," I tell her, gesturing toward the bathroom. "Clothes, toiletries, whatever."

I hurry out of the room before I do something stupid, like pin her to the bed and kiss her. I try to be a strong man. As a hunter and guard, I have to have a lot of self control. But Bronwyn is testing it.

In the kitchen, I busy myself making tea and laying out bread, jams, and fruit. My mind keeps drifting back to Bronwyn, thinking about her in my clothes, covered in my scent.

Using my shadows, I throw the windows open to try and cool myself off.

Kairos and Naia join me, looking refreshed. "We've decided," Kairos announces. "We want to go to the Nati celebration."

I nod, spreading jam on a slice of bread. "It's quite the experience. You'll-"

My words die in my throat as Bronwyn walks in. She's wearing one of my shirts, the fabric draping over her curves in a way that makes my mouth go dry. The hem hits mid-thigh, exposing her long legs. I force my eyes up to her face, noticing how she's braided her hair to the side.

"Morning," she says softly. "I hope it's okay I borrowed this."

"It's perfect," I manage to say, my voice rougher than I intended. I clear my throat. "Uh, we were just discussing the Nati celebration. These two want to go."

Bronwyn's eyes light up. "I'd love to go too, if that's alright."

"Of course," I say, probably too quickly. The thought of showing Bronwyn more of my world, of spending more time with her, sends a thrill through me. "We should start preparing. It's quite a journey. If we go now, we should be able to take our time and get there just as the celebrations start."

I start gathering supplies, hyper-aware of Bronwyn's presence as she moves around the kitchen. Every time she brushes past me, I feel it like an electric shock. I pack dried meats, fruits, and water skins, explaining the route as I go.

I catch Bronwyn nodding, her eyes following my movements. Is she watching me the way I watch her? The thought makes my heart race.

As I continue packing, I can't help but imagine the nights ahead. Bronwyn sleeping near me under the stars, the firelight dancing on her skin. It's going to be torture, but I can't wait.

"We'll stop in the market, too. To get everyone an extra pair of clothes or two." I glance between Kairos and Naia, who have one small pack between the two of them. But Bronwyn clearly has nothing.

I'd prefer her wear nothing.

Fuck, I need to get it together.

Sucking in a breath, I give them a smile. "Let's start with the first stop."

I lead the group to the balcony of my treehouse, gesturing towards the horizon as we finish our meal. The misty silhouettes of Vortexia and Somniara loom in the distance, their outlines shimmering like mirages in the perpetual twilight.

"See those islands?" I point to the ever-shifting landmass to the southeast. "That's Vortexia, Netia's realm. She is the goddess of chaos. The landscape there changes faster than you can blink. Some say it's impossible to map."

Bronwyn leans forward, her eyes wide with wonder. I have to force myself not to stare at the way my shirt clings to her curves.

"And that one?" Kairos asks, nodding towards the dreamlike island floating directly east.

---