Page 64 of A Shard of Ice

“We’ll take first watch,” Xander says. “I can keep watch and keep you warm, my love.”

“Your multitasking is one of the many things I love about you,” Thesha tells Xander.

I’m listening to their conversation with half an ear because my heart is racing. We’re going to have to share a bedroll. There’s barely enough space inside a bedroll for one, let alone when adding a massive fae who’s looking at me in a strange way. It only serves to bring more heat to my cheeks.

Hopefully, Damon thinks it’s from the cold and not because I’m nervous and embarrassed and a touch excited at the prospect of sleeping with him.

It’s wrong, and yet it feels right. I know he’s keeping something big from me. I keep coming back to the same thought. The same idea of what it might be. I keep dismissing it. I want to ask him all the questions that have been swirling around in my mind for days now, but I don’t. It’s not the right time. I’m too exhausted.

Damon looks a little sheepish. “I know it wouldn’t be proper if—”

“I’m tired.” I try for calm, cool, and collected. I mostly get it right. “You must be, too. I don’t want to freeze. Let’s just be practical and share.”

There! I got it out.

Damon gives me a half-smile that does things to my insides.

“Before you get some rest,” Xander says. “We need to come up with a game plan. Where to from here?”

“There’s a small human settlement less than a day’s walk from here. We need horses and more supplies,” Damon says.

“That’s dangerous.” Thesha shakes her head. “Surely, they’ll be watching all major transport routes as well as the settlements?”

“There should be seven or eight villages at the foothills of the mountains. Two are larger settlements. I would imagine that they will be watching those. We’ll never cover any ground without steeds. It’s a necessity.” Damon shrugs.

“He’s right.” Thesha scrunches up her nose.

“If there’s no other choice, it is what we will need to do,” Xander says.

Thesha yawns. “I’m exhausted.”

“Me too.” I yawn as well.

“I’ll get in first,” Damon says in a way that leaves room for me to disagree. He raises his brows and cocks his head a little.

I nod.

It will probably be easier if he is already in. I can squeeze into whatever space is left.

A few seconds later, he is inside the bedroll. We are all fully clothed and ready in case we need to run again. Also, back to the part about it being freezing.

He holds it open. There is zero room inside next to him.

At this point, I’m so cold and so tired that I’m beyond caring. I’m going to be practical about this. That’s all there is to it.

I slide into the bedroll. My back is flush against his front. Once I am inside, he has to put an arm around me because there isn’t enough space for it to go anywhere else. His breath tickles the back of my neck. He’s plastered up against me.

Warm. It’s so toasty and warm. His scent envelops me.

I’m trying hard to breathe normally and failing. It’s too rapid. I can feel his heart beating against me. It’s racing. Does he feel it, too? There’s a tension between us. It’s charged like the air is filled with magic. Like something is about to happen or should happen. I’m not sure which.

I shift slightly, trying to get comfortable.

His hand tightens on my hip, holding me still. That’s when I feel it, something hard against my back.

Damon huffs out a breath. “Sorry,” he whispers softly into my ear…so softly that it’s only for me to hear.

He’s aroused. Holy smokes, he’s turned on by my close proximity. Damon is attracted to me. I should feel uncomfortable. I should hate every second of this, but I don’t. My body reacts right back. My nipples pebble, and a heartbeat starts up between my legs.

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