Page 96 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

“Fucking someone and getting your basic needs met is hardly romance,” I objected a little sharply.

I was annoyed with his answer even though I knew perfectly well that I had no excuse. We had not discussed anything more than friendship between us, so I had no right to feel so possessive of him. But I didnotlike the thought of him sleeping contentedly next to someone else. The notion of him being touched and touching someone else with those tender hands made me feel a little feral.

“I am surprised you want to share, but I understand your reasoning. When you decide you are ready for your own tent, just let me know, but I don’t mind sharing,” Sage said before he straightened. “I’ll go get some food. Get changed if you want. I will not be long.”

He turned away, and the light weight of his armour vanished from my body as if he had dismissed it.

I couldn’t even consider the tantalizing opportunity of having my own tent. Not when I was too consumed by his vague response concerning his basic needs. I knew Sage was much more private than I would ever be about these things, but I couldn’t seem to curb my rising panic about when such needs might arise for him.

“Do you ever fuck people with whom you are not in some kind of committed relationship?” I asked, rising to follow him into the main room of the tent.

He sighed in exasperation with my nosiness.

“We have talked about this, Summer. You must know it is not polite to ask people these sorts of things. I will be right back,” he added to both me and the vargr who were both curled up on alarge blanket in the corner of the tent. I was sure it was meant for just Serafn, but they didn’t seem to mind sharing it.

“So no?” I verified with raised brows.

“I did not say that,” he answered over his shoulder, picking up his pace as he headed for the tent entrance.

“But you don’t take many lovers, do you? Why not? You are certainly not ugly,” I admitted as I darted around him and blocked his way by leaning across the entrance.

“You are making me regret agreeing to share a tent,” he informed me, a warning in his voice that I ignored.

“You have command and power, so you surely would not be hard pressed to find willing partners,” I continued. “Is it… Orlaith?” I guessed.

“Orlaith?” he repeated her name, nearly choking on it in his apparent shock.

“Is it because you still love her that you avoid taking new lovers?” I clarified, determined to have my answer in spite of his aversion to the conversation.

“I never said Iavoidedtaking…Ornella!” he snapped at me suddenly. He’d used my real name rather than his nickname for me which I’d grown rather attached to hearing from him I realized. I supposed he was really quite angry with me when a muscle ticked in his jaw.

“That is it then.”

“No, that is not it! I care a great deal for Orlaith, and I have many regrets about how I handled things with her, but ending our relationship isnotone of them.”

“Then—”

“Why so curious, hmm? Give me one good reason why you absolutely have to know thisextremelyprivate thing about me,” he challenged.

“I… Everyone has needs, Sage. I guess I’m just trying to understand what to expect if we stay together,” I said, althoughI was not confident that was the truth. There was a part of me that was feeling defensive of something that I’d somehow come to view as mine and mine alone.

But I could hardly explain that to him.

Sage considered my reasoning a moment before his angry posture eased, and he sighed as if in defeat.

“I don’t prefer casual lovers. I have had them on a few occasions, but I’m always sure they are very far removed from my everyday life. You will never be displaced from our bed or otherwise inconvenienced,” Sage assured me.

I didn’t like that response either.

“So you almost exclusively sleep with people you are in a relationship with. Gods, you must go alongtime between lovers,” I guessed, and he glared at me.

“I amnotdignifying that with an answer.”

“But if you go that long without sex then do you not often need to…” I trailed off as my eyes dipped below his belt briefly but suggestively. “Will I not hinderthat?”

I was astonished when his agitated expression abruptly slackened in shock and then heated with embarrassment. His mouth opened as if he meant to say something but could not find words before he looked away from me, shaking his head in disbelief.

“I am done with this conversation,” he announced, gripping my arms to move me forcefully out of his way. “I’ll be right back! Stay in the tent.”

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