Page 37 of The Demon of the Wood

“Melina,” he whispered, hushed, reverent, against her forehead.

He kissed her temple, then her cheek, making her heart pound, heat coiling down to her core.

“Kaemon,” she whispered frantically. He surely was not aware of what he was doing. He’d said her name, but did he even realize it was her?

His fingers wove through her hair, finding the back of her head, gripping softly, and pulling her face so their lips met, pressing gently at first, then feverishly.

“Melina,” he muttered again, his lips moving against hers. Her head filled so dizzily she couldn’t grasp a thought long enough to stop him. “You taste like honey, just as I imagined.”

He rolled, pinning her gently under him, kissing her deeply, then moving down her neck. Her chest rose and fell heavily. She wanted his lips on every part of her, and she wanted to taste every part of him. But not like this, not while he was recovering, not when she was certain he wouldn’t do this if he were in his right mind. She pressed her hands against his chest and pushed. He pulled back, but his heavy eyes took her in blearily.

“It’s just the poison, Kaemon, let’s not. You should sleep.”

He nodded, tugging her body against his, resting his face in her neck, and fell promptly to sleep. Not Melina. She lay in his arms, replaying the sensations of his lips on her lips, her skin, the way he muttered her name like a prayer. Tightness curled around her body, and she felt desperate for release.

Kaemon finally roused, his eyes fluttering open and gazing up at her, clear-eyed.

“Melina,” he rasped, and she gave a sob as she laid across his chest, hugging him.

“Oh, Kaemon, how do you feel?”

His hand came up and stroked her hair, sending shivers through her body that she hoped he didn’t notice. “Rough, but overall, fine, I think.”

She laughed, tears coming down her cheeks, and he wiped them away. “You were out for more than a day.”

“You took care of me.” He stroked her face.

“Of course, Kaemon. I was so worried. I was afraid what I was doing wasn’t enough. Please tell me you are truly better.”

He sat up, easing her with him, and then stood. He stumbled, but then looked back at her, smiling. “I’ll be fine. I need to move around some, but with your help and my body’s swift healing, I’m almost there.”

He moved about slowly, and she sat on the bed, observing him anxiously. He did seem better, and she marveled at his fast recovery. His tail stretched taut to keep his balance, so she knew he would need more rest, but they were out of danger.

Now that she knew he was better, her mind swirled with the memories of his touch, his kiss. She wanted to bring it up, to see if he remembered, if he meant to do it, or if he’d just been caught in a stupor. But fear gripped her again, of losing him, though not to death, but to the reality that bringing it up could shatter their friendship. She couldn’t do that. She needed him too much to mess up what they had.

Even if she knew that those kisses would run through her mind every day, all day. Even if she knew that he had awoken a longing in her that couldn’t go back to sleep.

He stopped moving, emotion lining his features. “Thank you, Melina.”

“You don’t owe me any thanks, Kaemon.”

“If you weren’t here, I would have died.”

The realization hit her like a horrifying punch. She had lived with him for only a little over two months. Had known him for only a little over two months. But the thought of a world without Kaemon in it hurt.

He swallowed and looked out the window, frowning. “Still, I don’t think it’s safe for you to stay with me.”

Her stomach clenched. “I don’t think it’s safe for you to be here alone, Kaemon.”

Please don’t send me away.

“I can’t put you in danger like that, Melina. If they had found you, do you know what they would have done to you? They would kill me, but they would not be so kind to you.”

“I don’t care. I don’t want to leave you.” Her voice cracked as she spoke.

His face twisted as if tortured. “I don’t want you to leave either, Melina. But it’s not safe. When my wing is better, I will talk to Aife about setting you up in Orc Haven.”

“No.”

---