Page 56 of Winter's Fate

But he should not have even let her kiss him in this state. Indeed, had she not surprised him, he’d have broken it off sooner.

Gently, he put another inch between them, reluctantly letting a breath of cool air between their bodies. Which he very much needed right now, though admittedly it was doing little to quell his very obviously growing need. Demons, she was beautiful, gazing up at him in the starlight.

She swayed on her feet, and he shook himself, forcing his brain to take the lead so he could help her up the first step and open the door.

The room was outfitted much like Thaddeus’s, though with fewer books strewn about. A narrow bed in the corner, a bureau, a table, a shelf. That was it. Callum assisted Laena into the bed. But as he stepped away, she locked her fingers around his.

“Stay,” she said. “I won’t try to kiss you, I promise. Just… just stay with me. Please.”

He nodded, his throat tight. As if he could deny her anything she wished. She sighed with relief, and he would have lost hismind entirely had it not sounded like a sob. Callum lay on the bed, the mattress creaking under his weight, and held her in her arms as she wept.

CHAPTER 23

The sun had absolutely no business being as bright as it was. It beamed harsh rays across Laena’s face, and when she cracked an eye open, she could see there were no curtains to pull, no shutters to clap shut. The morning of a monk, up with the dawn.

She felt as if a monstrous serpent had seized her head between its coils, squeezing mercilessly. Demons, but it hurt. Her throat was dry, and the aftertaste of wine lingered on her tongue.

She rubbed her eyes, half hoping Callum had slipped out in the night. She’d been drunk—very drunk, obscenely drunk—but she remembered every last wanton detail of their encounter. Had she truly asked him tobedher?

The shame of the memory brought heat to her cheeks. It was almost worse that she’d asked him to stay and comfort her. She would not blame him if he’d left. The door cracked open and Callum appeared, juggling a carafe of water and a fistful of herbs in one hand, a packet of sausages in the other. At least she thought that’s what they were, judging by the smell—and judging by the fact that Brin had come racing out of her hidingplace at the foot of the bed and skittered up to the tabletop, where she ran in eager circles like a miniature dog awaiting a treat.

Callum nodded, giving her a hint of that half-smile he liked so much. It didn’t quite touch his eyes, though. Maybe he was afraid she might throw herself across the room and attempt to drag him into bed with her. Again.

She’d spent the night in his arms. She’dkissedthe man, for demons’ sake.

Of course, hehadkissed her back. For a moment, before his honor had stepped between them. So perhaps she needn’t be quite so mortified. Maybe.

“I brought sausages from the town,” he said. “Turns out the monks are vegetarians, and you need grease in your stomach if you’re to ride today without falling ill.”

She ran a self-conscious hand through her hair, then made herself get up and go to the table, inspecting his gifts. The water was self-explanatory—she could have guzzled the entire jug, had she not been afraid her stomach would revolt and throw it back up—and she took a moment to study the herbs.

“Byflower leaves,” he said. “Should ease the pain in your head.”

She raised her eyebrows. “I didn’t know that.”

“Thaddeus’s suggestion.” He raised a hand, as though anticipating her objection. “I told him they were for me.”

Brin hopped onto Laena’s fingers, running a loop around her wrist, then leaping back onto the table. “All right, greedy thing,” she said, laughing as she opened the packet. Her stomach turned at the smell of it, delicious though it was, and she broke off a piece for Brin. “I hope you didn’t have to endure a lecture.”

Callum grunted, taking the seat across from her. The wooden chair looked reluctant to hold his weight. “Thaddeus knows I’m a hopeless case.”

A hopeless case who’d risen before the sun to procure breakfastand herbs to ease her pain. Her head was murky with the aftereffects of the wine, and her stomach was most displeased with her, yet she couldn’t help wishing she could kiss him again. The feel of his lips against hers, strong and sure—and all too brief—warmed a pool of desire beneath her belly. One she’d thought, quite honestly, she might never feel again.

Her wits might be foggy, but they knew what they wanted.

“Drink some water,” Callum said. “It’ll do you good.”

Laena shook herself and obeyed, taking slow sips. “I want to apologize,” she said, setting the jug down. “For propositioning you last night.”

What a sentence. She very much wished to crawl beneath the table and disappear forever. Embarrassment and lust were a strange combination, but here she was.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” he said. “You were upset.”

“And drunk.”

“And that.”

When she met his gaze, there was no judgment in it. Just those ice-blue eyes, a touch of a crinkle at the brow that she thought might be concern. Or—hehadreturned her kiss last night, for the barest moment—was it desire?

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