Page 67 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

“Oh, go jump in a volcano.” Finnian wrinkled his nose. “Women find me charming.”

I rolled my eyes but enjoyed the moment, which felt somewhat normal. Well, as normal as anything was here in Ardanos. “You must be losing your touch. Maybe sleep will help you.”

“Don’t fret, Lira.” Finnian opened his door. “Your sister will be thawed in my hands by the time you wake up.”

I was certain he’d never met anyone like Eiric, but I played along. “We’ll see.”

Tavish tugged me back to our door, his emotions all over the place. I couldn’t decipher what I sensed before he moved on to another.

My heart hammered. I wasn’t sure what to expect once we were alone. I hoped our revelations hadn’t changed anything between us, but the fact that I’d confirmed Eiric’s statement might have forced him to change his perception of the Seelie. Not that what we’d done was right, but at least we’d had a reason. Most situations weren’t clearly wrong or right.

We entered the bedroom, and I moved to the side as he closed the door. When the door clicked and he turned the lock, my knees almost gave out.

He turned to face me and tilted his head, asking,Are you feeling all right?

I wondered if he was deflecting his own feelings by forcing me to address why I was a bundle of nerves. I lifted my head, not wanting to come off as timid. I needed to be direct and make sure nothing changed the way he felt about me. “I’m worried. Your emotions are all over the place. I just hope you aren’t upset with me for confirming what E had to say.”

“Why would I be upset with you or Eiric for speaking the truth? I’d wondered why the Seelie attacked and allied with the flamers. Now I have an answer. I just don’t know howanyone, including Father, could blanket the realm in darkness. That part doesn’t make sense. Father was strong, but nothing like that.” He took my hands, turning so we stood in front of one another. “But I don’t want to think about that anymore. I have a place to take a bath and lie in a soft bed with the most important person in my world next to me. Right now, before we have to leave safety, I just want to focus on that.”

My body warmed, enjoying the sound of that. “Sounds like an excellent plan.”

“I’m glad you’re agreeable.” His emotions leveled out, and warmth and tenderness emanated from him once more. “You’re tired. Why don’t you go back to bed while I clean up? I haven’t bathed in days.”

The thought of him naked and wet had need unfurling in my stomach. We’d never bathed together, and suddenly, some of my fatigue vanished.Mind if I join you?I wasn’t sure how large the tub was, but I didn’t care. The smaller it was, the more our bodies would be pressed together.

His breath caught.As long as you’re able. If you need rest—

Instead of letting him finish that thought, I covered his mouth with mine. His hands snaked around my waist, pulling me against him as our tongues intertwined. I hadn’t expected this overwhelming need to surge through me, but knowing we were together with nothing threatening us had me desperately needing him. We’d been so close to death and capture—Ineededto connect with him again.

He stumbled back toward the bathroom, but he didn’t keep his fingers from digging into my sides. He paused at the door, detangling himself from me to snag a lantern on the large table. “Follow me.”

He led me into the bathroom, hanging the lantern on a hook in the white wall. The walls reminded me of cement, and there was a large, dark-gray circular tub in the center of the floor. Tavish turned the handle, and the gorgeous sparkling blue water of the realm began filling the tub. He grinned at me and reached around my body toward the sink on my right.

I waited for him to capture me in his arms, but he bent and opened a drawer, then removed a sharp knife. If he’d done that when we first met him, I’d have been certain he intended to kill me.

But not anymore.

“Aw, sprite,” he cooed then ran his tongue across my lips. “You don’t fear me anymore.”

I stepped toward him, pressing my breasts against his chest. “Disappointed?”

He moved the knife, brushing it along my arm, but it didn’t nick me. Desire flooded me like never before. “Never. I’dneverhurt you. I know now that I never could have hurt you before, even if I’d tried.”

Moving the knife, he placed it at the neckline of my gown and cut slowly downward until the garment was falling off me. My chest heaved as the material fell from my body onto the floor, leaving me completely naked in front of him.

Those storm-colored eyes lightened, and his pupils dilated as he slowly took in every inch of me. He murmured, “So blasting gorgeous.”

Not having the patience that he did, I gripped the bottom of his ruined tunic and ripped it in half. I pushed the material from his body, enjoying the curves of his muscles as they flexed to let the shirt drop. When I reached his six-pack, I followed the trail of hair that took me closer to what I desired.

I ran my fingers over his cool skin, tracing his abs, and slowly made it to his waistband. Then I pulled down his pants.

He growled, kicking them off as he bent down and grabbed a container with a bottle inside. Before I could ask what it was, he pulled my body against his. He then walked backward until his legs hit the edge of the tub. He let me go, bent down to turn the water off, then stepped into the tub. I followed him, enjoying the refreshing tingle of the water over my skin.

As I sat in front of him, Tavish set the knife in the container with the bottle on the side of the tub and then went under to get clean. I followed suit, and when we resurfaced, I didn’t waste any more time. I wanted him inside me, and now.

He smirked. “I’m not ready. I want to shave first so I can feel your skin against mine everywhere.” He set the bottle and knife on the side of the tub and dunked the container in the water before putting it alongside the other things. The urge to take care of him took hold.

“Let me?” I held out my hands, wondering if he’d let me do it.

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