Page 51 of Artemysia
“Who were the flowers for?” I probe.
“None of your business.”
“I’ll never stop asking.”
“Oh, for the love of—very well, then.” He sighs and lowers himself onto a corner of the bed. “Before a mission, I place flowers on a grave for the woman who took me in when I was a baby until I was six. Marije. She’s buried in Riverheart, and I can’t always get there. So wherever I’m on the road, I buy flowers and leave them on a random headstone in her honor.
“Marije,” I echo softly. “That’s really sweet of you.”
“I don’t like where this is going. It’s exactly what Idon’twant you to think.”
“You care. It’s okay to care.”
“It’s a tradition I made up. For good luck before a mission. I don’t even remember her that well.”
“But she raised you—”
“Go to sleep,” he grumbles. “End of sharing.”
He leaves me wondering if anyone else finds his surliness as hilarious as I do. I try to hide my grin, but it spreads across my face until it twitches into laughter.
He mutters to himself, the mattress sinking as he reclines.
I ease into the sheets and lie sideways on my good shoulder, pulling the covers over my head as I sink into the pillows.
“Goodnight, Riev.”
I hear him click the knob of the gas-lit sconce, and darkness falls,with only the moonlight from one small window and the fireplace illuminating the room.
Under the quilt, the cold cotton bedding is soft against my skin. I usually sleep in layers. It’s colder onthis side of the valley without the mountains blocking the night winds. A shiver runs through me despite the decent fire Riev started in the hearth.
A rough voice comes from the dark. “Stop shaking the bed with your shivering. I’d offer to keep you warm, but I already know your stubborn answer.”
“If only you’d let me sleep in my outdoor clothes. Plus, I wanted a hot bath earlier, but everyone was hungry.”
“I’m not sleeping anytime soon either. You don’t know how much effort it’s taking not to go collect and fold every single article of clothing you flung on the floor while you undressed like a whirlwind.”
“Hmph.”
“And…how much effort it’s taking not to think about you undressing in front of me like that,” he adds under his breath, his voice suddenly husky and hoarse.
My eyes flick open in the dark.
His words spike a hot, thrilling flush across my chest. “Didn’t know you were watching. Well, look at the lose-lose situation you created.”
“Let me warm you up, and we both win. Your strategic mind can’t turn that down. I promise to keep my hands to myself.”
Oh, hell. I want to, but I shouldn’t. It’s tempting to accept his offer, but I can’t break my own rules.
No attachment, no heartbreak.
I set rules to protect myself. To keep me focused. They’ve helped me survive.
I’m torn. This isn’t life or death. Though, if I freeze to death…
Nothing about this assignment is by the book, and I huff a breath into my hands. I hate the cold. And I have to admit, I certainly don’t hate the thought of his hot body against mine.
“Oh, alright.” I’m already on my side, so I wriggle back into him.
