Page 59 of Artemysia
“You’re going to farm in a suit?” I slip back in next to him and tuck my legs under the quilt but sit upright.
He moves his calf against my cold feet to warm them. The sparse hairs of his leg tickle me.
“I can be a hot farmer. You’re picturing it,” he insists.
I roll my eyes. “You’d have a life-size painting of yourself over your hearth.”
“No way. Only a pompous ass would—”
“It’d be a housewarming present from me.”
His laugh is rich and pleasant.
I go on. “We could have adjoining farms. I’ll raise elk you can ride, and you keep geese and milk cows. I’ll come over for eggs and cheese.”
“Deal. Don’t eat my cows. I know how much you love steak.”
I snort, scrunching my nose. He flicks his wrist, indicating that I get into his arms, so I do just that. I lie on my belly, my cheek on his chest. He hooks a leg over mine, and we tangle in warmth and closeness.
“This is the best birthday I’ve ever had,” he murmurs, pulling the covers over me.
I grin, my face squished into his shoulder. “You deserve all the best birthdays.” At that, he clutches me closer, tucking his chin on my head
My eyelids are already half-closed. I listen asRiev’s breathing slows before his arm on me grows heavy. He shields me from the cold and smells of that sweet, fresh woodsy note. Juniper. Damn stupid tree scent I can’t get enough of. With a bit of spice, too, drifting from the warmer parts of him. Why do some men smell so good?
All I know is that I don’t want to move an inch.
We all save dreams in a jar and count them before we go to sleep. For the first time in a long while, I allow myself to seriously consider if those dreams can survive outside our jars to become reality one day.
And for the first time, I let myself believe that if this mission is successful, maybe they can.
“My deepest fear, my darkest nightmare.” - Riev
The lemon and lavender clouds of dawn peek through the small, deep window of the bedroom. I’m up early to take a hot bath, a luxury we may not have for a while.
Last night with Delphine in my arms, I fell into a sound, dreamless sleep, and now I’m in a good mood. I almost whistle a happy tune as the tub fills with steamy water—but let’s be honest, I’m not a fucking cheery maniac like that, so I hum the tune silently in my head.
I feel like a witless sap, but she brings out a side of me I like. Even so, I force myself to wrap my head around the possibility that she’ll see things in a different light this morning as we head into Artemysia.
I dunk under the soapy water and hold my breath. Counting to two hundred, I steel myself for the fact that we have a job to do. Or more like,shehas a job to do, while my own mission is to keep her safe. She already almost died saving Ivy. Putting others first will be her ultimate downfall.
From a survival aspect, she makes no sense.
At this, I surface, expelling water from my lips.
Delphine screams and launches her toothbrush at me. She’s wandered sleepily into the bathroom to brush her teeth.
She recovers. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were using the tub. Who bathes entirely submerged?” Her shock turns into amusement at my expense as a grin spreads across her face.
I don’t mind. She’s still wearing my shirt with no pants, and seeing her hair mussed and eyes puffy from sleep is worth it.
“I was practicing holding my breath. It feels good to be underwater,” I mutter, rubbing my palms over my face to wipe away the water dripping into my eyes.
Her smile widens, showing off her bright white teeth as I sit upright. She’s staring, and when her eyes drop lower, I cover myself and turn away.
“What are the scars on your back?” she asks.
Oh hell.I slip back into the water, splashing as I submerge.
