Page 106 of Beast and Remedy
“I hope you get enough rest tonight, too.”
He bobs his head, and I comb his strands of hair once more before facing the entrance to the street, my stomach grumbling when the scent of freshly baked bread caresses my nostrils.
Beau appears at the corner of my eye, and I hide my face with my tangled web of red locks, pretending he did not hear or see anything.
“I won’t judge you for talking to your horse,” Beau whispers.
Letum damn you.
“I wasn’t talking to him,” I lie, reaching for the animal to mask my illusion and embarrassment.
“Sure you weren’t.”
The beast huffs, and I grimace, my power sensing his amusement and feeling like he exposed me. The littletraitor.
I loop my packs over my shoulder, scoffing as Beau laughs.
“Oh, come now, I was only teasing.”
“I know,” I grumble, not wanting to deal with anything else today. “I’m just tired.”
“So am I.” Marian strolls up, her posture slumping.
“Yes, can we please eat?” Marcel asks as he takes Jules’s and Christine’s packs. They blow him a kiss, and he smiles.
“Well, I’m not waiting any longer. I’m starving,” Leo says, abandoning us without another thought.
Marian breaks into a sprint after Leo, darting past Marcel and the girls.
Surprise stops them in their tracks, and Jules grins before she leads Marcel and Christine toward the tavern, leaving Beau and me alone.
My eyes flick to his outstretched palm.
“Here. Let me help.”
My headache and tired muscles almost moan in relief, and I remove my packs, not missing how his fingers brush against mine.
He places the first one over his shoulder and tries adjusting the strap. But he stumbles, and I rush forward, a whoosh of breath leaving me as he crashes against me, the two of us tangled in one another.
He grunts his own shock, his citrus aroma hitting my nostrils as he murmurs, “Well, there goes all my strength.”
The urge to enjoy his embrace is an old reflex, one that came without hesitation, complaint, or restraint. And the more I’m near him, the more it feels like the forgotten instinct could become natural again.
But I push away the temptation, my fatigue and hunger driving me more than the desire festering in my core. I help him upright and put distance between us.
“I thought you said you didn’t share the same traits with your siblings?”
He arches a brow. “What trait?”
“Being dramatic.”
He breaks into a fit of laughter. “I should antagonize you more often.”
“Excuse me?”
What is he going on about?
“I like seeing you riled up.” His golden irises meet mine, a wide grin spreading across his face, his dimples on full display. “You get this spark in your eyes, and then that talented mouth of yours shows off how wickedly intelligent you are.” He licks his lips, his voice lowering. “It’s sexy.”
