Page 49 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
Is he shivering? Why is he so stubborn?
“You have to be freezing!” He’s reclined with his back against a tree, but his body is racked with shuddering waves. Martin islying nearby, but his nearness doesn’t seem to do Kalle much good.
“I’m fine.”
I open the tent flap the whole way, the sound of the zipper loud in the night. “Get in here. Stop being such a martyr.”
“I’m not.”
“Um, yes. You are. Just … get in here. We’ll share the space. No big deal.”
“I’m fine,” he repeats.
“You are not. I can see you shivering. You’re cold and stubborn, and if you don’t stay healthy, you won’t be able to find your princess, the sorcerer, or your brother.”
After a moment, Kalle nods. With the grace of a cat, he stands up, then walks over with a confident but slower stride, bringing his blanket with him. He pauses at the tent entrance, and before I can ask what he’s doing, he takes off his belt and sword and slides them inside the tent. Then he sits down with his ass in the tent and his feet outside and removes his boots one at a time.
While, sure, we’re in the forest, and it smells fresh, piney, and clean, Kalle smells that way, too. His long hair sweeps over his shoulder as he moves, and even removing his boots, there’s nothing about him that’s not charming.
With a nod, he scoots the rest of the way into the tent, and I zip up the opening behind him.
The light of the moon illuminates the interior enough that I can see him looking around with uncertainty.
“Just lie down,” I mutter, and throw part of my bedroll over him. He lays his head on his forearm and settles in behind me on his side, tugging his blanket over both of us.
Okay, this was a bad idea. I thought I was being kind, making sure he wasn’t cold. But now he’s here, and he’s lying right next to me, and my body is reacting. This tent is supposedly for two people, but that’s being generous.
His chest is moving up and down. He’s more muscular than I am. I like it.
Kalle’s an overwhelming presence anyway, but having him just inches away?Yum.
His breath is gentle, but I can still hear it. Some kind of crackling energy comes off him that’s awakening all the nerves in my body.
This is bad.
So why am I having the time of my life?
Chapter Thirteen
KALLE
I have never slept in a small tent like this before. Usually, when I am out in the woods, I just sleep against a tree trunk or accept the hospitality of wood nymphs. If I’m with the royal cavalcade, we travel with large tents big enough to hold dinner parties.
This is … cozy. Quite cozy.
It’s also much warmer than it was outside. Martin’s body only blocks so much wind. Not that I couldn’t have handled it, but the comfort of being out of the breeze and near Justice is better.
And also worse. I stayed outside because I didn’t trust myself so close to him.
We lie in silence for a long time. I’m trying not to shift around, but I must rustle enough that Justice is awakened. Or maybe he hadn’t gone to sleep.
“You’re awake?” he whispers into the dark tent.
“Yeah.” I’m whispering, too.
“’Kay.” He pauses. “You doing okay?”
Absolutely not. All day, I’ve been inside my head, beating myself up for every decision of my entire life.
