And it was then, amongst my thoughts of scary boars, that my boot found a patch of ice. I tried to right my balance but tipped backward. My life flashed before my eyes. A life of my feet betraying me.
A hard body stopped my fall, and muscled arms came around my waist.
“I should be surprised, yet I’m not,” a deep voice murmured in my ear.
“Maddox!” I flipped around, all but forgetting my almost-demise on the icy sidewalk. “You really are my knight in shining armor. Always coming to my rescue.”
His lips twitched. “We should ask the physician to rework the magic in that necklace to include protection from those clumsy little legs of yours.”
“My legs aren’t little.”
“Mhm.” Black hair fell over his brow, and his eyes caught the light, reminding me of how the sun reflected on the sea, bringing out deeper tones of blue. “Why are you here alone?”
“Am I ever truly alone?” I rolled my eyes and set the bags at my feet. “Lake’s no doubt hiding somewhere watching my every move.”
“Fair point.” Maddox’s lips twitched. “I take it the thief is still in bed?”
“Ro worked all night and is allowed to sleep as late as he wants. And he’s a spy now, not a thief.”
Three days had passed since Rowan joined the Secret Order. Since most of their work was done in the shadows, he left at sundown and came home in the wee hours of the morning. Although I was incredibly proud of him, it felt weird not having him home when I went to bed.
“Why areyouhere?” I poked his chest. Then poked him again for good measure. “Besides to rescue muffins in distress.”
Maddox snatched hold of my hand and pulled me closer to his large body. “Careful, muffin. That attitude will get you into trouble. And we’re in public.”
The low dip of his voice gave me shivers.
“Oh?” I waggled my brows. “Worried you’ll tarnish your chivalrous reputation as Captain of the Second Order by bending me over your knee and spanking me right here in the market? Well, I got news for you. I’d like it.”
His composure slipped, and he smiled, taking me into his arms. Usually, he would’ve drawn back from me by now. Maddox didn’t like showing affection when others were around. But his arms remained secured around me.
I buried my face against his leather armor. “You never told me why you’re in the market. Is everything okay?”
“All is well. I met with Captain Stone.”
“The pirate?”
“Yes. We had business to discuss.”
Rowan, in his days of sneaking around the kingdom, learned that the knights worked with Stone and her crew in regard to security and intel. The knights turned a blind eye and let the pirates roam freely—within reason—in exchange for any reports on suspicious sightings or dealings within and around the capital.
“She didn’t flirt with you again, did she?” I asked with a snarky little edge. “I’m armed with a loaf of bread and not opposed to using it as a sword.”
“Is that jealousy I detect, my murder muffin?” Maddox grabbed my chin and angled my face up to his.
“No,” I mumbled. His brow arched. “Okay. Maybe. She’s just really pretty. A total knockout. Ten out of ten.”
“And yet, my eyes are only on you.” He swept his thumb over my bottom lip. “You’re so beautiful you take my breath away.”
Heat spread through my veins, like the growing roots of a large tree, traveling all throughout my body. “Captain Smolder, oh how I’ve missed you. But you might need to tone down the swoon or my heart will stop.”
“Your heart isn’t allowed to stop.” Maddox bent lower, pressing his forehead to mine. “So many others are tied to it.”
“Keep talking like that, and I’ll have no choice but to drag you back to the cottage and have my wicked way with you. I don’t care if you’re still on duty either. This armor will come off and—”
He kissed me.
The winter air brought out the warm spice of his skin, and I sought more of that warmth, linking my wrists behind his neck. He swept his tongue across mine, and a deep, possessive sound rumbled in his chest, one that had my pulse spiking and blood turning to liquid fire.
