by AJ Nuest
She released the blanket and it slithered down her skin. Their tongues dueled as she smoothed her palms up the contours of his stomach, along his chest and shoulders to the back of his neck.
Her breasts met the hard wall of his chest and she sighed. His hair was like silk through her fingers. She combed her nails through the waves as he nibbled the corners of her mouth.
Resting his forehead against hers, he swayed her in one arm, his gaze following the tip of his finger down to the middle of her breasts. Heat flooded her stomach as he circled the spot where she’d once worn the key. “I’ve had the chain repaired.”
A quiet laugh shook her shoulders and she placed her palm on his cheek. “I already told you I don’t need it.”
And she’d told him the truth. Ever since that fateful day she’d removed the key from her neck, she hadn’t regretted her decision to live out her days in his realm for a second. Besides, Caedmon had insisted the armoire be returned to their chambers. He’d made it a point to put the key inside the hidden compartment and had sworn all those who knew its location to keep their mouths shut.
If and when the day ever came they might need it, the key would be there, waiting for them. If not, then there it would stay until…well, she didn’t know when.
He withdrew and tipped his head, the calloused end of his finger grazing down to loop around her bellybutton. “’Tis probably for the best. Fandorn cautioned against leaping through the veil while you are with child.”
He placed his palm against her stomach and she grinned. The afternoon they’d gone for a leisurely ride in the forest and she’d told him the big news, he’d whooped so loud Dart and the horses and spooked and run off, leaving them stranded until Setting.
Not that it had mattered. She and Caedmon had figured out how to fill the hours until Belial and Zephyrus returned just fine.
A crease formed between his brows and her smile slowly faded. Oh, boy. Here he went again. Worrying about things neither of them could control.
The future and safety of his family. The way Braedric’s body had disappeared and what that might mean for the defense of their kingdom.
She brought her other hand to his face and lifted until he met her gaze. “You need to stop. There’s been no sign of Gaelleod, and Denmar has repeatedly assured us Seviere will not attack without his wizard. Braedric’s hashishans have been taken off for who knows where and the Dreggs patrol our borders with a loyalty that borders on obsession. If anything were to happen—which it won’t—we will get plenty of warning.”
A tender smile tugged his lips and he leaned down for a kiss. “You’ve misread my thoughts, my heart. For the first in all the seasons I can recall, I do not fear the future. We are together, and due your ultimate sacrifice have years to labor over uncertainties which may one day come to pass.”
“O-o-kay?” She frowned. “Then what’s the matter?”
He had too many concerns as of late. Rebuilding the guard. The intricacies of ruling a nation and presiding over the constant bickering of the council.
None of those things came easy to a man who’d spent the majority of his life doling out justice with the sharp edge of a blade.
“Now whose worries have grown to distraction?” He tapped the end of her nose. “I was merely contemplating the words to a tale.” His fingers slid down the ticklish skin of her inner arms and he twined his fingers through hers. “Come and sit with me before the fire.”
“Really?” But if there was one thing she’d learned, the guy definitely had a talent for storytelling, and she couldn’t imagine anything better than the steady rhythm of his voice lulling her back to sleep.
She followed as he led her toward the fur trimmed pillows and blankets they’d laid before the hearth. “What’s this one about?”
He sat and pulled her down beside him, arranging her body so her cheek rested on his shoulder and his arm cradled her against his body. “’Tis a tale of great heroics. In fact, I daresay I may command the bard pen a song in its honor.”
“Wow. That’s pretty impressive.” She tossed a blanket over her their legs and slipped her arm around his waist. “Have I heard it before?”
“No, but parts of it may seem familiar.” He kissed the top of her head. “Now shush and be patient, and I shall unravel for you the tale of a grand wizard named Oliver the Gray, and his loyal companion, Sir Jon the Brave.”
Coming soon
The Golden Key Legacy
Meet the Author
Multi-published, award-winning author and editor AJ Nuest resides in Northwest Indiana with her loving husband, two beautiful children, and a bevy of spoiled pets. Her four-part serial fantasy romance, The Golden Key Chronicles, was named the RONE Time Travel Romance of 2015 by InD’tale Magazine, and her contemporary romantic comedy, She’s Got Dibs, won First Place in the Heartland Romance Author’s Show Me the Spark! Contest, 2013. For more information, please visit her at ajnuest.com.
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