Chapter 43
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
ALINA
The sun was trying to come out from behind the clouds, and I could clearly see the bright golden outlines of the peaks that would disappear as fast as I could detect them, as if they were not even there.
My chest was swelling with emotions, all the unspoken words, and for the first time in a while, I wanted to cry, because my heart was so full and I was happy.
Happy in this moment, happy to be with him.
I swayed in the air, and only then I saw Tynan make a sharp turn, vanishing behind the shoulder of the mountain.
I paused trying to figure out where he was going.
I followed to the exact same spot and saw Tynan, already changed into his human form, disappear into a well hidden cave.
I slowed down and descended closer. When my feet touched the rock, I stilled, peering into the darkness.
The opening was not big enough for my dragon body and I transformed.
“Tynan?” I called and received no answer.
I looked around, questioning if I was in the right place. There was no way I would walk into the pitch black nothingness. Fear crept up my spine and I took a step back.
Suddenly, someone pulled me into the cave and I yelped, trying to break free.
“Relax, princess,” Tynan said.
“Don’t call me that,” I said, stopping my attempts to break free.
Tynan effortlessly picked me up, carrying me through the cave. Inside, it felt surprisingly warm and really damp as if water was somewhere nearby. I could only imagine how slippery it was.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, enjoying the feel of his strong arms on me, his scent.
“I can’t see anything,” I said.
“Yeah, I figured.”
“Can you see?” I tried not to move, to make it easier for him.
“I always had good eyes,” he said.
“Are you saying that I don’t have good eyes?” I laughed.
“Your eyesight isn’t great,” Tynan added and I attempted to push him away.
“Where are you taking me?”
“I want to show you something.”
At last, I was able to detect a faint light ahead. Another minute and Tynan placed me back on the floor. I turned around, surveying the opening in the ceiling and the water that was pouring down from one of the stone walls right into a large pool.
“What is this place?” I asked.
“One of the hot caves. There are many here. This one was always my favorite,” Tynan said, unbuttoning the collar of his flying suit.
“It is?” I watched him peeling off his clothes.
He looked at me with a smile, so boyish, so unguarded in that moment, that my poor heart threatened to explode. When he was done undressing, he stepped into the water and I could not help admiring his amazing body, perfect in every way: strong, powerful, and captivating.
“Are you coming? Or, are you not done watching me?” he asked and my cheeks burned.
I reached up and unbuttoned my top. It was his turn to watch me undress, and he concentrated on every motion of my hands while I was unlacing my boots and removing my jacket.
“Come here,” his voice turned low and I could not help the shivers of anticipation running up my spine.
Tynan observed me get into the water as I carefully stepped closer to him. The water was warm, warmer than I expected. I lowered myself into the pool and could not help a light gasp when the heat caressed my body, relaxing my tensed muscles and soothing my nerves.
“It reminds me of that time in the temple. Do you remember?” I whispered.
“Do you mean when I held you for the first time?” In a matter of a moment he stood right in front of me.
“Yes, when you . . .” I paused because he picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. “Held me like . . .”
“This?” he finished and his lips touched my temple.
“Yes.”
“I thought about that for days. Your lips, your eyes, your skin. You were so close,” he whispered in my ear.
It was truly embarrassing how my body reacted to his words, and it was even more embarrassing that I could do nothing to hide it.
My heart was beating like mad and my fast breaths were impossible to conceal.
All I could think about was that his sturdy, rough hands were on my bare thighs and my center was pressed tightly against his muscular stomach.
“What’s this?” he asked, and I could not figure out what he meant, not right away.
Slowly, my attention shifted from his perfect lips to the sensation of his hand around my waist.
And I remembered that I had secured Grace’s chain around my waist. My face flushed even more, if that was even possible.
“I . . . I thought. It . . . it’s not mine. Grace gave it to me,” I stuttered.
He was silent for a long moment, studying my face.
“Why would she give this to you?”
“Well, to me and Frid. She said that all girls should have them.” I was ready to die from embarrassment.
“Is that so?” Tynan’s hand brushed against my navel.
“Yes.”
Tynan’s hand continued exploring my body, making me melt from within.
It was too much, more than I could bear.
With a gasp, I pressed my lips to his and our mouths crashed into a wild, unstoppable kiss.
In that moment, nothing else existed but the two of us, the world could burn and collapse onto itself as his lips devoured mine and nothing else mattered.
It was nearly dark when we returned to Grace’s cottage. Frid and Victor were preparing dinner, while Tynan’s grandma sat talking to Sol and an unfamiliar girl he brought with him.
“What’s going on?” Tynan asked and his hand released mine.
“Grace brought us dinner, and Sol brought his lady,” Victor lowered his voice.
It was really cramped in the sitting area, but I made my way to the new girl, and after an awkward pause, introduced myself. The girl’s name was Angela and she was a maid in the castle.
I only managed a quick glance toward Frid when I saw her make a sign for me to approach her. I excused myself and went straight to the kitchen where the blond girl, wearing a dress that looked two sizes too big, was wrestling with a kitchen knife.
“What happened?” I asked, getting closer.
“You know I like blades, all kinds of blades. I even had a nickname, ‘Black Blade Mary’,” she started saying.
“I didn’t know that.”
“Yes, I did. So why can’t I cut this stupid cucumber?” She made a cutting motion, while the poor vegetable rolled on the cutting board.
“Oh.” I frowned.
The truth was, I was just no good in the kitchen. No matter how hard I tried to learn to cook, I would always get bored, and paid dearly every time I tried to cut corners or experiment. My fiance would never allow me in the kitchen because I would waste good ingredients.
“Do you want me . . . to try?” I approached the water basin and quickly washed my hands.
“Please, or I will have to kill someone, and it will be Victor, because it was his idea,” she muttered.
I bit my lip, concentrating on the knife, my hand landed on the cucumber and I slowly tried to cut a piece. With extreme precision, I was able to slice a piece that was twice as small as Frid’s, but still quite thick. I sighed, shaking my head.
“I’m absolutely useless,” I mumbled and suddenly felt Tynan’s presence right behind me.
His hands landed on my waist and he touched his lips to my temple. He said nothing, watching me slice another piece. My face turned beet red. For some reason, I did not want him to know about my kitchen incompetence just yet.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
“It’s going,” I pursed my lips, trying to slice another piece.
“How’s your Sage business?” Frid asked.
“Not good,” he said.
“Do you want my help?” Frid crossed her arms on her chest.
“No, I’ll figure it out,” Tynan responded.
I finished my task and looked back at Frid with triumph.
“Great! Now move on to the tomatoes.” She pressed the basket into my hands.
“Tomatoes?” My face fell.
“Call me if you need me.” With those words, she walked into the dining room.
I raised my eyes to Tynan, who looked at me with a teasing smile.
“The whole basket. Why do you even need so many tomatoes?” I mumbled.
Instead of answering, Tynan picked up the second cutting board and another kitchen knife that was much smaller than mine.
“What are you –” I stared at him in surprise.
His competent fingers made quick, confident cuts and in a matter of three seconds, he moved on to another one.
“How?” I returned to my cutting board determined to speed up my process.
While I was wrestling with the wet and slippery skin of my tomato, he finished cutting all of them. When I tried to mimic his movement, the knife slipped and landed on my thumb. I gasped, feeling the sharp sting of pain.
Almost immediately Tynan was right in front of me, examining my wound.
“Here,” he said in a low voice.
I forgot about my cut when he rinsed my hand in cold water, and the next moment he sat me up on a kitchen counter. I watched him looking through the cupboards.
“What are you looking for?” I asked, enjoying his attention more than I should have.
“I saw some clean cloths. Here.” He took out his knife and easily cut a thin strip of fabric.
I watched him examine the wound before carefully wrapping the material around my thumb.
“Thank you,” I whispered, staring at his face.
He moved closer, standing between my legs, I leaned in for a kiss but he only pecked my nose, moving away.
“Not fair,” I protested.
“And this, too,” Frid walked in and paused, looking at the two of us.
Tynan accepted the basket.
“Is that all?” he asked.
“Yes,” Frid answered, her curious eyes shifting from me to Tynan.
The dinner was loud and disorganized. We still did not have a kitchen table and Grace scolded Victor about it, as Frid was dying laughing. Sol and his girl were sitting close together, whispering to each other, oblivious to everything around them.
I was seated on one of the remaining chairs while Tynan sat cross legged on the floor beside me.
My eyes kept returning to the handsome curve of his neck, the shape of his beautiful eyelashes, his strong profile.
From time to time, his hand landed on my knee almost absent-mindedly, in such a familiar, intimate way that it made my insides melt.
After dinner, all of us made it to one of the cliffs where Victor and Tynan built a bonfire and Angela took out two bottles of wine from her canvas bag.
I smiled, enjoying the dim light of the moon and the countless stars up above.
I was comfortable and warm, snuggled on Tynan’s lap.
For the first time in a while he appeared relaxed; the hard, guarded expression he usually carried changed into something more calm and secure.
His hand was holding a bottle of wine and a lazy smile played on his lips, as he listened to Victor entertain us with stories from when they were young.
The umber of his eyes reflected the wild dance of the flames and I knew right then and there that I had never been in love with anyone or anything before Tynan.
The overwhelming feeling descended on me all at once, and the next moment, there was not enough air to take a breath.
I closed my eyes, leaning back on his chest, placing my head on his shoulder.
If I died right now, this minute, I would not have any regrets because I knew what it was to be happy.
I felt a tear rolling down my face. As if he knew what was on my mind, Tynan’s fingers touched the moist skin on my cheek.
Slowly, he moved his head, brushing his mouth against mine, as if we had all the time in the world.
Suddenly, his soft caress and the taste of sour wine on his lips was all that mattered.
The moment was absolutely magical, and soul crushing. And it was all mine.