Chapter 36
Alternate Chapter Available
Linnea took a long, searing bath and her muscles unknotted instantly.
Heat used to bother her because of her last encounter with her mother, but after years of practice, she could take hot baths again.
The sting of warmth on her skin still bothered her sometimes, but that’s what permanent scarring from hot coals being shoved down the back of your dress will do to you. They never fully heal.
Sometimes she could still hear her mother’s cold laughter, matching the frigid weather of the day she gained her largest scars.
Linnea had made the mistake of mentioning it was a tad chilly in the house that morning, which was when her mother formulated the plan to help her “appreciate” the heat that was provided.
What’s wrong, dear? I thought you were cold.
Linnea clawed her way out of her downward spiral—working to focus on how wonderful the warmth felt on her aching muscles and not the terrible memories that heat held—and finished her bath.
Halsten was right—as long as she stretched when she got out, she would feel much better. She stepped out and wrapped herself in a towel, digging through her saddlebag for something comfortable to wear. She had been stuck in riding pants and cotton puffy shirts for days now.
Linnea pulled out a multi-layered gossamer nightgown in her favorite color, slate blue.
She was not a confident woman, but she always loved how the color accentuated her gray eyes and auburn hair.
She stood in the mirror and tied up the decorative strings that sat below her collarbones, leaving a keyhole effect on her chest, and her shoulders exposed.
Her stomach rumbled and she panicked. In her uncomfortable state, her entire focus was on taking a hot bath.
She had completely forgotten to go down to eat before she got into her night clothes.
Well, she was too tired now, so she would just have to indulge in a large breakfast. She had an apple and a handful of grains in her saddlebag that would hold her over.
She stretched first before her muscles had the opportunity to tighten again.
First, standing with a leg on her bed, then she took to the floor and stretched each leg until she could comfortably wrap her palms around the bottoms of her feet again.
Lack of body fat growing up had made her flexible, since stretching was the only form of exercise she could endure without becoming winded.
Linnea was about to get up and retrieve the apple from her bag when there was a soft knock at her door.
“Who is it?” she asked through the thick oak door.
“Halsten. Can I come in?”
“I’m not decent. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I insist.”
Linnea let out a sigh, then glanced around the room for anything to cover herself with. She grabbed a scratchy blanket from the bed and wrapped it around herself before letting him in.
Halsten slipped into the room carrying a tray of food. “I noticed you never came down to eat. I know your legs hurt so I suspected you were protesting the stairway. I figured I would bring the food to you,” he said with a goofy smile.
Linnea couldn’t help to mirror his facial expression. “Thank you, that’s very kind.”
Linnea gestured to the small bistro table in the corner and Halsten placed the tray down. To her surprise, he sat himself in one of the chairs. She froze in her tracks, unsure what to do.
“I won’t bite, Little Flame. Come, sit with me.”
There was that nickname again. He must be jesting at her hair. That had to be it.
“I’m capable of eating by myself, Sir Halsten.”
He flinched at the formality but did not budge. She had hoped that would encourage him to leave.
Halsten smiled again, then gestured to the other chair.
Linnea cautiously sat down, holding the blanket tight around her chest. She scooped a spoonful of stew with one hand and brought it to her mouth.
It was delectable and she let out a soft moan.
Halsten’s eyes widened as he watched her.
She couldn’t help but notice his nostrils flaring.
He gestured toward her torso. “Why are you wearing a blanket cape?”
“I’m in my night clothes. It’s indecent for a man to see me in them.” Linnea gave him a puzzled look as if he should know that.
“Are they… see through?” He raised an eyebrow.
Linnea started. “Of course not! I would not own such scandalous attire!”
Halsten laughed a deep, real laugh. “Then why is it such a secret? Is it not the same as the dresses you usually wear, but less extravagant?”
Damn. He had her with that logic. She held a chunk of baguette in her free hand but hesitated bringing it to her mouth.
“Let go of the blanket, Linnea.”
She pulled it tighter. “No.”
Halsten pulled the tray to his side of the table. “Then I’ll just take this back.”
Linnea scoffed. “That’s mine!” She reached for the tray, but she had the chunk of bread in her hand so she couldn’t grip it.
He dove forward and bit off a large piece of her bread, his mouth now stuffed with it as he laughed.
Linnea gasped, pulling her bread hand back. “Fine!” she shouted as she let go of the blanket. It was making her itchy anyway.
The fabric bunched down at her waist, leaving the upper half of her nightgown exposed.
Halsten’s eyes wandered up and down her torso multiple times before he slowly slid the tray back to her.
There was an odd silence while she finished her stew and bread, but not awkward.
When she was done, she dabbed her face with her napkin and stood up, leaving the blanket in the chair behind her. Her legs locked up and she winced.
“Did you stretch?” Halsten asked.
Linnea nodded. “Hot bath and stretched like you said. It was better for a while.”
Halsten squinted at her, his chocolate brown eyes glowing in the firelight. “Lie on your stomach on the bed. I can help.”
Linnea wanted to protest. That’s what any proper lady would do. But he had been sitting here with her in her nightgown and never made her feel unsafe. Now that she thought about it, she had never once felt unsafe in Halsten’s presence. If anything, it comforted her more, having him around.
Without a word, but with shaky hands, Linnea laid on her stomach, turning her head to the side so she could see Halsten clearly. He approached the bed and kneeled next to her on the mattress.
“Don’t be afraid. I would never hurt you. If you want me to stop, tell me to stop and I will leave. Understood?”
Linnea let out a breathy “yes,” unsure of what he was about to do.
Halsten gripped her calf with both hands, working his thumbs in circles starting in the middle and working his way outward. It felt amazing, her muscles relaxing more and more with each stroke of his thumbs.
They sat in comfortable silence while Halsten worked her calves and lower thighs. He never dared approach the hem of her nightgown, which ended mid-thigh. He was being as respectable as a person could be, keeping the massage strictly therapeutic, which Linnea appreciated.
“Why do you call me Little Flame?” Linnea blurted before she could stop herself. She needed to know. “Is it because of my hair?”
“Your—your hair? No, of course not.” Halsten’s thumbs worked on a particularly difficult knot in the center of her hamstring.
“It’s just that, since the moment I met you, I knew there was more to you than you let on.
You act meager and shy, but I know deep down, you’ve seen some shit; been through even more.
You’re tough. You’ve got a flame in there that you haven’t fueled yet. ”
Linnea nodded, speechless. It wasn’t a jest this whole time. She rolled over to her back and looked into his warm eyes, reaching up to rub a thumb over his high cheekbones. He was beautiful.
“Did you mean what you said downstairs?”
“About how irresistible your body is? Yes, Linnea. If we’re being honest, it’s been a damn struggle to ride behind you the last few days where all I had to look at was your perfect shape.”
“I want to try something,” Linnea said. “Be patient with me.”
Halsten nodded, staying silent. Linnea held the back of his head and dragged it down to hers. When their lips were a breath away, she whispered, “Kiss me.”
Halsten did not hesitate. He pressed his mouth to hers and his skin was the softest, most gentle thing she had ever felt. He didn’t rush anything, waiting for Linnea to signal she was okay. Refusing to separate their lips, she nodded mid-kiss.
Her body felt hot all over, a warmth she had never experienced before sweeping over her in waves. Every nerve was hypersensitive, so when a lock of Halsten’s hair slipped from behind his ear and brushed her neck, she gasped.
Halsten lightly swept against her lips with his tongue and when she did not object, he slipped into her mouth, gingerly knocking at her teeth for entry. Linnea opened to let him in, swirling her tongue around his instinctually.
A low grumble rumbled deep in his chest as Linnea reached for his hips, guiding him so he was kneeling over her. It did nothing to satisfy the heat between her legs, but she wasn’t ready for that yet. She had kissed before, so this was not her first time, but she had never felt a need like this.
She trusted Halsten. Maybe she was drunk off everything he had said to her. Maybe she needed to do something risky for once in her life. Maybe, just maybe, he was right—she needed to stoke her fire.
Halsten’s kissing became deeper each time he stroked his tongue over hers. “It’s my turn to try something. Tell me to stop if you need to, okay?”
Linnea nodded.
“Words, Linnea. I need to hear you say it.”
A man being authoritative usually scared Linnea, but Halsten demanding words from her sent pleasant shivers down her spine. “Yes, Halsten. I will stop you if I’m not okay.”
Without speaking another word, Halsten dove for her neck. He planted sweet kisses at first and Linnea squirmed under him, her skin growing taut all over. She felt like she was going to burst.