26. Cherry
26
CHERRY
W hen I next woke, it was fully dark. Silar was no longer beneath me, but he was also no longer staying as far away from me in the bed as possible. I sighed happily at the possessive curl of his body behind mine. His arm was heavy on top of me, and even his tail was loosely wrapped around my ankle. I could have stayed like that forever.
The only problem was I was hungry, thirsty, and desperately needed to pee.
Untangling myself from my husband turned out to be no easy feat. Every time I nearly got free of his arm, his tail would tighten up, and vice versa. He never woke up, though. Just seemed intent on holding me close in his sleep.
Which was heart-squeezingly adorable.
After way too long, and with much complaining from the region of my bladder, I finally managed to free myself from the Silar snuggle. I yanked on some pyjamas and shoved my feet into my boots, taking a moment to look down at the bed in appreciation for the sweet, strange man lying in it. Silar was still naked, and he’d shifted into the place I’d been occupying on the bed, like on some level he knew I’d gone and was already trying to find me. His muscled back rose and fell in a deep, even rhythm of breathing, his often-frowning face totally relaxed. Probably more relaxed than I’d ever seen it, actually.
Trying to ignore the way my insides were slowly turning into warm goo, I gave in to my bladder’s pangs and hustled outside.
It was an exceptionally beautiful evening. Crisp. Cool. Clear. The stars and moons drenched the spring growth and blossoms in silver light, turning everything ethereal, all velvet and metal and diamond.
Even the plain wooden outhouse looked more appealing than usual, and I shook my head at myself, because what else besides falling hopelessly in love could make me think, “Oh, yes. Very nice outhouse indeed”?
I made quick use of it and was just cleaning my hands at the hose by the house when footsteps behind me made me straighten up. A moment later, a big, warm hand closed around my upper arm.
“You woke up?” I asked, tossing down the hose. I smiled to myself. I wanted Silar to get his rest, but I couldn’t help the surge of hot fluttering in my belly and the pleasant surprise of being with him again a full minute before I’d expected to crawl back into bed.
God, girl. You are so far gone for him.
But when the voice answered, it wasn’t Silar’s voice. It was a voice that crunched its way through what sounded to be an utterly mangled nasal passage.
“Haven’t slept more than an hour at a time since you broke my nose, bitch. Wouldn’t let myself until I tracked you down.” The hand on my arm got tighter at the same moment a weapon was pressed to my temple. “And here you fucking are.”