Chapter 13 #2
No surprise that we leave the road behind, cutting just enough West that we’re firmly hidden in the trees.
Thane glances at me as we walk. “We’ll stop soon. Practice a bit more. Find a brook to refill the canteens.”
“Practice?” I echo, like that’s the only part I heard… and it might’ve been. “Is this another ‘try not to stab me’ lesson?”
His grin is wicked. “That depends. Are you feeling stabby?”
Gods, I love it when I see the truly teasing side of this male. “Always.”
Holding his arms open, a daring pose if I ever saw one, I laugh. “We stopping now?”
In answer, Thane draws his sword and tosses me a look that’s all challenge. “Come, Alana of Sombra. Show me what you’ve learned so far.”
I do.
It’s clumsy at first and, oh, who am I kidding?
I’m no swordswoman. Having half my skirt missing helps with the footsteps, and it really was an accident the last time I stabbed him, but while I’ll never be as good as a century-and-a-half old fae with two decades of banditry under his belt, I don’t embarrass myself too much.
Thane circles me, correcting me with quiet words, guiding my wrist, shifting my stance with a hand at my hip that feels a long more natural than the first time he took leave to touch me.
“Good,” he murmurs. “Again.”
Sure.
I thrust. He parries.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The world narrows to movement and breath and the way his eyes track me. Only he’s not assessing me now, not really, but rather he’s watching.
“You’re enjoying this,” I accuse.
“I enjoy watching you learn,” he says smoothly. “And, sometimes, demoness, I just enjoy watching you.”
I miss a step.
Thane disarms me easily, blade flicking mine aside. It falls from my grasp, and my body moves on its own accord. Part of me lunges to grab the sword so that I’m not unarmed, while the other part… I don’t know how it happens, but I end up directly in front of Thane.
He freezes. I grab the fabric of his shirt with my claws, telling myself that I would’ve fallen otherwise—but isn’t the truth that I fell the moment he gave me his unique version of a mate’s promise, whether he knew it or not?
Shit.
Close.
Too, too close.
His chest rises with a slow inhale. My heart is hammering so loudly I’m sure he can hear it.
“Thane,” I say, not sure why I murmured his name at all.
His eyes glaze over. “You make this so very difficult, my demoness.”
I swallow. “Hey. You’re the one who keeps standing so close.”
And I’m the one tangling my claws in his top.
I should take them out, untangle them before I add some damage to the fabric. My dress is a lost cause at this point, but Thane… I guess bandit finery is made to last. At least, I—
I—
My lips part. A soft breath escapes me. He dips his head and, quieting the frantic thoughts in my head, Thane kisses me.
It’s a gentle kiss. His lips are soft yet firm against mine, moving slowly before he slips his tongue into my mouth.
I know what this is. Before our human parents bonded with their demon mates, no one in Sombra kissed with their mouths.
I guess that’s what happens when most demons have long fangs that clash as they press their mouths together.
I’ve grown up watching my parents kiss, though, and I’ve always wondered what it would be like.
It’s magical. We’re sharing the same breath, and there’s something about his taste that has me hungering for me.
All too soon, though, it’s over. We break apart at the same time, both of us staring, more than a little stunned, like we’ve crossed a line neither of us meant to approach just yet but there’s nothing we can do about it now.
“Wow. That was…” His tongue darts out, swiping across his lips as if savoring my taste. “Yeah.”
“Have you had many kisses?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
Not like it matters. He’s my mate, right? So even if there was a previous lover, he doesn’t have one now, and—
“None that can compare.” He takes my chin between his fingers, doing the impossible: he stopped my thoughts for a second time. “And none that I’ll remember after that one.”
Oh.
Okay, then.
I suck in a breath, moving into Thane, bumping the bodice of my dress against his hard chest.
Binx—who was watching us spar between grooming his shadowy fur—chooses that exact moment to chitter loudly and nudge my calf with his nose, doing his best to push me closer.
Scurrying over to my bandit, he does the same to Thane’s boot.
Once. Twice. Three times. Then, plopping down on his rump, he looks at us both expectantly, his brilliant white eyes glowing brightly as he makes sure I get the message.
I laugh, a little shaky as my hands come up, bracing me against Thane’s chest. My palms are flat against his muscled upper half, his warmth doing even more to heat me up from the inside out.
He raises his eyebrows at me.
“It’s just… he thinks you might’ve done it wrong.”
Thane huffs a breath that might be a laugh. “Traitor.”
Binx bats at the laces on my boot.
“Oh. Sorry. I misunderstood. He says we should do that again. Just to make sure we got it right.” Binx chirps, and I dare a look up at Thane. “He’s very insistent.”
A muscle in his jaw flexes, torn between want and something I can’t quite name. Then, as if he’s unable to stop himself, he drops his mouth down to mine again.
This kiss is deeper. Slower. A promise neither of us is ready to make, but it’s a start.
It’s a start, and I’ll take it.