Page 29 of A Raven Revived

She pulled her arm out of the blanket and cupped her hand against his cheek. “I’m sorry, Fitz.”

He gave a sad little smile and pressed a kiss against her palm. “As you know, we weren’t terribly close, but thank you, all the same.”

“For some reason, in my mind, everything was still exactly as it had been when I left. Has anything changed with my parents?”

“I don’t believe so, but I haven’t seen much of them since…”

“Since I ran away?” she finished for him. “They’re going to hate me, Fitz.”

“I wish I could assure you that they won’t, but the truth is, I just don’t know. But if they don’t want to be a part of your life, then that is their loss. Your father may not be happy you’re marrying me. We didn’t part on very good terms the last time I saw him.”

“What happened?”

He let out a long sigh. “I didn’t think he was doing enough to look for you, and I told him as much.”

“Did you look for me?” It had never even occurred to her that he might have.

“Did I look for you?” He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I looked everywhere, and I hired every resource I could; trackers, investigators, you name it. But we couldn’t find any trace of you.”

“I guess I did the thing right.” She shrugged, but guilt was churning in her belly, even as her heart swelled with the knowledge that he really must have loved her, even then.

“Are you sure about this, Fitz? Are you sure you really want to marry me? I don’t bring much good with me, but I do bring a whole lot of bother.”

His gaze locked with hers, firelight dancing in his eyes. “You are the good. I don’t need anything else. I’ve never been more convinced of anything in my life, Daisy.”

He lowered his lips to hers. This kiss wasn’t hungry and demanding like the night she’d come to his room at the inn. This one was tender and sweet, but that didn’t stop her pulse from racing and warmth blooming in her belly. His tongue traced her lips, sending a frisson through her body. She needed more, so she took control, plunging her tongue between his lips. He groaned as he allowed her to explore the recesses of his mouth.

She felt him start to pull away, so she reached around the back of his head and curled her fingers in his hair. He’d make them stop, and maybe even send her away, but she wasn’t ready. She needed him tonight. They were both gasping for breath by the time she pulled her lips away from his.

“Will you touch me tonight?” she asked desperately. “I don’t think I have the courage to do it myself without a bottle of wine.”

He chuckled softly. “Perhaps I will. If you ask nicely.”

There was something incredibly sensual about his smile. She slowly pushed the blanket off her shoulders.

“Please?”

A groan issued from his reddened lips. They recaptured hers, more demanding this time as his hand wrapped around the back of her head and locked her to him. Their tongues dueled in a seductive bout of fencing that sent desire racing through her. His other hand wandered over her back, shoulders, waist, like he was searching for something.

“I need to feel your skin.” He spoke through heavy breaths that feathered over her cheek. She nodded as his lips moved down to her neck sending chills through her.

“Lift your arms,” he said as he tugged her nightgown from underneath her. She did as he asked, and the fabric whisked over her head. She was naked, but before she even had a chance to decide how she felt about it, he wrapped his arms around her and the heat of his bare skin against hers took her breath away. It was glorious.

“Mmmm. I like this.”

He traced his tongue over her shoulder before lifting his head to look into her eyes. “So do I.”

He laid her back onto the blanket she’d been wrapped in, raising himself up on his knees to look down at her. His eyes darkened as his gaze raked over every inch of her naked body.

“You are incredible, Daisy.” He dropped down and licked a path from her navel to the base of her throat. Her nipples instantly peaked and needy desire pooled between her thighs.

“Are you going to make me beg?” She was panting, every inch of her humming with a salacious longing.

Slowly, a wolfish grin grew on his lips. “I most certainly am.”

He dipped his head and flicked the tip of his tongue over her nipple, startling a gasp from her.

“Fitz!” She breathed in a shuddering breath. “What are you doing to me?”

---