Page 121 of Frost Bound

He returned to the bed and watched as she tossed some pillows off the bed and snuggled in. Neve pulled the coverlet back and climbed in. “No pillow wall?”

She rolled onto her side, hands tucked underneath her cheek, a small smile on her lips. “What’s the point when I just slip underneath them and molest you in the night for your heat?”

He grinned at her. “I didn’t mind much.”

Her smile disappeared slowly, and she reached out a hand toward him. He stared at her hand, and then laced his fingers with hers. He loved the stark contrast their complexions made.

“Can I ask you a favor?” she whispered into the darkness.

“What is it?”

She swallowed hard. “Would you … hold me?”

He pulled her toward him immediately, until she was curled against the side of his body. Neve’s hearts pounded like crazy, and he closed his eyes, savoring the way she felt. This was peace. Bliss.

His brows furrowed as he ran his thumb over her wrist, feeling her pulse racing. “What’s wrong,jaivelle?”

“Everything.” She shivered and pressed her cold nose against his arm. “Why is lifesohard? I’m just so tired of it all. Don’t you ever want to just run away?”

He lifted his left hand and rotated toward her slightly so he could run his fingers through her hair. “Sometimes, but then I think about all the people that need me.”

“Have you ever had to do something horrible to protect others?” she whispered.

Neve nodded. “Yes. Does that make me a monster?” He looked down at her.

She peered up at him. “I don’t know. There’s not always a right or wrong, is there?”

“No, there’s not.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“The pain my people have wreaked on you and your family.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“I’m still asaloes. That will never change.”

Neve shrugged. “You can’t help what you are any more than I can. Best just accept that about each other, no?” He leaned down and brushed his lips across her forehead. “Get some sleep.”

“Goodnight,niliov.”

“Goodnight, wife.”

At some pointduring the night, he’d curled himself around Lia. She wiggled and he groaned, tightening his arm around her waist.Just a few minutes more. He pressed his nose into her hair and tried to slip back into sleep.

His little human wiggled again, shifting in the bed. He lifted his hand slightly and she rolled toward him. Neve settled his hand on her hip and pulled her closer as she slung her leg over his own. He caught the crook of her bare knee and hiked it over his hip. She sighed, and he smiled sleepily, brushing his fingertips up her bare thigh over the edge of her shift, and pulled her body into his own. She was so warm and soft.

She sighed, her breath brushing his lips. Neve cracked his eyes open. Dahlia lay entangled in his arms, her expression one of complete peace, lips slightly parted. Heat surged in his belly and longing crashed into Neve. When was the last time someone had trusted him enough to sleep in his arms?

He froze as her eyes blinked open; his hearts stuttered as she offered him a beatific smile.Stunning. She might be human anddifferent, but she slayed him all the same. Would she scream once reality set in? Or curse him out with that wicked mouth?

Neither happened.

Instead, his little wife snuggled closer, cold nose touching his chest, and went back to sleep, her breath evening out once again.

His fingers flexed against her back as he settled against the pillow. She was a dangerous creature that would break him if he wasn’t careful. But it was worth the risk.

---