Page 60 of Rhaz's Redemption
After tucking Beatrice tightly into bed, I headed for my own furs. My mind was still buzzing from the kiss we’d shared earlier, and I’d hoped she’d invite me to kiss her again, but it wasn’t meant to be, not tonight. That was alright. I would be content with the kisses she gave me earlier and cherish the longing I held for her in my heart. Beatrice was worth the wait, that much I knew to be true.
I fell asleep shortly after Beatrice did, but woke up again when I heard her shivering. The night had grown cold and I’d unconsciously shifted in my sleep to stay warm, but Beatrice didn’t have that ability. She got up from her bed and opened one of the wooden shutters that covered the window. The moon was bright, and even I could see that the entire ravine was blanketed in a foot of snow.
She shut the shutter lightly and tip-toed back to bed where she continued to shiver. This would not do.
I got up and walked to her side of the cabin and saw that she’d pulled her blanket up to her chin in an attempt to stay warm but even then she still shivered.
Bending down, I gently laid my hand on her forehead and felt that she was chilled.
Beatrice opened her eyes and the corner of her mouth turned up in a smile. Her smile made my heart skip a beat. She was smiling at me. She was happy to see my face even now as she suffered.
“You’re cold,” I growled. I hadn’t meant to, but her shivering had made me angry. She shouldn’t suffer, especially if I was around to bring her comfort.
“I’ll start another fire.” I began to stand to do just that when I felt a hand wrap around my wrist and pull me back down.
“We don’t have enough wood,” she commented, which was true, we didn’t.
“We have enough to burn extra tonight,” I lied. I’d have to cut down another fruit tree, but there were plenty more left. We’d survive.
“Liar,” she smiled.
“Am not,” I huffed. Could she really tell when I was lying? That was…nice. I liked the idea of Beatrice knowing me well enough know when I was lying or not.
I started to walk away again when Beatrice tightened her hold on my arm.
“Stay with me,” she pleaded, and my whole body went still as if I was frozen in the snow.
“I can get more wood,” I suggested. She didn’t need my warmth if she didn’t want it. I would start another fire and she would be comfortable again. But even so, I held my breath. I wanted to be wanted by Beatrice so badly it ached.
“I don’t want a fire,” Beatrice shook her head. “I want you.”
She lifted up her blanket in a silent invitation. “Please stay.”
“You want me for warmth?” I clarified, still unable to believe that this was really happening.
“No,” Beatrice shook her head. “I want you for you. I might need your warmth, but I want you.”
I swallowed hard. Then slowly, as if I were living in a dream, laid down next to my luminescence mate and watched in awe as she snuggled up to me as if I were her favorite person in the world. I’d never been anyone’s favorite before. Even Jax, who had tried the hardest of all the hunters to befriend me, still preferred the company of Sozu.
No, this was a first for me. I wasn’t my father’s monster anymore. I no longer lived in the shadow of his madness and rage. I was Beatrice’s mate. I was wanted, and it felt so good.
The next day came too quickly. I want to stay under the furs with Beatrice forever. She fell asleep quickly with her head on my chest, but I stayed awake for as long as I could. Why dream when reality was finally better than anything I could imagine?
Beatrice stretched as the sun started to peek through the shutters. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer to my chest.
“Go back to sleep. It’s still night,” I teased.
“Is not,” she giggled. “The sun is shining through the window.”
“It’s just the moon. It’s extra bright tonight.”
“Rhaz,” she turned so she was laying on her stomach and looking directly into my eyes. “Do you think we could sleep like this every night?”
I could not hide the smile that spread across my face. I squeezed her tighter and buried my face in her hair.
“You promise this is what you want?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“This is what I want. I want you.”
