Page 180 of Frost and Death
“Well, don’t you look dressed for a battle?” I tease.
I internally cringe at my poor wording, hating the immediate thoughts of what a battle would look like here. Sweet Makers, what is wrong with me?
I walk up to the horse and offer my hand for him to sniff, anything to distract and drown out my never-ending thoughts.
The steed huffs quickly, moving his head to me. I stumble, and Jerrick jerks toward me.
He helps steady me as I laugh breathlessly, the animal relenting enough to huff again into my palm. I run my hands over the beast’s black coat, the mind-numbing movement and steady presence of Jerrick reassuring and quietening my thoughts.
I peer up at Jerrick, and he answers my question with a half-smile. “You never know what you might run into.”
My features slacken, and I grab my satchel tighter for support.
Jerrick smiles as he dips down and kisses my forehead. I close my eyes at the contact of his lips for a moment, slowly opening them only to stare back into his softened blue irises.
“Don’t worry,” he reassures teasingly, letting go of my hips and lifting my satchel over my head, strapping it to the horse.
He mounts up on the horse, and I cannot help but worry of getting hurt again. When Jerrick extends his hand, I stare at it, licking my lips in contemplation.
Do I really want to do this?
I look back at the castle, trying to ease the thoughts of being mauled by a bear or attacked by a mountain lion.
Could there be anything worse than that?
Fiddling with my hair, I exhale and raise a brow at Jerrick. “I’m not going to get shot again, am I?”
His laugh catches me off guard, and my apprehension deflates a little. Jerrick stretches his hand further. “I won’t let anything happen to you. That, I guarantee, wife.”
Wife.
His words ease my discomfort, and I gulp down air, bracing for a change of scenery.
I take Jerrick’s hand and lift to mount.
His lips tickle near my ear when I rest in front of him, heat warming my back and pulling me to the night we spent together. His hands reach around my stomach, easing me further into him.
I rest my head in the crook of his neck as the softest of breezes kisses my skin.
I clench my thighs in protest, relaxing them only for his breath to warm the entire side of my neck as he says, “I’ve got you.” Jerrick motions for our steed to take off.
As we leave the castle, I am surprised when we change our direction from Yadir and Biala Forest into venturing north toward Thresborn Forest. With the Velkan Mountains coming more into view, the dread of returning to the woods didn’t taunt me as we trekked into a new environment, allowing me a different perspective and appreciation for nature.
A breath of fresh air, as Jonas would call it.
The fresh smell of pine and moss linger near my nose, the mix of fallen leaves and Jerrick’s scent has me smiling softly. We ride much of the trip in comfortable silence.
Every so often, he adjusts himself on the saddle, and I miss the seconds of his touch on my abdomen. And whenever we slow, he rubs my stomach in soft circles.
The worry and anxiety diminish the further we venture. I sway, taking in each tree we pass and listening to the chittering of all creatures. Even as nightfall spreads across the pinkened lavender sky above, I fall deeper into tranquility.
Jerrick eases the horse into a slower pace, scouting for a place to camp. He tugs on the reins lightly, guiding us to a space in between trees. When Jerrick dismounts and steals the warmth, a chill that should not be present in warmer months crashes against me.
My teeth chatter as Jerrick offers his hands, helping me dismount. When I touch the ground and I look up to thank him, I can’t hide my tremors.
Jerrick takes my hands and blows into them. His lips touch the inside of my palms, sending a fire scorching down to my core. He watches me and my mouth runs dry as he sends more heat into my hands, checking to see the shakes cease.
Memories surface of the last time he touched me and set my body ablaze.
