Page 83 of Unbound By Shadows
“What about your horn? Should we bandage it?”
“Yes, so the crack doesn’t spread,” he said.
“What would happen if it did?”
“My horn could snap off.”
“Ouch,” Selene winced.
“The pain would be unimaginable. But fear not, I can already feel it knitting back together.” He chose not to mention that the loss of his horn could be an injury he might not survive. She had worried about him enough for the night.
Selene rummaged through her backpack until she pulled out a red square of cloth that Arkaya had enchanted to deter insects. Gently, she wound the cloth around his horn then leaned back to examine her handiwork. “There. What else do you need to get ready for bed?”
Sam closed his eyes, reflecting on all the nights he had dreamt of being alone with Selene in her tent. And now here he was, barely able to lift his head. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t still be close to her. He didn’t have to let his injuries deny him every pleasure he craved.
Opening his eyes he asked, “Will you help me undress?”
“Uh… sure. Of course,” Selene said, feeling shy. She started by pulling off his boots and setting them aside. Next, she moved to undo the silver buckles running down the front of his leather vest. After helping him sit up, she peeled the vest off his massive shoulders and folded it as best she could. She was trying to act casual, but her hands trembled.
She eased his arms out of his tunic until the garment pooled around his neck. Glancing down at the ropes of corded muscle wrapping around his torso, she bit her lip. It was the first time she had seen him without his shirt and the sight was… compelling. The number of scars he bore from his years in the wagons was gut-wrenching, but his body was gorgeous. Powerful. Primal. She knew it wasn’t the appropriate time to drool over his muscles, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. Each time her hands accidentally skimmed over his skin, she wanted to linger.
Careful not to bump his horn, she guided the tunic over his head. She glanced at his lower body with uncertainty. “Your pants… should I?”
The smile he gave her was coy. “Best to leave those on.”
“Right,” she said, feeling equal parts relief and disappointment. “What about your bedding? Is it all in your backpack?”
“Yes.” After she covered him with his huge red-fringed blanket Sam asked, “What do you need to do to ready for sleep? You’ve done enough fussing over me.”
“I-I just have to change into my nightgown.” The thought of stripping down right there in front of him made her stomach flutter. She considered sleeping in her clothes, but the smell of Margery’s awful perfume lingered on her.
After digging her nightgown out of her backpack, she unzipped her hoodie and tossed it to the floor. He had seen nearly everything last night, she told herself. How was this different? She slipped off her boots and socks, then turning her back, shimmied out of her jeans. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her back, making her tighten her fists at the hem of her t-shirt. Quickly, she pulled it off so that she was clad only in her bra and panties. When she reached back to unhook her bra, his husky voice made her pause.
“Selene.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Yes? What’s wrong?”
“Turn around.”
“Why?”
“I just want to look at you. Please.”
Dropping her hands, she slowly turned to face him. Although it was dark in the tent, the lantern illuminated part of his face. His eyes were hungry, roving over her like a caress.
“Keep going,” he said softly.
Keep undressing? In front of him? She swallowed as her apprehension grew. Since she and Kevin were a strictly lights-off couplewhen it came to sex, this was unfamiliar territory for her. Was the lantern bright enough to show the silvery stretch marks snaking across her thighs? Would Sam notice how her stomach wobbled when she moved?
Dropping her eyes, she reached back to unhook her bra. When the straps slid off her shoulders, her nipples tightened in the cool night air. Tossing her bra down with the rest of her clothes, she kept her eyes lowered as she pushed her underwear down and stepped out of them. Then drawing in a deep breath, she raised her chin to face him.
When his eyes raked up and down her body, it took all her willpower not to grab her nightgown to cover herself. She watched his lids go heavy, but she wasn’t sure how to describe his expression. It was not disgust or judgment as she had feared. Instead, it was heated, practically searing. But also… awed? He stared at her as if he were looking at something breathtaking like a sunset, a priceless painting, or rare gem. No one had ever looked at her like that. It made her blood catch fire.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. The feeling of being admired, being appreciated in this way was so foreign that her first instinct was to protest. She wanted to deflect his praise with a dig about the width of her hips or the dusting of hair on her legs, but stopped herself. Fondly remembering a time when Queen Thema’s response to a compliment was “I know,” Selene went for a more gracious approach.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
He held out his hand, beckoning her. “Come here. Sleep beside me like this.”
