Page 105 of Bosse
Chapter 25
Alifair could not stoplooking at Bosse. His short hair was a shade darker than before, and his trimmed beard was so different from the man who escaped the castle, but he was the same man who had touched her heart.
And the same man who returned to the last place he’d want to be, risking his freedom and his life to save her.
She hadn’t felt this protected since she’d been a child.
He walked into the bathroom and returned with the pottery cup full of water. “I can hear how dry your throat is. Drink this and allow your body to relax.”
She hadn’t realized how thirsty she was until he handed her the water. She gulped it down and handed the cup back. “Thank you.”
“Stretch out on the bed and think about a peaceful setting.” He stepped over to put the cup on the table.
That might have worked once with her mind before meeting Bosse.
Every time she closed her eyes now, she saw him, thought of him, wanted him. Her mind was not a peaceful place, and she had him to thank.
She didn’t know what had happened to the woman who arrived in this castle as a female focused on only performing a never-ending duty to her clan and who feared shifters. That woman had little confidence with men. She’d avoided thoughts of a future that didn’t involve serving her people.
That woman was gone, and she welcomed the change. She still had her share of insecurities, but not about being with Bosse.
How many times had she regretted not having more time with Bosse?
Too many to count. “Will you lie here with me, Bosse? I’m tired of being alone.” Tired of missing him and denying herself any happiness.
Her most recent dream, a nightmare, had been crystal clear about what her future held.
His cocoa-brown eyes revealed some deep thoughts going on behind that gaze.
Why was he hesitating?
Had she only imagined he wanted her because of their dream dates? “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing with you.” Bosse took slow steps toward her as he talked. “I want you, Alifair, more than you can imagine. I can’t forget any detail from my dreams of being with you, but I’m trying to do the right thing here and not be selfish.”
Contentment rolled over her at his declaration. “Oh, please, be selfish,” she cooed to him.
He paused. “Not with you. I’ve thought about us being together, but I won’t let you make that choice until you’re free to choose without all this burden on your shoulders.”
Such an honorable shifter. Her people had been wrong to judge all shifters by one. She accepted that she had to let him go after tonight because he had to leave this place before Krol returned. She needed Bosse to be free.
She hoped to discover Rez and Magdelina’s location, but even if she didn’t, she wanted Bosse to know what she held in her heart and that tomorrow was not promised. “I want to be with you as well. I see your value today, the man standing before me right now, and I want more than just being with you in a dream. We have no idea what will happen tomorrow. Please don’t take tonight from me.”
That last part sounded too close to begging, but he would crush her if he said no.
He huffed out a sigh that sounded like he was losing an internal battle, kicked off his soft-soled shoes, and closed the distance to the bed.
She scooted back to make room for him. Excitement shivered through her in anticipation of what would happen next.
