Page 28 of Tears of the Wolf
When he spoke of Ombra, it was the way some men spoke of beloved mother or a patron goddess. He described the hills and cliffs and mountains of his lands, the way the rivers looked in spring. Even the winters he spoke of fondly, describing the beauty of snow-capped mountains as almost enough to make the cold worth it.
Cenric wasn’t expecting trouble tonight, so only one man was posted as a guard.
A chill blew in off the ocean, despite them being mostly shielded by the trees. Brynn had slept in the cold on the hard ground before, but it had been some time. She’d have to get used to it again.
Brynn lingered outside the light of the campfire after relieving herself behind the trees. She drew her cloak tighter around her against the wind.Kachurned on the breeze, rising from the forest. Looking up, the sky was clouded, concealing the stars and the face of Eponine, goddess of the moon.
“You and your maid can share a tent,” Cenric said.
Brynn jumped, startled by his voice. She’d been distracted by looking for the moon.
“Sorry.” Cenric caught her elbows, steadying her. “I’ve had the men set your tent up over there. The ship’s hull will help block the wind.”
Brynn shook her head. “Will I not be sharing one with you?”
Cenric’s face was mostly hidden in shadow, but she thought she saw him grin. He shifted, closing in on her. “Do you want to sleep with me?” The words were soft, yet laden with implication.
“No. Yes. I meant…” Brynn cleared her throat. “Thank you.” She was making a fool of herself.
Cenric’s hold on her elbows tightened just enough to feel significant before releasing her. “You can sleep beside me, if you wish, but I assumed you would prefer your maid didn’t sleep next to one of my men.” Cenric tilted his head. “And it is cold to be sleeping alone.”
Everything he said made sense, so why did she have this odd sense of…disappointment? They had spent the day talking and Brynn found she enjoyed his company, at least so far.
Brynn didn’t see him reach for her until a weight rested on her shoulder, its warmth seeping through her wool cloak.
Brynn’s heart hammered, unsure what to think or how to respond. She had gotten drunk last night because she’d been so wracked with anxiety over letting him touch her.
Cenric leaned in closer. He smelled of salt air and sweat, like a man who had been working at the oars all day.
“Brynn,” he whispered in the darkness.
“Cenric?”
His hands found her face. His fingertips traced the curve of her mouth, thumb sliding along her lower lip. He dipped down and she felt his breath on her skin.
Her heart thundered in her chest and fear rippled through her, but with something else this time. She shook, but she wasn’t cold at all.
Cenric fingered the hair at her temples, smoothing it back. His hands were rough and callused, the hands of a warrior, but his touch was gentle.
He traced up her jawline and around the shell of her ear. Then his fingers brushed lower, down her throat.
Both she and Paega had done what they had to do. It had been all business between them, but Cenric…Brynn had never been seduced before, but she thought this might be what it felt like.
Did he want her to kiss him? She wasn’t sure, but she wanted to please him. After the disappointment of last night, she felt that she owed him that much. She should at least try.
Brynn pressed her mouth to his. He didn’t move.
Had she made a horrible error? Was this not what he wanted? Before she could pull away, she felt him smile against her lips. Suddenly, his hands were framing her face, and he was kissing her back.
Panic and excitement rose up, as intense as they were surprising. This was frightening, as all new things were, but Brynn didn’t want it to stop.
Brynn let him lead, hoping he couldn’t tell she’d never been kissed before. Cenric seemed happy to take control, his mouth and tongue stroking against hers with experienced mastery.
Cenric couldn’t see it, but thekain the air around them shimmered and crackled, picking up on Brynn’s emotions. The golden sparks matched the bursts of heat shuddering through Brynn’s body, invisible to anyone unable to senseka.Kawas the energy that inhabited all living things, that drifted off all living things. Life itself responded as Cenric kissed her. For the first time in months, perhaps years, Brynn felt alive.
Brynn rested her hand on his side and felt the muscles ripple through his body as her other hand squeezed his bicep. A fluttering sensation worked through her chest and down to the pit of her stomach.
She knew his strength from watching him work the oars all day. But his kiss was gentle, even more so as it deepened and slowed.
