Was it Rowan? Was he my possible doom ending?
Wielder of dark magic who could use shadows to crush someone into dust? Check. Thief slash smart-ass criminal who carried an army of daggers? More checks. Oh, and let’s not forget how he wanted to team up with Lord Onyx, the freaking demon lord, to learn how to better control said dark magic.
There were so many red flags I could sew them together to make a massive sail that’d carry me down the sea of “what the fuck are you thinking, Evan?”
Maybe Maddox was right and I was too trusting and reckless when it came to my own safety.
“You should know I suck at poker,” I answered. “I can’t bluff to save my life. If I have a good hand, you’ll know it. If it’s horrible, you’ll see it all over my face. But.” My gaze dropped to the front of Rowan’s opened shirt, and I traced the line of his collarbone. His skin was so damn warm. “I’ve been told I’m stubborn. I don’t give up easily. So even if I think I have a losing hand, I don’t wanna fold. Not yet.”
Because the next card could be the one to turn everything around.
Rowan swallowed hard, and wisps of darkness swirled in his irises. “You’ll reach town soon. I should leave.”
“You don’t have to,” I said. “Everyone’s already seen you, so hiding isn’t necessary.”
“Hiding?” He grazed his nail down my throat, and I shivered. “That’s what you think?”
“What other reason is there?”
As he smiled, those wisps of darkness in his eyes stirred even more. “You’re so innocent sometimes, little treasure. So pure.” He grabbed me by the nape and brought me forward, pressing his mouth to my ear. “If I stay in this carriage with you another moment, I’ll have your trousers yanked down and your cock out, fucking you senseless, when they come to fetch you.”
Hot damn.
“Oh. Um. Y-Yeah, that might not be the best idea… um.”
Rowan breathed out a laugh, tickling my earlobe. “Can you be any more adorable?” He then snatched that lobe between his lips and swirled his tongue against it.
Heat flooded my core and shot all throughout my body. And, embarrassingly enough, a little squeak escaped me. “Rowan, I—”
“Don’t worry.” He smiled against my ear. “As tempting as it is, I have no plans to ravish you in this carriage. I want to savor you when the time comes.”
My preconceived notions about him flew out the window. I’d assumed he wasn’t used to physical touch, given how he often shied away from me, but he definitely didn’t have those same reservations now. The complete one-eighty caused all the gears in my brain to come to a grinding halt.
Sounds came from outside: the clatter of a cart, a mooing cow, and voices. We must’ve passed someone along the road.
“That’s my cue to leave.” Rowan caught me around the waist and pushed me backward. My ass hit the seat opposite his, and I bounced once. He flashed his signature smirk. “I’ll return later. Until then, don’t miss me too much.”
The shadows from the shaded corner then shot out and swallowed him whole, leaving me alone in the carriage once again.
***
“Eat another bite.” Lake sat across from me with his arms crossed and his poofy tail swishing behind him. Unlike the excited wags that always made my heart burst from cuteness, this one came from his annoyance. The only bursting I worried about now came from my stuffed belly.
“I can’t,” I groaned. “I’m gonna pop.”
“Like a balloon?” His wolf ears twitched.
I smiled at that… and at a memory that felt like a lifetime ago. “Yep. Just like a balloon. One hard jab and I’m gonna explode.”
We had reached the designated town at dusk and found an inn to stay for the night. There was a tavern on the first floor that served drinks and hot meals, and a bard provided entertainment, strumming his lute and reciting raunchy tales that had the patrons laughing and hollering. I’d laughed, too, while waiting on the food. I’d ordered two servings of beef stewand taken it back up to the room to eat with Lake, who had, indeed, been salty about me giving them all the food earlier.
“Bread is kinda dry,” I said before washing it down with water. “Not anything like Briar’s.”
A soft sound left Lake, and his ears drooped. “Is it strange that I miss him too?”
“I think it’s sweet.” And unexpected in the best of ways. Lake had bonded with Briar and Maddox. Maybe not romantically, but it was still strong. Connecting all of us.
Lake’s gaze lowered to his bowl. “I like when he gives me head pats.”
