Page 221 of Bitten & Burned

“Thank you…” He whispered. “Thank you.”

Thirty-Six

NOT NORMAL

Kravenspire, Sol, Verdune

4 Vony, Year 810

I ranmy fingers down Vael’s spine, chuckling as he shivered against me.

“Stop that,” he murmured, but with no real venom in his words. Instead, they sounded soft and content.

“But I like making you shiver,” I murmured.

“Hmm, yes, I know. But if you keep that up, we’ll never get out of this bed, and I believe you have books you wish to read?”

“Only you would suggest getting out of bed to read books when with a nude woman.”

“And only you would actually get out of bed with your naked lover to read said books,” he countered, kissing my chin. “I know you too well, Witchling.”

I paused, closing my eyes and savoring the way his lips spoke that word. The way his tongue hit the back of his teeth in the middle, softening at the end. Gods, I’d missed that.

“Everything alright?” he asked, and I opened my eyes. He looked worried, genuinely worried.

“I just… missed you calling me that.”

His gaze softened, and he kissed me on the lips. “I’ll have to do it more to make up for my reckless stupidity. Witchling.”

I grinned and acquiesced, stretching my arms over my head as he pushed up and back to his knees. He sat and looked down at me. “Gods, you truly are so beautiful.”

I smiled up at him. “And don’t you forget it.” I sat up and brought both my legs to the side of the bed. I reached for my robe and tied it around my waist as I walked to the table where the books now resided.

Vael stood, fastening his trousers and righting his shirt and jacket before crossing over to lean behind me and read over my shoulder.

“Ah, you still do that?” I asked.

“You still comment on it,” he replied, kissing my shoulder. “What are you searching for, my love? Perhaps I could be of some use.”

“Some more use, you mean? I certainly found a use for you earlier.”

I could feel him beaming. “Yes, well. I suppose another use, then.”

“I wish to commission a pair of daggers, crafted by my father… but I need to find the right method to send to him so I can enchant them once they’re here.”

“Enchant them how?”

I laughed. “That remains to be seen as well. I suppose I have some research ahead of me.”

“Music to my ears. Point me in the right direction. I’m utterly and completely yours to boss around, after I’ve completed my task for Cassian.”

“What task for Cassian?” I asked.

“He needs me to go speak to Rellin in the basement and uh… dispose of him. Or instruct someone else to do it.”

“Hmm,” I said slowly, thinking.

“A florin for your thoughts?”