Page 94 of Far From Sherwood Forest

We fell asleep like that, and, despite sleeping on a bed ofhay, I slept hard. Last night was fucking amazing.

Like Henry said, it wasperfect.

When he said that, I felt a swoop in my stomach like I was flying, like I had suddenly sprouted wings. For so long, I wanted him, and I wanted him to wantme. For more than just sex.

After making love to him, I feel like, just maybe, he’s mine now.

With that thought, I move my hand to his chest, the blanket shifting over us, and brush my fingertips lightly over the dark hair there. A soft rumble vibrates beneath my fingers, and I turn my head to place a kiss against his shoulder. I move my mouth lower, placing more kisses along his upper arm until he starts to stir.

When his eyes open, they peer down at my hand still on his chest. He brings his own hand up and places it over mine, holding my palm flat against his warm skin. His chest rises and falls with an easy, steady breath, like my touch is teaching him how to breathe.

“Morning,” he says groggily.

The sleepy grin he gives me is fucking adorable.

Yes, I just thought of the former Sheriff of Nottingham as adorable, and I’m not sorry. However, I suspect he’d feel a certain way about it.

“Good morning,” I tell him before placing another kiss on his shoulder.

The grating noise of hinges creaking breaks through our little golden bubble as the doors to the stables are thrown open. Henry grips the edge of the blanket and brings it all the way up to my neck, clearly more worried about covering me than himself. I can’t help but grin.

Since Lucas is still out of town, I’m not too worried about being caught with my pants down—or all the way off in this case. After living in the woods for years, me and my Merry Men haveseen plenty of each other.

“Heaven’s breeches!” Alan shouts as he slaps a hand over his eyes. “Could’ve hung a codpiece on the damn door or something.”

Henry and I both laugh, however mine fades quickly so I can bask in the sound of his deep, easy laughter. I could count the number of times I’ve heard it on one hand, and I’m determined to hear it more.

“What do you want, Alan?” I ask only after Henry’s finished laughing.

Alan peeks cautiously between his fingers, and once he sees that we’re at least covered, he drops his hand. “Um…apparently it’s time.”

Henry and I share a look, and what was left of our little bubble pops.

“We’ll be right out,” I tell Alan.

He nods and leaves, closing the doors behind him.

Sitting up, I frown at Henry as he does the same, the blanket falling around our waists. “Are you sure you want—”

He grabs me by the back of my neck and pulls me to him, his mouth colliding with mine. I think he’s starting to use shutting me up as an excuse to kiss me, but I’m not about to complain.

The moment our lips separate, I start again.

“Are you sure you—”

Another kiss.

“Are you—”

This time, a growl rolls from his mouth to mine. “Shut up.”

I smirk against his lips as my shoulders shake from laughter. Maybe I’ll just start giving him more reasons to shut me up.

When he pulls back, his expression turns serious, so I resist the urge to open my mouth yet again. “You promised you wouldn’t let me be alone again. I’m going with you. You’re not leaving me behind, little thief.”

How the fuck does he manage to make me feel so weightless and full at the same time?

“Okay,” I tell him before giving him one last kiss.