CHAPTER FIVE
DIRK
Irecognize the shadows in Lou’s gaze, the way her lashes flutter and her breath becomes short when she’s worried or nervous. It’s not difficult to read the grief, which is part of why I want to take her flying for the first time. My approach to Lou is the same way I’d approach an injured hellhound—carefully and ideally with snacks in my pockets.
Letting go of her neck, I grab her left hand and spin her around so her back is to my front. She stiffens when I wrap an arm around her waist, curling my fingers against the curve of her hips.
“I love this spot,” I whisper in her ear, tickling her side.
She giggles nervously and squirms, although I don’t let her get away from me. Looking up at me over her shoulder, she glares, but there’s no malice to it. No, my Louanna uses those frosty looks and her sense of humor like armor and a weapon.
I get it. I’ve done the same. I’m no stranger to grief.
“If you tickle me while we’re flying, I’ll thrash around and get dropped to my death.”
“Never.” I lean down and lick a stripe up the side of her cheek to her hairline.
“Dirk! What the hells, man?!” Lou wriggles again, wiping a hand over the wet trail.
I chuckle and hold her tighter to me. “Keep wiggling like that, my sweet, and you’ll be flying with a poker in your back.”
She whips around in my arms. “Gods, Dirk, could you be any less appropriate?”
“O’course,” I say with a wink. “I’ve been a wee angel since we met, but I’m done with that, Louanna.”
A pink blush travels up her chest and neck to those high, elegant cheeks. Her nostrils flare as her mouth drops open. “What do you mean?”
I pull her flush with my body again, leaning down to hover my lips above hers. “I mean we both know I’ve been pursuing yeh, and that I’ve been givin’ yeh space because of everything that’s happened. But I’m making it official, Louanna. It’s my goal to make yeh mine in a more permanent way.”
Her eyes widen, her chest rising and falling rapidly against mine. Gods, it feels good for her to rub those barely-covered tits on my chest. I roll my eyes playfully, releasing a soft groan. “Keep going, my sweet.” I reach for the end of her braid and twirl it between my fingers. “I’d happily get indecent right here.”
Lou grumbles and tries to cross her arms, but we’re too close, so all it does is squash her breasts upward, drawing my eye to the soft-looking globes.
Without thinking, I lick my lips. I can’t wait to taste those luscious tits for the first time.
“Earth to Dirk,” Lou snaps. “Can you stop ogling my tits?”
“Never.” I shake my head. “I will be ogling every inch of yeh, thanking the gods for making yeh until my very last breath. Look at yeh,” I say more forcefully, wrapping my fingers around her throat just enough for her eyes to flash. “You’re a wonder, Louanna. Fiercely loyal, endlessly brilliant and kind, beautifulwithin and without. I’m locking yeh down as quickly as yeh’ll allow it.”
“Locking me down, huh?” Humor enters her voice as one auburn brow travels upward.
“I want you to want that,” I whisper, rubbing her throat with the pad of my thumb. “I want to pursue yeh in such a way that yeh can’t help but want to be mine.”
Her expression goes soft and thoughtful. “I don’t know if I’m ready, but I’m still happy to be here.”
“It’s a start,” I agree jovially. “Now, I’m going to smash my gem, and you’ll become wind with me.”
One of her arms wraps around my waist, and the other comes to my forearm, gripping it tightly. Does she notice how my power streaks over my skin to get closer? It aches to play with her, to connect with her in every way.
When I reach down to depress my gem, Lou squeaks and squeezes her eyes closed.
I’d laugh, but she looks a bit terrified. Holding her tightly to me, I press the gem that helps activate my power, and we disappear into a swirl of wind.
CHAPTER SIX
LOU
The scream I release gets lost in the vicious swirl of wind that whips around us. My braid gets sucked into the vortex of air, slapping me in the face until it suddenlydoesn’t,and the wild sound stops.
