“It’s a compliment. They’re beautiful like you--”
That discomfiting low warmth blooms in my stomach again.
“And they’re only hostile until they get to know you. Still waiting to see if I can get you to warm—“ He barely catches my elbow in time before it finds his ribs. “But no luck yet,” he says, laughing.
“So let me get this straight. You have a history of falling from great heights. Have fallen so far people say it’s a miracle from your God you survived at all…but you still thought it was a good idea to climb down from my balcony several stories high out of a rope you made with yourblanket?”
“One time is not a history,” I groan.
“Just because you survived it once, you know that doesn’t make you indestructible, right?”
“I’m extremely aware of how destructible I am. Seeing as I was just on my death bed.”
“Yes and yet you’ve prevailed once again. Considering all the other reckless decisions you’ve made, I’m not really convinced.”
“Like what?”
“Like making yourself master of my Imp, running off to the Blood Wood, chucking a knife at a very powerful Magi’s face. I’m just saying if I’m going to be putting all this effort into keeping you alive, I’d like to know you aren’t going to indulge in any more life-threatening behavior.”
“What are you, my father?” I scoff.
“That does appear to be a role that needs filling,” he grumbles.
“I already had a father that locked me away and left me alone. I don’t need another one of those.” I snap and quickly clamp my mouth shut. What am I doing? Making it sound like Icravehis company is what I’m doing.
He leans down inches from my ear. “I’m not leaving you alone.”
“I take it back,” I gasp. “Idowant you to leave me alone.”
“What was that?” He digs his face further into my neck with a husky rumble. I rear my arm back, fully intending to launch an elbow into his ribs again. He’s too quick. He snatches a hand around my wrist to restrain me. I grunt as I struggle against his powerful grip to no avail. “No match for me, pet.”
“Wait until you fall asleep tonight. I’ll—I’ll—“ I break off, trying to think of a worthy threat I can launch at him.
“Cuddle with me again?”
I go rigid, trying to put some space between us. “I—no. Th-that’s never happening again.”
“Never?”
“Never,” I reiterate.
“But I wouldn’t want to leave you all alone,” he pouts.
“I didn’t mean to say that. I misspoke.”
He laughs heartily as he wraps his arms around me and brings me back to his chest. “You are so uptight.”
“I’m not uptight. I just don’t like you and your lack of personal space,” I grumble under my breath, face flaming mercilessly. If he could see, he’d probably sense how pathetically excitable my body responds to each touch.
“You really didn’t seem to mind me this morning.”
“Ugh!” I drop my face to my hands. “You’re never going to let me forget about this, are you?”
“Didn’t plan on it,” he says with another laugh.
I was convinced that his flirting was all a part of the manipulation in bringing me in to submit. Now….now, I don’t knowwhat it is.
He adjusts his hands back in front of the pommel but I snatch his hand and hold it up.
