“True, little," she said.
He smirked. "Your Icelandic is coming along.”
She tried to replay what he said but missed too many keywords to translate. She furrowed her brows.
"Your Icelandic, bad. Right now. Good progress," he said as plainly as possible.
The corners of her mouth faltered up and down. So far, she had only seen him as a poised, charismatic Alpha, and to hear him speak in his native tongue as if he were a child was endearing.
She twirled the half-used ointment in her hands. Perhaps she should offer to tend to his side, as well? It didn't feel right not to, and she didn’t know what else to do with herself.
Rem pointed at his side, extending the jar as she said, "Please."
He gave her a questioning look. "You really want to treat my wounds?”
Rem had to think carefully for a reply, grasping for any relevant words that she knew. While she had only been practicing for a few weeks, she had to knowsomethingto say. Nia was diligent about practicing. "Injury,” she motioned to him. “You, to help, me… You, to help, Oliver… I, to help, you."
Disappointment softened the tension in his jaw, his eyes revealing something akin to concern. He spoke in slow, clear Icelandic, "You, do not, need to help, me, to help, your brother."
All the stress in her bones vanished.
"Thank you," she breathed. "But—but, you, you good Alpha. And—and I… I want. Iwantto help," she stammered.
He laughed, the smile reaching his eyes. She found an immediate attachment to this side of him.
Ronan had a nice smile.
Rem wished Nia was still there to help communicate, but as soon as she wished for that, she realizedwhythey were alone. His eyes were honest now, a depth coming through that was usually shielded.
"Fine," he said, nodding to the jar. "And thank you."
He removed his shirt, the fabric sticking to his skin where the blood had dried.
He yanked it off, grimacing as he moved, the fire casting the most dramatic shadows on the valleys and hills of his body. The wound comprised of three obvious holes in the side, with two shallow scratches to complement it. He raised his arm and rested his hand on the wall, revealing the hair underneath, flexing his corded muscles.
Rem moved closer, smelling him more than the smoke now. She worked the ointment into his red, swollen skin. His body was warm, like back in the hot spring.
Tending to the wounds went faster than she liked, as now she had to move away from him to wrap them. She set the jar down so she could reach for the bandages, but he grabbed her wrist. "No. It's fine."
The wounds on his side were deep and nasty, but she figured he'd probably know best, especially if his hands were any indication of his healing ability.
She met his gaze, one that seemed to consider everything about her. Her body was like melted wax, dripping down the sides of a candle, her inner fire only burning more intensely for him.
In an unashamed display of her desire, she let her gaze trail down his body. A low, rough hum emanated from his chest, like a calmed growl. She looked up, and their eyes locked once again.
He faced her, taking her in… His expression revealed a man who knew what he wanted, his attention rapt on Rem. Her stomach flipped, and the rest of the world didn’t matter in that moment. He leaned in, his breath hesitating on her lips. She did what she never imagined she would have done months ago—she initiated the kiss.
The feeling of his warm lips on hers made her eyes close in pure pleasure.
He deeply inhaled as he pressed harder into the kiss. She placed a hand on his neck for stability, her nose grazing his cheek. One of his thick arms slid around her, pulling her closer, his hands careful not to grip her.
Stuck on accepting that she was kissing the Alpha of Warden, she wasn’t sure what to do next. Did she touch the untouchable Alpha further? Moan into the kiss?
The question was not hers to answer, as suddenly, the ground was gone from beneath her feet, Ronan using his other arm to lift her. Her legs naturally straddled his waist. She worried she’d hurt his side or hands, but he didn’t seem to care.
She exhaled with lust, kissing him harder as he carried her, their warm breaths mixing. She hadneverbeen kissed like this before.
The kiss never broke,their orientation changing as her back met something soft, his arms sliding out from underneath. Rem could only hear their heavy breathing. His injured hand trailed her legs and gripped them. Ronan had lied her on some kind of furniture, the massive male ontop of her.
