first person who shared their feelings with him now that the curse was lifted. But there was still a lingering thread of fear. One that was ice cold and reminded me of all the times he’d shut me out.
This is over.
I was scared that was the truth, not this newfound warmth.
Something close, then. “I don’t want to say goodbye.”
His hands paused beneath my blouse, fingers tightening against my waist. “Me either.” A deep heat bloomed in my stomach, and I lost myself in his eyes. He raked them over me, devoured me without even trying. Leaning in close, he dragged his lips down my neck toward my collarbone. Paused at the top of my cleavage and placed a delicate kiss on my bestiary.
“So maybe…”
“Stay.” His voice was gruff. Slowly, he peeled off my shirt and bralette, let his hands roam over my skin. “With me. With us. If you want to, that is.”
“I do.” I’d never wanted something more in my life. A home. A family. Him. Toeing off my boots, I set them beside my discarded blouse and Noc’s tunic. He did the same, dropping his trousers and drawers as I unlaced my breeches.
His fingers teased my hips. Toyed with the lace of my undergarments. He pressed his forehead to mine. “I’m glad.”
With his help, I slipped out of my underwear. “I’m done telling you all about me. Tell me something about you.”
A grin captured his lips. “But I’m not very interesting. You, on the other hand…” Gripping my waist, he lifted me and carried us into the lake. Even with the crisp fall air, it remained tepid. Water lapped against my back, and I wrapped my legs around him.
Leaning in, I kissed his sternum. “You don’t have to hide anymore. Tell me as little or as much as you want. But tell me something.”
Silence, save the trill of nightingales. Julips skated low over the water, their aqua bodies reflecting against the placid surface. Noc loosed a shuddering breath, and ripples traveled outward, jostling pale-pink lily pads.
He snuck his hands around me and stroked the small of my back. “I don’t have any hidden talents like you.”
I scoffed. “You can control the shadows. I’d call that talent enough.” With water cupped in my hands, I drizzled streams over his shoulders. “C’mon. Dazzle me.”
Raising an incredulous brow, he grinned. “Dazzle you?” He walked us farther into the lake until the water covered my breasts. “I’m gifted with a sword.”
I rolled my eyes. “I could’ve guessed that. Tell me about your family.”
He glanced down at me. Hesitated.
Gingerly, I skimmed my fingers across his cheek, leaving beads of water on his skin. I wanted him to see that it was safe. That I cared. Nothing he could say would change that. “It’s okay.”
He bent his head toward me and brushed his lips against mine. “There’s not much to tell. My parents are dead.”
My breath hitched. “The curse?”
His lips moved to my jawline. “Thankfully, no.”
Dropping my hands to his chest, I felt his heart jump against my fingers. “Any siblings?”
“No.” He stilled, smiled. “Okay, yes. Three annoying but loyal ones who have put up with my nonsense for the past several decades.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I bet they’ll be pleased your curse is gone.”
“They will.” Noc drew me closer. “I can’t wait to finally be myself around them. To tell them how much I appreciate their friendship. What it’s meant to me, what it still means to me, that they stood by me despite everything. I owe them the world.”
“I have a feeling they would’ve endured it for the rest of their lives if they had to. They love you, you know.” Slipping out of his grasp, I sank beneath the surface of the water before I could finish that thought out loud.
I love you, too. I needed to know if he felt the same. I prayed he’d tell me. That we’d spend the night in the water, clearing away the lingering doubts and making room for true emotions. Hopefully, he hadn’t perfected locking them away entirely.
Droplets dripped down my face when I came up for air, and Noc wiped them away. I nuzzled his fingers. “What else?”
“I’m fluent in six languages.”
“Six?” My eyes widened. “That’s so many.”
Snaking his hands through the water, he wrapped me in his arms once again. “Not really. There are…thirteen known languages? I’m sure countless more. For example, that lovely script on your bestiary was foreign to me. The one along the binding.” He pressed a finger