Fires of War (War and Deceit #4) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,65

to me, feeling it second-hand through his connection.

“Clarissa?” Grayson calls out in the distance, and I see a figure move in front of the orange glow.

“Grayson!” I cry in delight, immediately starting forward, but I stop when I remember Tor. Torn, I turn to look up at him, but he smirks and gestures for me to go. Grinning, I jump forward and press a kiss to his lips, pushing my love and thankfulness for him through our connection, then I pull away with a laugh.

Facing the orange glow, I tug at the bond between Grayson and me, and I begin running towards him. As soon as he sees me, a joyful smile spreads across his face, and he leaps over a fallen tree, racing towards me. His arms wrap around me, lifting me from the ground and holding me close. The tightness that’s been constricting my chest since he left me last time lifts, and it feels like I can finally breathe freely. Happiness fills me, and for those few precious seconds, we just hold each other, breathing in each other’s scents. At the back of my mind, there’s a dark thought hovering, reminding me he’ll have to leave again soon, that he’s only here for a short time, for a specific reason. He will never be able to stay with you. This is all you will ever get, these fleeting moments. These thoughts are toxic, so I push them away and make the most of this time with him. After all, any time with him is better than nothing at all.

Slowly, he lowers me to the ground, presses his forehead against mine, and gazes into my eyes. “Clarissa,” he whispers, saying my name like a prayer. “I have so much to tell you.” Pulling away, he smiles at me and takes my hand, leading me over to the fire he’s started. He has a small tent erected, and there’s a pot set over the fire, so it looks like he’s been waiting for a little while.

My heart sinks, and I take a seat on the fallen log, facing the fire for something to do. I knew he sought me out because he had news. Why else would he be here? But I hoped to spend some more time with just the two of us, knowing he would probably have to leave soon.

“Oh.” I try to keep the disappointment from my voice, but I know I don’t manage it when he glances up from where he’s tending the fire. “Yes, I suppose you will have to return to the guild soon, they will be expecting you,” I reason, looking down at my hands in my lap. The journey from the guild to here is long, having to travel the whole width of Morrowmer.

Grayson laughs quietly. “Clarissa, that’s what I need to tell you.” He stands up and walks over to me, kneeling in front of me and placing his hands on my knees. “I’m not going back.” I stop breathing, not quite believing what he’s saying, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. When I don’t react, he smiles. “I’m staying with you.” He puts emphasis on the last word, his eyes glowing in the firelight. “The guild—”

I don’t let him finish his sentence. Surging forward, I wrap my arms around him and press my lips against his. He groans into my mouth, returning my kisses with a frenzy I’ve not experienced from Grayson before. His hands slide along my legs to my lower back, picking me up in one swift motion. Circling my legs around his waist, I shamelessly grind myself against him and bite down on his lower lip.

“Mother above,” he curses, looking down at me with a heat in his eyes that has my core clenching, aching for him. I nuzzle his neck as he walks us to his tent, ducks through the opening, and lowers me onto the padded bedding. He wants to say something, that much is clear by his torn expression, but as I shift up onto my knees and undo the clasp that holds my cloak in place, lust seems to win over. Leaning back, he closes the tent flaps behind him and turns his full attention back to me, shuffling closer until I can feel the heat of his body against mine.

We stare into each other’s eyes, and by some unspoken signal, we start to undress. We don’t touch, but the heat from his gaze is practically scalding, my skin flushing under his