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I regretted undressing in front of him. It had been wrong, and I’d set him off when I had no right to. I didn’t want to start what we had again, even if my body happily disagreed. Sex with Samkiel, even knowing how exciting and amazing it would be, would mean too much, and I didn’t have the will to figure out what that meant.
Of course, Samkiel wasn’t making it easy to resist. On our runs, he would take his shirt off. I knew he wasn’t overheated, even if he was sweating. I had seen him call a breeze when I complained it was too hot one day. No, he was just trying to torture me after the bathroom incident. I knew it.
Not that I looked, stared, or counted how many abs he had, which was too many, by the way. I especially didn’t notice the twin lines that ran on either side of them, disappearing below the waistband of his pants. Or the line of finely-dusted hair that trailed—
A rumble echoed from my midsection, my cheeks flushing.
Samkiel’s head whipped toward me. “Are you hungry?”
I splayed my hand over the damp fabric of my shirt and glared at him. “No.” And I wasn’t. Not for food, at least.
The sound of water had me looking around. “No mountain running today?”
He shook his head. “No, I wanted to show you something.” He offered me his hand, but I just looked at it. “I don’t bite. That’s all you, remember?”
“Funny.” I rolled my eyes and ignored the slight shock that went through me when I put my hand in his.
He smiled, his large hand engulfing mine as he led me down a small slope.
I gasped as he pushed through the foliage. “Wow.”
“Pretty, isn’t it?” He smiled at me.
It was. A waterfall spilled into a deep, wide pool before flowing to the river. Trees that dared to touch the sky surrounded us in every direction.
“Stay here.”
He strode away, and I waited, drinking in the beauty and savoring the cool mist that rolled from the waterfall. Large rocks pushed from the shallows, and flowers with blooming bushes crowded the shore. The crash of the water was the only sound, drowning out all noise and leaving peace behind. A part of me wanted to sit down and never leave.
“Here,” Samkiel said, emerging from the bushes with a handful of berries.
“I’m not hungry.”
He shook his head, smiling softly. “They are not for you.”
Before I could ask, a rustle came from behind me. I turned to see a large, beautiful stag easing his head through the bushes. He took one look at me and shuffled back into the forest.
I frowned. “Well, that was rude.”
“Just wait.”
Samkiel stepped in front of me and let out an odd ululating whistle. Branches rustled again, and I braced for it to run away and leave like everyone else.
“This is stupid.” I huffed, folding my arms across my chest.
“Just wait.” Samkiel held his hand toward me as if I was the doting fawn attempting to flee.
I sighed but stood still, watching.
Samkiel whistled again, a chuff coming from the stag before it finally emerged from the overgrowth.
Its heavy antlers made me think of a stag, but its clawed feet, iridescent coat, and four eyes it was unlike any creature I had ever seen. Samkiel whistled again, and the stag glanced toward me, lowering its head. Its massive size and beauty were overwhelming.
“It fears me?” I whispered, unable to hide the hurt in my voice. It made little sense that it would matter. I hadn’t even known this animal existed a moment ago.
“Come on,” Samkiel said sweetly. “She’s friendly. I promise.”
I glared at Samkiel’s back, but the stag obeyed, approaching me with its head held high. He had to be ancient with how his antlers branched, yet he feared me. Samkiel came to his other side, holding his hand out with the berries. The stag accepted his offering as Samkiel petted his smooth coat.
