Page 67 of Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All the Men Want Me 7

A rumbling chuckle sounded in his chest before he returned the kiss. “This is your weapon, it seems. Using your lips and intoxicating scent to lure us in.”

“My scent?” I asked, gliding our noses together.

Softness touched his ruby eyes. “Like the pages of an old, treasured book.”

“You smell like woodsmoke to me.” My heart thrummed in my chest. “Comforting and warm, like a fire on a cold winter’s night.”

“You will find no comfort with me, little bird.”

“No?” I linked my hands behind his neck. “Well, I hate to be the one to tell you this, my lord, but you’re wrong. Because I feel mighty comfortable right now. Warm too. Toasty, in fact.”

He expelled the softest of sighs before continuing through the cave. Pretty sure I heard him mumble something about me being silly. I responded with a light pinch to his shoulder, which earned me an eyebrow tilt and a challenging stare that warned if I did it again, he’d return the favor.

I couldn’t help myself though and gave another little pinch to the cuff of his arm. Then one more to his nape.

Onyx bent his head and nipped at my neck.

“Hey!” I exclaimed, not having expected the lightning-fast attack.

He offered me an impish grin. “Don’t pinch me then.”

“You’re vicious,” I said, rubbing at my neck. “I think you left a mark.”

“Good.” He seemed much too pleased by that. “Let it be a reminder to your other mates that you also belong to me.”

I smiled as a giddiness bounced around in my chest.

A strange silver and pale blue glimmer appeared on the walls as we neared a sort of arched opening at the end of the walkway. The sound of trickling water reached my ears, louder than the distant drips I’d heard during the walk through the rocky corridor.

“Here we are.” Onyx stepped through the archway and placed me back on my feet but didn’t fully release me until I found my balance. It was like he thought I was clumsy or something.

“This is…” I surveyed the room in awe. “Wow.”

Colorful gems were embedded within the cave walls, and a decent-sized pool of water sat in the center with a narrow stream flowing from it. Crystals lit the space in shades of blue and purple, with smaller ones shining like diamonds in the ceiling. They gave off natural light, allowing me to see everything clearly.

“Would you like to go for a swim?” Onyx asked, retaking my hand.

“Swim?” I regarded the water and shivered at the thought. “Isn’t it cold?”

He shook his head. “It’s a heated spring.”

“Don’t tease me,” I said. “I’m a sucker for a hot spring. I went with Callum a few times to one he and the other knights used back in Bremloc, and it was like heaven. I never wanted to leave. If I could’ve stayed there forever soaking in the water, I would have.”

“How fortunate that you didn’t.” Onyx led me toward the pool. “Your skin would’ve become too wrinkled. Then you’d need to be called a raisin instead of a little bird.”

I snorted. Flutters swarmed my belly though. The shift in his behavior was like night and day.

Reaching the pool, I knelt down and touched the water. The heat of it caused chills to ripple along my arms and legs. I couldn’t wait to strip down and sink into the pool chin deep, letting the hot water ease tense muscles and bring some much-needed relaxation. Too excited to wait another second, I untied my boot laces and kicked them off before removing my socks and trousers.

As I reached for the strings on my tunic, Onyx replaced my hands with his and slowly peeled it off me, his crimson eyes glimmering in the colorful light of the surrounding crystals.

My breath caught as he regarded me in silence, gently smoothing his fingertips along my collarbone, then over to my sternum. Up to my Adam’s apple. His gaze roamed my body, taking in every inch of me.

“Pretty as a red lily,” he whispered, leaning in and ghosting his lips over mine, his breath shaking. “And just as dangerous.”

I frowned. “I don’t know how I feel about you comparing me to a flower you see as a tragic omen.”

“A fitting comparison.” He slid his hand to my nape and gently squeezed. “My life changed the moment I first saw you. The earth beneath me shifted. You consumed my every thought, Evan. Haunted me.”