The Machines of Theda by C. E. Clayton

Author:C. E. Clayton [Clayton, C. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DevilDog Press
Published: 2018-10-15T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Tomas refused to open his eyes for fear he had only been dreaming. He inhaled deeply; her hair smelt like a mixture of roses and clean soil. Every inch of Tallis had a floral, earthy scent about it, and Tomas found himself becoming intoxicated on Tallis’s aroma as she slept in his arms.

He heard her murmur as she began to stir. Eventually, she rolled onto her back and smiled drowsily up at him. “Good morning, handsome.”

Tomas melted under the spell that was Tallis’s smile. She was effortlessly beautiful, even when she was groggy with sleep and her pale, golden hair was a tousled mess around her. He ran his finger over her cheek, marveling again at how smooth her skin was. Tucking her hair behind her ears, Tomas tried to tell himself this was real, that Tallis was here with him, and that Wodan had decided to bless him with her affection.

He had pined for her for so long that he had been content to have her as a companion when he was still an initiate. Now that Tallis was more than just a friend, and he was no longer bound to a life of chaste virtue; he scarcely believed his good fortune and was unsure what to do. He worried he would wake at any moment to find she had been nothing but a perfect dream, and he was still a cloistered brother. So worried that she would dissolve as his mind fully shook off the heavy cloak of sleep, Tomas kissed her deeply to be sure she was real.

“Hmm, we should do that more often,” Tallis said, twirling her fingers through the hair on the back of his head once he relinquished her lips.

“I’m sure we will,” Tomas responded, a deep purr in his voice making it more grating than it normally was. Tallis gave him a mischievous look upon hearing his huskiness, and Tomas knew he was entering dangerous territory if he remained in bed with Tallis much longer.

Swallowing his desire, he kissed her on the forehead and rolled from the bed. He heard Tallis sigh as he left the bed, and he closed his eyes against the sound. Even if she did not hold on to Wodan’s view of intimacy the way he did, Tomas knew leaving the bed was the right thing to do. Given their circumstances, neither could afford the risk of pregnancy, something he knew they agreed upon, if nothing else.

Once more, he found himself wondering just where he and Tallis were headed. He could dodge the question in his mind by remaining purely literal; he and Tallis were always headed for uncertain danger, even when they tried to do nothing but avoid it. But he could not fool himself forever like that.

Again, Tomas wished Rosslyn had chosen to come with them to Theda. He wanted to be open and honest with Tallis, and ask her if she would stay with him for the rest of their days, however long that would be.

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