Chapter 23

I'd never had a better night's sleep in my life. Tormund's chest rose and fell beneath me, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat like a song that called to my soul. I nestled into his shoulder and loosed a contented sigh. Regardless of the loss I had to face, I thought I could be happy here like this. My dream of grass and sunlight would always stay with me, but I could learn to be content without it.

I could be content with him. If only he could stay.

His breathing changed, and a moment later, he pressed a kiss to my forehead. Something about it felt far more intimate than anything we'd done the night before.

"Good morning," he murmured against my hair.

"Morning to you, too."

"You feel awfully nice pressed up against me like that," he said, his voice rough with meaning. "If I had my way, we'd stay in your bed all morning, all day, and all night again."

I giggled. "Might get a tad hungry if we never left the bed."

"Then I'd have just have to go find some food and deliver it to you. You could even lick it off my chest if you'd like."

"Only if you promise to lick it off mine, too," I said bravely.

I'd never spoken to anyone like this, but something about being in his presence gave me a jolt of confidence. In fact, I felt like I could say or do anything, and he'd not only refrain from laughing, but he'd welcome it eagerly.

Gods, it felt good to be wanted. I'd never really felt special before. Sure, I was one of the unlikely few who lived with a curse, but I didn't broadcast it. It didn't really make me different from anyone else when it came to what mattered. I was just a normal woman with a normal job who liked normal things. And I was fine with that. I never really wanted to be anything else.

But to be special in the eyes of someone else…well, it felt bloomin' good, all right?

I rolled over onto my stomach and gazed up at him. "I worry if we get up now, this will all turn into a dream."

"I can promise you this is very real." He tucked a curly strand of hair behind my ear. "Just like everything you make me feel. No matter what happens, I want you to remember that."

My heart pounded. "Are you going to leave The Deep?"

"Not just yet."

"But eventually, you'll have to go." I searched his eyes for confirmation. "You have to search the world, far and wide, for Tahir."

"For you, too, Astrid," he murmured, trailing his fingers up and down my bare arm. "There has to be a way to help you both. And I will find it."

I looked away. "I'd rather…" I blew out a breath, suddenly unable to say it for fear he'd turn me down.

I'd rather you come back here after you help Tahir. Don't worry about my freedom. Just come home to me.

"What is it, Astrid?" he asked. "You know you can tell me anything."

I dragged my gaze back to his face. The earnestness in his expression took my breath away. "It's a silly thing to say and wrong of me to ask it of you."

He cupped my cheek. "Just say it."

"I'd rather…" My voice broke off. I cleared my throat and tried again. "I'd rather you came back to me than spend years away from here, searching for some kind of cure. But like I said, it isn't fair for me to ask that of you. You'd be as stuck in the mountains as I am."

"I'd gladly give up the sun if it meant I could have you," he said without a moment of hesitation.

I shuddered out a breath. His thumb caressed my jaw, heat trailing in its wake. I shook my head, his words beyond my comprehension. "How can you say that?"

"Because the sun has never made me feel the way that you do, Astrid Balstad," he murmured. "Now come here. I want to hold you before we have to go bribe a dragon to give us all her gold coins."

I laughed, lowered my head to his chest, and breathed in the scent of him. His fingers trailed up and down my arms, his shadows curling around my legs. Every single inch of me he touched, holding me with more care and attention than I'd ever dreamt he could give. I had been so wrong about him, from the moment we'd met. He gave off the impression of someone who thought he was better than everyone else. Someone who would ground others into dust.

But all that attitude and swagger hid the truth—he was as soft and gooey inside as melted chocolate.

I smiled against his skin. He was as delicious as chocolate, too.

"What are you grinning at down there?" he asked, his voice rumbling against me.

"Just thinking about chocolate," I said, smile widening even further.

"Wow. I feel like I should be insulted, but I wouldn't mind some chocolate, too. Please tell me you have some stashed somewhere in this house."

"If I did, the plants would have already gotten to it," I replied.

"Excellent point." His stomach emitted an impressively loud growl. "See? Chocolate is sorely needed."

I sat up and instantly regretted the space I'd made between us. "I suppose that's our cue to find some food and pack our bags. The sooner, the better. I don't want to leave everyone in the dark longer than necessary."

To punctuate my statement, my own stomach rumbled with displeasure. I hadn't eaten since yesterday. Or whatever day it was. I no longer knew.

"As much as I'd prefer you to climb back on top of me, I can't very well let you starve, now can I?" With a groan, he pushed up from the bed. When he met my eyes, a spark went through my core. "We have some unfinished business, and don't you forget it."

"Does this unfinished business involve me climbing on top of you?"

"Yes, exactly. Ideally, over and over again. So many times that you forget your own name."

My entire body flushed. "I like the sound of that."