His ears pulled back and he glanced away, his wing-arms pulling in tight to his body. "I don't know that I'm ready for that," he said, sounding uncomfortable. "I know you aren't lying, but my heart remains uncertain."

"That's fine," I said, giving him a smile instead of a smirk. I stepped over one of his tails to get to the dresser, and found myself a pair of underwear and an oversized t-shirt to sleep in. "You've had a lifetime of being uncomfortable on four feet, and it's not like we've spent a lot of time together like this yet."

"I will unlearn those lessons for you," he said, his voice soft and determined.

I looked back at him with a quiet smile, then clambered onto the bed with his head. "I know," I said, lying down alongside his muzzle and stroking his nose. "You promised me you would, and you keep your word."

He nuzzled closer to me, and flicked one of his tails, glamoring the lights into darkness. "I think that bargain may be the best one I will ever make," his voice murmured to me, as if he lay curled up around me. "You are a treasure I did not deserve, and you took the hand of a monster and let him become a man."

Gently, I pressed a kiss to his nose. "You were always a man, beloved. All I did was give you a place to stand."

Dain made a soft sound, deep in his throat. "You are as the solid ground beneath me, and the cold of the winter wrapped around me." He exhaled, long and slow, his eyes closing. "I love you, Leah Escarra."

"Would you like it to be Leah Sundamar?" I asked, smiling as the cold bloomed around us, the expression of his untamed emotions.

"Yes," he said, as he made a panting sound. "Yes, I would like that very much."

I smiled and closed my eyes, enjoying the contrast of the heat of his body and the cold of his winter. "Then let's get married."

61. Orchids and Hot Springs

Chapter 61

Orchids and Hot Springs

In the morning, Dain was still enormous, but once he woke up, my King took his second form and vaulted into bed to sprawl on top of me, and then to wake me up rather more thoroughly with his tongue and morning exuberance. I had absolutely no complaints at having that sort of a start to my vacation, and probably would have stayed in bed for more of it, except that Dain was more than eager to go out hiking to see orchids. Laughing, I allowed myself to be chivvied into the shower, then through breakfast, and finally out into the great outdoors.