“Oh.” The tension in me loosened and my brows pinched. “You don’t mind?”

“Do you want me to mind?”

“No.” Maybe. “I just… Usually, you try to talk me out of shit like this.”

“And what good has that ever done me?” he said, amused. “I’ll never deny you anything, sweetling—if it’s reasonable and within my power to give—but there is also no point attempting to discourage your fancies. You would find a way to do it anyway.”

I sniffed derisively. “Rude, and very slightly accurate.”

He chuckled under his breath. “Once we return, I will arrange for weekly lessons with Teighan, if he is willing. I would not trust anyone else with the task.”

Nor would I, but… “I was kind of hoping to start sooner.”

“You wish to master the art of self-defense… at this very moment?” he said, and I shrugged in assent. “We can certainly try. We haven’t made it too far from the palace, and I’m sure the trip to your father’s homestead can wait several years.”

I balked at his airy insinuation. Fuck that.

“Ugh, fine, you’ve made your point.” Cair was radiating a little too much arrogance for my liking, but I let it slide. “I guess I’ll wait.”

This trip was already taking its toll on me anyway, so learning how to use a sword or whatever might be best left until I had all my energy again. Plus, I’d already started this journey, so I may as well see it through before taking on side quests.

“Very well,” he acknowledged as if it were my idea, then there was silence.

I glanced around dumbly, having thought that since the conversation was over we’d start walking again, but we both stood there, rooted to the spot. I met Cair’s gaze—deep and unrelenting as it was—and the smile that raked across his face made my belly swoop. It was a familiar smile, but one he typically reserved for the bedroom, so I was a little confused.

“What?”

Reaching out, he hooked his fingers into the waistband of my pants and tugged, dragging me against his chest. He leaned in to scent me, rumbling into the crook of my neck. “Well, my heart,” he purred. “It seems your determination to defend me is quite arousing.”

Ah.

“Glad to hear it.” I tilted my head to give him better access. “Now you know how I feel.”

He hummed, the sound vibrating against me. His hands trailed over my ass, his fingers grazing under the hem of my shirt, seeking skin. I wanted so badly to melt into it, to let him keep going and potentially end up with my pants around my ankles as he fucked me against a tree, but we had a schedule, and I wanted to stick to it.

If only to be a shit.