Page 230 of Burn Her They Said
“I don’t think I can!” Concern laces my intestines with his position being one which is known for causing injury, and I cannot allow him to keep hurting himself to protect me.
“I know it seems impossible,” he shouts. “Just a little closer and I will help you.”
Minea careens, and his deep green wing sails over my head, casting a broad shadow as his talons drag along the dead grass.
Varic leans and reaches for me. “I need you to jump, mei meida! I will catch you. I promise.”
I try to run closer, but my legs feel like they are filled with sludge, and I startle at the guttural scream sounding again—though much closer this time.
Varic’s eyes flare wide and a deep sense of urgency powers my movement as I try to convince my legs to leap toward a moving Dragon.
“Mei waella,” Varic yells, leaning further while I run alongside them, still not confident enough in my speed or footing to attempt launching myself toward his open arms. “Look at me. I need you to keep your eyes on me and jump when you’re ready.”
Fatigue drags my limbs, and my vision begins to cloud around the edges.
This is as close as I’m going to get.
So I do what he says: I stare into his eyes and jump.
The tingling warmth of his amber magic envelops my legs and lifts me toward him, just like it has at much shorter distances. Its pulsing heat is a balm to my sore muscles as I rise high enough for those impossibly bright brown eyes to become level with my own.
Varic’s arms wind around my back, and he crushes my body to his as he expands the force-shield to cover us both, casting an amber hue on the world around us and providing a barrier from the wind as he sits back before lowering me to his lap.
“I have you,” he whispers, releasing an arm from behind my back.
His hand drops to grab hold of my thigh and extends my leg further so my knees bend over his own. My boots now dangle on either side of his thighs, just above the harness. I tighten my hold on him while my pulse thrums harder and faster as we settle into this intimate position.
Low-hanging clouds drift over the thin orb of protection as Minea coasts ahead, most likely waiting for us to secure ourselves before flying faster or higher than this.
“What happened to the interim Guards?”
“They went into the forest after the soldiers and witches,” Minea projects into each of our minds as we share a look of confusion.
“Why would—” Varic starts to ask.
“All in due time,” Minea adds.
We stare at each other with uncertainty, and I clear my throat to ask, “Do you think that scream came from the mystery beast accused of killing the livestock?”
“It’s possible. Either way, I wasn’t going to leave you down there to test the theory.” He grunts and adjusts his hips under me. “I need to wrap your legs around my waist, okay?”
“Okay.”
Time stills when Varic’s hand drifts down from my shoulder, heart leaping with the pressure of his fingers dragging over the leather so thin, it feels like a second skin. Tingles scatter everywhere he grazes me, and I drop my head to rest on his shoulder. Then whimper when the sparks become almost unbearable when his hand casts over the small of my back.
“Do you want me to continue like this?” he asks, fingers flexing around my hip when I nod in encouragement. “Or do you want me to stop?” My heart drops as if he’s just issued a threat rather than said this in jest.
I shake my head in the crook of his neck and rasp, “Don’t you fucking dare, distractor.”
His chuckle rumbles low in his throat. “I don’t have to take my time. I could always guide your leg around without needing to touch you as much.”
“You’re going to make me say what I want you to do, aren’t you?”
He flexes his fingers over my hip. “I need your words, Tasch. I need you to tell me?—”
I draw myself up as far as my weakened arms will allow and lean in to whisper in his ear, “Yes, Varic, I want you to take advantage of our relative privacy to slowly cast your hand over my body.” A shudder rolls through him, and it shifts my hips over his lap with the movement. “Yes, I want you to caress me with the curve of your palm, while your fingertips?—”
He clears his throat and guides his hand beneath my ass, where he grabs me tighter, lifting me up while he adjusts his position.
