Away With the Fairies (The Swallow Barn Cottage Series, Book 2)

Lunch Interrupted

An hour after Fiona interrupted their lunch, she ruffled the curls on the back of his head with her nose, and started placing slow deliberate kisses down his neck, his nape, and then along his spine. He lay on his stomach, relaxed under her. Her lips fluttered over the tattoo between his shoulder blades, and she traced the lines with her fingers.

"What is this?" she asked.

"A Corinthian helmet. And the Excalibur."

She brushed her lips along the nosepiece of the inked helmet. His skin was warm and tasted slightly salty.

"If I hadn't been here earlier, I'd assume you haven't had enough," he said with a chuckle.

"It never feels enough," she murmured, moving down his body, exploring him with her hands and her lips. "But for now I'm doing– what's it called? When you study your location in advance, before you attack?"

His cheek was resting on the back of his left palm.

"Recon," he said and weakly waved his right hand, pointing towards his back.

Fiona softly stroked the word 'reconnaissance' on the scroll in the tattoo.

"Is that what 'combat intelligence' means? That's what you said you did."

"That, and anti-terrorism," he said.

Fiona noticed the change in his tone.

"Do you not want to talk about it?" she asked softly. "We don't have to."

He gave it a thought, and then sighed. Fiona's body on him rose with his inhale and sank down.

"I go to therapy to talk about it," he said. "But I can answer your questions."

Fiona put her head down, pressing her cheek to him.

"I don't have questions," she said quietly. "And you don't have to tell me anything, but I can listen if you ever need me to." He hummed, seemingly agreeing, and she continued, "I just want to know... how are you feeling right now?"

"Significantly better in the last couple of days," he answered.

She lifted her head and gave him a surprised look. His eyes were closed, and she could see one curled up corner of his lips.

"I can feel your stare," he said.

"Well, nothing escapes you, does it?" she asked sarcastically. "You know when I'm behind you, you can read lips, and you can hear everything from the next room," she grumbled. "And of course you can feel my stare. I always stare."

He laughed quietly.

"What if I need to hide something from you? That's going to be an aggro," she drew out, and went back to her kissing.

"Why would you need to hide anything from me?" he asked nonchalantly.

"A Christmas present?" she offered an option.

She'd gotten to his waist and hooked her fingers on the edge of the duvet wrapped around his hips.

"If you pull it, I'll know you've recovered after the last time," he purred.

Fiona considered it - and decisively jerked at the duvet.

***

Fiona opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling.

"Why are we on the floor?" she asked.

Her legs were wrapped around him, and he rose awkwardly on his arms and moved off her body.