The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 61

Char's shirt covered about as much of Iris as the dwarven robe, meaning she was bare from mid-thigh down. The collar was loose around her neck, but buttoning it all the way to the top hid the amulet embedded in her chest, and that was all that mattered to her. She was too tired, mentally and emotionally, to worry about how inappropriate it was for her to share a bed with Char when she was only half dressed, although she felt a little guilty about asking him to sleep with her again when she knew how much he struggled against his attraction for her. This was the last time, she reminded herself. Tomorrow, she'd be back at Elera's house, and then...

Then she'd be sleeping alone.

Alone with her thoughts.

She turned away from the mirror and toward the bedroom. Heat flooded her cheeks with the sudden realization that the bed had a direct view of the bathroom. Char was already in bed with his back turned to her. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He'd teased her with attempted peeking when they first arrived at Jonah's tower, but he wouldn't have looked this time. Not when she was in such a fragile state. She padded across the stone floor and climbed into bed, pulling at the shirt tails to cover as much of herself as possible. He rolled onto his back and held his arm out for her. She snuggled into his side gratefully, secure in his embrace.

"Feeling any better?" he asked softly.

"When I'm with you," she replied.

He brushed her hair back and kissed her forehead. "I know I said anytime, but I can't keep doing this, Iris."

"I know."

She hugged him around the waist, resting her cheek on his chest, the firmness of his body and his arm wrapped tightly around hers making her feel like she was completely safe as long as she stayed right here. His fingers combed through her damp hair, stroked her cheek, traced the outline of her lips.

"Do you want Father Peter to marry us?"

She looked up at him in surprise. "I thought you wanted to get married as soon as possible?"

"Yeah, but if that's what you want, I can wait."

Her heart swelled at his thoughtfulness. She remembered what he said about his heart feeling like it would explode sometimes, and she realized that's exactly how she felt right now. It would be nice to have Father Peter marry them, to have Fred, Ginger, and Kayla there at the wedding. It would be nice - but it would mean waiting until peace, whether that meant a truce or one side winning the war. There was no telling how long that would take, and she didn't want to wait any more than he did.

"I'd like that, but I'd rather not wait that long."

He tilted her chin up and kissed her softly, his lips smiling against hers.

"How about next weekend?" he asked.

She smiled, too.

"Okay." Her smile faltered. "But I might not be...ready," she added hesitantly.

"That's fine." He kissed her again, and then he sighed and rolled over on his side to face her. "We're going to end up this way, anyway," he muttered, pulling her into his chest and nuzzling into her hair. "If this is all I get for a while, I can deal with that."

"I love you, Char," she whispered.

"I love you, too, Iris."

She fell asleep easily, and her sleep was restful and sweet, without dreams at all. He was still there when she woke up, like he always was, his warm green eyes gazing at her with such tenderness that her heart twisted in her chest.