Page 25 of Liberty

I was still panting when Ellis’ voice broke the silence, “I won’t lie, Oak, twice in twelve hours is enough for me. Hell, it’s enough for a lifetime. There will not be a single damn day of my life where I would ever get used to seeing your entire body glow.”

Glow? Hmm, I needed to read up on that. “Well, I’m going to try not to make it a habit.”

“Try a little harder, will you? Your track record isn’t convincing.” I snorted because yeah, I wouldn’t be sold on it either if I were him.

In my arms, Liberty snuggled into my chest; her fingers gripped my shirt tightly as she took a deep breath then another. Then . . . “Did you just smell me?”

“Uh-huh,” The sleepy sound came from her throat. “You smell like –” There was a pause as she thought about it. “Oak leaves.”

Beside me, Ellis’ entire body shook with silent laughter, and I sighed, “Liberty.”

“Hmm.”

“Look at me.” My voice was gentle but demanding.

She groaned, then looked up. Her eyes grew wide, and she nearly fell as she stumbled from my lap. “Oh, god. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize –”

“That it was me?” I raised a brow, jealously hitting me as I wondered who she would prefer it to be.

“Right.” She sighed. “I mean, I didn’t mind that it was you, but I didn’t mean to –”

I scratched my forehead. “Compare me to an Oak tree.”

“Sorry. But for what it’s worth, you smell amazing.”

I’d take smelling amazing over smelling like dung any day. And if she wanted to compare, I was positive I could show her all the ways I related to an oak tree. Now wasn’t the time, though. “How are you feeling?”

“Besides a pounding headache? Not bad. I had the worst dream, though,” she admitted as she relaxed on the floor close to me, our knees touching. “I got the life choked out of me by a serpent while it paralyzed me. So, yeah, fun times.”

I reached up, using my shirt sleeve to wipe at the blood. “It wasn’t a dream. I mean, it was, but you were under a spell.” I turned to Ellis. “Get Sterling over here.”

“He’s already on his way.”

“Good. Don’t you worry, mo chuisle, we will get you fixed up in no time.” I wanted to grab her and put her back on my lap, protect her from whatever shit storm we were in the middle of, but I knew she would refuse me the luxury. Even knowing her less than a day, I had already learned she had an independent streak.

She pulled away from my touch, and it disappointed me. “You mean that slithering creature was real?”

She looked ready to hyperventilate. “On the dream plane, yes.”

She sucked in a breath, held it, then let it out slowly. “I almost died. Twice, actually. I almost died twice in twelve hours, and I don’t fucking know why. But what I do know is it’s all your fault.”

She pointed at Ellis and I. Ellis looked offended. “Mine? What did I do? I minded my own business, literally. I was running my solo company when I got pulled here. And Oak, though suspicious, I doubt he had anything to do with this. He was just . . .” There was a pause. “What do you do for a living now, Oak?”

“Strap Artist,” I mumbled.

“Come again?” He pulled his brows together like he genuinely cared to hear me.

“I said I’m a fucking Strap Artist. You know, trapeze. It’s harder than it fucking looks,” I growled.

Ellis’ laughter filled the room. “No, shit. You left the life of a scholar to run away with the circus, literally.”

“I don’t work for the fucking circus. I do scheduled shows in Vegas. And just so you know, it’s a highly physical job; I doubt you could do it.” I felt a bit sulky at his laughter, for sure.

The corner of Liberty’s lips tilted upward. “I have no doubt just how physical it could be.”

Did she just eye sweep me? Her eyes glistened as she stared at me, and I, for one, couldn’t take my eyes off her. Ellis cleared his throat to get our attention. “So, as I was saying, I was staining wood when I got called here. This oaf was playing jungle gym. We had nothing to do with this, and I can promise we are both equally confused.”

My mouth opened, and I was more than ready to defend my profession – again – when Sterling’s voice came from down the hall. After a few beats, he appeared in the doorway, “Whoa, Oak. You crushed the fuck out of that doorknob.”

Liberty’s eyes widened. “You what?”

I shrugged. I wasn’t about to fucking apologize.