The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“What?” he asked as he led me away from the fire, the
dancers, and back into the moonlight-flecked shadows.
Breathless, I followed on tingling feet. “You’re turned
on.”
He dipped his head, pressing his forehead to mine.
“When am I not turned on around you?”
I laughed softly. “Good question.”
“Admittedly, I am more turned on than usual.” He drew
me down onto the thick blanket, pulling my back to his
chest. “It’s your fault, though.”
“How is it my fault?” I wiggled back, grinning as I heard
him groan.
“It’s your laugh.” His lips brushed the damp skin of my
neck. “I’ll never get used to hearing it or thinking you do it
enough.” His chest rose sharply against my back, and I
sensed something raw and sharp from deep within him.
“After everything that happened with Shea and my brother, I
honest to gods never thought a laugh could wreck me like
yours does. And when I say it wrecks me, I mean in the best
way—in the most complete way. And I…” A shaky breath left
him. “I just want to thank you for that.”
“You’re thanking me?” I twisted as far as I could in his
embrace, searching for his gaze and finding it. “I should be
thanking you. It is you who made it possible for me to laugh
without recourse.”
He dropped his forehead to my temple. “Yeah?”
“Yes,” I said, curling my hand around the back of his
neck. “I’m living because of you, Cas, and I mean that both
literally and figuratively. You think you’re not worthy of me?
In reality, I sometimes wonder if I’m not worthy of you.”
“Poppy—”
“It’s true.” I squeezed the back of his neck. “Nothing
you say can change that, but I know. I know in here.” I
pressed my palm to my chest. “That I would do anything for
you. I know you would do anything for me. You have, and
nothing in this realm or any other will ever change that or