Crow let out his breath in a soft exhale as Penelope kissed him a few more times along his jaw. Her touch always made him feel so disconnected from the world, and he loved it. He loved the way her lips moved against his skin—the way she seemed to know exactly how to make him weak in the knees. In that moment, she held him in her hands. The knight had tamed the thief.

“Maybe you were distracted,” he said with a smirk. “But I knew exactly what I was doing.” As she went on to ask him to let her up, he laughed. “I should hope so. I’ve been trying to put back on some muscle since I got out of prison.” He winked at her coyly and climbed off of her so she was free to move again.

Standing up, he brushed the grass out of his clothes and hair and collected his dagger, which he returned to its hiding spot in his boot. He then gathered his other belongings and prepared to keep walking to the castle.

“All jokes aside,” Crow said, turning back to her when they were ready to go. “How did I do? I know I’m not an expert with a dagger like you are, but if that had been a real duel, do you think I would have at least had a fighting chance?”