Crow nodded when Penelope said she was just worried about her camp being attacked again before the supplies arrived. He was relieved to hear that nothing had happened since the last time Younis had struck. While he was willing to give up and turn to the Younisian baron for protection, he didn’t want to do it unless he absolutely had to. If the Brerratic knights could just hold out long enough to receive their next shipment, there was still hope that he wouldn’t have to turn traitor to his kingdom at all.

Feeling better, he returned Penelope’s smile as she put an end to the serious conversation, eager to forget about their troubles and focus on her instead. He closed his eyes and tilted his chin up slightly as she began to kiss him along his jawline, sending a shiver of excitement up his spine. At her words, he just moaned softly in response, already losing himself to her captivating touch. With the feeling of her lips against his skin and her fingers trailing down his side, it wasn’t hard for him to let go of everything that had been bothering him until this point.

As she reached for the hem of his tunic, he raised his arms to allow her to pull the fabric over his head and then pressed back into her as soon as it was off, meeting her lips briefly before he shifted to remove her shirt as well. Heart racing, Crow held her close by the waist and pressed a series of kisses along the side of her neck, sliding his hands slowly down her sides as he pulled her pants down with them. When that was done, he turned his head slightly to meet her lips again, kissing her passionately as he guided her hands back to the waistband of his trousers.