When Penelope pulled back from the kiss, Crow met her gaze with a grin, panting as he caught his breath. Hearing her call him her suitor sent a thrill of excitement up his spine. Until recently, he had never believed any woman would choose to let him court her. When he’d been living in the outer villages, the most interest anyone had shown in him had been purely physical. He had thought that the best he would ever get were the one night stands he got away with when he met girls at the taverns. After he and the knight had gotten back together, he still didn’t have much hope for a traditional relationship, since her father had seemed like he would refuse to give them his blessing. Apparently, he had been very wrong.

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” he admitted with a laugh, resting his cheek against her head while she stayed in his arms for a minute longer. As they embraced, his gaze drifted over the edge of the crenellation to look at the snow-covered citadel. Alone with her on top of the tower, he found himself hoping that this was a portrait of what their future together would be like. If it was, he had more to live for than he ever had in the two decades he’d been alive so far. He made a silent vow to himself to be the best suitor he could be to her, and the best husband following the eventual wedding.

When she stepped back from him, Crow let his arms drop back to his sides. Absently, he was glad that he’d thought to stop by his bedchamber to get his cloak before he’d joined her at the tower. The winter wind that blew by was even more frigid when they were so high off the ground. Without her close-up heat to keep him warm, a shiver ran through his body.

“That won’t be hard,” he smirked, reaching to take her hand and giving it a gentle tug as he headed back toward the hatch. “All it will take are a few public displays of affection, and the rumormongers in this castle will take care of the rest. Now, come on. As your [i]suitor[/i], I’d like to accompany you for a meal in the Great Hall… and maybe a kiss to put all those noblemen who’ve been after you in their place.” He casted her a wry wink.