I woke up the following day, Sandor's arm strewn across my waist, and his body curled around me from behind. I tried not to giggle, realizing we had barely moved from the last position we had been in last night.
I slowly wiggled my hips, feeling him start to stir. My jaw dropped when I felt him grow and harden against my bottom. His arm tightened around me.
"My, someone has roused, haven't they?"
"I am still a man," he rumbled before he started trailing kisses over my neck.
"That you are, dove," I replied softly, reaching over my shoulder to caress his head.
His hand strayed between my legs, fingertips lazily circling. When my hips started to wiggle again, he rolled me onto my back and hooked both of my legs over his thigh, entering me from a new angle. Passion took over, and I happened to be so enthusiastically loud that the neighboring room rapped upon the adjoining wall and yelled some choice words at us.
I clapped my hands over my mouth before letting out an embarrassed giggle.
Sandor paused, his shoulders shaking in amusement at what had just occurred as he shifted above me, moving both of my legs around his waist and settling on his elbows. He resumed his movements, still passionate but languid. I held onto him, eyes closed and letting out quiet breaths of pleasure. He picked up the pace to bring us both to completion, and I pressed my lips against his shoulder like our first night together.
"Kezya," he groaned low into my ear before giving in to release. My pleasure was heightened at that simple utterance, and I nuzzled my forehead into his shoulder, aftershocks of my orgasm still pulsing.
"Sandor," I sighed amorously. He flopped over beside me, letting out a big, satisfied sigh. I grinned and mimicked him by doing the same.
"You're doing well in making me forget I'm supposed to be a miserable old fucker," he said softly.
"You're doing well making me forget I'm supposed to be a boring old maid," I replied.
"You? Never."
I blushed as I smiled at him.
"I'm happy you think so," I said, rolling onto my stomach. "But I think you're loads more interesting than I am."
"I disagree," he said earnestly, looking deep in thought. "I'm a dull and hateful fucker. I know next to nothing about your past, but I know when you choose to tell me, it won't change how I feel about you."
The corner of my mouth lifted. Butterflies had invaded my belly.
"What is it that you feel about me, Sandor?"
He suddenly got the look of a deer caught in the crossbow sights.
"You make my dick hard," he said gruffly, drawing his eyebrows together.
"Well, that's good because you make my pussy wet," I boldly retorted, mimicking his frown.
He groaned, running a hand over his face.
"Best run along before I get the idea to keep you up here all day."
I yelped and gave him a look as he gave a cheeky smack to my rump before I got up. I dressed quickly, aware of him watching while trying to pretend like he was dozing off. I turned to leave, pausing at his voice.
"Fix your hair. It looks like shit."
"Such a charmer," I sighed. "I'll fix it in my room."
I shut his door and walked down the hall and to the other wing where my room was located.
The air smelled stale in the room when I opened the door. My eyes were drawn to Declan's things sitting untouched on his side of the room. His boots still sat against the wall on his side, his sword and dagger displayed on a shelf above it.
On his bedside table was a small figurine of a weirwood tree, where I hung the pendant he had gifted me on our wedding from the lower branches. Even his side of the bed was still made up, and a pair of folded-up trousers and a wool tunic was still sitting on his pillow.
My heart wrenched, and somewhere deep down, I felt like I had been unfaithful. I felt like he could walk in at any moment and demand to know where I'd been for the last two nights.
I did my hair hastily in the dim light coming in from the window, only glancing in the mirror to check my appearance before leaving, afraid I'd see Declan's ghost hovering over my shoulder.


Sandor came down early that evening in the middle of a dinner rush. There were no tables left, and he stood at the bottom of the stairs for a moment, his eyes following me and Fred, the stable boy, as we bustled between tables. Opal called to me from the kitchen doorway.
"I'm on the last logs in the pile! Send Fred out to chop more."
"He'll get to it in a minute!" I called back.
Fred had just gone upstairs to answer a customer's bell, and customers were simply drinking through too much ale and wine for me to be able to stop serving to help.
"I can do it."
I spun around to face Sandor.
"No, dove, you're a guest--"
"Let the boy help you in here. He has no muscles. I can chop twice as much. Once helped build a Sept."
He didn't wait for me to respond and walked past Opal through the back door where the chopping block and axes were outside. Opal just raised her brows with a smile as she stirred her stew.
"Well...how nice," I said, trying not to convey just how smitten that moment had made me feel for Sandor.
"That man is sweet for you, no mistake!" Opal sing-songed. I babbled wordlessly at her with my cheeks bright red, which only made her laugh heartily. "It's alright, dear. It's about time a man took care of things around here again." She peered at me. "And you seem to enjoy it."
"What makes you say that?" I asked cautiously. She stared at me with a piercing look for a moment.
"Funny thing...the last two nights, I've gone to your room to see if you could fix a rip on my nightclothes. You've been gone both nights. I saw your stash of moon tea on your side table. It smelled fresh."
I stared back, feeling my face paling.
"I'm so sorry! I won't...I just thought…."
Opal placed a hand on my arm.
"Dearie, no! I didn't mean anything was wrong with it. Don't apologize. It's time you moved on from dwelling on my nephew."
A tear slipped down my cheek.
"I still feel like I'm being unfaithful."
"Kezya," started Opal sternly. "It's been five years since Declan's soul has been at peace. It's time for you to find your peace as well. Yes, he was taken too early, but you're still here, and you deserve to live the full life I know Declan would want you to live."
"It feels like a breath of fresh air with Sandor…." I admitted, more tears falling.
"Well, take some deep breaths, dearie. I like seeing you happy again." She drew me into a hug.
Sandor chose that moment to walk back in with an armful of firewood.
"What in Seven Hells...did some cunt out there just make you cry?!" He let the firewood fall to the floor with a clatter before approaching me.
"No. Uh...no," I said hastily, wiping my tears and turning away to hide my red face.
He touched my arm hesitantly.
"You can pick those back up and put them in the rack where they belong," said Opal to Sandor, frowning at both him and the pile of wood.
"What's got her upset?" He demanded, turning to Opal.
"You know how young women are when they get in their emotions," said Opal, ignoring my attempts to signal at her subtly. Sandor merely stared, looking clueless. "Anyway! The girl is fine! I, however, cannot cook your chicken with this mess on the floor! Get to it!"
Sandor looked at me.
I looked back and raised my eyebrows, whispering, "You'd better do it...cook's orders."
Sandor grumbled under his breath, snatched the wood off the floor, and plunked it all in the rack in a short time.
"Thank you!" Opal sing-songed, going back to cooking.
"That should last you for a bit."
"Thank you, Sandor," I said. "I'll see if there's a seat for you out there."
"No need. I'll manage. You just get back out there."
I nodded and grabbed an ale jug before going back out into the inn.
I didn't realize he was still in the kitchen until I returned and saw him gathered rather conspiratorially with Opal and Fred.
"What is the meaning of this?" I asked crossly. "Ol' Gobber needs his horse hitched up, and the couple with the two babies need their supper! And on top of that, the three whole tables of lads out there are drinking ale like it's water!"
Little Fred ran out the back towards the stables, and Opal started pouring up bowls of stew for the young family. Sandor took the empty jug out of my hands and started refilling it out of the barrel.
"You my new barman?" I asked him, raising a brow. He turned to face me.
"I could be if you name the right price."
I smirked as I flashed him my breasts behind Opal's back. I watched him ogle them with a quiet intake of breath before I tucked them away.
"Like I said. Name your price," said Sandor, meeting my gaze with a spark of mischief.
Opal looked curiously behind her as I playfully whipped Sandor with my apron. He grabbed it and pulled me closer.
"Just gonna run this out to that family with the babes!" Opal sing-songed as she left with a tray of food.
Sandor towered over me, looking at me expectantly.
"If I take you on as a barman tonight, I can only afford to pay you in kisses per hour," I said cheekily. We paused as Fred made his way back through the kitchen into the inn, looking nervously at Sandor on his way.
I then tiptoed and shared two long kisses with him.
"That should do it."
"I'd like you to come to my room tonight, too."
"I'll be there," I said just as Opal re-entered the kitchen.
"Alright, you lovebirds, enough of that for now."
I bustled out of the kitchen, face entirely red.
Once a table freed up, I sat Sandor down for his supper and ale. It slowed down quite a bit, so I sent Fred home and helped Opal tidy up the kitchen. Sandor surprised us both by bringing plates he had bussed from empty tables. He helped himself to refill his own jug and gave me a once-over look before walking back out to his table.
"Man's not as bad as we initially thought," said Opal.
"No," I said. "He's a lot better than he thinks he is."
"It's good to see him making you smile."
"I think he's never learned to smile, but I see it in his eyes a lot."
"Teach him to smile, my sweet."
"I hope I can."