Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“So much better now.” I wiggle my toes and sigh happily. “I’ll be even happier when I get a change of clothes, but this’ll do for now.”
“We will not have a fire. This cave is too narrow to let the smoke dissipate easily. Will you be warm enough?”
Oh, I’m plenty warm. Maybe it’s the full belly or my lightened spirits, but I nod and pat the bed next to me, inviting him over.
He hesitates. “I should keep watch.”
“No, you can come sit with me,” I tell him, my voice sweet. I let my tone do the explaining for me, since I know he can’t understand me. “Everything echoes in here anyhow. We’ll hear anyone coming from a mile away.”
Rem’eb pauses for a moment longer and then moves to join me. “Are you sure?”
I nod and pat the bed again.
He sits next to me, his bigger body taking up practically the entire pallet. I don’t mind, though. He leans closer to me, trying to get comfortable, and I nudge him with my shoulder, still smiling. I’m feeling good. Happy. Light.
A little frisky. Probably has something to do with this weird connection we have. The one that’s not quite resonance, but feels like it could be at any moment.
When I nudge him, he leans closer to me, propping up on one hand and resting another on his knee. His gaze moves down my long, bare legs and I wiggle my toes under his scrutiny. “You do not have sandals,” he points out.
“I do not,” I agree. “You didn’t bring me any.”
“Do they ache? Shall I rub them for you?” His gaze flicks to mine, and that shy-yet-flirty look returns to his face. It’s an odd thing on him because he’s so big and fierce looking, but it melts my heart. Just a little.
I lift a foot, indicating that he, in fact, can massage my feet if he feels so inclined.
It’s probably a mistake. The moment one big hand wraps around my much smaller foot, I bite back a gasp. I’ve never had a foot thing before, but his touch feels positively erotic. I say nothing at all as he calmly and thoroughly begins to knead and rub my sole until I’m absolute putty in his hands. “Five toes,” he murmurs at some point, amused. “All of them small.”
“That’s right.” I try to keep my voice light and airy and I fail. Oh, I fail. I sound like I want to sex the hell out of the guy right now.
I wait for him to say more, but he finishes with one foot, rests it on his thigh (really big, thick thigh) and then gets to work on the other one. I erupt in giggles when he brushes a finger between my toes, and he smiles even as he bends over his task. “Ticklish.”
“I am, yes.” I am also getting really freaking turned on. Maybe it’s that he’s so huge and yet so devoted to taking care of me. Maybe it’s the strength I see in his arms that he uses to protect me instead of against me. Maybe it’s going to be resonance.
Whatever it is, when he finally puts my foot down, I’m disappointed. I curl my toes, feeling better, and tap my chin in thanks.
“You should get some sleep. I do not know how long we will be able to stay here.” Rem’eb casts a worried look down the long, winding tunnel.
I don’t feel quite like sleeping just yet, though. I lie down, still dressed in the same breast band and short skirt I was stolen in, and then pat the mat next to me, inviting him again to join me.
He doesn’t even hesitate this time. Rem’eb lies down at my side, facing me.
I smile at him, studying his face. The ruddy, thick fur that grows around his face like a lion’s mane and held back by decorative beads. The intelligent eyes that watch me with rapt devotion. His features are blunter, harder than a human’s, but they work for him. I can’t imagine him with delicate cheekbones. Not when he’s got slashing planes that define his face so sharply. Reaching out, I trace a fingertip along one heavy brow. “I wish we could have a real conversation.”
“I would give anything to stay on the surface with you,” he says suddenly.
“Oh?”
“Once I get you to safety, we must part. But I wish…”
I run my finger down his nose, learning its shape. There’s a bump on the bridge, which I never even noticed until now. “You wish what?”
“I wish you were my mate,” he murmurs. “A foolish wish, but one that I cannot seem to let go of.”
“You could stay,” I offer, my voice a mere whisper. I move to his jaw, tracing my finger along it as I slide a little bit closer. “Tia and Rem’eb, together forever and all that jazz. Conquering the world…or just having a nice life. No big deal.”