Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
A shield? He suspected Tavish would return, and Callen expected to guard my life with his? When my bones threatened to melt at the sweetness, I ground my teeth. “If you’re half the berserker your confidence says you are, a bit of distance won’t keep you from saving me. Besides, if there’s truly a threat, you’d be more concerned for Mirren and Gavina.”
“I wasn’t exaggerating when I told you the wolf king obsesses over my firebrand. They all do. It’s a biological response they cannot overcome.”
So why had Tavish helped Isobel, the fated one, rather than harm her? Why hadn’t the wolf king abducted me when he’d had the chance and tormented Callen with my capture?
“Yes,” I said. “I still wish to proceed with this negotiation.”
“Verra well.”
The man, uh, berserker, err, immortal almost seemed happy with my choice.
He closed the distance, stopping directly in front of me, a tower of menace and strength. Well, maybe not menace, but something far worse. Challenge. The most sublime heat radiated from him, caressing my skin. His scent filled my nose, fogging my head. Awareness highjacked my good sense.
“Allow me to give my counter,” he purred.
Uh-oh. I wasn’t going to like what happened next, was I? Well, he had warned me.
“You’ll sleep on the floor. I will sleep on the bed. You will receive no payment of any kind.”
I…he…we… gah! That was so not what I’d expected him to say. Why not insist I sleep in the bed with him? We were married, after all. Well, not married married. Not us. But he didn’t know that.
Focus. “What happened to chivalry?”
“I’ll be chivalrous. I won’t kick you out if you crawl under my covers in the middle of the night.” Gaze glittering, he backed away slowly, reached for the waist of the towel–and dropped the material.
My jaw went slack. What I didn’t do? Close my eyes or spin around. He was just so big. Huge. I took my time looking over his trim waist, tree trunk thighs and everywhere in between. Licking my lips, I fanned my reheating cheeks.
For some reason, my undisturbed scrutiny disturbed him, and he stiffened. He pivoted to reveal the world’s sexiest backside and returned to the underwear drawer, where he swiped up and stepped into a pair of black boxer briefs, ending my leering.
“Until then,” he added, keeping his back to me, “blankets are in the cabinet.” He rasped the words. “Good night. Though I expect you’re in for a bad one.”
I remained in place, floundering for a response. For the right thoughts. He strode to the bed, slid under the soft, dark blue covers, plumped a mound of pillows, then settled in with his hands locked behind his head. Golden lamplight bathed him, highlighting features now a little too smug for my liking.
He expected me to cave and climb in, didn’t he?
Nose in the air, I flounced to the specified cabinet and withdrew two comforters. One for the floor, one for me. I felt the sear of Callen’s attention all the while. “What do you hope to gain through this situation? Sex? Because the only thing you’ll get from me is trouble.”
Intimacy was the main reason I’d broken up with August. As we’d argued more and more about even the littlest things, we’d lost all sense of companionship. It was also the reason I’d clashed with so many of the men my mother shoved into my path. Most of the guys had hinted at a no strings arrangement, but deep down, I sought what my namesake had expected. Love and respect and mutual affection. I wouldn’t settle for anything less.
I could guess what would happen if Callen and I slept together. We would return to being adversaries with a tragic past, and I’d fight harder to get home, laden with even more guilt.
“Not everything is about sex, Elle.”
Dang him. That was a good answer. And he’d used my shortened name of his own accord, plus a firm tone that pointed to truth. “What’s this about, then? Besides safety.” Determined, I made my pallet before the unlit hearth, kicked off my shoes, then laid down. And struggled to get comfortable. The floor sucked. Hard and uncomfortable. And cold!
“If you don’t know, it’s too early for the conversation. Also, if you wish for me to believe that you don’t want me,” he said, switching off the lamp, welcoming darkness into the room, “donna look at me as if you could eat me alive.”
Fair enough. Wasn’t like I could deny it. “Donna put your goods and services on display then,” I retorted, mocking him. I rolled to my side, showing him my back. I wouldn’t be moving from this spot for any reason, and that was that.
“I’m not sorry,” he rasped, his voice pure temptation.
I breathed through my nose and out my mouth, willing my erratic pulse to calm. Why’d he have to sound like everything I’d ever wanted?