Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
As though I matter too much. The words nearly escaped her.
Instead, she said softly, “As though you know—”
“Your deepest desires,” he said, his words a strong, yet soft whisper that faintly touched her lips.
Before she could speak, though words failed her again, his hand settled lightly against the side of her neck as his head dipped down and he kissed her. Not with fierce hunger but slower, deeper, with intention of lingering, if she should welcome it.
And she did.
Warmth swept through her instantly, spreading not in a rush but slowly, lingering in every intimate part of her until it left her breathless beneath its quiet intensity. Her fingers tightened unconsciously against his leather vest as she leaned toward him without thought.
Kaelan pulled her closer, his restraint fraying dangerously at the soft sound she made against his mouth.
Mine.
The instinct surged through him hard enough he nearly growled it aloud.
The reminder came with effort.
Slowly he lifted his head, though he kept her close against him.
Bria could barely gather her thoughts. She stared at him in silence, shaken not by fear this time… but by how right his kiss felt. Too right.
Kaelan rested his forehead lightly against hers and murmured, “Sleep. Tomorrow will come soon enough.”
He helped her to stretch out by the fire, then went to the other side of the fire to sit, but not before she heard him whisper, “Soon.”
She did not know if she was meant to hear it, but she smiled softly to herself. Soon was better than in time.
The little creature got up from where he had moved by the fire and curled himself in a ball against Bria’s chest to sleep. She welcomed his warmth and closed her eyes to sleep.
But sleep did not come as easily as exhaustion should have allowed. Her thoughts remained far too tangled around Kaelan.
She had never met a man who unsettled her so completely. Even now she could still feel the steady warmth of his hand against her neck, the certainty in the way he kissed her, as though he already knew she belonged in his arms before she had fully realized it herself.
And what she still couldn’t fathom was that she had not wanted him to stop. She would have continued kissing him if he had not ended it. The truth of it stirred heat into her cheeks despite the cold night air surrounding them.
She had known flirtation before. A glance held too long. A smile from some village lad hoping to gain her attention. But never this. Never anything that reached beneath her skin and left her feeling as though something inside her awakened whenever Kaelan drew near.
Why did his kisses feel so right to her? And how could he know her deepest desires when she didn’t know them herself?
The questions drifted endlessly through her thoughts. As though some hidden part of herself recognized him in ways her mind still struggled to understand.
Bria turned slightly, her eyes opened, to find Kaelan where he sat watchfully beyond the fire. Shadows flickered across his face while his attention remained fixed upon the darkness surrounding them, alert even now.
Protecting her. Always protecting her.
A strange ache settled softly within her chest then. Not fear. Something warmer and deeper. Was she beginning to care for him? Or had her feelings already grown into something far more dangerous than simple caring?
The thought should have frightened her. Instead, as sleep finally began pulling her gently under, another question drifted quietly through her mind.
Could it be love she felt?
The thought followed her into sleep.
Something whimpered softly against her side.
Bria stirred slowly at first, still half-lost in dreams warm enough to almost feel real. Then the sound came again, trembling and distressed, pulling her fully awake.
Darkness greeted her when she opened her eyes.
The fire had burned low, little more now than glowing embers beneath the great roots sheltering them.
The small creature lay curled tightly against her, shaking hard enough that she felt it through the cloak. Its enormous dark eyes remained fixed upon the forest beyond the firelight, ears flattened low.
Fear rolled from him so strongly she felt it at once.
Bria pushed herself upright quickly and gathered the trembling little fellow into her arms, holding him close. “What troubles you?”
The creature pressed tightly against her chest, whimpering low.
Bria looked immediately toward where Kaelan had been sitting watch earlier. The space stood empty.
A sharp unease swept through her.
“Kaelan?” she called softly, careful not to raise her voice too loudly into the dark forest.
No answer came.
Bria rose slowly to her feet, clutching the little creature closer while her gaze searched the darkness beyond the dying fire.
Still nothing.
Her pulse quickened.
Kaelan would not simply leave without reason. Would he?
The little fellow suddenly gave a low growl despite the trembling still running through him.
Bria froze.
Not far away, something moved between the trees.
Chapter Ten