Wolf Read Online Free Page B
Book: Wolf Read Online Free
Author: Cara Carnes
approached me. “Not all our people welcome your presence.”
I’d suspected as much, but hearing it increased my growing guilt. “I’m willing to earn my keep. Hard work is something I’m used to.”
She sat beside me on the small cot and took my hands. Her fingers trailed across my bruises and rough palms. “I have no doubt you toiled over labors much of your day.”
“I launder well and tend fires and gather wood. Cooking escapes me at times, but I skin and salt meat with skill. My father wouldn’t have it any other way.” I hoped she’d realize the importance I placed on helping.
“Do all maidens in your village do so much?”
I shook my head. “My situation was quite different.” To say the least. Tending the fires, clothes and wood needs for three families often took from dawn to well past dusk, especially in the seasons when there were skins to tend to. “I had much to atone for.”
“What could you possibly have done to bear such burdens?”
I swallowed my resentment, knowing my emotions weren’t something she needed to deal with. “Two men died because I foolishly ran into the woods. I must tend for their families as if they were mine. My father demanded it as one of my punishments.”
I must’ve been fumbling with the talisman without realizing. Her fingers touched it, the soft caress too much like my gran’s. My mother’s. “You bore much for naught. What you did for Stephan should’ve been praised.”
“They thought my story a foolish tale.”
I could tell she wanted to comment, but she stood instead. A cool breeze flowed into the room as the door swung open.
Stephan.
My pulse quickened and I fiddled with the hem of my borrowed dress. I gawked at his powerful body as he greeted Nalla. His eyes danced with adoration when around her, and I wished I could see the same glimmer in his eyes when he thought of me.
The same type of clinging leather pants molded against his powerful thighs. Muscle rippled across his stomach, partially visible through the open wood-colored vest. His chest was unmarred by hair. My fingers longed to trace the contours of his smooth skin.
Heat spread through me to center at my nether regions. I squeezed my thighs together and looked down because I was afraid my cheeks were stained with shame. My attraction to him had grown, and my body refused to behave.
His long legs brought him to me faster than I was prepared for. I stood, my legs wobbling as my breathing accelerated. His hands grasped my arms, steadying me with a strength that made me shiver. Not even the mightiest of my village’s fighters were so honed and muscular. I’d seen enough of his people to know none of the men in his pride were like the men I was accustomed to.
“Thanks.”
Thanks. Not only was it a naïve and foolish thing to say, but it came out with a meekness that made my mind scream at my blathering tongue. I’d thought of clever retorts and envisioned conversations with him about many things for the past few nights. I’d even fantasized about him.
And all I had to say when he stood before me was “thanks”. A flicker of darkness appeared and disappeared in his golden eyes.
Nalla shuffled a chair. The dragging sound across the bare floor of the eating area pulled me from my lustful thoughts. I focused my attention to where his fingers touched my skin. Tingles danced there and spread through me like molten fire. Heat rushed to my core. My pussy moistened. My nipples hardened.
I fought the urge to tug on my dress or look down to see if it was apparent. I refused to sever my contact with him.
“She’s been asking about you.” Nalla’s voice quashed the connection I’d felt. I stepped back enough to allow my heartbeat to slow, but his assessing gaze remained on me, and I was lost in the tumbling waves of desire his presence had incited.
“Really?” His voice, filled with curiosity, made me smile. “I’ve been catching up on pride issues. Some of it is quite tedious.
I’d suspected as much, but hearing it increased my growing guilt. “I’m willing to earn my keep. Hard work is something I’m used to.”
She sat beside me on the small cot and took my hands. Her fingers trailed across my bruises and rough palms. “I have no doubt you toiled over labors much of your day.”
“I launder well and tend fires and gather wood. Cooking escapes me at times, but I skin and salt meat with skill. My father wouldn’t have it any other way.” I hoped she’d realize the importance I placed on helping.
“Do all maidens in your village do so much?”
I shook my head. “My situation was quite different.” To say the least. Tending the fires, clothes and wood needs for three families often took from dawn to well past dusk, especially in the seasons when there were skins to tend to. “I had much to atone for.”
“What could you possibly have done to bear such burdens?”
I swallowed my resentment, knowing my emotions weren’t something she needed to deal with. “Two men died because I foolishly ran into the woods. I must tend for their families as if they were mine. My father demanded it as one of my punishments.”
I must’ve been fumbling with the talisman without realizing. Her fingers touched it, the soft caress too much like my gran’s. My mother’s. “You bore much for naught. What you did for Stephan should’ve been praised.”
“They thought my story a foolish tale.”
I could tell she wanted to comment, but she stood instead. A cool breeze flowed into the room as the door swung open.
Stephan.
My pulse quickened and I fiddled with the hem of my borrowed dress. I gawked at his powerful body as he greeted Nalla. His eyes danced with adoration when around her, and I wished I could see the same glimmer in his eyes when he thought of me.
The same type of clinging leather pants molded against his powerful thighs. Muscle rippled across his stomach, partially visible through the open wood-colored vest. His chest was unmarred by hair. My fingers longed to trace the contours of his smooth skin.
Heat spread through me to center at my nether regions. I squeezed my thighs together and looked down because I was afraid my cheeks were stained with shame. My attraction to him had grown, and my body refused to behave.
His long legs brought him to me faster than I was prepared for. I stood, my legs wobbling as my breathing accelerated. His hands grasped my arms, steadying me with a strength that made me shiver. Not even the mightiest of my village’s fighters were so honed and muscular. I’d seen enough of his people to know none of the men in his pride were like the men I was accustomed to.
“Thanks.”
Thanks. Not only was it a naïve and foolish thing to say, but it came out with a meekness that made my mind scream at my blathering tongue. I’d thought of clever retorts and envisioned conversations with him about many things for the past few nights. I’d even fantasized about him.
And all I had to say when he stood before me was “thanks”. A flicker of darkness appeared and disappeared in his golden eyes.
Nalla shuffled a chair. The dragging sound across the bare floor of the eating area pulled me from my lustful thoughts. I focused my attention to where his fingers touched my skin. Tingles danced there and spread through me like molten fire. Heat rushed to my core. My pussy moistened. My nipples hardened.
I fought the urge to tug on my dress or look down to see if it was apparent. I refused to sever my contact with him.
“She’s been asking about you.” Nalla’s voice quashed the connection I’d felt. I stepped back enough to allow my heartbeat to slow, but his assessing gaze remained on me, and I was lost in the tumbling waves of desire his presence had incited.
“Really?” His voice, filled with curiosity, made me smile. “I’ve been catching up on pride issues. Some of it is quite tedious.