Page 69 of Wolfkissed
“But you’re not running, lifting heavy objects, or killing prey for dinner.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Emotions can cause your heart to race.”
“What kind of emotions?”
“That’s none of your business.”
He smirks. “You have emotions about me?”
“Certainly.”
His head snaps up. “What?”
“Let me see.” I start counting on my fingers. “Anger, annoyance, exasperation?—”
“But mainly awe at my prowess and male strength,” he says without missing a beat, “as well as excitement about our journey together and attraction for?—”
“No attraction. Nope.”
His smirk returns. “But yes to the rest?”
“What? No.”
“What about gratefulness?”
“Is that an emotion?” I shake my head. “Nope. That’s not an emotion.”
“No need to fight your mad attraction toward me, you know,” he says. “It’s easier if you just give in.”
“Is that so?”
“Well, yeah. Why beat around the bush? If you want my body, you only have to say, and?—”
“Stop.” I find myself getting up and edging along the wall of stone at my back, my heart ricocheting around my chest.
“I was only?—”
“I said, stop.” Suddenly, his blood-covered hands and slightly too-sharp teeth wake up the slumbering panic in my head. “Don’t.”
“Princess…”
The whimper tearing from my lips is pathetic, but I can’t hold it in. “Blood. So much blood.”
He goes very still, his golden eyes on me. “You’re seeing something that happened long ago. They took you and killed those around you, didn’t they?”
“The wolves,” I whisper. “They came in the night and slaughtered us. It was a slaughterhouse.”
“Fuck.” The faint knot in his throat bobs as he swallows. “I’m sorry.”
Breathing hard, I stay where I am, waiting for the panic to subside. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”
“You’re not. But you will be, with the right person. The right circumstances. You need someone to make you feel safe.”
“Lord Eorl,” I whisper. “He’s the one I need.”
He watches me across the dancing flames, his mouth set in a tight line. “Have you ever even met him?”
I shake my head.
