Page 56 of The Stallion & The Tigress
When they made camp, she shaved the end ofthe last stick into a spike while he dug a hole to prop it intonext to six others set in a line along the only path leading intotheir camp.When they were done, he spread out the empty husks ofthe chestnuts they’d eaten around the borders of theircampsite.
He tied Z to a bush at the path’s openingwhile she strewed the small pile of twigs they’d collected aroundthe outer edges of the glen.
“There,” he said approvingly.“If they come,we’ll hear the crunches of their boot fall or them screaming.”
She handed him his blade.“If they don’t cometo us tonight, we go after them and Lasair tomorrow night,” sheconfirmed.
“Barring any unforeseen circumstances.”
She said nothing.
“Sahar?”
“Don’t ‘Sahar’ me,” she snapped.“I’m goingafter Lasair tomorrow night with or without you.”
“What about Yago and Taweel?How do proposeto capture them without me?”
She gnashed her teeth and growled low.
“Be reasonable.”
“Be reasonable?”she snapped.“I’ve beenkidnapped, beaten, starved, and threatened with rape, publichumiliation, and death.You think I’m being unreasonable?”
“I think,” he said calmly, “that you arespeaking too loud.”
“I think,” she hissed, “you are being… Thatyou are…” She gnashed her teeth and fisted her hands at her sides.“Confoundedly reasonable.”
He fought his twitching lips and then gave inas his chest shook with silent laughter.
“I’m glad I amuse you,” she said coldly.“That my frustration is a matter of mirth for you.”
“Sahar.”He reached his hand out to herface.
She slapped his hand away.“I told you, don’t‘Sahar’ me.I’m in no humor to be mollified by you or any man.”Sheglared at him as if it was his fault he had been born male.“Noneof this would’ve happened if I’d been a man.”
“Perhaps,” he said.“I, for one, am gladyou’re not.”
“Why?”
He held her gaze for a long moment, wonderingif she was baiting him or that naïve.Then he blew his breath outand ran a hand through his hair knowing he’d couldn’t tell her histruth.“Because your father wouldn’t’ve paid me a hundred goldpieces to watch over his son.”
They ate their meager meal of chestnuts andjerky in stony silence.Then he checked the traps they set andretied Z’s reins to a bush for the seventh time, putting off lyingnext to her on the bedroll.
He stopped distracting himself and slid underthe blanket behind her, keeping his body from touching hers.Makingsleepy little snuffles, she wriggled her backside against him.Hewent stiff and grumbled low in his chest, and she snuggled closeruntil the length of her body pressed against the length of his.Sahar sighed, then turned to face him.
“Sahar?”He cocked his head and his hair felldown over his forehead.She reached out and pushed it back from hiseyes, smiling as the stubborn lock fell again.
“Aleksaandrrr,” she purred, running herfingers through his hair.
He reached up and grasped her by the wrist,stilling her hand.“Be careful, my tigress,” he warned.“You’replaying with fire.”
“I’m fire, my stallion,” she rasped.“I wantto burn with you.”She slid her hand down his belly and pressed herpalm against the flap of his breeches.He sucked his breath in asshe rubbed his already rigid cock.“I want to feel you rise againand again.”
“You will, my tigress,” he rumbled, pushinghis pelvis against her hand and rolling her onto her back in oneswift motion.“You will.”
Leaning on his elbows, he covered her bodywith his and cupped her face with his hands.
“You realize your father will likely kill mefor this,” he said, while he still had sense enough to think.
