Page 52 of Redemption in the Dark (The Righteous 5)
“Hey, how are you making out,” Wolf asked.
His voice was as warm and sexy as always, and she turned to smile, but her smile faltered and fell completely as her eyes raked over his body and outfit. This had to be the regalia that Ann had mentioned. He looked magical and fierce and sexy as hell.
Where was a damn fan or a glass of water when a girl needed them?
“You should close your mouth, dear,” Ann whispered. Her words made a couple of other girls close by giggle.
“You look…um….” Heat spread across her cheeks as she stumbled over her tongue.
She wanted to say ‘fucking hot’ but figured with his mother within earshot, that was not a good idea.
“Amazing,” she finally stuttered out. “You look better than amazing.” She reached out and let some of the brightly colored feathers trail through her fingers.
His eyes were intense as they stared into hers and the tall headpiece and paint on his face only added to the look. A little curl lifted at the corner of his mouth, and she wanted to leap on him. The rest of the crowd be damned. Wolf leaned down toward her, and a strong scent of spice and wood filled her nose. She wanted to lean the rest of the way into him, and her hand itched with the thought of grabbing his head and crushing their lips together. The memory of what a good kisser he was, surged to the surface of her mind, and she could still feel his touch.
“You look stunning,” he whispered in her ear.
She felt more than simple carnal lust for this man. She’d carried the constant need around with her like a ball and chain for so long that it seemed strange to want him like this. She felt a normal fluttering in her belly and a desire not based on trauma. For the first time, it didn’t feel like a demon had a hold of her throat. Instead, something else had sprouted in her chest, and she bit her lip as he stood tall, the feathers brushing against her skin. In that brief moment, she realized how honest and kind he was. That was what was always confusing her about him. All the men she’d let into her life wanted to hurt or use her, but Wolf saw her. When he looked at her, he made her feel like she was truly seen for the first time, and the unnerving sensation that accompanied that knowledge was pushed aside as her own heart bloomed with hope.
Wolf was proud, and he was not intimidated or easily manipulated. He was everything she could ever want in a partner but never knew could exist. Heck, she didn’t even realize she’d been chasing after a partner. A relationship meant people got close to you, and she didn’t let people into her heart like that because they’d repeatedly proven to her that people would always hurt you.
“Thank you,” she managed to force her mouth to say. She glanced at the area where the other men were gathering. It was by far the largest bonfire she’d ever seen. “I’m really looking forward to seeing you dance.”
“For the first time, I have someone to dance for.” The smile that played on his lips was shy and sweet as he turned and walked away, leaving her with her heart beating out of her chest.
A small panic formed as he stepped inside the inner ring where the men were going to dance, and she couldn’t see where Unole had gone. Why she was worried that he’d hurt Wolf in the middle of a party was beyond her, but she couldn’t help flicking her eyes over the crowd to find him.
Wolf stepped into her line of sight and distracted her from her mission as he smiled. Her stomach flipped, and she became short of breath.
“Are you okay, Walela?”
“I…I…I don’t know,” Maeve said and grabbed at the front of the dress she was wearing as she struggled to take a deep breath. “I’m…I can’t describe it.”
“It’s called love. You’re in love,” Ann said and smiled wide. “Don’t fight it. Your souls were brought together for a reason. Let them guide you. Fear is never our friend.”
Grabbing her hand, Ann gave her a gentle tug until she followed, and they had a better view of the inner area.
Everything here created this sensation she couldn’t quite explain. There was this spiritual feel, and it was something that she’d never gotten from church. It was like the wind could speak and whisper in her ears. She couldn’t have described it to someone if she wanted to, but there was power here. It was all around, and as the music started and the men began to dance, her mind was transported away. Her focus was solely on Wolf, who she could only see as Waya. He was, as his mother said, magnificent. She’d never considered any man magnificent, but that was the only word to describe him and do him any justice.
The scent of fire and the rich scent of trees were strong in her nose. The rhythm of the music and the beautiful words she didn’t understand flowed through her senses. She felt them as deeply and easily as the soft vibration in the ground, and she found herself wanting to dance. The music was calling her like a lover would, coaxing her to join. Her foot tapped on the grass as her mind drifted wherever it wanted to go.
Wolf’s cousin ran over, grabbed her hand, and pulled her to the group of girls that had gathered to dance. Maeve laughed as she tried to copy them and their intricate footwork. An overwhelming sense of happiness and calm washed through her. Tears of happiness pricked her eyes as she danced around and giggled as they watched the men. She kicked off her shoes and let her feet feel the soft cool grass beneath her. Wolf looked over at her, and as their eyes locked, she couldn’t look away and didn’t want to even if she could.
“You’re very lucky,” Wolf’s cousin said, giving her a wink. “My cousin is a good one. Half the girls here have hoped he’d choose one of them, but he’d always been distant from people. It became worse when he got back from his deployment.”
Maeve’s head turned at the news. “Do you know what happened to him over there?”
The girl nodded. “Lost his best friend Jimmy, he hasn’t been….” She moved her hand in a circle over her heart. “Right since.”
“Duke. Jimmy was Duke’s handler,” Maeve whispered under her breath.
It all made sense now. She hadn’t questioned why he’d taken in a veteran’s dog, that simply seemed like the kind of person he was, but Duke was more than that. Duke was what he had left of his friend. She’d stake her life on it, and her heart suddenly hurt for him.
“First his sister and then his best friend.” Wolf’s cousin shook her head. “He has lost so much. It’s good to see my cousin smile.”
This was all news to her. He was very tight-lipped about everything and anything to do with his past. She’d seen emotions burning in his eyes but hadn’t been able to place them or give them context. The most she’d learned on their ride from Utah was that he liked the country, was good with animals, and looked damn fine in a saddle and a tight pair of jeans. Most importantly, he could make her feel things she’d never felt before in her life.
“I need to get a drink,” she said and slipped on her shoes before making her way to the refreshment table.
