Page 42 of A Lick of Flame

“A pigeon?” She frowns, breaking a piece of bread from the chunk and holding it to my mouth.

I take it from her hand, my lips brushing her fingers. She gasps. It’s soft, and breathy, and so fucking sensual that the sound shoots straight to my cock, even though I know she didn’t mean it that way. She’s a virgin. Untouched. No clue. Why is the thought making me harder? It shouldn’t. Not here. Not now. What in Kakara’s name is wrong with me?

Her gaze flicks to her hand and then to my mouth, and her breathing hitches. She quickly schools her emotions, but not before I see her eyes flare with something. Something heated. Something that has my belly tightening in response. My balls pull tight, and I want to groan. It’s so damned inappropriate that when she offers me another bite of the bread, I refuse.

“You need to leave!” I bark at her. It comes out harsher than intended.

She swallows, wiping some crumbs from her dress. “Not before you tell me what a pigeon has to do with anything.” She clears her throat.

She wants me.

No! I take that back. She doesn’t want me. She’s attracted to me, but that’s where it ends.

Good, because there can never be more between us.

“Are you going to tell me?” she asks; there’s an edge to her voice.

I nod. “The bird was white and clearly not found out here. Ethan was sending a note. I saw it attached to the pigeon’s leg. It was right after he found us, and I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“So, you think the note was concerning us?”

“It’s very likely.”

“Why?” She frowns. “We’re not important. We’re nothing. A mercenary and a teacher.”

“I don’t know why,” I lie. I’m no mercenary, but they can’t know that. “I—”

“If you want some real company, girly, I’m your man,” one of the men shouts, his voice a little slurred from the rum they’ve been drinking. “What do you want with the filthy fae?”

Maya looks back over her shoulder.

Another stands. “Unless you’re a fae lover?” he shouts.

“Are you?” a third adds in a booming voice.

“You need to go back to your friend,” I tell her.

“What’s with all the whispering?” one of the guards asks.

“I think you’re right, Luke, she’s a fae lover,” another guard yells.

“Come here, little miss, and I’ll set you straight about what a real man can do.” Yet another of the men stands, undoing his belt to the cheers from the group.

“Go!” I tell her. “Straight to Olivia.”

Maya

I stand on shaking legs, leaving the bowl on the ground. “I’ll be back,” I tell Orion.

He shakes his head, but I don’t wait to hear him tell me not to.

I gather my skirts and march toward Olivia, only to have my path blocked by a beast of a man. His face is covered by an overgrown beard. He leers at me. “Are you a fae lover, girl?” His breath reeks of alcohol. “Have you never had a real man?”

“My name is Maya, not girl, and what is it to you?” I put my hands on my hips.

“I was right, men. She’s a fae lover, alright. Time for a lesson, girl. It’s time you tried human cock.” The drunkard puts his arm around me, pulling me against him. “I bet you’ll like it,” he sneers as I try to pull away.

“Let go of me!” I yell. “Let go!” I try to knee him between the legs, but he grabs my leg in his huge hand, squeezing my thigh. “No! Let go!” I growl, fighting harder, but to no avail.

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