Page 59 of A Lick of Flame

No! I can do this. I must.

Hamlin pulls the flaps of the tent shut behind us, enclosing us in a small, dimly lit space. I stay where I am, slightly hunched over since the roof of the structure is low. Hamlin is practically bent through his middle. He isn’t as big as the brute in Ethan’s group. Or even as big as Orion. I feel anger at the thought of the irritating fae. The gall of the man, trying to stop me when I’m our only hope of getting us out of here.

Thinking of Orion makes me even more determined to succeed and to prove him wrong. I have to.

Hamlin puts the lantern down and settles onto his pallet. He pats the spot next to him. “Join me,” he says, his eyes on me.

My mouth is getting drier by the minute. I need to keep my composure, so I smile and take a seat beside him, trying not to look as stiff and nervous as I’m feeling inside.

“Tell me anything. Tell me the first thing that comes to your mind,” he prompts, his eyes glinting. “You don’t have to be scared in any way. I will look after you. We can be friends.”

Friends? I don’t think so.

I nod. “I worked in an orphanage as one of the teachers.” I lick my lips. “I was also in charge of the vegetable garden.”

He makes a noise of interest. “Tell me more.”

I’ve always talked a little too much when I’m nervous, and today is no different. I talk and talk, reliving memories of the orphanage, describing the children and my fellow sisters who helped run it all. I even mention the small menagerie of animals we keep. Hamlin chuckles at all the right moments, but his laughter seems forced, reaching his eyes less and less. Until he starts to shift his position, clasping and unclasping his hands as he grows restless. I need to do something to keep his attention. I know what he wants and why we are here, but I find that I can’t show interest in him in that way.

I’m not sure of exactly how to go about it, moreover, I just plain don’t want to go there with the likes of him. A man who would take advantage of his prisoner like this…because that’s what this is. I don’t want him anywhere near me. And it needs to happen if I’m going to get the better of him. Olivia said that once a man is absorbed in a woman, their minds go blank. That’s when you strike. I don’t want him absorbed in me or anywhere near me.

This is terrible. Maybe Orion was right.

No! I have to do this. It’s now or never.

As if reading my mind, he says, “I think we should go back now. You’ve had plenty of time to stretch your legs. You should eat something and get some rest. Tomorrow will be a big day for you.”

I swallow. “That’s when you plan on handing us over to the fae?”

He nods. “You will be fine. I heard that they treat their prisoners with the utmost respect.” He shifts his weight, and the keys attached to his belt move.

I don’t want to be a prisoner. I’m not sure what the queen is planning to do with Orion, but it can’t be good. There is no way it will be. I suspect she’ll have him put to death.

My heart hammers so hard that I’m sure Hamlin will hear it. My ribs will be bruised after this. I need to be brave.

“I don’t want to go just yet.” It takes all of my courage to put a hand on his leg. I squeeze for good measure. I’m not sure if I’m being too rough. Too gentle. Too clumsy. This is the part where he’s going to see right through me. I know he is.

Hamlin makes a groaning noise like he’s dying, and for a moment, I think he’s going to reject me. Instead, he puts an arm around me and drags me against him, putting his face in the crook of my neck and inhaling deeply. “I thought you were just teasing me.” He starts kissing me. Big, sloppy kisses all over my neck. “That…this…wasn’t going…to happen,” he says between kisses.

No! No! No! I don’t want this to happen at all.

I have to force myself not to pull away, which is my first instinct. My eyes go wide, and I tense up a little. I can’t help it.

Make it stop!

I force myself to keep my wits about me. I have to, despite how I’m feeling.

“You’re a maiden,” he murmurs against my skin.

“Yes,” I gasp. My second thoughts about this whole thing are growing by the second. This isn’t going to work. I’m going to blow it. I am! I should stop now and ask to be taken back.

“Don’t you worry about a thing.” He sticks his tongue in my ear, and I gasp.

No! No! No!

“You like that.” His voice is all gruff and breathy.

Is he crazy? How can he think I like this?

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