Page 3 of A Raven Returns

“Ouch! What in the—” He grabbed hold of the fire poker, which was being wielded by a small, blonde, half-naked woman. What in God’s name was happening?

She gasped as he yanked the weapon from her hands and curled herself down at his feet, her arms covering her head for protection. “I’m sorry.” Her voice was tight with panic. “I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt me.”

She thought he was going to hit her. “Christ,” he muttered, throwing the damned poker back into the cabin. He crouched beside her, trying to calm himself before speaking again. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Slowly, she lowered her arms and peeked up at him. He recognized that face. He’d never seen it laced with such fear, but he would know this woman anywhere.

“Gwen?”

Relief washed over her. “Ash?” A smile grew on her lips, and she threw herself at him, sending him tumbling onto his back. As she landed on top of him, his hands came to rest on her very bare, very lush backside. They squeezed the soft, cold flesh without him even giving them permission to do so, and arousal instantly stirred in his loins. She gave a soft moan, shoving him back into reality. Christ, what was he doing?

He tore his hands away from her body, holding them up by his head. “I’m so sorry, Gwen.”

“I’m not.” Thank God the fear was gone from her eyes, but the daring sparkle that had replaced it brought about its own terror.

“No. No, no, no. Get up. Off.” He seemed to have lost the ability to speak more than a single word at a time.

Pulling himself together, he reached for his cane and got to his feet, every inch of him soaked through. “Get back inside before you catch your death,” he ordered.

Try as he might, he couldn’t wrench his eyes away from her bottom as she turned and walked into the cabin. Her wet chemise clung to every curve. The water had also made the fabric mostly transparent, and lines striped the skin of her bottom. Having had similar marks across most of his body when he was young, he knew instantly what had caused them.

“Who hurt you?” His voice shook with barely contained fury. He would kill whoever had done it.

She whipped around, her eyes wide once more. She took a step back from him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her voice was high and breathy. Her eyes darted about the cabin.

“I saw the marks, Gwen.”

“It’s nothing, Ash.” She shook her head, her gaze fixed on the floor.

“Who was it?”

“Please, Ash, it’s nothing.”

“Is he here with you?”

She shook her head, but panic filled her eyes when they looked up at him. “I hope not.” Tears spilled down her cheeks, each one singeing his heart. In two strides, he had his arms wrapped around her. Her body trembled, probably from a combination of cold and fear. At least the cold he might be able to help with. She didn’t fight him as he steered her to a chair and encouraged her to sit. Fetching some towels, he shook the dust out of them as best he could before handing them to her.

“Take that wet clothing off and I’ll get a fire going.”

“No!” She shot out of the chair. “You can’t start a fire. He might find me.”

Ash placed his hands on her shoulders. “You’re safe now, Gwen. I promise you, whoever this person is, they won’t make it through that door alive now that I’m here. All you need to worry about is getting warm and dry.” He pointed back to the chair where she’d left the towel. With a hesitant nod, she returned and picked it up. Ash turned his back and peeled off his wet coat before setting to work on the fire. After seeing the fear on Gwen’s face, he’d happily pummel the man to death.

“Are you covered?” Ash asked over his shoulder.

“Yes,” she said quietly.

He dragged a chair in front of the fire. “Good. Have a seat.”

She did as she was told and Ash hung their clothes near the fire to dry. Her dress and corset were easy enough to find, but something was missing. “I’m sorry to be indelicate, Gwen, but where are your drawers?”

Her cheeks immediately flushed. “I don’t— He doesn’t—” She paused before settling for, “There aren’t any.”

A blaze of fury nearly choked him. She didn’t have to finish the statement for him to understand. Somehow, there was a monster in her life, controlling her, and he didn’t allow her to wear them because they would restrict quick access if he chose to dole out punishment. He pressed his shaking fingers over his lips, his teeth in danger of shattering from his tightly clenched jaw. What had happened to her since she’d left Raven House? It couldn’t have been more than eighteen months ago now.

“Is it your employer, Gwen? Did I send you into the care of someone who abuses you?”

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