Page 33 of Restored

Ledger sighs from beside me. I flinch when his fingers skate along the back of my neck. “What are you doing?”

“Easy.” He moves my hair to the side and the sleeve of the tunic down to expose my shoulder. “Relax.”

My breath shudders out as he strokes soothing circles into the skin there. His fingers breeze down the curve of my neck and sail over the freckles of my shoulder.

I loosen into his touch, the tension in my body easing. My power slithers through my veins to meet his fingers, warming my bones.

I’d never let a man touch me like this and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why I was allowing him to continue.

A surprising wave of desire washes over me at the stroke of his fingertips. I squeeze my thighs together as his rough calluses drag over my damp skin.

I should pull away, but I’m so lost in the foreign feeling that I hardly notice when I press myself closer to him. Before I make contact, he pushes himself back. He blows out a rough breath that skates across my skin making me squirm.

His fingers tighten on my neck briefly before he yanks them away. I mourn the sudden loss of them. When he scoots away from me my mind sobers and shame floods me.

What would Maddox think of me right now and what I’m doing? I need to get a grip.

“Sleep, Layla.” Ledger’s voice is gravelly and grates against my pebbled skin. My cheeks flame at my unexpected reaction to his simple touch. Fear creeps back into my consciousness, but it’s directed now at myself, and the feelings Ledger was able to elicit from me.

Chasing after the touch of a man was something that I did not do.

He turns roughly to the side so his back is to me. I yank up my sleeve, staying as still as possible, no longer trusting myself.

I sleep in fitful bursts begging for the sun to rise each time I wake. I am not sure what terrifies me more, the dire wolf or the way my body reacted to the Prince of Westray.

Ledger and I don’t even brush each other the rest of the night. The miserable cold sets deep into my bones, making me question if I will ever be warm again.

My fingers and toes are stiff and numb when the golden rays of the sun finally settle over the land.

I rise, taking care of my needs before finding the small stream and gulping down a few long handfuls of water.

“Ah, good morning, sunshine.” Archie approaches, squatting down before doing the same.

“Morning.”

“You look…” He pauses, taking in my haggard appearance. “Uh, well rested.” I roll my eyes at him, practically feeling the dark bags underneath my eyes.

“If we cover enough ground today, we could end up at The Lazy Archer, the only inn in Grimwood. A hot meal and a warm bed sound pretty good right now, am I right?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

“Heavenly,” I grunt as we make our way over to the horses.

Mia hands me a few pieces of what looks like dried meat and a stale piece of bread. “Sorry, it’s all we have; our rations are running low.”

“This is fine, thank you.” My stomach grumbles as I take a bite of the salty meat, grateful for any sustenance.

Ledger is quiet, avoiding me as he saddles the horses.

Cam smiles over at me from where he is tending to his own horse. “Morning, Layla,” he says, smiling shyly.

“Morning, Cam.” I smile back at him.

“What do you think about riding with me today?” Archie questions, throwing his arm around my shoulder.

I open my mouth to gladly accept his offer when Ledger cuts me off, “Not happening.” He pointedly looks at Archie’s arm until he removes it.

“I get lonely, Ledger. I can’t keep her warm at night, can’t ride with her on my horse. What can I do?” Archie grins and winks at me and I smother a smile.

“You can focus on yourself. I’m in no mood for you two today. Blondie, get your ass up here.”

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