Page 42 of The Dire Legacy

“What? Too shy to show me the proof of your insatiable libido?” I’d be happy if he gave in to it. Being this close to him with only the briefest of touches between us is driving me crazy.

I know my time is limited before I have to leave. Today we’re supposed to reach the cabin.

Tomorrow he’s taking me to the town without the dogs.

I don’t know how to convince him to let me stay. He keeps so many secrets, would he be safe with mine? Or will I turn into a commodity for him to barter for the well being of his pack?

Why would he want me to stay with him? I don’t know anything about survival, making a tent, or gathering food.

But, I can learn.

“Is that why you were locked up on the plane? The nympho attacking everyone that needed to be brought to the boonies where there’s no men for you to ravage?” His tone is light and floats on the warm breeze over his shoulder to me.

Maybe I’ll throw him a little bone.

“I wouldn’t know.” There. A tiny truth hidden in levity.

His head drops below his broad shoulders and his pace slows. “Of course you’re a virgin.” He’s almost so quiet I can barely hear him.

I don’t think he meant me to.

“Is there something wrong with that?” Defiance flares in my chest.

When his fingers run through his hair and it ripples over his pointed ears, I’m tempted to throw a rock at him.

He has averted my every attempt to feel them. The lure of how soft they are is a tease like a tune I have stuck in my head that I can’t name.

I catch his subtle shake of his head before my gaze moves past him to thinning in the trees.

Alpha’s single bark makes the wolves pulling the cart drop from their harnesses and run into the dense forest, blending with the dried grasses.

Michael leans against the back of the cart in the same spot I was sitting just a moment ago.

“What’s going on?” I can’t see any of the adult dogs. Only the pups hang near us.

“They’re making sure it’s safe.” He crosses his arms and stares at his boots. The muscles in his jaws tighten and flex.

A long mournful howl is joined by yipping barks in the distance.

“That a good sound?” I don’t speak Dire.

He gives a curt nod without looking at me, but doesn’t make any motion to stand up.

My toes find the tips of his boots and I squat so I’m in his line of sight. “I thought you’d be happy you’re at your new home.” Propping my elbows on my knees, I have to concentrate not to glance at the growing bulge in the crotch of his jeans.

When he drops his hands, red marks flare on his biceps in the shape of his grip. Pulling his feet away, he moves to the side of the wagon, leaving me crouching in the dirt.

His forearms prop on the rails and he idly waves a fly away. “I am, and I’m not. It will be a lot of hard work to make it work.”

I pick a pebble the size of a pea as my weapon and toss it lightly through the air.

It bounces off his forearm making him glance up. “You’re a big, strong puppy. I’m sure you’ll do fine. I’d offer to stay and help, but you seem to want to get rid of me as fast as possible.”

The next rock is a little bigger that ricochets off of his thigh to hit the side of the cart with a small pop.

“Fuck, Hope. You know that’s not true. But, it’s safer for you with other humans. This isn’t an easy life. The pack will behunted wherever it is.” His gloved hands tighten into fists as his voice drops. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

If only he knew how little of a threat that is for me. “I’m tougher than I look.” I better leave the rest of the stones alone before I start putting my anger into the throws.

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