Page 33 of Stolen By The Beast
Karvik hummed, an adorable sound that made happiness bloom in my chest.
Without a word, he moved to a corner of the shelter and gathered several items before returning to sit in front of me.
Taking one of my feet in his hands, he inspected it. “I have watched you limp for much of our journey, but you refused to allow me to carry you for most of the trip. It was stupid to hide how badly your feet were being injured by walking without coverings. You need to stay off your feet and give the wounds time to heal without being covered in dirt.”
Duh. I hadn’t wanted him to think I was weak. Plus, I was apparently stubborn.
I didn’t get a chance to respond. Karvik stroked an uninjured portion of skin on the bottom of my foot, causing a giggle to burst from my lips.
Karvik’s sharp gaze snapped to my face. Never breaking eye contact, he slowly brushed the tip of his claw across my foot, watching my reaction.
Uncontrollable laughter bubbled from my chest. I squirmed, trying to free myself from his hold. “Stop! That tickles!”
Karvik refused to release my foot. “Tickles? Do tickles hurt?”
“N-No… It doesn’t hurt, it just feels funny…. and makes humans laugh,” I gasped, still trying to wiggle my foot from him.
Karvik’s eyes glowed brighter, and I knew in an instant I was in trouble.
“Laughter is good.” With that, he began to tickle my foot in earnest.
How a beast his size could keep from breaking my ankle or ripping open fresh gashes in my sole, I’d never understand. He was my gentle monster.
My laughter was punctuated by hiccups and pleadings for mercy, but Karvik was too entertained by this new game to give it up.
“Do tickles work on this foot, too?” he asked, not waiting for my answer before snatching my left foot from where it was hidden beneath my skirt.
This hilarious torture went on for several minutes and only stopped when I was panting for air and lightheaded.
Karvik stretched out on the dirt beside me, brushing the sweaty locks of hair from where they stuck to my face.
“I like these tickles.” His halting chuckle had my heart fluttering. “Are other parts of your anatomy susceptible to tickles?”
“I guess you’ll have to wait and find out.” I hadn’t intended for my voice to take on a low seductive note… but it did.
Karvik’s arm wrapped around me, pulling me tight against his body. “I look forward to discovering more about tickles.”
Me too,I responded silently, my body aching to have him explore every inch of it.
“I like having you in my arms,” he rumbled.
The breath froze in my chest at his admission. This was what I’d been longing for. A sign that he was affected by me at least half as much as I was affected by him.
“I like it too.” My voice cracked.
“Good.” Karvik nuzzled my neck, the cool bone a contrast to the flushed heat of my skin. “I need to clean your wounds and you must eat. But first, let me hold you.”
I happily cuddled into his warm chest.
Please hold me forever.
Chapter Ten
Karvik
Ithasbeennearlyseven sunrises, and what I once refused, I now embraced. I could no longer deny my need for companionship.
My decision wasn’t born of the need to perpetuate my species—how could I with another so unlike my kind? —but out of the swirling loneliness, even the darkness inside of me began to abate.
