Page 9 of 1000 of You
He had beena wish that had never existed, and would never be.
“Gova.”
Koliscaught her eyeing him. His brows lowered as the thundercloud darkened his face.“I saidget up,bitch! Time to moveon! Get your ass up, or I willdragyoubehind my horse! The choice is yours!”
“Gova!”
She tried to rise, but for somereason her body refused to obey. She seemed to be caught in some sort ofinvisible web.Kolissaw her struggling, and hisanger intensified. Striding over to her, he reached down to grasp her by thearm. She tried to fight him off, although she knew she would pay dearly for theattempt.
“Gova! Wake up!”
He shook her. At any moment nowhe would start beating her about the face. Cursing at her. He wanted her tofight back. He liked it when she resisted. Those few times when she no longercared and simply let him tear into her, his venom hadn’t lasted long. But thistime, she couldn’t stop herself. Tears streamed down her face as her inner painoverwhelmed her.
“Gova, wake up! You are dreaming! Wake up! Please, wake up!”
The voiceoverhead was notKolis’s. The deep voice was filledwith concern, not disdain. The voice pleading to her was…
She gaspedloudly, as if her head had suddenly broken through the surface of a body ofwater she’d been drowning in. Her body wouldn’t stop shaking as a pair of handsgrasped her shoulders. A wall of warmth suddenly braced itself against her.Beneath it she heard the rapid thud of a heartbeat. One hand released her arm,and strong fingers threaded through her hair. She sensed a kiss being pressedabove her forehead, and the voice spoke again.
“You weredreaming,Gova. A bad dream. It is over now. You havenothing to worry about.”
She liftedher face to stare into those golden eyes.Muam’sgazedropped to her mouth, and there was no mistaking the look of hunger. But sheknew he would not act on it. He would not make the first move. He would neverinitiate anything against her because he did not want her to feel intimidatedor coerced. Which meant if there was ever going to be anything between them,she would have to let him know she would welcome his advances.
She reachedup to caress his bearded cheek, running her thumb across his lower lip. Hetenderly brushed her cheek with the backs of his knuckles.
“Demonswere invading your sleep,” he murmured.
“I thoughtI was back withKolis. I thought you were…” Her voicehitched.
He continued to stroke her cheek,and his gaze softened. “You are awake now. The demons have fled. You are safe.You have nothing more to fear.”
She believed him. He would protecther, not harm her. He would help keep the demons at bay so that she would neverhave to face them again.
His roughened palm cupped her jaw.“Your skin is silk. You deserve tosleep on a bed of fox or rabbit, not wolf.”
“I have a bed. That is more than Ihave had in many years.”
His lips were close to her. Soclose, the breath from his nostrils tickled. Closing her eyes, she drew hishead down until his warm mouth covered hers.
She felt lightheaded. Her body wasno longer hers to command. It was as if she had become the air, her feet barelytouching the ground. His arms encircled her, holding her closer to prevent herfrom floating away. His mouth gently moved over hers, teasing her lips withhis.
She wanted this moment to lastforever. If she were to die, let her last memory be of this. Of the way he heldher. Of the way he kissed her. Of the way he made her feel.
His mouth released hers, but hisarms continued to keep her tight against him. His heart was still galloping,which told her he still feared for her. But feared what? That she would leavehim? That he would somehow lose her?
Drowsiness crept up on her. She wasexhausted, and not from that day’s activities. It would take a long time forher to completely get over what she’d been forced to endure these past fewyears, ever since her village was raided, and she was taken away from herfamily. But withMuam’shelp, with his caring andunderstanding, and time, she would heal.
She yawned. “I almost wish I couldstay awake. I do not want those demons to return.”
Muamchuckled. “I think I know a way to keep them at bay.”
“How?”
Instead of answering, he reachedunderneath her legs, lifted her off her bed furs, and moved her over. Beforeshe could comprehend what he intended, he climbed onto the bed to join her,pulling the layer of wolf pelts over them. There wasn’t enough room on theframe to stretch out, but it didn’t matter. Last night she’d been content tocuddle against his back, to take comfort in his warmth and strength. Tonight,she would find happiness in his embrace. In the safe, protective circle of hismuscular arms.
And if he chose to take the nextstep, she wouldn’t resist.
She would welcome it.
