Page 32 of Grounded By Love
When Claira finished up, she came over, a smile gracing her lips. He could tell she felt better about herself, but he had to admit either way she was attractive, for a human female.
“Are you ready to go or is there anything else you need?”
Claira puffed up a little. “I think I should be allowed some time to clean up, thank you.”
He smiled, as she stood up to him. He didn't know if it was because she knew he wouldn't hurt her or because she just had a strong backbone, but he was surprised by how fierce she could be. “I wasn’t accusing you of taking too much time. I just want you to be comfortable, after what you did for me.”
He was pleased to find she had a backbone, because she was going to need it when they got to his people.
Claira nodded and changed the subject, as she mounted up. “While you were out, I had a scary encounter with some riders in the forest.”
Kaeldar froze. He knew she was leaving out details to gain his curiosity, and she had it.
“Riders?” He asked as he mounted up on the second horse, and they started on their way.
“Yes. I believe there were three of them, and from what I could tell, they appeared to be rock giants.”
His heart hit the ground, as his breath caught in his throat. She could’ve been killed, while he was in a fever. He should have let her tend to his wound sooner. He was going to get her killed with his stubbornness.
“Where did you see them? When?”
Claira explained, she had been out searching for a few herbs, when she saw the giants. Then she described how she had stayed hidden until they disappeared.
“I’m glad you are safe.” He may have no intention of hurting her, but he knew other rock giants wouldn't care for her life. She would just be one more human.
They fell into silence, as they made their way through the forest. Kaeldar kept thinking about how to keep her safe, when they came across other rock giants. He knew they would think he had her for more intimate reasons. Why else would he keep a human female alive?
It was a little too late for him to take her to a different human village. Not that he thought she would leave him. She still wanted to keep an eye on his wound, if he knew her.
Then came the question of a human village accepting her. He doubted they would with the way the last village treated her. Even before he had shown up on the scene, she’d been treated like an outsider. She was stuck with him, and he would do his best to keep her alive.
He was left to his own thoughts until the afternoon, when he noticed Claira drifting off into sleep, while on her horse. She would shake her head and wake, but he didn't need her falling off her horse and getting injured.
Eventually, her head drooped, and she didn't wake. So Kaeldar pulled his horse up to hers, grabbed her, and placed her in front of him.
Claira tried to protest. “I’m awake, put me back.”
But Kaeldar only shook his head down at her. “I don't think so. You are going to end up falling off your horse, and we don't need you getting injured as well.” Then he added, “You stayed up to take care of me, you need some sleep, Claira. Get some.”
She stared up at him, and he thought she would keep protesting, but instead she nodded. She fell asleep, as soon as her head touched his chest.
He gazed down at the top of her blonde hair. His heart got a strange hitch in it, and he couldn't help but puff out his chest a little. She trusted him enough to sleep within his arms.
He told himself she didn't mean anything to him. She was just a human female he owed his life to, that was all. There was nothing between them, nothing at all. There never would be anything between them either.
Taking the reins of the second horse he tied them to the back of his saddle and then got back to traveling. He tucked her a little more firmly against his front, as he wrapped an arm around her slim waist.
She was so tiny compared to giant females, so short and lightweight without much muscle build. It was a nice change to have such a feminine body in his arms. It was an attribute most giant females lacked.
He was leading them to a rock giant camp he knew of. He almost felt like dragging out their travel time so they would miss the encampment of rock giants. Yet he had a job to do. He was a warrior, and he needed to get back to help with the war against the humans.
He knew when they arrived at the camp he would have to pretend he was taking Claira as his bedmate. It would be the only way to protect her. She’d have to be his spoils of war. He knew what her reaction would be to such a proclamation, but that was exactly what he was going to need, if it was going to look real.
Kaeldar wasn’t known for an even temper. Claira may think she knew him, but he would always be a rock giant. If he claimed her, no one would touch her. He’d take their heads, if they dared, and any rock giant would know that.
Kaeldar stopped himself.
Would he really take heads to defend a human female? He was using her for her knowledge of healing, and then he would get rid of her. Right?
