Page 43 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
Chapter 11
Mathar glanced down at the top of Adorra’s head. He wished he could put some distance between their bodies but to get this mission done quickly he had opted for just one horse. Yet, now, they were pressed close, and he felt something growing between them.
It was a small something, but it was still there infecting his heart. An ache that he hadn’t felt in years.
He loved having his arm wrapped around her dainty waist, and the spark of anger in her eyes when he challenged her was something he would never be able to get over. For some reason, he didn’t understand, he enjoyed poking her.
He even liked her floral feminine scent. It was sweet and drew him in like some unsuspecting prey. Yet there was also a hint of spiciness that he could pick up on. He wasn’t sure if it was her natural scent or if he was picking up on some kind of perfume she may have used before he kidnapped her.
This was no good.
He growled, and Adorra jumped in front of him as she gasped.
She turned and eyed him with wide eyes.
“Just thinking.” Mathar supplied.
“Okay?” Adorra faced forwards again, but he felt the tension pulsing through her body. She was worried about his outburst.
She wasn’t his to be lusting after. Not only was she a human woman who wouldn’t want the attention of a giant, but she was the sister of Jasmine who was about to marry his king, which would make Jasmine his queen, and bring Adorra out of reach. He was nothing more than a soldier and a hired assassin for his king.
He would have nothing to offer her. Absolutely nothing to offer a lady of her position, whether or not she was a human.
Adorra wasn’t like her sister. She was quieter when she wasn’t trying to break his eardrums, she was stronger. So far, there was no screaming in fear, she’d only used her ear breaking screams to get him and his wandering hands to behave. She was remarkably calm for the situation she was in. He could appreciate a woman who was able to handle a tough situation with a strong backbone and no breaking down. There’d been no tears. Not a single one.
When he’d wandered after her to see what was taking so long and saw the mountain cat standing across the stream, his heart had nearly stopped in his chest. When the creature had decided to amble off rather than attempt to eat them, relief had hit him hard, nearly knocking him off his feet.
As the sister to his soon-to-be queen, he would’ve had to save her. There would’ve been a lot of questions from Dryden if he hadn’t found Adorra in time, and she’d become a mountain cat snack.
This little trip couldn’t be over soon enough. He was anxious to get Adorra back to the castle and have the whole mission behind him. The things this human was doing to his body… he was ready to abandon her, but he still had his king’s orders to follow through on.
Mathar closed his eyes. This small human was twisting him into all sorts of confused knots.
Her butt was pressed firmly against his crotch, and Mathar couldn’t help the boner that was pressing into her soft flesh. Despite his best intentions, he found himself lusting after her, and it was beyond irritating.
One thing was for sure. He was going to do his damnedest to keep his hands to himself. Which hopefully would be easy since he assumed she wanted nothing to do with him as well. At least he had that going for him.
A few long hours later, the night closed in on them, and they still hadn’t reached the cottage he knew of in the area. Adorra was used to the finer things in life, and he knew of an ice giant cottage that would provide them some warm shelter until the morning. It would also help to heat her back up for the rest of their journey.
And he was sure it would be a welcome surprise for her.
In no time, he found his way through the dark forest as the scent of wood burning from a hearth drifted past him. They were getting close. He glanced down at the top of Adorra’s brunette head. She hadn’t noticed the scent of warmth and comfort yet.
“Are we stopping for the night?” Adorra asked as the last rays of sunlight glinted through the snow-covered pine trees.
“Here.” Mathar raised a hand and pointed through the forest as a wood cabin came into view.
He felt her perk up immediately as her spine straightened and her eyes looked on eagerly. He’d caught her interest, and he felt her vibrate with anticipation.
“Nothing better than resting at a cabin for the night.”
“Nothing.” She agreed eagerly with him, and he felt his heart warm a little.
Adorra couldn’t believe her eyes. Right there in the forest was a two-story cabin. Grey smoke trickled out of the chimney, and there were flickering candles lit right inside the windows, inviting and warm.
Mathar pulled his horse up, dismounted from behind her in one fluid motion, and then wrapped his hands around her waist. He dropped her to the snow-covered ground. The moment her fur booted feet hit the snow, she felt the urge to sprint over to the cottage and dash inside, but instead, she waited patiently as Mathar tied his horse up to a tree.
“Will he be fine out here in the cold of the night?” She asked.
