Page 62 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
He’d been a fool to think he would want another woman, and now that he’d royally pissed off Adorra he felt like an ass.
He rolled his eyes.
That damn woman! One night together, and she had him wrapped around her finger. It wasn’t even like they knew each other. But he knew this much, they wouldn’t be good for each other.
Not only had Dryden fallen for a human woman, but it was looking like Mathar might be falling for one as well, and it irked him beyond measure. Their night of passion was supposed to be nothing more than two lustful bodies joining for a moment of release.
Another ice giant woman sidled up beside him. “It’s been a long time since you were last at the castle for more than a couple of minutes.”
“Not interested,” Mathar growled, surprised to find it true.
“Did I do something wrong?” The woman leaned over and looked him in the eye her silver hair falling over her shoulder.
“It’s not you.”
The woman glanced up and over at Jasmine, and then the same doorway Adorra had disappeared through. “Ah.”
He looked over at her and grumped, “What?”
“You’ve fallen in love with the human you brought back.”
“Love?” he snorted as he shook his head. “Not likely.”
The woman frowned. “Admit it, Mathar. You are drawn to her, and no other woman will fill the spot you want her to hold.”
He gave her silence instead of an answer.
“I’ve known you for years.” The ice giant woman leaned in. “I’ve serviced you for years. I’m probably the only person who’s seen more than your grumpy side. You’re in love, Mathar.”
He glanced up at the woman. She may have serviced him, but all he knew was her face. He couldn’t even come close to thinking of her name. “All I know is that I want a cabin in the woods and no one around to bother me.”
She leaned over and whispered in his ear. “You want the human to bother you.”
He turned to growl at her, but she was already gone, seeking another man to warm her bed this night.
What he needed was a cold dunk in some water and a good night’s rest to help his mind and body forget Adorra.
He glanced over to Dryden’s table, and his king raised a goblet in his direction. Or not. Tomorrow would be the start of his shadowing Adorra, which meant she would be right there under his nose, teasing him without mercy.
Snorting, Mathar rose from his seat and left the great hall. He’d never be able to escape her until she left the castle.
Adorra had dreaded coming out of her room all morning, but eventually, hunger drove her forward. After last night, she wasn’t sure she even wanted to set eyes on Mathar again. Jealousy ate at her. The way those women had been throwing themselves at him bothered her, despite the fact that she had no claim to him.
Shaking her head, Adorra pushed Mathar from her mind.
She felt like she was failing her sister. She was having a hard time convincing Jasmine that this wasn’t the place for her, and she was beginning to wonder how long it would take her to convince her sister that she needed to come back home. There was no telling how long she might have to stay here.
Slowly, Adorra found her way back to the great hall hoping she hadn’t missed the morning meal. She was still in need of more hot food and looked forward to another meal. Mathar had caused her to miss most of last night’s meal with his philandering ways.
As she entered the great hall, her eager eyes searched the faces in the hall, and she was disappointed to see that she couldn’t find Mathar among the crowd.
She chastised herself for searching for him. He was nothing to her. Nothing. And she’d best remember that. At some point, she and Jasmine would leave these people behind, and she would never see him again. Because the moment she got back to her manor she was going to hire more men to patrol her land. Her kidnapping shouldn’t have happened.
“Good morning, Adorra.” Jasmine beamed from the table at the front of the hall.
“Good morning to you as well.” Adorra greeted her. She took a seat next to her sister, happy to have found Jasmine alive and well after so many months apart. She quickly shoveled some eggs, ham, and bread onto her plate.
“Hungry?”
