Page 4 of Big Forbidden Blacksmith

Another chuckle breaks free, the sound strange and foreign even to my own ears. I can’t help it.

“You’re safe with me, Lara,” I say in my calmest voice, trying to keep a straight face. “My axe is only for trees. Human bones dent the blade too much and sharpening it after that’s a total pain.”

Her face goes from pink to red as her eyes pin me to my seat, wide and serious. I burst out laughing at her expression. Her little hand slaps me on the arm. Goosebumps erupt on my skin at the touch.

“You jerk!” she cries, grinning from ear to ear and making my heart melt. “I almost believed you!”

After a few moments, we settle down, just in time for me to turn off the main gravel road onto the long gravel lane that leads to my home. “There’s no cell service out here, but I have a landline you can use.”

My words seem to calm Lara down a bit and as much as I want—no,crave—her trust, I don’t want my angel to offer it so carelessly. She could have run into the wrong person out here. She could have hurt herself even more badly. She could have—

I shake my head to get rid of the dark thoughts plaguing me, just as I pull my car up in front of my house.

It’s me she ran into. That counts for something, right? What if this was meant to be?

“Wow is that your house?” she says eagerly, her head peeking out the car window as I put the truck in park.

The house my father left me stands strong, invitingly nestled among the trees. The fading sunlight filters through the branches, casting a warm glow on the property. A short distance away lies my workshop, the place where I spend most of my time.

I can’t help picturing Lara in it as she takes the place in with her mesmerizing eyes. I’ve never let myself imagine sharing my space with anyone before, but now my brain is running away with the idea of her staying. I can’t help imagining miniature versions of her running around the space every morning. What a sight that would be …

I refuse to allow myself to linger on the fact that Lara is only here for a short while. I need to enjoy her company while I can.

I hop out of the car and rush to the passenger side to help my little angel down. Lara doesn’t protest as I lift her in my arms and carry her into the house. In fact, her hands find my shoulders and take fistfuls of my shirt. I let us into the house with ease, but I don’t notice the gray furball blending in with the carpet until I’ve almost stepped on him. The little menace lets out a plaintive meow as I miss stomping on his tail by a hair.

“Is that … is that a cat?” Lara whispers excitedly, tightening her arms around me. Her breasts press into my chest as she leans over my shoulder. I’m not sure if I’m in heaven or in hell because of it.

I can feel my length twitching, no doubt leaking with need to show that it’s ready to claim her. So much contact with this little slip of a woman after years without the touch of another … it’s a wonder I’m still sane.

“What’s his name?” Lara asks. I have to shake my head to snap my focus back to the present moment.

“Bear.”

Silence. “But he’s so tiny!”

“I’m not the one who named him,” I grumble as I carry her into the living room. Whoever named the cat was probably hoping he’d grow into a big tom cat but he hasn’t grown hardly at all in the past few months. I didn’t even love the name to begin with, but the little devil already had the name when I adopted him and wouldn’t respond to anything else.

“I’m not judging you,” Lara says with a teasing grin. “Bear is a good name for such a cute little guy.”

There’s something unguarded about her that I find addictive. She’s even more relaxed in my arms now that she’s seen a big man like me can take care of something as small as Bear.

I help her onto the couch before going to get my first aid kit and a wet towel to clean her feet. I get back to find her stretched out on the couch, already half asleep. I can’t say I’m surprised, I’m sure she’s had a long, stressful day.

“This might sting a bit,” I warn before kneeling down in front of her to clean her wounds. Luckily, it doesn’t look like she got any more injuries walking around barefoot like she was. It’s just the swollen ankle and the scrapes from falling.

I clean her feet, treat her injuries, and carefully elevate her ankle before rising to fetch some ice for it. When I return, Lara is truly gone, fast asleep on the couch. I stop mid-step as I look at her, breath stolen by her beauty.

She looks almost like a princess from a fairy tale, waiting for the kiss of her true love to wake her and break the curse. I savor the moment, watching her as she sleeps but I don’t dare touch her.

I want her with an intensity unlike anything I have ever felt before, but I will not let myself make a move. She’s too precious for a guy like me to come along and touch.

Carefully, I lay a blanket over her sleeping form, letting it fall over her body, touching her where I can’t. As if to stoke the fire of my jealousy, Bear climbs up onto the couch and curls into a ball on her lap.

“What a showoff,” I mutter, moving away from the couch and heading to the kitchen. I need to finally make some calls and get someone out here to tow her car.

After making the necessary arrangements, I walk back into the room where Lara is sleeping. For a moment, I let myself take her in, watching as her eyelids flutter and her chest rises and falls, before looking away.

It’s unwise to allow myself to fall deep for this stranger. I still can’t believe she’s real, but she’s here, right in front of me. Her presence brings me peace and I want her to stay, but I know it’s not possible.

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