My gaze moves to Garrick, and I shift a bit on the bed, trying to get back to sleep. I was sleeping great up until I got felt up by a big bad wolf. Damn him.
Suddenly, Garrick’s eyes pop open, and a smile spreads across his face. It kind of leaves me wondering just how long he’s been awake. Did he see what happened with Drogo?
“Morning, beautiful,” he whispers, making me blush.
“Good morning.” I smile, because he’s hard not to smile at.
“The wolf is so funny when he’s jealous.” Garrick chuckles lightly.
What? Clearly he doesn’t know our dynamic.
I look in the direction Drogo left in. “He’s not jealous. He doesn’t even like me. He just doesn’t want any other men’s scents on me,” I explain, even though it’s painful to say.
The thing is, I feel a connection to Drogo and the wolves that feels important, unbreakable. Even Drogo, as much as I hate to admit it. He just doesn’t feel the same way.
Garrick gives a little laugh. “Oh, he’s definitely jealous. And to be honest, when he was touching you all over, I was too.”
I’m blushing again, but I can’t quite understand how Drogo could be jealous when he hates everything about me. The guy seems like he’s always one wrong word away from tearing me to pieces. So, how can that connect with jealousy? It’s all so confusing.
“You don’t have to say that.”
He gets a funny look on his face. “You’re gorgeous, Tara. Any man would want you.”
I shake my head. “You, Garrick, are good with pretty words. I haven’t forgotten that.”
A pained look crosses his face. “I know I broke your trust with that argument with the wolves, but I promise you I’m going to earn it back.”
I don’t know if I believe him, but I know I want to.
He sighs. “I still can’t believe you’re a witch. This is not how I pictured a witch.” He waves his hand in front of my body in a way I don’t understand.
“Do your people hate witches like the wolves do?” I ask, sitting up on one arm, my hair falling over my shoulder.
Garrick gently brushes my hair off my shoulder and meets my gaze. “Witches and bears have no issues since our land is on the other side of wolf lands, and we hardly ever deal with one another. There’s no deep hatred. And even if there are a few isolated incidents, it’s nothing compared to the battles between witches and wolves.”
I nod, understanding. There’s nothing like the feud between wolves and witches. Besides, I’ve never even heard bear shifters talked about. It might be that my people just lump all shifters into one pile, but it might also be just what he says: bears and witches are too far away from each other to have any real problems.
“I don’t care that you’re a witch. You’re mine,” he says, his gaze never leaving mine.
“Okay.” I don’t know what else to say. I believed his honeyed words before. I don’t want to be hurt again.
“Can I hold you?” he asks me with soft eyes.
The picture of him holding me forms in my mind. I glance at Arlys and Rinan, still sleeping soundly, and decide to hell with it. “Yes, that sounds nice.”
His big arms wrap about me, pulling me closer to him so that our bodies are perfectly aligned. I feel his strong, steady heartbeat against my back, and his breath against my ear. It’s the safest I’ve felt since I’ve been here.
I sigh and melt into him, enjoying the closeness.
“Do you like being in my arms?” he asks, running his nose along my neck.
I sigh involuntarily. Way too much. Like, I want to demand that he always hold me like this.
Seeing no reason to lie, I tell him the truth. “Yes. I thought it would be weird to sleep with everyone in the bed, but I slept well. Better than I have in a long time.” I turn to face him. “I feel safe and protected. And being in your arms makes it even better.”
Even though I’m probably crazy for feeling this way.
Although, Garrick hasn’t hurt me over and over again like the wolves. He was everything I wanted and more the instant I met him… until he slipped up. At least I hope it was a slip-up. Or his mask slipped. I haven’t decided yet.