Page 29 of Victoria's Discovery

So, instead of acknowledging the warm feeling in her chest or the clenching of her thighs, she focused on taking care of him.

In a friendly way. Not in a touch-his-penis way.

Because restraint. She had it.

Chapter 16

“Can you sit up?” Victoria asked at the same time Thegan murmured something to her.

It sounded concerned and questioning and was followed by him scanning her from head to toe, so she gave him a reassuring smile.

“I’m okay. Bruised and freaked out but alive.”

He let out a breath and slid his huge hand down her arm before he caught sight of Thorn still lying unconscious a few feet away. Thegan made a worried noise in the back of his throat and sat up quickly only to groan and clutch the back of his head.

“Whoa, slow down,” she gasped, reaching out to him automatically as though she had any hope of catching him if he started to pass out. “You just woke up and, honestly, I’d really prefer you stay that way.”

He muttered something and shifted to his knees, giving her head a pat with one hand while he shook Thorn’s shoulder with the other.

He got the same reaction from Thorn that she had. A whole lot of nothing.

Grumbling under his breath, Thegan sat back on his heels and dug through his pockets. Withdrawing one of the nuts she saw in the pile earlier, he crushed it in his fist, pried open Thorn’s mouth, and carefully tipped in half of the crumbles.

Victoria was frowning, wondering if that was a magic nut that was going to heal Thorn or if it was more like smelling salts and was going to force him awake, and didn’t react immediately when Thegan said her name. When he tapped her knee to get her attention, she looked up to find him offering the remaining crumbles to her.

She shook her head but automatically softened the denial with a polite smile. “Oh, I’m not sure I should. We don’t know if I’m allergic or if that’s poisonous for humans, but I really appreciate the offer.”

He leaned closer, his pale blue gaze steady, open. Voice deep and velvety, he said something, the strange words whispering over her like a caress, before he shortened it to, “Kalaus,mín færling.”

Victoria felt like he’d put her in a trance. She’d heard certain sounds could trigger physical effects, like a tiger’s roar paralyzing its prey with fear, but holy shit. She hadn’t known they could make you wet.

My goodness, it’s like these men evolved specifically to be able to seduce women. Not only do they make that mouthwatering, clit-throbbing scent with their horns, but their voices can make you wanna take your clothes off.

Was there any way for him to know for certain the nut wasn’t poisonous to her? No.

Did that stop her from opening her mouth like an overly trusting, smitten idiot because his sex voice had mesmerized her? Also, no.

This is where I’d roll my eyes at the book and decide the heroine was a nitwit. Boy, was I wrong. I get it now, ladies. Holy shit, do I get it…

Thegan lifted his hand to tip the rest of the crumbles into her mouth while she gazed up at him breathlessly, heart pounding in her chest. His eyes dropped to watch when she opened for him, his own lips parting slightly, nostrils flaring.

Sweetness burst in her mouth as the crumbles dissolved on her tongue. Eyes falling shut, she moaned softly. That was the single most delicious thing she’d ever eaten. It was like some magical combination of the most decadent chocolate, with just a hint of orange, underscored with a spiciness that only served to enhance the other flavors.

“Oh, damn that’s good,” she hummed, licking her lips to catch any lingering crumbs.

Victoria gasped as a warm rush flowed down her throat, spread through her chest, then out through her limbs. The aches and pains inundating her body were gently washed away. She was left feeling relaxed and languid, like she’d just had an incredible massage.

Her jaw dropped when she reached up and gently touched her cheek. It didn’t hurt, at all, and no longer felt swollen or hot to the touch.

“No way,” she breathed, huffing a shocked laugh.

Looking down quickly, she balled up the hem of her dress to reveal the pale, but now-unblemished skin of her hip and thigh.

She heard Thegan make a choked sound, but just as she glanced up to check on him, he moved so he was perpendicular to her, his long, pale blonde hair falling forward so she couldn’t see his face.

Before she could ask if he was okay, Thorn shifted on the pebbles and stole her attention. Victoria gasped and scooted forward while Thegan moved around to his other side.

Balancing a hand on his chest, she bent over him and whispered, “Thorn? Can you hear me?”

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