Page 8 of Huntress and the Thorn Court
“I didn’t peg you for a prude, Isabel.”
“Just because I don’t want you to see me naked doesn’t mean I’m a prude.”
“As I’ve already seen you naked perhaps your desire is nonessential.”
“So what?” I asked narrowing my gaze at him. “Should I just drop my towel and let you get your fill?”
He shrugged. “I’m a werewolf. Nudity doesn’t bother me the way it does you. Do as you wish.”
“My wish is for you to leave until I get some clothes on.”
Gideon reached up behind his neck. Clutching the collar of his t-shirt, he tugged it off over his head.
“What are you doing?” I demanded my eyes going wide. Then my heart began racing for an entirely different reason. His body was absolutely stunning. I’d seen shirtless, muscular men all my life but seeing Gideon was a new level of hotness. I blinked focusing on his face. If I didn’t want him gawking at me then I owed him the same.
“You’re clothes are being cleaned and I don’t have the time to wait for them before we speak.” He tossed his shirt at me and I almost dropped my towel to grab it. “Put it on, then you won’t be naked.”
He turned his back on me. I hesitated, but when he made no attempt to peek, and while keeping the towel clutched to me, I quickly slipped his shirt over my head. It smelled amazing. Not like cologne but manly all the same. With his back still to me, I grasped the collar and sniffed it. Wow.
“Wow, what?” he asked. I hadn’t been aware that I said it aloud.
“Nothing. Just that your shirt actually covers more than I thought,” I recovered. It came to rest mid-thigh and almost made me not self-conscious to the fact that I wore no panties.
Turning, he let his eyes dance over me. He looked a little disappointed. “Good now we can talk.” Wrapping his arms over his chest his manner shifted to the Alpha. “Tell me where you got the knife.” Fuck. I’d forgotten that Eric’s knife had been left sticking out of the dead werewolf’s head. I didn’t answer. How did it matter? I disobeyed his demand not to bring weapons with me. “I’m a very patient man. I can wait.”
I moved onto the bed. Sitting back, I crossed my legs, which helped me appear relaxed while I kept my goodies covered. “It’s not like I have anywhere better to be for the next year.”
“Trey,” he called out. The door opened and another werewolf entered. I wasn’t sure what his plan was, but I did my best to appear confident and casual. “Isabel, this is my Head Enforcer and third in command. My Beta is out of town for the moment.” Trey took in the sight of Gideon’s shirt on me but made no comment. Smart man.
“Is this like an intimidation factor?” I asked eyeing the two wolves. “Why do you assume the knife is mine? Perhaps it was his or the wolf’s that killed him.”
“As I was the wolf that killed him I can say with complete certainty that it wasn’t mine and I truly doubt that Jacob stabbed himself with his own silver plated knife.” That surprised me because I was sure he seemed shocked to see the body this morning. “Sneaking silver into my court is a punishable offense, Isabel.”
“Then why would I admit it’s mine, which it’s not, by the way?”
Both wolves cocked their heads to the side and I smirked as they tried to determine if I was lying.
“You’re clever. Good. You’re going to need that because I have a proposition for you.”
“You’re going to let me go home?” I asked not letting my voice show my hopefulness.
“No,” he scoffed like the idea was ridiculous.
“Then I’m not sure what you could offer that I’d want.”
Trey spoke up. “How about not going back to that jail cell?”
My head snapped up making it too obvious that he had offered something I wanted. Damn it. I was normally a much better bluffer, but the idea of going back into the cell had my eyes darting for the nearest exit.
“Do you want to know now?” Gideon teased. I gritted my teeth to bite back my retort. “My proposition is to give you this room and restricted privilege to move about the house.”
“And the downside?”
Trey grinned wickedly before answering. “We want to use you as bait.”
6
“Bait?” I questioned skeptically. The wolf had tried killing me and was now dead. I was definitely missing something.
