Page 100 of Deadwood
I should’ve expected that retort.
I stepped toward her, mere feet separating us now. “Contrary to what you may think, I’m not the monster.”
She pulled her dress higher. “You could’ve fooled me.”
“I’ve tricked a lot of people, Auria, but you are not one on that list.”
“What makes me so different, then? Or are you lying?”
I shook my head, diminishing another foot between us. “I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“Deceive me, then,” she said.
Another step, and my eyes caught on the rise of her chest, my senses focusing in on the pounding of her heart. In an instant, my charm rounded out the points of my ears for her benefit. “It’s time to go.”
She held her ground as the shadow of Vulcan’s wings flashed over us again. He wasn’t going to let us fall prey to a bunch of wolves.
I closed the distance, only inches separating us now. “If danger gets you going, Princess, all you have to do is say it, and I’ll make some.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “That’s not why I’m standing here.”
I leaned into her space, causing her to step back once more. Her back hit the tree behind her, and she dropped her dress, exposing her corset. It took all I had in me not to look at the material. Without thinking, my hand came up to wrap around her throat, pinning her to the tree. I didn’t apply any pressure, though. Her breath hitched, and my pants were suddenly all too tight.
“If I had to guess, I’d think you like this, Princess,” I murmured.
Her nostrils flared as she tilted her chin higher, almost leaning into my grip.
My devious little thing.
My opposite hand came up to her cheek, my finger trailing over her blushing cheekbone, down to her bee-stung lips. “Do you like my hand around your fragile little throat?”
Her pulse jumped against my palm encircling her throat, blood pumping through me just as fast. To hell with me being dangerous. She was a temptation too sweet for the predator inside me to stay away.
My finger pulled on her lower lip, the flesh bouncing back as I moved my hand to the tree behind her so I could lean in further. Tilting my head, I inhaled her scent, my nose brushing her neck right above my thumb. Daring to get even closer, I let my lips trail over her pulse, reveling in the speed in which her heart beat for me.
“No,” she managed to get out, but I could practically taste the lie as it slid off her tongue so effortlessly. A lifetime of them, and she was a pro.
I pulled back just enough to look her in the eye. “Keep telling yourself that. Maybe one of us will believe it one day.” I dropped my hold on her, gathering all logical thought in order to take a step back from her. Anyone else, and I wouldn’t have cared, but Auria was the daughter of my enemy. I couldn’t go there with her. “Go or stay. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I left her standing there, her back still pressed against the tree, and headed back toward town. All the while, I could practically hear Vulcan chuckling in the sky.
She’d be my fucking downfall if I let her get close.
I’d lose everything I’d worked so long to build.
But suddenly, deep in the crevices of my mind, it seemed worth the risk.
CHAPTER 32
AURIA
Sleep had evaded me most of the night. After Bowen left me in the forest, I hadn’t stuck around to figure out what creatures he was talking about. After seeing the sandwalkers in the desert, I didn’t want to guess what prey lived on the outskirts of Deadwood waiting to strike. As far as I could tell, whatever threats were out there didn’t pass the town line, which brought me at least some comfort.
Before heading home, I’d stopped by the guards’ house to check on them. They seemed to be doing better after just a few days of rest. Two of them were in worse shape than the other, but in a day or two, they should be on their feet without too much trouble. I was thankful they were doing okay, but I wasn’t excited to inevitably be trailed by one of them again. I was enjoying my freedom—perhaps a bit too much.
I’d thankfully avoided Paxon as well as I could, but I was bound to run into him soon. I hadn’t wanted to confront the choice he’d given me and what either decision might mean for me. To think he truly wanted the best for me was hard to believe.
After pulling myself out of bed, I’d thrown on a pair of dark leather pants and a form-fitting black short-sleeve shirt. My boots laced up past my ankles, and in the mirror, I’d admired the way the outfit as a whole fit like a glove. I felt less exposed than I ever had in a dress, despite every curve on my body being on display.
