Page 31 of Upon Buried Embers
I nod.
He grunts, and releases my wrists. I hold my hands to my chest, waiting for my next instruction, hoping the numbness takes me.
“You think I would rape you?” His voice is low, an edge to it.
I say nothing.
Everyone knows about the clans. They don’t ask, they take… and share. It’s why I’m here, after all.
He tsks, looking me over again. “I would snap you in half, Elf.” He shakes his head, then lays on his side, throwing an arm over my waist, his breaths reaching the top of my head. “Sleep.”
How in the Gods am I supposed to do that? My breathing is too noisy, too harsh, and my heart races.
Rohan rumbles, then a hand is on my chin, turning my face to the base of his neck. I have no choice but to obey his silent command.
Ten
Elf
A heavy weight on top of me has my eyes flying open, a loud gasp leaving me. Rohan startles awake, hovering above me, axe in hand while looking around the space with a snarl on his lips.
Where did he get his axe from?
Grunting, he lowers it and looks down at me with furrowed brows. I blink wide eyes up at him, my lips slightly parted.
My hair is probably a tangled mess, and the tunic he gave me has slipped down one shoulder. He looks me over, pausing on the shoulder briefly, then the metal around my neck.
With another grunt, he stands, removing the rope that attaches us from his waist and leaves the room. Going to the table, he pours something into a cup.
Why was he half on top of me?
I watch his back as he drinks, his dark hair still half-braided to his shoulder. The knot he has in it looks a little wonky, and he takes a moment to redo it after he places the cup back down.
I pick up my own hair and scowl.
“Come.” One word, and my legs move instantly.
I creep toward him, moving the sheer curtain out of the way as I rub my eyes and wrangle my hair, my fingers snagging on the knots so much that I wince.
“Bath!” Rohan shouts, his face turned toward the entrance of the tent. Two women appear, carrying a wooden tub into the space, like they were waiting outside for him.
They go through another area I didn’t notice, this one also having a sheer curtain.
“Give Agnis my thanks,” Rohan says, and the females nod, eyeing me with disdain before leaving.
Agnis?
Rohan strips off his clothes, and I try to avert my eyes. A dark chuckle has my back tensing.
“Come, Elf.”
After a beat, I turn, eyes to the floor as I follow him past the curtain to the wooden tub. His clothes hit the floor as he stands before me, completely naked. Unashamed.
Again.
My eyes trace over his muscular legs, dark hair trying to hide the scars of battle under them, but the raised, white lines peek through, nonetheless. My eyes continue their perusal, landing on his soft cock before my cheeks heat and I turn my head away.
He’s not small by any means, or shy when he grabs it.
