Page 26 of The Physician's Barbarian
Drin stepped between us before I could figure it out. He put his hands on Godr’s chest, smiling cheekily at him. “I need your help. I think mama will foal soon.”
I could see the open conflict on Godr’s face, but I knew how much the horses mattered to him. He talked to them like they could understand him. I didn’t want to stop him from doing what he loved.
“Go ahead. I stay with Rhoddgorr for a little while, sound okay?”
That drew a twisted expression from Godr that made me smile. “If it were anyone else, I would warn against it. He is enamored with you, so I trust him to behave. I’ll… be right back.”
Drin shot me a sneer over his shoulder as he followed Godr away, throwing an arm around his waist in what could probably be seen as a friendly gesture if I didn’t know better. I scowled to myself, leaning against Rhoddgorr as he pressed against my back.
“I don’t know about you, but I really don’t like that guy.”
Rhoddgorr nickered in what sounded like agreement. I turned to face him, studying his long face. “Godr says you can understand me. If you can, maybe you can tell me what to do. I… I’ve never been interested in men. But I’ve found myself unable to look away. What do I do?”
If he had an answer, he didn’t provide it. He just bumped his nose against me, making me stumble a little. Huffing out a laugh, I threw my arms around his neck, just soaking in his warmth.
“I think I might miss him when I go…”
Eighteen
AMBROSE
By the time Godr was done with whatever Drin distracted him with—I tried not to think about what that might be that it took so long—and I’d done a thorough inspection of Rhoddgorr’s hooves, coat, and ears, it was time to go meet Finn and his friends. Godr loped beside me, an easy smile on his face as he talked about funny training stories that made us both laugh at his expense. He wasn’t embarrassed, not even when describing how he’d had to break up a fight between horses without clothes because he’d been too exhausted to remember he’d fallen asleep naked.
“I learned to put on pants first when a youngling tried to bite my cock,” he admitted with a sheepish grin. “I learned that day it is a bad idea to be naked in the field.”
“I’ll remember that,” I answered with a smirk. His eyes heated at my flirty response, and I bit my tongue in punishment. I needed to stop. I wasn’t doing either of us any good by acting this way.
Of course, Godr didn’t know that. I wasn’t entirely sure he cared that I was leaving. He hadn’t mentioned it in so long, sometimes I forgot that was the plan all along. He flashed me a teasing grin, bumping his shoulder against mine. “If I’d gotten hurt, would you have taken care of me?”
It was an innocent question, but with the way he said it, he obviously meant a certain kind of care I wasn’t entirely familiar with yet. I felt warmth spread through my cheeks, remembering the last time we’d ‘taken care of each other’. I’d thought that morning that I wanted to do it again, looked forward to it, even. Sometimes I regretted opening my mouth and complaining about the sex. It wasn’t like I didn’t enjoy it. If I’d just held my tongue, I might have gotten to explore more with Godr. And what a dangerous train of thought that was.
Unable to resist, I replied, “Maybe. If you were good.”
He grinned wickedly at me, stepping closer to not be overheard as we got closer to the groups of people in the village center. “How good?”
I was grateful when our conversation got cut short when we entered the crowded cooking tent. I was pretty sure Patrick was going to be able to figure out what we were talking about given the state of my face, but luckily he was busy, working in tandem with Yamileth, who I’d met when I had to apologize for dropping the food, to hand out bowls of food. He smiled at me when it was my turn, offering me a bowl, and Yamileth looked me over curiously before waving me along to keep the line moving. Neither commented on my blush, and when we stepped out, I felt like I’d gotten myself under control enough that my face wasn’t as red as a tomato.
Godr led the way out of the main area of the clan where many gathered for a meal, through the lines of tents to a smaller fire closer to the outer circle of the clan. Finn was already therewith Matthew and Simon. He had a smirk on his face as he said something to Finn that made him flush bright red.
“Simon, are you teasing Finn again?” Godr said loud enough to draw the attention of Finn’s bondmate, who sat nearby. I cast a worried glance at the large man, but he seemed unconcerned with the conversation. He glanced at his bondmate to make sure he was happy, then went back to his conversation with Patrick’s bondmate next to him.
Simon shot Godr a dirty look and gave him the middle finger. “No. We’re just talking. Mind your own business.”
Godr took his biting comment in stride, chuckling as he led me over to the little group, speaking to Finn. “I leave my tribute in your care, brother. I’ll be nearby.”
Finn straightened, giving Godr a bright smile. When I was learning about the words for family members, Finn told me Godr was his brother-in-law. Godr treated him like a little brother too, ruffling his hair as he walked past. Finn seemed to adore the affection, and after he’d mentioned how his family had treated him, I could understand why.
“So, doc, how are the language lessons going?” Simon asked in the common tongue.
“Well, I think. Finn is a good teacher. I believe the other tributes agree with me. No one has had any complaints.”
Simon shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I didn’t take his classes. I already spoke the language when I got here.”
“And told no one,” Patrick said as he joined us, his own bowl in hand. He didn’t have a cane today, so he was having a good day. I’d made him a poultice after I knocked him down and suggested a daily tea with special herbs to keep his muscles loose and relaxed. It seemed to be helping.
There wasn’t a hint of repentance in Simon’s grin. “I wasn’t about to give up all my secrets at the get go. I was hoping they’d slip up and reveal a way for me to get home.”
I frowned at that. “Are you here against your will? I thought they didn’t do that.”
