Page 34 of Taken By Raider Kings
“Jesus.”His hands were gentle, and she could shrug out of them if she wanted to.She didn’t dare—who knew when the fingers would bite down, when he would start to yell?“Must’ve been a doozy.What was it, sweetheart?”
God, just leave me alone.Irritation warred with the need to breathe, her lungs closing up shop.She managed a short sharp inhale, a long gasping exhale, her body refusing to work.The shakes spilled through her, and the werewolf kidnapper did a strange thing—pulled her forward, folding his arms tightly around her.The covers were all rucked up, cocooning her legs, and the slant of sunshine against the cheap curtains made her thinklate afternoon.
The heat of him soaked into her muscles, made it easier to breathe.Musk swirled around her, an almost-physical weight.She could smell the concern on him, clean and male, somehow healthy.Almost… pure, if that word could ever apply in her vicinity.
The panic-constriction eased.She took a deep breath.He was stroking her hair, murmuring something she couldn’t quite hear because her ear was pressed against his chest and the thunder of his heartbeat drowned everything else out.
Slowly, very slowly, the shakes retreated.Now she could discern the words—things like, “It’s okay,” and “I’m here,” and “Just let it all out.”Soothing, therapeutic nonsense.It didn’t matter.Hesmelledcomforting, and that was another thing—how could she tell?
Her heartbeat eased, muscles loosening.When the attack finally stumble-shivered to a halt, Sophie found herself sweating, the light filling the room was pearly winter-filtered sunglow, and the man holding her was rubbing her back, his fingertips finding sore spots, working them gently through her rumpled blouse.
God, I slept in my bra.Ugh.But she was warm, and for the first time in a long, long time, she felt…
Well, she felt safe.
It was ridiculous.He’dkidnappedher, for Christ’s sake.But her brain kept running over the things on the rooftop, their eyes dripping hellfire, and the way he hadn’t even hesitated—whatever he was or they were—to throw himself at them.
To get themawayfrom her.
Still, would she be in this mess if it wasn’t for him?He’ddonesomething to her.The misty faces were still there, pale but swirling just below everything her eyes saw.Spirits,he called them.
A fast track to the psych ward and the ruination of everything she’d worked for since fleeing Marc Harris was more like it.
“Better?”Zach asked, the word rumbling in his chest.
I don’t know.Still breathing, at least.“I guess so.”She had to clear her throat twice; she was dehydrated and her head hurt like hell.
“Still seeing themajir?”
“Ma-zheer?”She blinked.He was very warm, and for a moment she wondered what it would be like to just relax for a moment, leaning against someone.The idea passed, and she struggled away, her left palm sending a flare of pain up her arm as the scab scraped tangled sheets.
“The spirits.Faces, you said last night.”He let her go, but didn’t move off the bed.He should have looked awkward, half-kneeling, watching her with unblinking dark eyes.But he didn’t.He looked as self-contained as a cat, and as graceful, too.
She nodded, biting her lip.This is so crazy.I’m pretty sure I’m still sane, though.He told me I was.How could he know what I saw unless it’s true?
“Good.”He slid off the bed, a short sharp movement.“Better get cleaned up.I’m not sure we should stay here much longer.”
“Where exactly are we?”Her nylons were ruined, of course, and there was nothing else for her to wear.Her mouth tasted like the floor of a cattle barn.
“Motel.”The sun gilded his hair as he crossed to the window.Peered out, his shoulders stiffening a little.“I think it’s called Happy Arms.What a name.”
“Oh.”How could I sleep?I must have been exhausted.She lifted her left hand, blinked at her palm.The scab was red and angry-looking, and she didn’t have anything to bandage it again.“Ouch.Dammit.”
That got his attention.“What?”Three long strides had him back at the edge of the bed; he seized her wrist and turned her hand up, examined the wound.“Jesus.When did you do this?”
“S-Saturday.”When I was getting away from all of you.A sudden lump in her throat; she sucked in a harsh breath as he manipulated her hand, squeezing the scab slightly.
“Must’ve bled.Probably how they tracked you, they’re like sharks.”
A bolt of pain raced up her arm.She winced, and his gaze rose.He studied her face for a long moment, and she was suddenly sure there was something sticking in her eyes, or sleep-drool on her chin.
“You really don’t have a clue about any of this, do you?”His fingers loosened.
She snatched her hand back.Sarcasm was probably the best response.“Is it that obvious?”
A shadow of irritation crossed his expression, and he retreated a single step.“Look, I’ve handled you badly.I’m sorry.I snatched you off the street because you were in danger and because you smelled good.It’s not the best set of reasons in the world, but it saved your life.You think you could work with me here?”
“Because I smelled good?”What the hell?
