Page 68 of Taken By Raider Kings
She didn’t reek of fear.Not anymore.
“Zach?”Uncertain now.
He had to stare down at the square of pale winter sunlight she was standing in, or he was going to do something unforgivable.
Like grab her and show her just how happy he was she was awake and alive.Like kiss her again.Like push her back down on the bed and get to know her in the best way.
“Don’t leave us.”The words were raw.“You’re our shaman.Don’t leave us.Don’t leaveme.”
“Zach—”
“You’ve seen what we are now.What I am.We were doing the best we could, Sophie.Weneedyou.I?—”
Her hand clapped over his mouth.Warm, soft skin.She was so close he could feel the heat of her, andtouchinghim as well.“Shut up.”She looked so thin, too exhausted, and absolutely beautiful.“I know you need me.Themajirtold me.They told me about your little brother playing with the matches, too, while your parents were sleeping.That was what started the fire.You never said a word to anyone about that, and he always wondered if you knew.Both of you felt guilty.And now you wonder if you were too late and too slow because you loved him so much, but you hated having to keep the secret, too.”
Zach stared at her.
Her soft, perfect mouth tightened, the sadness andlisteninglook almost too much to stand.“That was why you never took the alpha.”
His eyes were hot, and incredibly full.Weak wintry light gilded her, turned her into a statue.
“We both know about keeping secrets; I guess we’re more alike than I thought.Now do me a favor and stop worrying.I’m going to learn how to be your shaman, and I’m going to do my best to keep you all together.You just keep your temper, and we’ll get along just fine.All right?”
Keep my temper?Yeah.That’ll be the day.
But he wanted to.If it would keep her around, he’d keep all the temper she wanted.
Her fingers loosened over his mouth.He reached up, caught her wrist, and pressed his lips against her palm.Stubble rasped—he hadn’t had a chance to shave yet.
He hadn’t wanted to leave her alone.
She swallowed, and the sudden wash of coppery heat through her scent told him she wasn’t entirely immune to him.It was a good sign.
“I would never…” He had to clear his throat.She was so goddamnsoft,and he was all sharp edges and claws.“Never lay a hand on you, Sophie.Unless you wanted me to.”
The smile that broke over her face was like Christmas and springtime and running under the full moon all at once.Sophie actually, fullygrinnedat him.“We’ll get around to that.”
She took her hand back, but not before he kissed her palm again, a slow lingering pressure of lips.And she actuallyblushed,a high flag of color rising to her cheeks.
“Sooner rather than later?”Thank God, the wise-cracks were back.It was a goddamn miracle.
“That depends on how soon you get me some coffee, Zach.”She ran her other hand through her hair, grimaced.“And some fresh clothes.”
“No chance I could get you to walk around in just a towel?”
“In a house full of were-bears?Forget it.”She retreated, step by step, still smiling.
Hope springs eternal.His heart did a triple backflip.“So, in a different house?”
“Coffee, Zach.And keep your temper.”His shaman swept the door open and was already on her way down the hall, obviously knowing where the bathroom was.
Zach closed his eyes, breathed in the smell of her filling the room until the shower gurgled into life.
How had he gotten so lucky?It wasn’t like things to work out.
But damned if he was going to complain.
twenty-seven
