Page 74 of A Girl Named Calamity (Alyria 1)
He frowned. “Where?”
I showed him the scar on my wrist, and he shook his head. “You don’t give your blood to just anyone,” he chastised.
“I didn’t have a choice! She was going to drain my blood in her pond and swim in it!”
“It’s a wonder you made it this far.”
I didn’t mention I had been robbed by a child as well.
I smiled. “I sure fooled you for a while, though, didn’t I?”
He gave me an annoyed look as we reached a couple of Untouchables who had Gallant waiting for me outside the camp.
“Where is your horse?” I asked Weston.
“I didn’t bring one.”
I blinked. “You mean you walked all this way?”
He didn’t give me an answer, and I pondered how he got here on foot. The Untouchables walked away and left me alone with Weston while I looked at my horse and then at my short dress.
“This isn’t going to work, Weston,” I said as I realized all I had were some dirty shirts in my saddlebag. My breath hitched when he grabbed my bare hips and set me on Gallant sideways; his hands seared my skin. “I can’t ride like this.” I felt like I would slide right off.
He mounted Gallant and grabbed the reins, boxing me in with his arms. “You’re fine. I won’t let you fall.”
I was most definitely not fine.
His forearm brushing my bare stomach and resting on my thighs was the only thing I could think about. It lit a fire under my skin. I felt every slight movement he made and could focus on nothing else.
I was on fire, and he was the fuel.
I fidgeted around and tried to keep my shoulder from bumping him. And tried to move away every time I thought his arm would brush my stomach.
“Stop,” he growled.
I tried to stop. I really did. My mind was a hazy mess, and I needed to focus on something else. Another minute of fidgeting and I jerked when he gripped my hips and pulled me all the way against him.
I felt breathless and melted against him as my entire body heated. There was a haze over my mind, but this time, there was nothing magical about it.
“Did you enjoy kissing Maxim?” His deep voice was close to my neck it sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn’t think in this position, so the truth came out of my mouth.
“Yes.”
He turned my face toward his. “Do you think you would enjoy it more with me?”
“Yes,” I said without any hesitation.
“You stabbed me. Do you feel bad about that?”
I bit my lip and nodded.
“You shouldn’t,” he scolded.
“But I do.”
“Do you know what this is between us?” he asked.
“What?”
