Page 69 of Condemned

Chapter Twenty-Five

What woke her?

A hand tapping and squeezing her arm. Muddled, she raised herself and propped an arm out, her palm finding the fur of some clothing.

“Get that on, your coat, and come with me.”

It was Takk, looking as enigmatic as ever. If she refused, what would he do? Tow her?

Sighing, she struggled to her feet and donned her heavier insulating gear, then walked quietly after him as he threaded past the others who still slept.

Well, Zo had brushed her ankle with his hand, and Timin opened his eyes and winked. Guess they were okay with this morning rendezvous with Takk.

Takk, the magnificent leader. Takk, the asshole.

It was morning for sure. She yawned. Light blossomed brighter and brighter until they reached a room with a huge circular viewport, where he stopped. He beckoned her to one of the seats positioned before the viewport and she sat beside him. At least he wasn’t aiming to do nasty things to her ass again. Though if she blew a raspberry at him, he might. There was that option.

A crack in the glasslike substance let in puffs of cold but it was warmer here than it must be outside. Outside was white, serene, and still.

Takk removed his gloves, then pulled hers off without asking. Then... then he took her hand in his larger one and they sat like that for quite a while, not speaking.

A few times she opened her mouth to say something only to subside. The crazy thing that happened on skin contact with these mauleons was warming her lower areas, again. The downstairs department. Her aunt’s term always made her want to snigger. It took her mind off her reaction for a second or two.

Takk didn’t even like her. Remember?

“I’m going to say some words, Avalon, and you are not to interrupt until I say you can. Is that clear?”

Oh, crazy gods above, his stern command had heated her even more. She licked her lips and decided squirming might send signals to him and made herself be still. “Yes.”

“Good.”

Then he said nothing, again.

From the corner of her eye, she peered at him, as if doing anything fast might make him do something... bad. The blond stubble on his jaw was sexy. He had quite the rugged look to him and hard men seemed to appeal to her. Bad men, maybe.

She’d rather liked his bad the last time in the forest.

“Believe me when I say this is difficult. Where to begin? I can see my men want to commit to you and I have finally seen this as something good.”

Oh, fuck.Her mouth hung open, but he only squeezed her hand more firmly.

“All I have been thinking is how can fucking someone be enough? It can’t, can it? Then I see all this you do, did, last night especially.”

What had she done?

“You know what I thought when you helped Gia, Kondio’s scythefox? I thought you were trying to claw your way into their hearts. I thought that must be deliberate. But it wasn’t, was it?”

A real question? “No, of course not. I—”

“Not yet. I am not done. I know I made many errors. I’ve been an idiot. I’ve been against your race, your sex, your place of birth, who you are.”

Yep.She frowned and stared down at where he held her hand, at the curve of his dark claws, wondering if this was supposed to make her feel good.

“I was wrong. Very wrong. But, of all the things holding me back from accepting you, it is you. If you just want to run away, what point is there in letting them give you those gifts or thinking they might keep you?”

Again with the keeping. Where was her choice?

“So, be truthful. Would you stay or will you run?”