AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Right again." With a wink and a finger-wave, Winter headed off to gather those supplies.
Not wasting a moment, Puck grated, "We are not divorced, and we are not getting divorced. Yet."
"I want my freedom from you and your demon."
"I know." He raised his brows. "You're ready for romance."
"And you sound real broken up about it." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Look. Maybe you weren't aware, but marriage is the number one cause of divorce in every realm. These things happen. No one's at fault, blah, blah, blah. Except you. You're at fault. What did you think would happen when you stayed away three hundred years longer than planned? Did you forget how to count? By the way, I don't need Winter to protect me. I can protect myself."
"Obviously," he said with a sneer, and motioned to her wound.
"Like you've never been hurt in battle."
"Only very rarely. And I didn't think about what would happen during my absence." Not every second of every day.
"Let me guess. You just didn't care," she said. "Apathy in All Things might as well be our family motto."
Aye. Apathy in All Things. So why did he take a step toward her, needing contact? And why did the words "our family" on those red, red lips cause a shudder of longing?
Whiskey-colored eyes widened, and the pulse at the base of her neck raced. The beauty who put the suns of Amaranthia to shame began to pant as a rosy flush darkened her cheeks, and spread.
He remembered how badly he'd longed to investigate her blushes before his departure. How he'd wondered just how hot her skin felt, and just how far the heat spread. Now, his curiosity deepened.
"Do I look apathetic?" he rasped.
She gave him a once-over--and actually licked her lips, shocking him. Then she flattened her palms over his pecs and pushed.
Thought she needed space?
He stepped closer, so close his chest brushed against the beaded crests of her breasts when he inhaled. A ragged groan escaped him at the moment of contact. Not his fault. The curves on this woman. She fit him perfectly, soft where he was hard.
He wanted to rub against her--wanted to rub against her now.
Instead, he stepped back. Careful. Proceed with caution.
She flicked the tip of her tongue against an incisor as she studied him more intently. What thoughts rolled through her mind?
"Back to the many times you've gotten hurt throughout your life, and not just in war but in romance," she finally said. "I know you once wanted Winter."
She knew, and she was...jealous? Now he felt like smirking. Keeping his tone bland, he said, "Once. Yes."
"What about now?"
"Why? Are you still willing to share me?" He hadn't forgotten how easily she'd given him permission to bed other women.
"Ha!" She patted his cheek. "Dream on, lover boy. You get tit for tat. You plan to kill my lovers. It's only fair that I kill yours, slowly. So," she prompted. "Are you or are you not still attracted to Winter?"
Do not lean into her touch. "You would kill your friend?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Answer me."
"I am...not." He watched her face--there. A glimmer of relief. She had been jealous. My woman wants me, as she should. Tone a littler huskier, he said, "We'll discuss your jealousy later. For now, let's get you patched up."
Her eyes really narrowed.
"You heard Winter," she said. "She's coming back with supplies. Besides, I'm immortal. A non-jealous immortal. I'll heal."
"Not all immortals heal from all wounds." And the color in her cheeks was beginning to dull, beads of sweat popping up along her brow and upper lip. "Who did you battle?"
"The Walshes. If you want names, I can't oblige. I didn't stop to introduce myself to the guys dying under my sword."
"Now that I've returned, I can fight on your behalf."
She snorted. "No need. I can fight for myself."
"I'm strong." He liked the idea of protecting and defending her.
She rolled her eyes, unfazed. "So am I."
"You aren't stronger than me. Right now, you aren't stronger than the wind."
Shrug. "I can still take you down."
"Can you?" he asked with a rough tone. His height and width gave him an unfair advantage and highlighted her feminine delicateness.
"I can. And FYI, you can't intimidate me, big guy. Not anymore."
FYI? "Can I not?"
"No, but I bet I can intimidate you," she said. This time she stepped toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Her gaze dared him to stay put as she slowly, languidly, lifted to her tiptoes to bring her lips closer to his...
She planned to kiss him? Here, in front of witnesses?
Want this--will have this. Will have her. I'll stake my claim.
The danger! Already lust threatened to overtake him, and ruin...everything.
Puck lurched backward.
She chuckled, taunting him, and said, "You lose."
Magnificent female. She'd already figured out his weaknesses, hadn't she?
"Why are you protesting a divorce, anyway?" she asked. "You planned to cut me loose from the start. Why put off the inevitable? And where are the shears?"
"The shears are somewhere safe," he said. "And you'll get your divorce after William dethrones my brother. No sooner."
"Well. Is that all that needs to happen before I can be rid of you? Okay, then. Let's find William and go dethrone your brother."
You will never be rid of me.
Enough! He scrambled to refortify his resolve. No one possessed a stronger will than him; he could do this, would do it...
"Hey, guys." As promised, Winter returned with a bag of supplies. "Are we getting right down to the baby making part of today's reunion, or do you two have a moment to play Dr. Love and Patient Zero?"
A flush spread over Gillian's cheeks.
"Supplies," he said. Barely.
Winter handed over the bag. "Now don't you go thinking I'm doing this out of the kindness of my heart or anything. If my girl dies of infectio
n, I'll have to mourn. I suck at mourning, and no one likes to do the things they suck at."
She strutted off a second time, and Gillian snatched the bag from Puck's grip. Another woman rushed over to set a wooden chair in the sand. Gillian muttered her thanks, sat and cut away her bandage.
The moment he caught sight of her wound--gaping flesh, torn muscle, cracked bone--barbed wire seemed to sprout around his heart and squeeze.
She grimaced as she cleaned the injury. Then, with a shockingly steady hand, she ran a needle and thread through both sides of the laceration.
"I have an idea," she said, as calmly as if she were gardening. "How about you use the shears as a good faith gesture? I'll help you murder Sin without being bonded to you. Win-win for both of us."
Still can't wait to be rid of me. "How about...not."
She scowled at him, but let the subject drop as she wrapped a clean bandage around her torso and stood. "You were right about one thing. I did a lot of sewing while you were gone--on myself."
Who was this woman? And why was he throbbing with desire all over again?
"Poppet?" William's voice rang out, loud and clear, and dripped with astonishment.
"William! You found us." Gillian laughed a magical sound, and Puck gnashed his teeth as she darted around him to throw herself into the other man's arms. Another laugh escaped her when William twirled her round and round.
Inside Puck, possessive instincts stretched and screamed. Rip her from the bastard's embrace. Kill him with your bare hands. Claim your woman. Now.
And feed William's vanity? Never!
In this, Puck's pride was too great.
As Indifference snarled and roared, banging against his skull, he offered no resistance. But he wondered. Was this the reason the Oracles suggested he temporarily wed Gillian? To hinder the demon, allowing Puck to feel while remaining strong?
He remembered how badly he'd once wanted to experience his emotions without suffering a consequence. Now he could, and yet... Hate my emotions!
"I can't believe you're really here," Gillian said, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks.
Where were her tears of joy for Puck?
"As if I could stay away. Look at you." William placed her on her feet and took her face in his trembling hands. "You've changed. A fact I hadn't expected to like. But immortality suits you well."
"And you..." She hugged him once, twice, then a third time, as if she couldn't stop. "You are as flawless as I remember."
"I missed you so much." Again, William swung her round and round.
