Page 32 of The Hunter

Telok only shrugged again.

Looking back at Lacey, Cole pressed his palms together. “Please tell me you get it now. Please, Lacey.”

She grabbed hold of his wrist and dragged him toward the others ahead. Once she’d put some distance between them and Telok, she released Cole.

“I don’t get it,” she said in harsh whisper.

Cole groaned. “Just let him kill me.”

“No, I’m serious! Telok can’t stand to be around me. You saw how mad he was when he realized I was coming this morning. You’ve seen how much he tries to avoid me, how annoyed he is when he’s around me. He’s not like that with anyone else.”

He squeezed his temples between forefinger and thumb. “I’m gonna make it simple. Really, really simple. You listening?”

She nodded.

Cole lowered his hand and looked her in the eyes. “He. Wants. To. Fuck you.”

Lacey gasped, recoiling. “Cole!”

“It’s true.”

“He doesn’t even like me!”

“Oh yes he does. A lot. And everyone knows it but you, apparently.”

Lacey frantically shook her head. Cole was wrong. He had to be wrong. There was no way Telok wanted her, no way he liked her. No way he wanted to…to fuck her. He barely tolerated her presence.

But however strongly she denied it, the truth clawed at the back of her mind, right where it had always lurked. Because beneath Telok’s rough, scarred, gruff exterior, there was a caring, considerate soul.

And that was why his coldness and disdain had hurt so much, wasn’t it? Because that wasn’t the Telok she’d known during their journey. Wasn’t the Telok who’d instructed her, who’d looked upon her with pride, who’d been thrilled to have her riding upon his hindquarters with her body pressed to his back and her arms wrapped around him.

That wasn’t the Telok who’d been frantic when he’d nearly lost her to the muckstalkers.

If Lacey looked past her own hurt, if she finally took off those blinders, the evidence was right in front of her. When Telok had come to her at the waterfall, he’d been worried that she was injured and angry that she’d put herself at risk. When she’d brought him the spear she’d made, he’d handled it as though it was the most precious gift he’d ever received. And the look he’d given her then, with scorching heat in his eyes, had left Lacey burning…

That hadn’t been hate. It had been the furthest thing from it.

It had been lust.

She’d recognized it even as she’d tried to pretend it wasn’t real, and she’d run from it. From him.

Telok wants me.

Lacey’s foot caught on the uneven ground, and she stumbled forward, barely preventing herself from faceplanting in the dirt.

Cole grabbed her arm, steadying her. “You okay?”

Face flushing, Lacey nodded. “Yeah.”

No, I am not fucking okay!

She chanced a glance over her shoulder at Telok.

Sure enough, Telok’s glare was zeroed in on Cole’s hand upon her arm. His fists were clenched, the tiny hairs on his legs were raised, and the tension in his stride radiated threat, like he was a beast stalking toward prey he intended to maul.

Oh shit.

Lacey quickly shook Cole’s arm off and resumed walking at a brisk pace. “Better haul ass if you want to live, Cole!”