AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Borgaz…”
Her breath feathered across his mouth as he cupped her cheek with his free hand, her skin silky smooth against his calloused fingers, and he could no longer resist. He put his mouth against hers, those soft full lips pliant beneath his.
He had only intended it to be a light kiss - just a quick taste - but then her soft lips parted on a surprised gasp and his tongue surged forward to seek hers. His cock throbbed and his horns ached, his body responding to her sweetness. She made a soft sound as his tongue stroked hers, and he realized she was trembling.
Fear or desire?he wondered, and reluctantly abandoned her lips to stare down at her. She looked dazed, her cheeks flushed pink, and he expected to see fear in those soft grey eyes, but to his shock and delight, he saw only desire.
“Please.” It was the merest whisper, but it was enough. He captured her lips again, savoring the taste of her as his arms tightened, and he gave in to the urge to crush her against his body.
She fit perfectly against him, and his tail wrapped around her to bring her closer.Mine.
A loud screech came from a nearby tree, the sound startling him, and he whirled to face the threat, automatically thrusting her behind him. A night creature he realized a second too late, but his reaction only enforced his fears. He was still a warrior, a damaged one, not a mate.
He turned to find her staring at him, her eyes wide with an expression he couldn’t read and her lips pink and swollen. She didn’t look afraid, but she should.
Reaching into the saddlebag, he pulled out a sack containing the pillows he had promised her and thrust it at her, taking care not to touch her soft, tempting skin as she took it from him.
“You should get inside before I forget all the reasons I should not follow you.”
She tilted her head curiously, just as a fojii would have done.
“What reasons?” she asked, then blushed. “Not that I’m asking you to come in.”
“I am not a fit mate.” The words tasted bitter in his mouth.
There was that unreadable expression again, but then she nodded.
“And I didn’t say I was looking for a mate. Goodnight, Borgaz.”
Her fingers brushed against his before she turned and vanished into the house.
“Goodnight, fojii,” he said quietly to the empty porch, then turned to his horse.
He grasped the saddle, then looked back at the house and the surrounding darkness. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t leave her here on her own. With a resigned sigh he led the horse into the dilapidated barn and prepared to spend the night.
CHAPTER 9
Mary closed the door behind her and leaned against it, her fingers pressed to her swollen lips. That had been one hell of a kiss. Her whole body felt electrified, alive with excitement, her nipples taut and aching and a low steady pulse throbbing between her legs. He might be grouchy and bossy and annoying but none of that had mattered when he was holding her against that big, powerful body.
Kissing her, his mouth hot and delicious and commanding.
I wouldn’t have stopped him, she realized and swore. The last thing she needed was to get involved with another man. At least it was just a kiss. She probably wouldn’t even see him again unless she went to visit Rosie. Ignoring a pang of disappointment at the thought, she walked into her new bedroom.
A shadow passed in front of the curtains and her heart skipped a beat. She tiptoed quietly to the window, peering out from behind the curtain in time to see Borgaz and his horse disappearing into her dilapidated barn. He wasn’t leaving?
She waited, her heart pounding, but he didn’t reemerge and she finally realized he was spending the night in the barn. Maybe I should invite him in. Or maybe that would be like inviting the fox into the henhouse to meet an all too willing hen.
Instead she settled down on her new mattress, smelling deliciously of clean straw and the faintest trace of Borgaz. Another screech sounded from outside and she remembered the way he had whirled, transforming from lover to warrior. Perhaps it should have frightened her; instead it made her feel safe. Hugging the pillow tighter she went happily to sleep.
As she suspected, she woke as soon as the sky began to lighten. The morning light didn’t do the room any favors. She could see a faint stain on the ceiling where the roof must have leaked and a sliver of light next to the window where the frame had warped. she sighed and made a mental note to add the tasks to her ever growing list.
Rising, she stretched then pushed the curtain aside to look at the barn. She couldn’t tell if Borgaz was still there or not. Should she check on him?
After a quick trip to the bathroom to use the thankfully warm water, she dressed and went outside. The spring air still held a hint of winter chill and she shivered as she crossed to the barn.
The doors creaked when she pulled on them and she peered cautiously into the interior. Empty. Telling herself she wasn’t disappointed, she returned to the house to begin making a list of everything she need to do and everything she still needed to purchase. Both lists were depressingly long, but she refused to be discouraged. It would be worth it in the end to have her own home that no one could take away from her.
After she finished, she went to inspect the barn. Other than the warped doors it was in relatively good shape so she cleaned out two stalls for the cow and calf. Just as with the house, Matthew hadn’t even bothered to take any of her father’s tools. At least she wouldn’t need to replace them. She made a quick inventory and returned to the house to have a quick bite before Mr. Anderson arrived.
