of the field. Rising, she dusted off her skirts. The sudden movements sent waves of nausea through her, and a tremor of fear iced her spine, as though she might faint.
A pair of strong arms enveloped her, steadying her and rooting her to the ground.
“Hello, nymph.” The heat of Thereus’s breath caressed her neck, his scent of evergreen and male like smelling salts in her nose, drawing her to consciousness. Had she not been so exhausted, she might’ve panicked at his presence and his words. As it was, she collapsed into him, too grateful to worry about him discovering her lies.
***
Thereus’s muscles jerked in shock as Kalliste leaned against him. He caught her weight, scooping her into his arms.
His heart skipped a beat while she nuzzled his neck, wrapping her arms around him. She moaned contentedly and his chest puffed at the small victory. She trusted him, when she was most vulnerable.
He’d been prepared for confrontation, yet what she sought was his comfort. Who was he to deny her? He shifted her weight in his arms and wrapped the blanket around her. Carrying his precious bundle tightly against him, he headed to the farmer’s house. He ignored their gaping mouths as he ordered her maid to lead the horses to Westgard.
His wife slept in his arms while he headed home. When would she stop surprising him? First Lucian, and now, his people. She cared for everyone. Her selflessness was both astounding and bewildering.
He’d never placed others’ needs so far ahead of his own. His shoulders straightened, his lungs expanded with pride and admiration for the woman in his arms. He didn’t deserve her. No matter what other secrets she hid, this female was his.
From this moment on, he vowed to be the husband she deserved.
Thereus exited the Portal and hesitated. One of Kalliste’s other maids waited, waving for him to bring his wife to her chamber. He ought to hand her to her maidservant. She would know what to do. Truthfully, he knew nothing of caring for others.
Cursing, he shifted his hooves. He didn’t want to leave her; he couldn’t leave her. His arms would feel empty if he didn’t hold her, all night, well, all day long.
Her maid lifted a brow at him, waiting for him to comply.
His horse reared and refused. On that decisive note, he shook his head at the maid. “No, Lady Kalliste will stay in my quarters tonight. Have hot water, tea, and food brought.” He glared at her, daring her to defy him.
“Yes, right away, milord.” She curtseyed and scampered off.
He bit back the triumph buoying his chest. What he got away with while Kalliste was un conscious was one thing. When she awoke, it would be another.
Once in his rooms, he gently set her on the bed and paused. What was he supposed to do with her? A knock rapped at the door and he barked the order for the servants to enter.
After they scurried off, he squinted at the washbasin, full of hot water, and back at his mate. Well, she was very dirty. He ought to clean her. What he longed to do was wake her, throw her into the bath and ravage her, but that was out of the question. For now.
Thereus grabbed a cloth, dipped it in the soapy water, and washed her hands, arms, and face. Her dress was filthy too. A little too eagerly, his fingers stripped off her soiled clothing. He had plenty of experience undressing women, so the tiny buttons and lace ties didn’t deter him.
“Corsets,” he grunted as his fingers set to work loosening the garment. He slipped off her boots and skimmed along her stockings, dipping beneath her petticoats and untying them. His greedy fingers grazed her flesh, a thousand times softer than her silky stockings. Her scent watered his mouth, her taste close enough for him to sample. He groaned while he rolled the stockings down, baring her legs. “Bloody unconscious wench.” He shook himself. Just because she was his wife did not mean she would consent to hungry admiration.
As he uncovered her, a violent shiver trembled
A pair of strong arms enveloped her, steadying her and rooting her to the ground.
“Hello, nymph.” The heat of Thereus’s breath caressed her neck, his scent of evergreen and male like smelling salts in her nose, drawing her to consciousness. Had she not been so exhausted, she might’ve panicked at his presence and his words. As it was, she collapsed into him, too grateful to worry about him discovering her lies.
***
Thereus’s muscles jerked in shock as Kalliste leaned against him. He caught her weight, scooping her into his arms.
His heart skipped a beat while she nuzzled his neck, wrapping her arms around him. She moaned contentedly and his chest puffed at the small victory. She trusted him, when she was most vulnerable.
He’d been prepared for confrontation, yet what she sought was his comfort. Who was he to deny her? He shifted her weight in his arms and wrapped the blanket around her. Carrying his precious bundle tightly against him, he headed to the farmer’s house. He ignored their gaping mouths as he ordered her maid to lead the horses to Westgard.
His wife slept in his arms while he headed home. When would she stop surprising him? First Lucian, and now, his people. She cared for everyone. Her selflessness was both astounding and bewildering.
He’d never placed others’ needs so far ahead of his own. His shoulders straightened, his lungs expanded with pride and admiration for the woman in his arms. He didn’t deserve her. No matter what other secrets she hid, this female was his.
From this moment on, he vowed to be the husband she deserved.
Thereus exited the Portal and hesitated. One of Kalliste’s other maids waited, waving for him to bring his wife to her chamber. He ought to hand her to her maidservant. She would know what to do. Truthfully, he knew nothing of caring for others.
Cursing, he shifted his hooves. He didn’t want to leave her; he couldn’t leave her. His arms would feel empty if he didn’t hold her, all night, well, all day long.
Her maid lifted a brow at him, waiting for him to comply.
His horse reared and refused. On that decisive note, he shook his head at the maid. “No, Lady Kalliste will stay in my quarters tonight. Have hot water, tea, and food brought.” He glared at her, daring her to defy him.
“Yes, right away, milord.” She curtseyed and scampered off.
He bit back the triumph buoying his chest. What he got away with while Kalliste was un conscious was one thing. When she awoke, it would be another.
Once in his rooms, he gently set her on the bed and paused. What was he supposed to do with her? A knock rapped at the door and he barked the order for the servants to enter.
After they scurried off, he squinted at the washbasin, full of hot water, and back at his mate. Well, she was very dirty. He ought to clean her. What he longed to do was wake her, throw her into the bath and ravage her, but that was out of the question. For now.
Thereus grabbed a cloth, dipped it in the soapy water, and washed her hands, arms, and face. Her dress was filthy too. A little too eagerly, his fingers stripped off her soiled clothing. He had plenty of experience undressing women, so the tiny buttons and lace ties didn’t deter him.
“Corsets,” he grunted as his fingers set to work loosening the garment. He slipped off her boots and skimmed along her stockings, dipping beneath her petticoats and untying them. His greedy fingers grazed her flesh, a thousand times softer than her silky stockings. Her scent watered his mouth, her taste close enough for him to sample. He groaned while he rolled the stockings down, baring her legs. “Bloody unconscious wench.” He shook himself. Just because she was his wife did not mean she would consent to hungry admiration.
As he uncovered her, a violent shiver trembled
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