The broken boning in my corset jabs at my stomach once more, forcing a
gasp from my lips and I suck in a gulp of frozen
water.
Snow
fills the last of my thoughts. Heaviness weighs down my heart as I sink in the
water around me. I say a silent prayer that she runs far away. Beyond the evil hand of Hestor and his
wicked sorcery. But the reality of it hits me as my body comes to rest
in the gritty sand of the riverbed; she's as dead as I am.
My
lashes flutter shut, forcing away the icy sting of the water flooding them.
Darkness takes me and my heart slows its rapid hum to a dull intermittent
thump. Then something clamps itself around me and my body arches upward. I
refuse to open my eyes, fearing it’s the reaper who's come for my soul. It
ascends fast and furious, carrying me like a doll.
It
breaks the surface. Ice splinters across my body and the chill of the air
against my soaked skin jolts my eyes open. My chest convulses, expelling the
water that still tries to drown it. I suck in a gasp
of frigid air and it rips through my lungs like a razor. Strong arms pull my
body from the river and up the bank. Water spits out of my mouth in gobs
through another choking breath.
I
look for my rescuer, but blackness takes me before my eyes find him.
****
Flickers of light from the fire
dance in shadows across her pale face. With hair that echoes the flames and plump lips to
match, her beauty surpasses any that my eyes have looked upon. Limp arms hang
off the edge of the bed I tucked her into as sleep takes its hold on her. I've
watched her for months now, luring men into the haunted woods only to gut them
like fish and dash away under the cover of darkness. Never knowing her motives,
I kept watch for fear of my own safety.
Tonight,
her words to this latest victim struck me to my core as I watched her from the
shadows. We had something in common—a linked enemy. Perhaps it is fool of me to
think we could be of assistance to one another. But if I'm ever going to rid
myself of the curse, I must try.
Soft
moans echo through the tiny one room cottage that's become my haven for months.
Rising from my chair, I cross the room to her as she stirs from her slumber. A
breast slips free of the blankets and its stunning nipple stares at me. My cock
hardens at the sight of it and a breath hitches in my throat.
Her
eyes flutter open and we lock gazes. I expect her to scream, leap from the bed
or even throw something, but her sleepy stare entrances me in a welcome smile.
I inch closer.
“I
won't hurt you,” I whisper. “Forgive me, I had to get
you out of your wet clothes.”
She
glances down at her exposed breast and clutches the covers over herself,
slinking deep within their confines. “Where am I?” she chokes out as her gaze
darts across the tiny cottage.
“My....home,”
I say, making my way to the edge of the bed.
“Were
you the one that saved me from the river?” she asks, wonder filling her
stunning green eyes.
“ Aye, that I am.” I give her a nod.
With
a tilt of her head, she tosses me a soft smile. “That accent, is it Irish?”
“Very good, lass. But I must say, you end up in a
strange man's cottage, nekkid in his bed and you ask
me about my accent? What about my name?” A laugh rumbles in my throat. “Are you
afraid of nothing?”
She
eases to a seated position on the bed, covering her chest. “You rescued me from
the bottom of a frozen river, stripped me free of my wet clothing and tucked me
into a warm bed. My nethers haven't been touched.
Should I fear you?”
Pale
skin contrasts the blue and yellow plaid blankets around her. Long curls of red
fall across her shoulders, resting along the tops of her hidden breasts.
“Perhaps
I'm just waitin ' for you to wake so I can take your
body for my own, did not ya ’ think of that?” I quirk a brow.
“You
said you wouldn't hurt me,” she replies and purses her lips.
“That
I did. You're clever, miss....” I tilt my head, hoping she'll give me her
gasp from my lips and I suck in a gulp of frozen
water.
Snow
fills the last of my thoughts. Heaviness weighs down my heart as I sink in the
water around me. I say a silent prayer that she runs far away. Beyond the evil hand of Hestor and his
wicked sorcery. But the reality of it hits me as my body comes to rest
in the gritty sand of the riverbed; she's as dead as I am.
My
lashes flutter shut, forcing away the icy sting of the water flooding them.
Darkness takes me and my heart slows its rapid hum to a dull intermittent
thump. Then something clamps itself around me and my body arches upward. I
refuse to open my eyes, fearing it’s the reaper who's come for my soul. It
ascends fast and furious, carrying me like a doll.
It
breaks the surface. Ice splinters across my body and the chill of the air
against my soaked skin jolts my eyes open. My chest convulses, expelling the
water that still tries to drown it. I suck in a gasp
of frigid air and it rips through my lungs like a razor. Strong arms pull my
body from the river and up the bank. Water spits out of my mouth in gobs
through another choking breath.
I
look for my rescuer, but blackness takes me before my eyes find him.
****
Flickers of light from the fire
dance in shadows across her pale face. With hair that echoes the flames and plump lips to
match, her beauty surpasses any that my eyes have looked upon. Limp arms hang
off the edge of the bed I tucked her into as sleep takes its hold on her. I've
watched her for months now, luring men into the haunted woods only to gut them
like fish and dash away under the cover of darkness. Never knowing her motives,
I kept watch for fear of my own safety.
Tonight,
her words to this latest victim struck me to my core as I watched her from the
shadows. We had something in common—a linked enemy. Perhaps it is fool of me to
think we could be of assistance to one another. But if I'm ever going to rid
myself of the curse, I must try.
Soft
moans echo through the tiny one room cottage that's become my haven for months.
Rising from my chair, I cross the room to her as she stirs from her slumber. A
breast slips free of the blankets and its stunning nipple stares at me. My cock
hardens at the sight of it and a breath hitches in my throat.
Her
eyes flutter open and we lock gazes. I expect her to scream, leap from the bed
or even throw something, but her sleepy stare entrances me in a welcome smile.
I inch closer.
“I
won't hurt you,” I whisper. “Forgive me, I had to get
you out of your wet clothes.”
She
glances down at her exposed breast and clutches the covers over herself,
slinking deep within their confines. “Where am I?” she chokes out as her gaze
darts across the tiny cottage.
“My....home,”
I say, making my way to the edge of the bed.
“Were
you the one that saved me from the river?” she asks, wonder filling her
stunning green eyes.
“ Aye, that I am.” I give her a nod.
With
a tilt of her head, she tosses me a soft smile. “That accent, is it Irish?”
“Very good, lass. But I must say, you end up in a
strange man's cottage, nekkid in his bed and you ask
me about my accent? What about my name?” A laugh rumbles in my throat. “Are you
afraid of nothing?”
She
eases to a seated position on the bed, covering her chest. “You rescued me from
the bottom of a frozen river, stripped me free of my wet clothing and tucked me
into a warm bed. My nethers haven't been touched.
Should I fear you?”
Pale
skin contrasts the blue and yellow plaid blankets around her. Long curls of red
fall across her shoulders, resting along the tops of her hidden breasts.
“Perhaps
I'm just waitin ' for you to wake so I can take your
body for my own, did not ya ’ think of that?” I quirk a brow.
“You
said you wouldn't hurt me,” she replies and purses her lips.
“That
I did. You're clever, miss....” I tilt my head, hoping she'll give me her
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