Broken (The Captive #5.5)(11)

Needing more of her, he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her flush against his body. Grasping hold of her chin with his thumb and forefinger, he nudged it open so that he could taste her. Her fingers jerked on his chest as his tongue slid past her teeth and into her mouth. She tasted sweeter than the blueberries he'd once picked and eaten out of curiosity as a child. His tongue stroked leisurely over hers as he relished in the delicious sensations that she aroused in him.

He'd never get enough of her. The thought hit him from out of nowhere but once it took hold he couldn't shake it free. It became as forceful as a tiger gripping hold of its prey. A low growl escaped him. He pressed her even closer and his fingers slid up to bury themselves in the hair at the base of her skull. Her fingers curled into his shirt, her tongue slid out to brush hesitatingly over his. His heart seemed to give that same strange beat again as electricity sizzled over his skin and the hair on his arms stood on end.

An outraged gasp sounded from nearby. It barely pierced his passion-induced haze as Genny opened her mouth even further to his invasion, allowing him to take further possession. Another gasp, followed by a shooing sound broke through to Genny though and she reluctantly pulled away from him. She tilted her head back to look up at him, her swollen lips curled into a smile.

She turned away from him and he followed her gaze to a group of human women standing nearby. The look on the women's faces clearly stated that they thought he and Genny were the lowest form of life. Atticus's hand tightened in Genny's hair as he instinctively took a step closer to her. No one was ever going to look at her in such a way if he had anything to say about it.

The women's eyes widened, they all took a step back before turning and hurrying away from them. Genny's bent head rested briefly against his chest before she looked up at him again. "The human race is amusing but they are extremely prudish about such silly things," she said.

"Hmm," he muttered but he was still fighting the urge to rip out the throat of every one of those judgmental women for looking at her like that.

"Come on," she said and stepped away from him.

She ignored the offended and gaping looks from everyone they passed for the next hundred feet but he glowered at all of them. Genny chuckled when the humans turned away from him hastily. The roads became increasingly cluttered as they drew closer to the crowded market area of the town. Chickens, dogs and sheep moved as freely through the throng as the people did. Men and women loudly shouted to the passersby as they hawked whatever wares they were selling. The rancid and feral smell of body odor and animals was overwhelming. The disheveled humans, who had dirt and manure streaking their skin and clothes, made his skin crawl as they jostled against him. Standing here now, he was acutely reminded of the reasons why he stayed away from the human villages, as the smells and sounds assaulted his acute senses.

The narrow street finally gave way to reveal a large clearing. More wooden carts were set up within the clearing but they were set up in a much more accessible circle. People moved more freely through here, the sounds were a little dimmer and he was able to walk without being forced against the unwashed masses. He could only imagine what diseases they might be spreading throughout these confined areas and he was extremely glad that he wasn't able to catch them.

The clanging of swords rang in his ears. His attention was drawn toward where two men were sparring in an arena set up at the edge of the clearing. Shouts of encouragement and groans of disappointment filled the air as the men battled in the increasing heat of the day. The clouds had parted; the sun now beat down upon them and dried the mud caking the roads. Being so close to humans and all the overwhelming scents was making him increasingly edgy. He jerked his arm back from a man that brushed against him and smiled to reveal a mouth that was missing most of its teeth. If humans weren't necessary for their survival, he never would have come into contact with them. As it was, he preferred his food clean, pretty, and willing in more ways than one. None of these people fit that description, the only one that did wasn't human.

His gaze drifted down to Genny as she continued to stroll through the crowd with relative ease. She was used to being here, this was how she survived in her world; this was who she was. The class distinctions between them were exceptionally broad but he found he didn't care about any of that as he watched her move. She deserved better than this.

"Genevieve…"

"Genny."

"What?" he asked as he took an abrupt sidestep in order to avoid a steaming pile of manure.

Her eyes were sparkling when she tilted her head to look up at him. "I told you before call me Genny, I much prefer it."

Looking into her eyes, he realized he didn't care how many piles of manure he stepped in if she continued to smile at him like that. "Genny then."

He grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her toward him when a large man came barreling through the crowd and nearly collided with her. A rumble of warning made its way up his chest but the man didn't pay them any attention as he pushed people out of his way. "Humans," Atticus snickered as the man stopped before the bread cart and demanded two loaves.

"They are amusing to watch," she murmured and began to make her way through the crowd again. "They are very set in their ways and have such strange customs."

He laughed and went to take hold of her arm when another man brushed past her but faster than a human could blink, so fast that even he almost missed it, she slipped the money purse from the belt at the man's waist and slid it into the pocket of her mantle. She smiled at him and waved her fingers when she caught his incredulous look.