So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)(69)

Her heart lurched, and she nearly fell back onto her knees.

He faced her once again. “Are you all right? Did you trip on something?”

“I’m fine.” Her knees stung, but she wasn’t about to lift her skirt to take a look at them.

His eyes narrowed. “You took the path along the stream, right?”

“I—” With a wince, she noted the trail she’d been instructed to take. Rupert was going to be angry when he realized she’d discovered his secret stash. How could she convince him to accept her help if he was angry with her? “Perhaps we should talk later. You seem to be busy right now.”

“You can’t go back to the village without a light. It’s too dangerous.”

She glanced back at him. Good goddesses, he’d moved closer and the water level was down to his hips. She focused on a nearby rock.

“Did you follow the stream?”

She hesitated. Even if she made him angry, wouldn’t it be better to be honest with him? How else could she ever earn his trust?

“Brigitta—”

“I won’t tell anyone about the treasure.”

“Crap!” His head fell back and he lifted his hands to run them through his hair.

Her mouth dropped open. With his bulging muscles and broad shoulders, he looked like a mythical sea god emerging from the ocean. “I really won’t tell anyone. I’m on your—”

“Are you sure you’re not a spy? You should be ’cause you’re damned good. Now I’ll have to find another cave.”

“I swear to you I will not tell another soul.”

He scoffed. “How can I believe you when you followed me here?” He slapped the surface of the water as he made a noise of frustration. “What am I going to do with you?”

Did he see her as nothing but a problem? That irked her. She planted her hands on her hips. “The real question here is what can I do for you? How can I help you make things right? We need to sit down and have a serious talk.”

“Fine, let’s talk.” He strode toward her.

She gasped as more of his abdomen was revealed. “No!” She held up her hands to cover her eyes. “Don’t come any closer!”

“I thought you wanted to talk!”

She squeezed her eyes shut behind her hands. “I can’t talk to you naked.”

“You’re not naked. I am.”

“Don’t come any closer!”

He made another noise of frustration. “What are you afraid of? It’s a damned cock! It’s not a creature from the deep!” There were some splashing noises. “Fine. You can look now. I retreated.”

She peeked through her fingers. The water was back up to his navel now.

“Dammit.” He glanced down with an annoyed look. “Can you throw me my breeches?” He motioned to a large boulder. “They’re over there.”

“Yes, of course.” She rushed over to the boulder. Next to his boots, his shirt and breeches lay folded neatly. She picked up the folded breeches and tossed them toward him.

To her horror, they simply unfurled in the air and plopped onto the water a few feet from where she stood.

“Are you kidding me?” He gave her an incredulous look. “You call that a throw?”

She winced. “I thought they would go farther.”

He glanced down and grimaced.

“Don’t worry.” She kicked off her shoes. “I’ll push them toward you.” She waded into the water.

“Stop!” He held up a hand. “I-I think you should stay there. I’ll get them.”

“But—”

“Just turn around if you don’t want to see.” He gritted his teeth. “We can’t have my cock leaping out of the water to attack you.”

She gasped. “It leaps?”

“I was kidding!” He winced. “A bit. Turn around.”

She did. Water splashed as he waded toward the breeches. She winced at the sound of a few muttered curses. Perhaps she shouldn’t have admitted to finding the treasure. But she wanted complete honesty between them. “Is it safe now?”

He snorted. “It was always safe.” After a moment, he said, “You can turn around.”

She swallowed hard. The time had come for her to admit everything she knew. And once she told him, there was no going back. With her heart pounding, she clenched her skirt in her fists.

“Is something wrong?” He’d moved to the flat rock where the lantern was, and he was sitting there, watching her as he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.

She took a deep breath. “I know who you are.”





Chapter Seventeen

He immediately sat up, a wary look in his eyes. “What do you know?”

Her heart thudded loud in her ears. Was this a mistake? She’d been so eager to help him and atone for her family’s sins that she’d come straight here without realizing that her confession might be the last thing he wanted to hear. He had no reason to trust her, not when it was her family who had caused all his grief. It was a wonder he could even bear to look at her.

“I know … you must hate me. I know why you need revenge.” Tears burned her eyes. “And I’m so very sorry for everything my father did to you and your family.”