Road To Winter (Fae's Captive #2)(12)

She smiles a little. “Douche may be a tad harsh.”

“It was just a little skin.” Beth walks up and finger-combs her hair. “You really need to learn how to be a gentleman at all times, nude or otherwise, your majesty.”

Gareth clears his throat. “It was a lot of skin. Too much. Acting like two nymphs. And I know you were the one who led Taylor astray.” He shakes a finger at her but doesn’t meet her eyes.

I look more closely at him. Is he …blushing?

“I led her to a bath,” she counters. “You fae brutes may be perfectly happy romping around without cleaning up, but we aren’t.”

“Fae brutes?” Gareth narrows his eyes. “For a changeling slave, you have a mouth on you.”

“I know. I catch you staring at it,” she deadpans.

Gareth looks stricken, and a belly laugh rolls out of me.

Taylor laughs, too, then holds out her hand and opens her fingers. “Mic drop right there.”

“Mic drop?” I cock my head at her.

“It’s a human world thing. Just saying that Gareth started it, but Beth finished it.”

“Hmm.” Humans have such odd terminology, but I want to learn more.

“We need to break camp,” Gareth grumbles, his eyes downward as Beth turns and saunters off through the trees.

“We will.” I grab the hem of my tunic and pull it over my head. Satisfaction filters through me as Taylor’s gaze rakes across my bare flesh. “But first we need to wash ourselves.” I reach to untie my pants, and Taylor spins quickly, her dress flying out around her.

“You can’t just strip in front of me!” She bows her head.

“Why not?” I shuck my pants off, my erection proud and thick. “This body is yours, my mate. Everything about it. It was created only for you.” I stride to her, but she doesn’t turn.

“You’re naked. Right behind me. Being naked.”

I lean close, my lips to her ear. “You can look all you want. I don’t mind. Besides, I saw you, and I’ll be dreaming of your beautiful skin, perfect breasts, and creamy thighs for the rest of my life.”

She shivers, her breathing speeding up. I run a finger along her delicate neck, then press my lips to the spot gently. So gently. Her breath hitches as I suck lightly, then move closer to the skin beneath her ear.

A loud splash breaks the moment, and I turn to see Gareth’s dark hair disappearing beneath the water.

“We’ll continue this.” I nibble her ear lobe.

She hastily turns toward camp. “I need, um. I need to …” She doesn’t finish the sentence, just hurries away through the trees.

I stretch and head toward the pool. Gareth splashes towards the far edge to grab some blumerin. As I wade in, I can feel Taylor’s eyes on me, and when my crisp wind carries the scent of her arousal to me, I groan and sink beneath the sparkling surface.





6





Taylor





We spend the next three days travelling through the forest, the horses no longer running at breakneck speeds. Gareth and Leander still keep a wary eye out, stopping at times just to listen to the wind soughing through the trees. Sleeping next to Leander becomes a little more comfortable each night, his warm body and gentle touches easing my worries.

“Is there a damn town anywhere around here?” Beth rubs her lower back.

“There are towns.” Gareth leans away from her elbow. “But we aren’t stopping in them. Too dangerous.”

“And the forest isn’t?” She twists, her back cracking, and sighs.

“The forest hides us from prying eyes.” Gareth stares through the trees. “But we’ll enter the Red Plains in two days’ time. We’ll have no choice but to take shelter in a village along the way.”

“Nice. Maybe that’ll give me a chance to get away from your surly grunting.”

“I don’t grunt.” Gareth’s offended tone makes Beth smile.

“Sure you don’t.” She loves getting him going. And it works, because before long, they’re sniping at each other.

Leander pulls the reins a little so we drop back from the repartee on the other horse. “Are you tired?”

“I’m okay.” Truth be told, my ass is sorer than it’s ever been in my life, I’m hungry, and I long for another bath.

“Do you … miss the human world?” He keeps his voice soft, as if tiptoeing around a grave.

I sigh. “Yes.”

He stiffens a bit. “Hmm.”

“But the human world isn’t all roses,” I hasten to add. “It has plenty of room for improvement.”

“Were you unhappy there?”

How do I answer that? My entire childhood was a nightmare that I still have damage from. My relationship with my mom is terrible, I can’t even remember what my father looks like, and Steve still has a starring role in all my bad dreams. But then again, I was finally beginning to feel like I was on the right path. I was doing well in school, excelling in my chemistry classes and impressing my professors. Things were looking up until Cecile sent me here.

I realize I’ve been lost in thought instead of answering his question. “It was a mixed bag.”