A Girl Named Calamity (Alyria 1)

He frowned. “Where?”

I showed him the scar on my wrist, and he shook his head. “You don’t give your blood to just anyone,” he chastised.

“I didn’t have a choice! She was going to drain my blood in her pond and swim in it!”

“It’s a wonder you made it this far.”

I didn’t mention I had been robbed by a child as well.

I smiled. “I sure fooled you for a while, though, didn’t I?”

He gave me an annoyed look as we reached a couple of Untouchables who had Gallant waiting for me outside the camp.

“Where is your horse?” I asked Weston.

“I didn’t bring one.”

I blinked. “You mean you walked all this way?”

He didn’t give me an answer, and I pondered how he got here on foot. The Untouchables walked away and left me alone with Weston while I looked at my horse and then at my short dress.

“This isn’t going to work, Weston,” I said as I realized all I had were some dirty shirts in my saddlebag. My breath hitched when he grabbed my bare hips and set me on Gallant sideways; his hands seared my skin. “I can’t ride like this.” I felt like I would slide right off.

He mounted Gallant and grabbed the reins, boxing me in with his arms. “You’re fine. I won’t let you fall.”

I was most definitely not fine.

His forearm brushing my bare stomach and resting on my thighs was the only thing I could think about. It lit a fire under my skin. I felt every slight movement he made and could focus on nothing else.

I was on fire, and he was the fuel.

I fidgeted around and tried to keep my shoulder from bumping him. And tried to move away every time I thought his arm would brush my stomach.

“Stop,” he growled.

I tried to stop. I really did. My mind was a hazy mess, and I needed to focus on something else. Another minute of fidgeting and I jerked when he gripped my hips and pulled me all the way against him.

I felt breathless and melted against him as my entire body heated. There was a haze over my mind, but this time, there was nothing magical about it.

“Did you enjoy kissing Maxim?” His deep voice was close to my neck it sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn’t think in this position, so the truth came out of my mouth.

“Yes.”

He turned my face toward his. “Do you think you would enjoy it more with me?”

“Yes,” I said without any hesitation.

“You stabbed me. Do you feel bad about that?”

I bit my lip and nodded.

“You shouldn’t,” he scolded.

“But I do.”

“Do you know what this is between us?” he asked.

“What?”