hoping.
A hand came around my throat from behind causing every bone in my body to freeze. I felt panic swirl through me, but more than that, I felt something pulsate in my chest. My back twitched against the chest behind me and instead of screaming, I stayed perfectly still before tilting my head up.
Fucking asshole.
“You’re an ass,” I stated, my jaw clenching.
“That’s not very nice,” Rain accused, his voice a soft deep chuckle that had my body melting slightly against him. Unintentionally, obviously.
I turned into him and fixed him with a look, “I’m sorry, Rain. Not in a fantastic fucking mood. It must be because of what a bossy ass you were yesterday. Or maybe it was when that asshole tried to sexually assault me and caused me to smack my head onto the stone…”
His hand tightened on the back of my neck slightly as if remembering and I braced myself, my fingers digging into his chest.
I literally had no idea what to expect from this bastard. I had to fight the urge to push him away, and kiss his face. It was a sudden and completely irrational reaction to someone I barely knew.
Rain’s voice was soft and dangerous, “Ophelia, what happened yesterday…”
I looked away from his whiskey-colored eyes, trying to not inhale his lavender scent and keep a cool head around his stark energy. It wasn’t his fault but the bastard wasn’t catching me at my best moment.
His words were soft, “I’m sorry.”
I jerked back and arched a brow, “What the hell are you sorry for? Did you tell him to attack me? I can blame you for being an ass but the rest has nothing to do with you.” I did have to admit I appreciated the apology as he didn’t strike me as the type to provide one very often.
His nostrils flared as thunder rolled above us, and my eyes sought out the thickly shadowed forest around us, almost a midnight blue light mixed with a gray fog. I shivered and the tension changed as he cupped my jaw.
“You are very touchy,” I mumbled.
He chuckled, his brilliant white teeth flashing. “A bit easier to watch you when you’re in my arms.” Well, hell. His thumb smoothed over my pulse and I had no idea if I should run or melt into him. “You shouldn’t go wandering on your own, Ma belle. You were supposed to stay home today.”
“Noticed that?” I arched a brow. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. A really hot one mind you and I wasn’t positive if I should like his overbearing concern or if I wanted to tell him to screw off.
“They didn’t tell me if you were wondering. I saw your car go past the coffee shop. I was in town for something. Merrick was busy so I figured I would come see how you were doing,” he mumbled softly.
“Stalker,” I noted lightly.
“One of the lesser things I could be accused of,” he chuckled, his accent tickling my ears.
“Are you from France then?” I slipped from his arms and walked over to Price, patting his mane. Also, I could woman up and admit I was using my horse as a barrier between the hot fae heir and myself. I mean that was just reasonable. I also wanted to ask him about the odd shit that Oliver told me, but I didn’t think it was appropriate. Could you imagine? ‘So heard your home country, world, whatever…was in a civil war and your parents were killed, making you the heir…’
“Not originally,” he noted, “but Merrick and I were there for schooling until recently and a bit after.”
“Underside, right? You are from Underside?” I wondered if he was going to laugh at me. Instead, his large frame froze and a hand came up under my chin, making me tilt my head back fully.
“How the hell do you know about Underside?” he asked sharply.
“Oliver,” I whispered as his eyes darkened but his expression softened.
“I am,” he muttered, “so is Oliver. The prick took time to explain everything?”
“You could say that,” I mumbled wondering what their problem was exactly. “It’s a bit unbelievable. All of it.”
My back hit a tree ten feet away in a single second as my eyes widened and he smirked, his wings unraveling into a stunning display of bronze and gold. Holy shit. I swallowed and kept his gaze, trying to not look at his beautiful wings instead.
“What was that?” I squeaked. My legs trembled slightly as heat exploded in my center.
“That was making it less unbelievable,” he