Heir of the Dog Black Dog - Hailey Edwards Page 0,54
hard. Fast. Before this sexy fae led me astray and my family history repeated.
Instead of doing the smart thing, I found myself leaning forward while he did the same.
“Fighting to survive is instinct.” The harder life came at you, the harder you had to punch it in the face.
“Why can’t you accept a compliment?” He hauled my hips closer to his, and the motion rocked me back against the wall. “You even fight those.”
“I’m not used to hearing them, except for the backhanded kind. They’re hard to trust.” Breathing became difficult when he bent over me, his face, his lips, so close to mine. “They’re words. Easy to say even when you don’t mean them.”
He crowded my space until I had to flatten against the dirt wall if I wanted to escape him. The problem being I wasn’t sure I did. In fact, I found myself reaching for him, drawn into him.
I ran the long strands of his hair through my fingers. “What are we doing?”
He covered my hand with his. “I’m hoping you will kiss me.”
“You’re a fan of short-term commitments, huh?” I teased. “Just like a guy.”
“Thierry,” he chastised me.
His breath fanned my cheeks. His lips parted. I almost tasted him.
“Wait.” I pressed a finger to his mouth. “This won’t count as consummating our marriage, will it?”
Rook’s dark chuckle made me shiver. “If a kiss is your idea of consummation...”
“Ha. Try to turn it around on me.” I slid my hand across his cheek, his skin warm silk under my fingers. “I seem to recall being tricked into a marriage I still, quite frankly, question the validity of. I just want to make sure that if I actually let you kiss me, that it’s not some kind of binding spit-swapping contract I can’t break later.”
If I had a later.
“I warned you.” His skin flushed. “Trust I will keep you safe. As to the rest...”
“I can’t help trusting you a teeny-tiny bit when you keep saving me. I know I shouldn’t. You’re working an angle. If I only knew—”
His mouth lowered to mine, silencing my doubts, filling my head with his smoky taste.
He gripped the leather straps on my shoulders and brought me flush against him. Roots tangled in my hair and dust sprinkled onto my lashes. His tongue slipped between my lips, and I sighed against him.
Rook was attempting to drag me under him, without much resistance, when a small throat cleared.
“Forgive the intrusion. The hounds. They breached the easternmost tunnel. Our little ones room not far from there. We evacuated the babes in time,” he added hastily, “but you both must go. Please.”
“Of course.” I disentangled the best I could from Rook. “Which way out is safest?”
“We must return to Autumn.” Rook hummed. “Is the western tunnel clear?”
“As far as I know.” The púca’s whiskers twitched. “We’ll send a scout to see you on your way.”
“That is very kind of you.” Rook eased his hand under my ass and dragged out a rumpled rabbit skin. “If you could give us privacy while we shift? Once we’re ready, we’ll join you at the junction.”
After a slight hesitation, the púca bobbed its head. “That’s fair, but be quick.”
Once our host left, Rook offered me the skin. “Do you think you can manage a while longer?”
“I think so.” I dusted the soft fur. “I got a nap before you arrived, and I’ve eaten. All in all, I feel better now than I have since we left Mom’s house. Did you come all the way down here in rook form?”
He nodded. “The rook in me hates being unable to see sky.” His gaze rolled over our surroundings and a shudder rippled through him. “Try to keep up.”
“That sounds like a challenge.” Had everyone noticed my lack of hopping skills?
“We can race if you like.” His eyes twinkled. “To the victor go the spoils.”
A trap if I ever heard one. “How exactly does the victor think he’s getting spoiled?”
Rook bent over me. “I will allow you to make payments toward my winnings.”
I pulled him down to me and nipped his bottom lip. “How gracious of you.”
“One kiss now...” His mouth brushed mine. “After I win, you owe me ninety-nine more.”
“It’s a deal.” I stuck out my hand, and he shook it. “Now, give me some room.”
He retreated to his corner where he slid into his other form like a letter into an envelope. The bird that was Rook cawed.
“I’m going as fast as I can.” I pushed myself upright and placed the