Prince of Wolves - Tasha Black Page 0,16

her invaded his mind, and he paced the floors of her tiny home, trying to think about anything but seducing Ashe.

8

Ashe

Ashe emerged from the bathroom, hoping that Varik wouldn’t mind that she was dressed in more of Willow’s wonderful pajamas.

The sleeveless top was thin and white with the words If You Love Me, Let Me Sleep emblazoned across the chest. And the pants were silky soft and carnation pink.

Something about these garments made Ashe feel truly mortal.

“Are you ready for an amazing dinner?” Varik asked.

She padded into the kitchen and he glanced up at her, then did a double take.

“I know, I’m wearing informal garb,” she apologized.

“You look… wondrous,” he told her, his gravelly voice making her want to shiver.

Suddenly his expression went steely and he turned back to the stove, where he was spooning out stew into bowls.

It figured. She was mortal and he was fae. She had known all her life which was better. Of course he didn’t want to be attracted to her.

Which was a crying shame, because even though it was the last thing she wanted, she was attracted to him. There was no doubt about that. And she wasn’t sure she could ignore it much longer.

She grabbed some glasses from the cupboard and poured out sweet tea for both of them. She carried the drinks to the small table next to the kitchen area.

Varik opened the oven and the heavenly smell of fresh bread wafted out.

“You made bread?” she asked.

“No,” he said. “I toasted the bread we bought. See?”

He held out the pan. The wedges of buttered baguette were crisp and melty.

“That was just a hunk of stale bread,” she said wonderingly.

“Doesn’t matter when it’s toasted with plenty of butter,” he told her.

He looked pretty smug, but she could hardly blame him. He had turned a basket of cheap and scrappy looking ingredients into an incredible meal.

“Ready to sample it?” he asked.

“Very ready,” she replied.

He placed bread and a bowl of stew on each plate and carried them both over. She headed back to the kitchen, grabbed cutlery, and placed it on the table.

“Let’s see if it tastes as good as it smells,” he said, lifting a spoon to her in a mock salute.

She lifted hers too, enjoying the chance to be lighthearted.

Then she took a bite.

“Gods,” she murmured through her mouthful.

“You like it?” he asked.

She closed her eyes and moaned in reply.

“I’m glad,” he said, his voice gravelly again.

“I know this can’t just be the ingredients we bought,” she said. “Did you use a little magic too? Don’t worry, I won’t tell.”

“No,” he said, looking a little offended. “Willow has a well-stocked spice cupboard. There is nothing here you couldn’t do without me.”

Without him…

If he held up his end of the bargain that was exactly what she would be.

Though Ashe treasured the idea of independence, it was hard to imagine continuing in this strange new world alone - especially when it seemed like such a fun and interesting place with Varik by her side.

You’re a mortal, and he’s fae.

There was a time, not so many days ago, when the imbalance of power would have gone the other way - Ashe being a princess and Varik a bounty hunter. In her whole life, she’d never really been lower in social standing than anyone.

It didn’t bother her as much as she would have expected.

She took another bite and watched as he efficiently downed his dinner.

For all his kind and gentle ways these last few days, he was a bounty hunter, famed for his ruthlessness and determination.

She would do well to remember that.

He wouldn’t want to play house with a mortal girl for long.

“What?” he asked.

She felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She had been staring.

“I was just wondering if I’ll like this stew as much in a year, if it’s still the only thing I can cook,” she said, smiling so he would know she was teasing.

“You can always research on your phone. But I’ll show you where the town library is,” he promised. “You can check out cookbooks and teach yourself to make whatever you want. You’ll love it.”

Oddly, Ashe felt very sure she would enjoy that.

She dipped the last bite of her bread in her stew, letting it swirl among the colorful vegetables.

He watched as she brought it to her mouth.

Heaven. It was total heaven.

“You’re a genius, you know that, right?” she asked him.

He grinned like a pirate.

“Well, lass, it’s getting late,” he said. “Ronan and I should go get settled.”

“Where are you