Raven's Return - Ruby Dixon Page 0,33

gazed at my knife, how he'd touched the fur I loaned him for a bit longer than necessary. I suspect these things are a luxury to him, and…if that is the case, he is welcome to them.

It is inconvenient, but it also means another day or two out here with R'ven, and I cannot complain about that.

R'ven rests her arms on her knees and gazes glumly out at the pebbled rain. "What now?"

I shrug. "We wait for this to stop, and then we prepare to return."

"You don't want to go look for Juth and Pak?" She turns to gaze up at me.

"Do you?" I am surprised. "I do not think they wish to be found."

"That doesn't mean we should give up on them."

The vehemence in her tone is startling. I think back on what I have said, wondering if I have possibly offended her, but I can think of nothing. "Why are you so defensive, R'ven?"

"I'm not," she protests, and then shakes her head, turning back to glare at the water once more. "Forget it. We'll just go back."

I feel as if I have done something wrong…and I am not sure what. This is all going so badly. I just wanted to save R'ven, to have her look at me with pleasure…and now she will not look at me at all. I wipe my sweaty palms on my legs. "How…is your ankle?"

"Fine."

"May I see it?"

She shoots me a look, and I notice her cheeks are curiously pink. "Do you need to?"

"It would make me feel better knowing you are not in pain and just covering it." I move to stand in front of her, forcing her to look at me. "You are angry at me, but all I want is for you to be safe and comfortable."

Her expression softens, and she glances up at me. Our eyes meet and hold for a long moment, and then she sighs. "I'm not mad at you, U'dron. I'm just…disappointed. In us."

I drop to my knees before her, uncovering her small foot from the thick fur so I can examine it. It is something to do with my hands, at least, when all I truly want to do is grab the borrowed tunic she is wearing, rip it off of her body, and lick her all over until she makes the soft squeals I have heard coming from the huts of the mated pairs. I take her ankle in my grip, running my fingers over her skin. It looks healthy and there is no swelling. I skim a touch against her skin, but I can see no marks or any indication that she has been bitten. Her skin is soft, her ankle delicate, and so small in my hand. I cannot resist running my fingers up her calf before I set her foot down. "It looks well enough."

"Yeah." Her voice is soft. I glance over at her and she gazes at my mouth, her expression distracted. A lovely scent picks up on the breeze—her arousal. Just from me touching her foot?

I bite back a groan of frustration and jerk to my feet again, my cock becoming hard and insistent with need. "I will check the shore for signs of Juth and his son. Stay here." I storm away before she can see the evidence of my arousal, my tail flicking with frustration.

It is unfair that the perfect female should want me and I must turn her away. The ice pellets smack against my skin like a thousand tiny nibbles of angry fish, and I welcome the distraction. The storm does not let up, and soon the entire beach is crusted in a new white layer that is slippery underneath my boots. I skid along the surface with awkward footing, but if Juth left footprints, they are covered now. I try to follow his scent for a time instead, but it leads to the water's edge and then disappears. He is smart, this one. I imagine him with his son on his shoulders, holding my pack and walking at the edge of the rolling waves to hide any trace of him. He could be in a cave nearby…or he could be far, far away. I turn and glance back at R'ven, but the small form of her is still in the shelter.

As I look over at her, I can see her distant figure turn toward me, as if she is seeking me out. I am too far to see her expression, but another wave of