Amber Eyes - Maya Banks Page 0,8
and eat their food.”
“I’d say that’s desperate, not crazy,”she said quietly.
Now fully dressed, he returned to her and bent down on one knee. He didn’t make any move to touch her, and for that she was grateful. She didn’t trust herself. It had been too long since she’d had contact with another human, and she craved something as simple as touch. Skin to skin. Fingers through her hair.
A long-distant memory bubbled painfully to surface. A smiling woman brushing Kaya’s hair while another girl with golden hair played close by.
Cheetah.
The word came unbidden from the dark cloisters of her mind. She felt a kinship with this girl. The cheetah running with the wind and the cougar trying to keep pace only to be left behind.
Left behind.
The deadness spread from her chest into her stomach. She’d been left by the humans. Her humans.
“What are you thinking?”
Jericho’s softly echoed question filtered through the hazy memories. Her nose drew up and stung with unshed emotion. No, she wouldn’t break. She must be strong and resilient, a worthy companion to the guardian animal spirit who shared her soul.
She drew in a steadying breath, stuck out her chin and eyed him with determination. “I’d like something to eat, and I would appreciate some pants if you have any to spare. But then I must go.”
It took all her courage to face this man and lay out her demands as if she had a right to do so. She prayed to the Maker that he couldn’t see how hard she was trembling.
Surprisingly, he held out a hand to her. She eyed it suspiciously, but he was patient, holding it there as he waited. Finally she took it, allowing her palm to slide over his.
He stood and then pulled her up in front of him, but he didn’t let go of her hand. “First let’s get you some pants. I have some thermal underwear but those would look goofy.”
She shrugged. “As long as they’re dry and warm.”
One eyebrow lifted as he regarded her with open curiosity. “I think I have some sweats that you can tighten enough to keep around your waist. If not, I don’t know if we have anything that’ll work. We don’t exactly keep women’s clothing around here.”
Again she made a motion of indifference.
He pulled on her hand, and she stumbled forward in surprise.
“I don’t trust that you won’t be out of here like a shot if I leave you to get the sweats.”
“I won’t leave until I’ve eaten and gotten the warm clothes,”she said solemnly.
He laughed, and the shock of the deep, husked timbre of such a delightful sound rolled down her spine, making every nerve ending stand up and pay attention.
“You’re an honest little thing,”he said with a shake of his head.
“I’m cold and hungry. It would do me no good to lie.”
They came to a stop inside a small bedroom, and she gazed around, inhaling his unmistakable scent. It was imprinted on every object. She stared longingly at the bed, at the softness of the mattress. The covers were gone, on the floor of the living room if she wasn’t mistaken.
He let go of her hand long enough to rummage in the drawer of a nearby chest, and then he yanked out a pair of black sweats.
He eyed her critically as he held the pants up next to her bare legs.
“I guess you can roll up the waist some.”
She took them from him. “I’ll manage.”
“Okay. I’ll wait right outside. You can use the bathroom through there if you need it.”He pointed to the doorway leading off the bedroom.
She gave a short nod and stood gripping the pants while she waited for him to disappear. After one last look in her direction, he backed out and closed the door behind him.
Needing to feel like she had added privacy, she ducked into the small bathroom and shut the door. Before she pulled her pants on, she turned on the faucet and watched in wonder as the water slid seamlessly into the sink.
Her fingers flicked out to play with the stream, and she winced at the chill. She ducked her head, cupped her hand and pulled the water into her mouth.
Running water was a luxury she hadn’t enjoyed in well over a year. She frowned as she remembered her last trip into civilization. No money, no plan. Just a desire to embrace her humanity again.
She glanced at the shower and wondered if they had a hot water heater for the water piped in from one