was hard to remember she’d been taking care of herself for a while now. “I’d like to see how you make this paste of yours. I don’t know much about the plants and elements here and it would be great to pick up some new healing techniques.”
She stood taller. “Yes. I show you. My pack have many good skills.”
He shot her a genuine smile. “We’ve got a lot we can teach each other. You and me…and our people, if we work together.”
She started to nod, then frowned. “Praise. Approval.” Her gaze narrowed, her expression a mask of outrage—and so much pain and uncertainty it made his chest tight. “You trying to use my weaknesses to fool me again.”
Frustration sharpened his tone. “It’s the truth.”
“I don’t need anymore your truths. I learn enough about myself already. And thanks to you, I no longer going to let need for approval weaken me.”
“Good.” He meant it. “Untie me not to please me, but because you know it’s the smart thing to do.”
Her ears twitched. “You say you not give me good enough reason to stick around before and this time you do better. This not better. This the same. Praise. Demands. Sneaky words. Expectation that I bend to you. Those no reasons for me to free you. You want different result? Change.”
She half marched, half limped her way back to the other side of the supplies.
He smothered a curse.
Change? To what?
For a male who liked control, who liked his path laid out and his choices black and white, the thought was not pleasant. He didn’t like being unsure. He didn’t like not having a clear plan.
But he did have determination—and the uncontrollable pull between them that flared even now.
That, at least, he could work with.
28
Nayla laid out the stalks she’d collected. She did her best to ignore the seething male whose gaze tracked her every move, a white-hot burn of awareness against her skin.
Even tied up, he assumed control.
No wonder. Every time she remembered how she’d panted and begged, thrusting her hips toward his thick, scarred fingers, she could barely breathe. Shame and need enough to drown her worse than Talg’s cleansings ever had.
Her captor had mastered her so easily, and the truth was, even now, she ached to follow his commands and feel his skin against hers.
No! She could not allow herself to be confused by his words or touch again.
Except she hadn’t expected him to kill for her. Or worry over her ankle.
She hadn’t expected her heart to slam against her chest when she thought Sharluff had hurt him. Or the fire between her thighs that sparked from simply looking at his wide chest, flexing muscles, and glittering predator eyes.
Ancients help her, she wanted to walk to where he sat, drop to her knees, and beg him to torment her like before. To take away the pain and confusion, if only for a few heartbeats, and replace it with sheer, uncomplicated pleasure. To make her writhe and beg and surrender to his strength and the bliss of his rough hands and rumbled commands.
She wanted to plead with him to turn his words into truth and make them into allies, to care for her, if only for a short while.
She’d been alone for so long, and his promises filled her with a sweetness more satisfying than a bellyful of the rarest taza berries.
But she could not afford to be so desperate for acceptance and approval that she made the same mistake she had with Talg, acquiescing to a stronger force simply because she feared being alone.
She could not afford to let her weaknesses distract her from the truth: Grif wanted to take away her choice. She refused to allow anyone to do that to her ever again.
Except it wasn’t easy. Not when he was leaning against the rock, his pose casual even as his gaze locked on to her. His skin glowing in the firelight, the position of his hands tied behind his back putting his chiseled chest and stomach on display, showcasing every astonishing muscle. His raw strength always made her lungs squeeze and her nipples tight.
“You almost done pretending to poke at that already flaming fire?” His amused words almost made her drop her flint. “We need to get cleaned up and hydrate. I have water in my pack. Though it won’t cool you off like I could.”
Ancients help her, he knew.
She should have expected no less. She’d never been able to keep secrets from him.
Purposely giving the fire a