The Unexpected Bonding Vow - Michelle Howard Page 0,12

yes. Marriage.”

As soon as she said the last word, Garik wanted to laugh outright. He just managed to contain his chuckles. If she knew how little he found humor in things after all he’d witnessed and lived through, she’d be impressed at drawing the emotion from him.

“Marriage?’ he repeated loudly for clarity once he was sure no sign of amusement would color his words.

“Shh.” She glanced over her shoulder as if checking for guards.

Garik held his breath, listening as well.

Silence.

She turned toward him again and scooted even closer if possible. Anymore and she’d be in his lap. The thought didn’t repel him. Maybe he’d been in here longer than he thought, or his body was tired of the restrictions he’d put on the sexual aspects of his life.

Her hands once more danced over his jaw as she tipped it up. Light and with a gentle touch, she stroked. This was the second or third time she’d freely put her hands on him without fear or concern. Garik had broken the bones of others for daring to touch him. He studied her closer in hopes of determining what her angle was. Trap by Maurin?

Except no one could be that oblivious, could they?

He was an assassin. He killed then disappeared. How many times had others complimented his ruthless nature, his ability to compartmentalize and get the job done? Yet, this strange woman with her way too delicate appearance, touched Garik as if she wasn’t aware of the danger he represented to her. It would be far too easy to snap her neck.

Her fingers glided over his skin, drawing out long ago feelings. In any other circumstances, Garik would have jerked away from the touch. He didn’t do gentle and soft. Yet her caress compelled and he found he didn’t have it in him to move away. Plus, he wanted to see how far she’d go if this was Maurin’s latest idea of torture to trick Garik.

“Marriage,” she continued, “marry me and I will help you get out of here. Now. Tonight. Come tomorrow, Maurin will be the fool, and there will be no public execution. Surely after you escape the Guild can send another to accomplish the task needed.”

So she did know he was an assassin. “What makes you think you can get me out?”

Garik hadn’t been able to decipher an exact number on guards for Maurin but there were more than a dozen. When they’d first captured him, he’d tried to escape and earned another brutal beating for the effort. The second and third attempts had gotten him the same treatment, ending with him chained to the wall. Garik had to be more careful if he tried again or he’d be too weak. He was damn near at that point now.

“Trust me! I can.” A flare of anger crossed her face, revising his opinion about her meek personality.

“I don’t trust anyone, little girl,” was his response to all that fiery passion.

She sank back on her haunches and balled her fists on her folded thighs. She was getting prettier by the minute in this dim lighting unless he was hallucinating. If this was all a dream induced by his injuries, Garik was closer to death then he’d originally thought.

“You’re a fool then. You will die, Garik.”

He smirked. Couldn’t help it. As battered as he was, did she really think he feared death? Death came to all and in his line of work, it came all too soon for many. “Unless I accept your help, of course.”

Her lips pursed at his mocking tone. “Yes, damn you.”

She amused him far more than she should. Clearly, his brain was rattled from one too many blows to the head because he heard himself say, “I am a Gerelin. We don’t have marriages. We mate bond.”

Was he actually considering this? Vows of matehood were not taken lightly and considered extremely serious by his race. It was a bond until death and not broken any other way.

“Mate bond?” she leaned forward and one hand settled on his outstretched leg. “It’s similar to the concept of marriage, though, right?”

He tensed from the contact, calculating the quickest way to incapacitate her. Then realized her touch was incidental. She didn’t even seem to notice she’d done it. But he noticed. And so did his cock, which offered a determined twitch as if to prove there was life left in him yet. Since she was looking at him for a response, he nodded and studied her to guess her angle.

Her quick grin