Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 106646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
"So, what, is this your thing now? You're going to go around and collect women like Pokémon? Now that you have Daisy, you're back to me again?" There is hurt in her tone. "No thank you."
"I am here, am I not?"
"I didn't ask you to be!"
My hands feel like blocks of ice after digging through the snow. I pause to let the blood rush through them again, curling and uncurling my claws, and I glare at her. "You are hurt. I am here to help you. Why are you being so impossible?"
B'shit opens her mouth. Closes it again. Frowns. She drops her gaze and stares at the fur I gave her, tucked under her chin to keep her warm as I work to rescue her. "I guess I am."
Is…this a trick? I want to ask, but I do not dare. I try to think of an answer, and settle upon, "I like that you are full of fire, B'shit. But fire can burn if it is not controlled."
"Well, that sounded deep."
I chuckle and turn back to my work. "It was not meant to. I just…sometimes I am tired of getting burned."
"Me too," B'shit says in a small voice.
18
BRIDGET
This has been a rollercoaster of a day. After crying in the pit for what felt like hours, A'tam shows up to my rescue, compliments me, and carries me back to camp? One would almost think we haven't been at each other's throats for the last few months.
I worry he has an ulterior motive. More than that, I worry that I'm giving him ammo to use against me, things to throw in my face and humiliate me. Now when we fight, is he going to fling the whole "I carried you back to camp" thing in my face?
Yes, absolutely, says a voice inside my head, and it sounds like my mother.
Even so, I'm still…grateful. I know I shouldn't be. I know this is a charged situation and A'tam's going to use it against me, but I was feeling so stupidly low lying at the bottom of that pit, too stubborn to ask for help. I'd cried until I couldn't cry any longer, and then he showed up.
He abandoned gorgeous, pretty, flirty Daisy…for me.
Surely that counts for something.
A'tam didn't deny Daisy's sharing furs with him, which makes me feel…awful. I've made it pretty clear that he and I are done, so I shouldn't care, but the thought of A'tam kissing Daisy, snuggling Daisy…it makes me want to punch things. The thought of A'tam snuggling anyone but me just fills me with rage and tears.
Which is stupid, because…monster dick. Tiny vaj.
But…maybe it could work. Maybe he could just stick the tip in next time. Maybe if we talked…but that's just wishful thinking. I know me, and I know I won't talk about my problems. I'll crack some joke to ease tensions and pretend like nothing's wrong, and hold all my hurts inside so no one can use them against me. That's what my mother taught me for 23 years and it's served me well enough so far.
And he's got Daisy in his bed now. I need to get over this. It’s not like we’re compatible anyhow. He’s got a Great Dane in his pants and I’m a teacup breed.
A'tam hefts me on his back, adjusting my weight, and my muscles scream a protest. I suck in a breath, and underneath me, A'tam tenses. "This hurts you?"
"I'll survive," I say, squeezing my eyes shut. And I will. It won't hurt me enough to kill me, but it's going to be an unpleasant walk back to camp. We're at least an hour out, if I know the trails decently, maybe two, and I grimly clench my hands into fists, trying to ignore the worst of the pain. "My back's always been stupid. I had a bad softball injury when I was in high school. I had to get a couple of screws put in my spine and ever since if I land wrong, it acts up. It'll be good in a day or two."
"I do not like hurting you," A'tam says, scanning the horizon. "There is a supply cave a short distance from here. We can stay there tonight."
I weigh my options. Two hours of torturous pain as A'tam carries me back to camp, but the healer will fix me up. Or…a short trip, pain overnight, and people teasing me about being out with A'tam all night.
Since I'm me, I pick the option that won't give people anything to use against me. "Let's go back to camp. I can take it."
He growls low in his throat, looking over his shoulder at me. "Why are you so stubborn? You are like the head of a little kaari, biting and biting, your teeth locked on."
"Shut up," I snipe back. "You asked me, and I told you what I want to do."