Brave are the Lonely by Long Heather;

Author:Long, Heather; [Long, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 4833829
Publisher: Heather Long

Chapter 17

Why the hell did I run? Mariska’s heart raced in her chest. She dared a glance over her shoulder. Cody stood next to the horses, not yet following her. Grabbing fistfuls of her skirt into her hands, she dashed across the uneven ground. The mountain meadow was warm in the late autumn sun, but the gray and white peaked mountains that surrounded the valley promised far more than cold.

Snow was coming. Growing up in the back of a wagon, always moving, always looking to the next hill, gave her a keen sense of the weather. Because unlike the Gaje in their planted structures, she lived among the elements, the threat of the storm, the gifts of the spring. Another stolen glance over her shoulder and he was coming.

The bubble of fear popped over her heart, leaving only the insanity of laughter.

She knew he would chase her.

She’d known it the moment she wiggled free and landed on her feet.

If she ran, he would chase.

Wolves pursue. The wild ones do not stop. Do not fear the wolf you can see, but rather the one you cannot. For they will flank you, run you to ground and when you think you can go no further…then they pounce.

Her grandmother’s wisdom whispered in her ear, chiding her for running, but what else was Mariska to do? Cody was a wolf. Or maybe the wolf was Cody. The man and the animal confused her. Maybe she should have been repulsed or angered, instead of fascinated. The wolf’s wild anger contrasted sharply with the tender empathy he expressed towards Kid.

Stumbling, her arms wind milled for balance and she threw a look over her shoulder.

Cody wasn’t there.

Gasping for breath, she stopped and turned, gaze roaming the meadow behind her. The horses were still visible, grazing in the tall, sun-splashed grass. Spinning, she slammed hands first into a solid male chest and her gaze jerked upwards.

“Boo.” Cody grinned, bright blue eyes teasing her.

A startled yelp tore from her throat and she backpedaled. How the hell had he gotten in front of her?

Her heel caught on the back of her skirt, the rent of fabric split the air and she fell, but a band of steel caught her waist and steadied her. The warmth of him boxed in all around her.

“Where are you going?” Cody asked, the amusement in his gaze twining with curiosity.

“I was running away from you.”

“Ahh. You’d need the horse if you really want to put that much distance between us and the horses are back there.” He nodded behind her. The arm around her waist was firm, hard and as tense with muscle as she remembered. A flush of heat spread through her middle, eddies of desire pulsing with each heartbeat.

“You dragged me off my horse.”

“You were hitting me.”

“You spanked me.”

“You bit me first.”

Mariska swallowed a scream of frustration. His placid tone reeked with reasonable expectation, but the teasing glint in his eyes told her he knew exactly what he was doing. Gathering the shreds of her dignity, she tugged away from his arm and he released her.

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