Forbidden Craving(60)

"I need a moment. I just found out my mate is a virgin. She's completely untouched. I don't think this has ever happened for a nymph. A woman-my woman-is to be mine, only mine."

Must stop shivering. "Back up, buddy. She hasn't agreed to be yours."

"But she will," he said, his gaze holding hers. "It's only a matter of time."

She licked her lips and whispered, "How can you be so sure?"

His eyes glittered with heat and determination. "Because, as you saw with Joachim, when I fight, I fight to win."





  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"I'M GLAD YOU RETURNED," Joachim said.

Brenna inched toward his bed. Even though she'd visited him every day for a week, she wasn't yet 100 percent comfortable with him. Or 50 percent.

Shivawn stood in the doorway, watching and guarding her. Usually she had a panic attack if anyone took up a post behind her. That was how the attack had happened. Ethan had snuck up on her, flipped her around and-




 

 

She cut off the thought.

She'd been with Ethan for four years. At first, he'd been wonderful. The man of her dreams. But within three months of marriage, his temper had begun to grow blacker and blacker.

The first time he'd hit her, she filed for divorce. He'd apologized on his knees and begged for her to take him back. Said he'd made a mistake, he'd been drinking and it would never happen again.

Must have been part of the Abuser's Handbook, she thought with a humorless laugh.

If only she'd resisted his charm. Instead, she'd shredded the divorce papers, relieved to return to her love.

The second time he attacked her, he'd also shoved a knife in her face and threatened her. Leave him and die.

She'd believed him.

So many times since that horrendous night, she'd wished to die. Beatings had become a staple of her life. She'd survived only because she'd had enough medical training to patch herself.

Today having someone behind her-having Shivawn behind her-didn't scare her. She was actually coming to like Shivawn and his gentleness.

Despite everything, even the short amount of time, she'd come to feel safe with him. Proof: earlier, when she'd been holed up in the hobby room, she'd listened to the other women weave stories of sensual exploits, and wanton images had bombarded her. She'd pictured herself doing...intimate things with Shivawn.

Well, not with him, not exactly, but with a faceless man. But she was certain the faceless man was Shivawn. Who else could it be? Not Joachim, that was for sure.

The warrior made her feel dizzy, achy and weak. Completely out of control. Sensations she despised. And yes, at one time, she'd loved them. Once, she'd loved sex and men.

Ethan had killed that love. Until today.

I would have to be a fool to want someone like Joachim. He was nothing like Shivawn. He wasn't kind, and he wasn't gentle. He was a hard, volatile warlord who wasn't afraid to use his fists. Yet even now, thinking about him made her heart race-and not just with fear.

Stop mooning. Get to work.

Right. Silent, she cleaned and bandaged Joachim's wounds, glad to see there were no signs of infection.

He should have been able to leave the bed by now, at least for short periods of time, but he was still too weak. 

"If you're going to heal the rest of the way," she told him, "I think Valerian will need to let you...you know."

He arched a brow. "Are you offering?"

"No?" She cleared her throat. "No. Definitely not."

Just as she was finishing up, a new man stepped inside the room. He carried a long, menacing sword; ice crystalized in her veins. She tried to dive under the bed, but Joachim latched on to her and pulled her onto the bed, behind him.

The action surprised and terrified her. Too abrupt! Too suggestive!

A soft whimper escaped her.

"You have nothing to fear, female. Nothing and no one will harm you while I'm with you."

"You're needed in the dining hall, Shivawn," the intruder said.

Shivawn looked at her, then Joachim, ignoring the stranger. He frowned. They weren't under attack? She crawled to her feet and rubbed her side, where she'd been pressed against Joachim. Her skin tingled.

"Did he hurt you?" Shivawn demanded.

Her mind replayed the entire episode, and she shook her head no. She thought...she thought Joachim might have been using his injured body as a shield.

In doing so, he'd reopened his wound.

"Valerian has summoned you," the stranger added impatiently. "Now, not later."

Shivawn flicked the man an irritated glare before closing the distance to give her shoulder a comforting squeeze. "I hate to leave you, but I must obey the king. Do you need to stay here or do you wish to go with me?"

Panic sprouted wings inside her chest. She didn't want him to go, but she didn't want to leave Joachim like this, either.