Read Online Forged: The World of Nightwalkers by Jacquelyn Frank - Free Book Online
Authors: Jacquelyn Frank
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about arguing with her. Then she gave him a pat on the hand.
“Now if you think you can manage to stay here this time, I’ll go make you another steak. I’ll make you some sides as well if you can wait.”
He seriously debated that for a moment. Then he said, “Make me two steaks and all the trimmings you can manage.” Then he thought to add, “Please.”
Her eyes went wide. “That will be three steaks!” shesaid with no little shock and even a touch of being impressed.
“Your point?” he countered, a hard look daring her to argue. He wanted that steak and wasn’t in the mood to fight about it. But that look meant that he would … if necessary.
“All right then,” she said, backing up carefully as if she were afraid to startle him. That was when he realized what a gruff ass he was being, and a sheepish sensation washed over him. It must have telegraphed to his expression because she hesitated.
“I’m sorry. I’m just very hungry,” he said, all of his regret lacing the words. She had done so much for him, and he was being an ingrate.
“It’s okay.” Considering his feverish state, she wanted to offer him something lighter to eat, but she didn’t have the nerve to do so. “I’ll be right back with your food. Please can you try to stay in bed this time?”
“This time?” he echoed, lying back on his pillows and starting to look seriously worse for wear. He had done a lot these past fifteen minutes and it was clear it was more than his body could handle.
“You keep coming out of bed. Last time it was to eat and the two before that it was to …” she trailed off, realizing he probably had no memory of the times before and if she was reading this slightly more civilized version of himself right, he was going to be mighty embarrassed by what he’d done. Maybe. She still wasn’t sure what he was made of.
“It was tae what?” he demanded to know, sitting back up and narrowing those golden-amber eyes on her.
“You’re feverish. It’s not important,” she dismissed turning back toward the threshold of the door. It was mere steps away and she’d be free of his overwhelming presence. Maybe she’d get lucky and he’d pass out from fever before she got back with his food.
“ ’Tis important tae
me
,” he said, that hard voice demanding she do away with the niceties and get right down to the truth.
“You keep”—she swallowed—“you keep trying to, um, fondle me.” She wasn’t going to point out that she’d been thoroughly fondled already. Perhaps he had a code of honor or something and learning that would upset him. She didn’t want to disturb him any more than he already was.
She thought that right up until the moment a wolfish smile streaked over his mouth and through his eyes. “Aye, I’ll bet I did.” He chuckled in a deep, rolling laugh. “You’re fine for what ye are. And tiny though you be, you’re more than a bit juicy at the breast.”
She gasped, horrified and insulted. Well, maybe not insulted … or maybe she was insulted. She was confused about how she should take all of this. Frankly, she was burning out from being at red alert for so long. Perhaps that’s why her temper took over.
“You arrogant, obnoxious ass!” she spat out at him, heedless of the fact that she was poking a bear. “You better keep your hands to yourself from now on, fever or no fever, or I’m going to stab them with whatever sharp instrument is lying handy nearby!”
“Oh well,” he said, his humor still high in his eyes, “I’ll be sure tae be more careful then.”
It was clear he was anything but intimidated by her. In fact, the swine was mocking her.
“Oh!” she huffed, turning hard and stomping out of the room. She wished she had the sharp wit necessary to put an arrogant SOB like him back in his place, but the truth was she simply wasn’t that clever. And she had always taken things much too seriously all around. It had made it hard for her to make friends at
“Now if you think you can manage to stay here this time, I’ll go make you another steak. I’ll make you some sides as well if you can wait.”
He seriously debated that for a moment. Then he said, “Make me two steaks and all the trimmings you can manage.” Then he thought to add, “Please.”
Her eyes went wide. “That will be three steaks!” shesaid with no little shock and even a touch of being impressed.
“Your point?” he countered, a hard look daring her to argue. He wanted that steak and wasn’t in the mood to fight about it. But that look meant that he would … if necessary.
“All right then,” she said, backing up carefully as if she were afraid to startle him. That was when he realized what a gruff ass he was being, and a sheepish sensation washed over him. It must have telegraphed to his expression because she hesitated.
“I’m sorry. I’m just very hungry,” he said, all of his regret lacing the words. She had done so much for him, and he was being an ingrate.
“It’s okay.” Considering his feverish state, she wanted to offer him something lighter to eat, but she didn’t have the nerve to do so. “I’ll be right back with your food. Please can you try to stay in bed this time?”
“This time?” he echoed, lying back on his pillows and starting to look seriously worse for wear. He had done a lot these past fifteen minutes and it was clear it was more than his body could handle.
“You keep coming out of bed. Last time it was to eat and the two before that it was to …” she trailed off, realizing he probably had no memory of the times before and if she was reading this slightly more civilized version of himself right, he was going to be mighty embarrassed by what he’d done. Maybe. She still wasn’t sure what he was made of.
“It was tae what?” he demanded to know, sitting back up and narrowing those golden-amber eyes on her.
“You’re feverish. It’s not important,” she dismissed turning back toward the threshold of the door. It was mere steps away and she’d be free of his overwhelming presence. Maybe she’d get lucky and he’d pass out from fever before she got back with his food.
“ ’Tis important tae
me
,” he said, that hard voice demanding she do away with the niceties and get right down to the truth.
“You keep”—she swallowed—“you keep trying to, um, fondle me.” She wasn’t going to point out that she’d been thoroughly fondled already. Perhaps he had a code of honor or something and learning that would upset him. She didn’t want to disturb him any more than he already was.
She thought that right up until the moment a wolfish smile streaked over his mouth and through his eyes. “Aye, I’ll bet I did.” He chuckled in a deep, rolling laugh. “You’re fine for what ye are. And tiny though you be, you’re more than a bit juicy at the breast.”
She gasped, horrified and insulted. Well, maybe not insulted … or maybe she was insulted. She was confused about how she should take all of this. Frankly, she was burning out from being at red alert for so long. Perhaps that’s why her temper took over.
“You arrogant, obnoxious ass!” she spat out at him, heedless of the fact that she was poking a bear. “You better keep your hands to yourself from now on, fever or no fever, or I’m going to stab them with whatever sharp instrument is lying handy nearby!”
“Oh well,” he said, his humor still high in his eyes, “I’ll be sure tae be more careful then.”
It was clear he was anything but intimidated by her. In fact, the swine was mocking her.
“Oh!” she huffed, turning hard and stomping out of the room. She wished she had the sharp wit necessary to put an arrogant SOB like him back in his place, but the truth was she simply wasn’t that clever. And she had always taken things much too seriously all around. It had made it hard for her to make friends at
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