Read Online Savage Silence: A Dire Wolves Mission (The Devil's Dires Book 4) by Ellis Leigh - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ellis Leigh
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some sort of predator. As if he’d hurt her like others had. As if he was a threat.
Ariel sat stock-still as his fingers brushed the back of her hand. The touch didn’t last long, but it was a major step forward. The spark it sent up his arm, the way it caused Ariel’s skin to flush, was more than he could have hoped for. And still, he knew better than to push for more. But before he could completely back away, she flinched, and his heart died a little bit.
“I’m sorry,” he said, pulling away. Pissed at himself for pushing her too far.
Ariel shook her head, her shoulders hunching, her arms coming up to hang on to the opposite biceps as if hugging herself again. Or holding together the pieces left behind. “I just… I don’t like to be touched.”
“I understand.” He inched back farther, giving her space until the stiff set to her shoulders softened. “The mating haze will make that difficult on you.”
“I know,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “And I’m terrified.”
A kick to the gut, but one he had to push away. That fear wasn’t about him; not really. This was about Ariel and her past, and Thaus being uncomfortable or feeling pain at her truth wasn’t something he needed to express. His mate deserved to feel safe in their relationship, to know she could tell him anything without him turning the attention to himself. He needed to be a good man to help her through this and a strong wolf to keep her safe.
Thaus ducked his head, capturing her gaze with his own. “I would never push you. I would never take from you.”
But Ariel didn’t look convinced. “You’ve said that.”
“I mean it. Every time.”
Quieter, softer…more honest than ever. “It’s hard to take your words seriously.”
“Well, you can. You’re safe with me.” He slowly rose to his feet, sensing she needed space. Hating that she did. “I need to secure the perimeter and get the other two windows open so I can scent anyone coming.”
Ariel completely curled in on herself, hugging her knees to her chest and staring at the floor once again, refusing to meet his eyes. A move that might as well have been a direct hit to his heart. One hard to ignore. But he was strong, so he left her to her thoughts. Gave her the space she needed in that moment.
As he walked toward the back bedroom, though, her little voice broke the silence.
“Thaus?”
“Yeah?” He didn’t turn around. Didn’t risk scaring her by moving too fast or pinning her with his gaze.
“You really mean it? You won’t…push me?”
He wished he could go back and kill those fucking bastards again. And again. Burn them alive, put them back together, and do it a second time. A third. Forever. “Not a single step. When it comes to you and me, we go at your pace.”
“And if my pace is slower than a snail?”
He coughed a small laugh, risking a peek over his shoulder. “Then we enjoy the journey.”
10
T he mating imperative and resulting haze were no joking matter. As a doctor, Ariel had seen the effect on shifters a number of times. The blank stares, the flushed skin, the obvious desire pulsing between newly mated couples. She’d stupidly thought the fact that she hadn’t sought out affection in years, had actually rejected it, would mean she wouldn’t be as affected by the pounding need to join with her mate and claim each other with their bodies.
She was so bloody wrong.
Ariel paced the living room, unable to sit still ever since the conversation with Thaus had ended. Ever since he’d…touched her. And by the gods, she swore she could still feel that spark of electricity from the tips of his fingers. Every inch of her was suddenly attuned to Thaus’ position. Every ounce of her attention dragging her thoughts back to him. One touch, one conversation, and that pull had shifted to a need, all because the man seemed…nice.
But nice completely underplayed Thaus. The word wasn’t strong enough, kind enough, rough enough, or soft
Ariel sat stock-still as his fingers brushed the back of her hand. The touch didn’t last long, but it was a major step forward. The spark it sent up his arm, the way it caused Ariel’s skin to flush, was more than he could have hoped for. And still, he knew better than to push for more. But before he could completely back away, she flinched, and his heart died a little bit.
“I’m sorry,” he said, pulling away. Pissed at himself for pushing her too far.
Ariel shook her head, her shoulders hunching, her arms coming up to hang on to the opposite biceps as if hugging herself again. Or holding together the pieces left behind. “I just… I don’t like to be touched.”
“I understand.” He inched back farther, giving her space until the stiff set to her shoulders softened. “The mating haze will make that difficult on you.”
“I know,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “And I’m terrified.”
A kick to the gut, but one he had to push away. That fear wasn’t about him; not really. This was about Ariel and her past, and Thaus being uncomfortable or feeling pain at her truth wasn’t something he needed to express. His mate deserved to feel safe in their relationship, to know she could tell him anything without him turning the attention to himself. He needed to be a good man to help her through this and a strong wolf to keep her safe.
Thaus ducked his head, capturing her gaze with his own. “I would never push you. I would never take from you.”
But Ariel didn’t look convinced. “You’ve said that.”
“I mean it. Every time.”
Quieter, softer…more honest than ever. “It’s hard to take your words seriously.”
“Well, you can. You’re safe with me.” He slowly rose to his feet, sensing she needed space. Hating that she did. “I need to secure the perimeter and get the other two windows open so I can scent anyone coming.”
Ariel completely curled in on herself, hugging her knees to her chest and staring at the floor once again, refusing to meet his eyes. A move that might as well have been a direct hit to his heart. One hard to ignore. But he was strong, so he left her to her thoughts. Gave her the space she needed in that moment.
As he walked toward the back bedroom, though, her little voice broke the silence.
“Thaus?”
“Yeah?” He didn’t turn around. Didn’t risk scaring her by moving too fast or pinning her with his gaze.
“You really mean it? You won’t…push me?”
He wished he could go back and kill those fucking bastards again. And again. Burn them alive, put them back together, and do it a second time. A third. Forever. “Not a single step. When it comes to you and me, we go at your pace.”
“And if my pace is slower than a snail?”
He coughed a small laugh, risking a peek over his shoulder. “Then we enjoy the journey.”
10
T he mating imperative and resulting haze were no joking matter. As a doctor, Ariel had seen the effect on shifters a number of times. The blank stares, the flushed skin, the obvious desire pulsing between newly mated couples. She’d stupidly thought the fact that she hadn’t sought out affection in years, had actually rejected it, would mean she wouldn’t be as affected by the pounding need to join with her mate and claim each other with their bodies.
She was so bloody wrong.
Ariel paced the living room, unable to sit still ever since the conversation with Thaus had ended. Ever since he’d…touched her. And by the gods, she swore she could still feel that spark of electricity from the tips of his fingers. Every inch of her was suddenly attuned to Thaus’ position. Every ounce of her attention dragging her thoughts back to him. One touch, one conversation, and that pull had shifted to a need, all because the man seemed…nice.
But nice completely underplayed Thaus. The word wasn’t strong enough, kind enough, rough enough, or soft
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