Her eyes slowly adjusted to daylight, brighter than it should be for early morning. How long had they slept? At the very moment she lifted her head from his shoulder, Ari tightened his embrace.
"Where are you going?" He didn’t open his eyes and his voice was thick with sleep.
"Kata needs me."
Several moments passed before he responded, his grip on her body easing. She watched him closely, sucking in a gasp when he opened his eyes and pierced her with his lustful stare. Silence hung awkwardly between them until Kati gave a whine, momentarily drawing her gaze from Ari's.
"Please."
Several moments passed before he briefly tightened his hold, then disentangled himself. A chill swept over her, but she managed to suppress it while he gripped her bound wrists and undid the belt keeping her tied. Thora bit her lip to hold back the cry when returning feeling painfully eradicated the numbness in her fingers. Ari gently rubbed her tender wrists until the sharp discomfort faded.
Once again, she focused her attention on the sky. Sol had already completed half her journey. Never had Thora slept so deeply and for so long into the day, unless she was ill. Ari had truly wrung all strength from her with his wicked attentions. She lifted her head to meet his gaze.
He said nothing, but she read a host of confusing emotions in his stare. Regret, hunger, apology. Her heart thudded heavily. Somehow, she managed to draw her attention away from him and to Kati who stood waiting, his golden eyes focused firmly on her face. She ruffled his furry head.
"Yes, I am coming."
Every muscle in her body ached when she stood, especially her inner thighs. Flashes of the way Ari had taken her throughout the night sent waves of heat through her veins. No wonder she'd slept so deeply and for so long. She shook her head. She had no time to dwell on that. Kata needed her.
Pulling her shift over her head, she went to the wounded wolf, kneeling beside her. A rush of relief burned her eyes when the beast lifted her head and licked Thora's hand when she reached out.
"Feeling better, girl? Good. Kati is getting you some food." She ran her hand along the wolf's back, keeping her voice soft and low. "I'm going to look at your injury."
She slowly drifted her hand toward the bandages covering the wound. Pulling the fabric away, she heaved a sigh of relief. The wound healed nicely. So far, no sign of infection. Maybe because the gash was not so deep. Kata might heal enough to travel in a couple of days.
"Here."
Ari held the small jar of salve before her. She looked up, shivering under the intensity of his stare. Knowing that he'd likely remain over the next days until Kata recovered enough to travel set her heart to racing again, as well as her thoughts, imagining what would pass between them in that time. She took the salve, suppressing a quiver when their fingers brushed.
She forced her focus on Kata, applying the paste to the wound. The wolf whined, but made no attempt to evade Thora's attentions. When she drew away, Ari handed her a fresh strip of cloth to cover the injury.
Sitting back, she spotted Kati approaching, threefat squirrels dangling from his jaws. He trotted over, laying the animals before his sister. He nuzzled Thora and sat, watching Kata as intently as she.
Kata's head rose up and she rested her forelegs before her, ears perked forward. The sight encouraged Thora's heart. Tears burned her eyes when Kata leaned toward the squirrels, taking one in her mouth and eating eagerly. Thora stroked Kati's head, thrilled the she-wolf's appetite had returned, and so quickly. Another sign her pet would recover.
"Go, find yourself a meal." She whispered the words against Kati's ear and turned to find Ari watching her. A wave of heat ran along her spine seeing the force of his stare. Flashes of the night before, of his wicked and dark games, roused a hunger that startled her with its ferocity. Ari had introduced her to delights she'd never imagined, never thought to want so deeply, even as she also resisted the urge to offer herself completely to his control.
Yet a frightening aspect cooled the heat. How had he, in less than a day, found a way to make her want to give in to every one of his debauched demands? Yes, he most definitely posed a greater danger than her attackers. She must attempt once more to free herself from his claim. She took a deep breath and stood, holding the jar out to him.
"This is very powerful salve. Where did you get it?"
He shrugged. "At market somewhere. I can't recall."
"In my village, we have a woman who creates similar healing draughts and ointments, but I don't think she's ever made this."
She twisted her hands before her. She doubted he would go along with her suggestion, but she had to try.
"Kata is healing nicely, but it will be at least another several days before she can travel again." Truthfully, she worried even that wasn't enough time, but she kept that concern to herself. Here was another chance to separate herself from him.
Ari nodded. "I understand."
"So, we shouldn't delay you anymore. In the morning, you can be on your way. Staying here with mewillhinder your journey, perhaps ruin your chance to reach The Thing."
He chuckled, walking to stand before her. He was still naked and Thora forced herself to look only into his face.
"I'm not going anywhere,ástin minn."
Did he think to soften her by using wooing words and calling her his dear? "But The Thing –"
