“You.” A guttural groan rang out. I whirled to discover the two porch-climbers had made it up on the roof.
“I hate my life.” I took off, jogged several steps, then leaped over the gap. My feet struck the other side. Clay tiles slipped beneath my boots. Before I could fall to my death, Thorne’s arms locked around me.
His masculine scent filled my senses. Sky-blue eyes peered back at me, our noses almost brushing. I licked my suddenly parched lips, heart racing at an entirely new pace.
“Told you I’d catch you. You okay?” his deep voice rumbled, sending tingles into my belly.
“Yep,” I squeaked, then cleared my throat.
His smirk turned knowing, as if he registered the effect he’d had on me.
I pulled from his grip. “Let’s keep moving. If they can climb, they can jump.”
We leapt the next gap together, running until we reached thefinal roof. I scanned the vacant ground below. “I think we lost them.”
Thorne picked a path down the side, dropping off the last balcony and reaching for me. I lowered myself over the edge, easing down until my legs dangled.
“I’ve got you,” Thorne coaxed, his hands slipping up my calves, then my hips. Once I let go, I slid against his body, my arms coming to rest over his shoulders. Still, my feet didn’t touch the ground, Thorn’s grip unrelenting. He held me against his chest, both of us breathless as we met each other’s eyes.
“You can put me down now,” I said, my voice oddly husky.
His arms loosened minutely, allowing my body to glide down his powerful frame. My breasts dragged along his chest, the friction causing my nipples to pearl. The delightful sensation sent a spiral of heat coursing between my thighs.
From a foggy distance, I registered my feet connecting with the earth. Thorne’s eyes—often hard and mocking—burned with something I couldn’t name. For once, no cruel comment followed, only silence hummed between us.
A low groan and shuffling feet shattered the moment. Thorn blinked and released me, the spell broken.
Snarls and shrieks echoed.
“Does nothing stop these things?” I huffed a curl from my forehead, hands shaking with something other than fear.
“Come on. We have to get out of the village.”
“Yep. Sure. Let’s do that.” Again, we set off, raced past shops, cut through alleys, and sprinted into the woods. The village disappeared behind us, and we followed a rugged path, stumbling upon rocky terrain.
With little warning, the ground dropped away.
“Whoa.” Thorne flung out his arm to keep me from tumbling off the edge.
Beyond the ridge was nothing but blue sky and a vast chasm.
“Great. Dead end. Why did you lead us to a dead end?” Ishouted, my voice annoying even to my own ears. Still, I couldn’t help myself. Panic, a nagging shrew hungry for a scapegoat. “Are you trying to kill us? Because it looks like you’re trying to kill us.”
“You,” groaned the mob of creatures who’d somehow managed to keep up, despite their lumbering gate.
Rage infused my being, my borrowed flame flaring in my chest. I grabbed a rock and flung it—falling way short. Still, it felt good, so I threw another.
“Go away! Leave us alone!” I roared.
During my tirade, I failed to realize Thorne was stripping. I spun to find him shoving his pants down his legs. His naked form stunned me into silence.
Goddess save me, but the shifter was finely made. Powerful chest, chiseled abs, lean hips and his—yikes.
I whipped my eyes higher, locking them on his face. Throat going dry, I croaked, “What are you doing?”
“Breaking Alaric’s rules.”
“You’re kidding. You don’t plan to—”
