“Yeah, I know. Coral said the same thing yesterday, with the same exact look on her face.” He gave her a gentle shove towards the hall. “Go have fun and decompress. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Love you.” She waved over her shoulder and jogged down the hall. She stopped at her room first and grabbed her mittens and scarf and heavy jacket. She headed towards the back of the lodge, focused on her intent, the stable. Maybe seeing some of the horses would help her feel better.
She was so focused on her destination, she didn’t see them until it was too late.
Bertram was down the other hall, firmly chastising a young maid. She was bent over, her bare bottom red under his ministrations as he scolded her about timeliness and effort. When he finished, he flipped her short skirt back down, patted her backside, and pulled her into a quick hug.
Jillian couldn’t see his face from there, but she could picture the love and arousal he must be feeling right now. He then gently tugged the young woman into a room and shut the door behind them.
That was all she needed to see. The tears fell freely now, and her stomach felt like she had been punched. Redd had been right. There was no place for her—not at this lodge, and not in his heart.
She gave a small sob and tore out the back door. Gut wrenching heaves, stutters, and hiccups took over her body. She blindly ran and tripped and stumbled her way through the woods and hills. One foot in front of the other.
Her heart felt like lead, and her head ached so badly.
She paid no attention to her surroundings until she tripped over a hidden root. She flailed her arms, rolled down the hill, and skidded to a stop at the edge of a rocky cliff. Her heart leapt into her throat as she carefully eased back from the edge. It was so far down. If she had fallen… She shuddered to think of what might have happened to her had she not stopped herself in time.
She picked herself up and dusted off the dirt and snow that clung to her frigid body. How long had she been running? She couldn’t see the sun through the trees and clouds. The first few snowflakes fell around her, and she shivered.Good lord, Jake was right.She rubbed her sore arms and stomped her feet. Where was she? She was so angry atherself for walking out like that and not paying attention to where she had gone.Stupid. Stupid.
No.She was not weak. And she was definitely not dumb. She would figure out what direction she had come by looking for her footprints and other signs, and then she would go back the opposite way.Easy-peasy.
Then she heard the growls.
CHAPTER 15
CADE
The blush on Faye’s cheeks as he undressed her made her eyes look even brighter. Cade couldn’t decide which he wanted to do first—kiss her or spank her.
“You might have told me about the wolf thing. I mean, I’m a paranormal, too.” She looked wounded, as if she’d considered them to be close enough to share secrets. It cheered him. Maybe she did care a little.
“I planned on telling you, I just hadn’t found the right moment yet.” He unbuttoned her jeans, sensing her trembling. He tugged her jeans and panties down and held the legs for her to step out. Her trembling increased.
“Are you freezing, Faye?” He bent his head and brushed his lips lightly across hers. “Get in the tub. I made it lukewarm, so it shouldn’t burn too badly.”
She took the hand he offered and stepped in, hissing when her feet hit the water, prancing as if it scalded her.
“I know, baby. You’re really cold. You were out there a long time.”
He let his eyes wander to her breasts, where the nipplesstood out in hard points. She flushed again, her hands coming up to cover them.
“Don’t,” he murmured.
She sank into the water, easing her bottom in until she sat. Her gaze landed on his cock, which promptly stood up for the attention. She swallowed, dragging her eyes lower to his flippers.
“Maybe my magick didn’t work right on you because you’re a shifter,” she said, her voice sounding strangled.
He nodded. “Yeah, I thought of that.”
“You might have said something.” Her tone sounded hurt again. She looked so vulnerable, so lost. He had intended to give her a severe scolding before he spanked her, but he found himself incapable of speaking harshly. He returned to the entryway, where he’d dropped his satchel and pulled out his boxer briefs and jeans. Sitting on the edge of the tub, he folded the flippers in half to fit them through the leg holes. He expected Faye to mock them, but instead she watched, looking troubled.
“Cade? You were right last night. I really don’t know how to fix your feet. What if I never can?”
He zipped up his jeans and crouched beside the tub. “Faye, you have a lot of power. Your emotions made it rain in my living room and wilted my plants. You had magick powerful enough to transform my feet in the first place, so I know you can fix them.”
She studied him but did not answer.
“Why did you leave, Faye?”
