Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“I never said I don’t like you,” Grath growled as they walked down the path together. “You drive me fucking crazy sometimes, but I like you just fine, little girl. And I wasn’t lying about the first time we met, either,” he added recklessly. “At least, not about the part where I thought you were the most beautiful female I’d ever seen.”
He didn’t know why he was saying this—why he was admitting it. He knew it was dangerous, but he couldn’t seem to help himself, damn it!
Madeline looked up at him, an incredulous look on her lovely face.
“You’ve got to be joking! If you like me so much, why do you always act like such a big, grumpy bear and try to avoid me?”
“I’m not avoiding you now, am I?” Grath demanded. “And what the fuck is a ‘bear’ anyway?”
“A big, dangerous animal that you might see in the woods out here if you’re not careful,” Madeline said shortly. “Come on—let’s go see the damn ice sculptures so we can go back inside and get warm!”
And she started walking faster, her short legs working as they neared the small town they had passed on the way to her parent’s domicile. Her mother had been right—it really wasn’t a long walk at all, Grath thought.
The town was lit up with strings of multicolored lights and there was an enormously tall tree standing in the very center of the small park which was situated on the town’s outskirts. Arranged around the tree in a circle at regular intervals were pedestals holding sculptures that did indeed seem to be made of ice. There was no chance of them melting because of the chilly air.
But Madeline didn’t appear to be enjoying the view of the town or the ice sculptures. She was shivering and rubbing her hands up and down her arms and stamping her feet every few seconds to keep warm.
“You really hate the cold, huh?” he asked, looking down at her as he kept up with her swift pace with ease. She was all bundled up in a thick coat with a neck wrap and a wooly hat over her thick, wavy hair but she still looked miserable. To Grath, this weather was barely chilly, but of course his Flame Kindred heritage kept him warm no matter what the temperature.
“Yes, I hate the cold! I’m still a Florida girl at heart!” She blew on her hands. “And damn it—I forgot my gloves!”
“Here—put one hand in your pocket and let me hold the other one,” Grath commanded. Without waiting for an answer, he took her right hand in his left and concentrated on sending a gentle, warming heat through his fingers.
“Oh!” Madeline looked up at him, an expression of surprise on her pretty face. “What are you doing? How are you doing that?”
“Didn’t I tell you I was part Flame Kindred?” Grath said. He grinned at her. “Come on, little girl—give me your other hand now.”
She pulled her other hand out of her pocket and he held it, warming it as well while Madeline watched him.
“Your fingers seem to glow when you do that,” she observed, looking down at her small hand, swallowed up in his big one. “How hot can you get?”
Grath shrugged.
“Pretty damn hot actually—though I can’t flame up like a pure-blooded Flame Kindred.”
“Flame up?” She frowned.
“Oh, uh—a true Flame Kindred can actually burst into flames,” Grath explained. “A flame that doesn’t consume him, though it will burn the fucking shit out of anyone who gets too close. Unless it’s his bonded mate,” he added.
“Wow!” Madeline’s big brown eyes got wide. “I’d like to see that!”
“You and me both, but I can’t do it.” Grath shrugged. “The most I can do is generate heat to keep myself warm—or to warm someone else,” he added, nodding down at their hands.
“My hands do feel warmer,” she admitted, glancing up at him shyly. “Um…thank you. I—” She looked like she wanted to say something else but then she shook her head and stopped talking.
“What?” Grath asked, wanting to know what she was thinking. “Say it, baby.”
“I just…” Madeline cleared her throat. “You’re usually just so stand-offish when we’re together. I guess I’m just surprised at you being willing to hold my hand even though my family isn’t around to see.”
Grath felt like she’d reached into his chest and squeezed his heart in her soft little hand. If only she knew how much he wanted to touch her! To hold her and kiss her and taste her! But of course he couldn’t admit to any of that—they would be getting into very dangerous territory if he did.
“Well, I’m your Protector, aren’t I? Can’t let you fucking freeze to death,” he said gruffly. “Come on—let’s look at these fucking sculptures, okay?”
“All right.” Madeline pulled her hand from his and nodded as they entered the small park with the huge tree in the center.