anger. It was clear that I had intruded upon their space – that
I was not wanted here.
“I'm sorry...” I whispered. “I didn't meant to disturb
you,” I said quickly. “I just got lost. If you could just show
me the way back to the beach.”
They seemed to grip their spears tighter in response;
I shivered. “Look, if you'll just let me find my way back...”
I made as if to leave, but one of the men from behind, stepped
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straight across my path, his expression stern and implacable.
He clearly wasn't about to let me step out.
“Well, if it isn't Miss Evers!”
I gasped as a familiar face made its way through the
crowd. Chance was strolling nonchalantly through the group
of men, his body clad in black jeans and a black t-shirt. His
hair was so black, shiny, and thick, it glistened in the light.
Again, the mere sight of him took my breath away for a
second before I remembered how much of a jerk he could be
with me. But at this moment, his familiar face was the most
welcome sight I’ve seen all day.
“Chance!” I exclaimed in shock. “What are you
doing here?”
“The same thing I imagine you're doing, Miss Evers.
Out for a bit of a walk. I take it you've lost your way.” He
spoke cheerily, but I could feel the sarcasm in his soft but
gentle low voice.
“No, I decided it would be a spot of fun to sleep
rough tonight.” My stomach rumbled loudly, exposing the
falsity of my bravado. “What do you think?”
“I thought perhaps you just liked the scenery.”
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“Would you just stop...” My cheeks blazed.
He took a step closer to me and whispered. “Don't
look angry. They don't trust anyone they think can't control
their emotions.” He gave a furtive nod to the men. “Cool it.
You want them to trust you, or you're not getting out of here
alive.” He took another step towards me, and I could feel my
body once again growing weak – already so tired from the
run and the fear – as he fixed his shimmering blue eyes on
me. I looked into his eyes with my green ones, trying to
understand this infuriating man, trying to…
He kissed me. Roughly, passionately, all at once – as
I had dreamed, against myself, that he would do – pulling me
towards him, as if he wanted to pull me within his very soul.
His kiss was searing, breaking all the fear and uncertainty I
had about him, unleashing the desire I had for him even
before I realized it. I staggered back and then kissed him
back, unable to resist twining my arms around his head. My
heart beat to the same old dance – the dance of the fire, the
dance where we had both been surrounded, almost engulfed,
by flames. This was the kiss we both held back from that
night at the fire dance with the flames surrounding us.
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They felt hotter now.
I wanted to tear his shirt off. I wanted him to tear all
my clothes off. From the look in his eyes, he seemed to want
the same thing, but we were being watched by men holding
spears…
“That’s my woman,” Chance groaned, “giving me
what I want, when I want it.” He gave me a deep passionate
kiss while his hands grasp my butt tight against his groin,
grinding into me as though he was making love to me.
And then Chance turned away, facing one of the
warriors, the one who was carrying the boar's head under his
arm. “I see you've found my woman,” he said.
“What?” I cut in.
But Chance ignored me. “I see she wandered up here
to find me – she thought she could find my hiding place. You
know how it is, my friends. She misses the warmth of my
bed.”
My eyebrows shot straight up.
“She's likely gotten a bit cold – haven't you, Mac?”
“Freezing,” I muttered through gritted teeth.
“So you see, I can vouch for her. She has no interest
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in intruding upon your ways. She wants only a bit of what
I'm afraid, friends, you cannot give her. At least, I hope you
don't try.”
The warrior's grim face crinkled into a smile.
“She'll never reveal your secret – I can vouch for that.
I take responsibility for her. You remember, don't you, of
how I spoke of my twin? I showed you the picture, my
friend?”
The warrior nodded.
“Well, this is she. In all the delicious flesh.” Chance
shot me a look that showed how much he admired my
“delicious flesh”. I was going to retort with something
clever, but his look was not that of a leering pervert, but was
one of a man truly admiring the beauty of a woman. That
look said it all: he wanted me. But he wasn’t going to let me
have him that easily.
To my shock, the warrior bowed, tapping his chest as
the others all dropped to their knees. “Great god,” the warrior
touched his forehead to the ground. “You have found your
goddess at last.”
Chance did not break his gaze on me as he said,
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“Yes.” He smiled. “It appears I have.” He paused lightly, and
then put his arm around me. “To that end,” he continued, “I'd
awfully like to give the girl what she came for, don't you
think? It
