He was the handsomest man she’d ever seen but he reeked of danger. A dark shadow of facial hair defined his features. His ebony eyes were cutting yet expressive and his black brows and hair added power and strength to his appearance. A man of darkness.
Had she not met him on favorable terms she would’ve been frightened by his presence alone. She didn’t know how Wisty survived her fears. She’d been terrified when the Barbarians took her from her home. What a scary situation for a woman to endure. Everyone feared the Barbarians and when they rode off with Wisty, Ivy wanted to die. That night she couldn’t imagine the terror or torture her sister was forced to endure.
Bronto captured her gaze and smiled right before he stood. “I’m going to gather some men and retrieve that cave lion.”
“I’ll be right behind you,” Vulcan said.
“Can I come with you too?” Ivy asked.
“Absolutely.” Bronto smiled and offered his hand. When she slid her palm against it her insides shivered. “Bronto?”
“Yes?”
Why haven’t you kissed me yet? She lowered her eyes to the ground. “Never mind.”
Chapter Four
Ivy threw another hunk of wood into the fire and scooted closer for warmth. She could not shake the chills no matter what she tried. Two furs were draped over her shoulders but they failed to provide enough heat to stop her shivers. Neither did the one-piece frock Jade had given her to wear.
The freezing began after she and Bronto wandered off for a bath shortly after they’d returned with the cave lion then started chopping down trees for wood to reinforce the huts. Well, since he had chopped—she’d watched. The water was so cold he said her lips had turned blue. Blue lips. That didn’t make a very pretty visual.
The hut flap swooshed open and he stepped inside, carrying a clay cup. The firelight cast an orange glow over a portion of his body. The other portion remained hidden in the darkness. Half man, half shadow, he inched forward, gazing at her from his one visible eye. He represented power and strength and carried himself with so much pride her breath caught.
“Try this, love, but be careful, it’s hot.” He grimaced as he handed her the cup. Steam rose from the contents and disappeared into the air.
It immediately warmed her hands but she was no longer concerned with finding warmth, for his grimace indicated pain. She set the cup down near the fire-pit border. “What’s the matter?” she asked.
“Overexertion.” He smiled while clasping the back of his neck and very slowly tilted his head side to side. “The ax got the best of me.”
She reached for his hand. “Come here. Sit down.”
After he lowered himself to the hide she scooted behind him on her knees and sat back on her haunches. And then she froze at the sight of his wide, bare shoulders glowing in the firelight. She’d do anything for a chance to run her hands all over his body but this wasn’t the chance. He was uncomfortable and she needed to fix his pain.
Inhaling a sharp breath, she split his hair into two sections and draped them over his shoulders, where they tumbled to his chest. Her hands trembled as she placed her fingertips on either side of his neck. She closed her eyes. So much muscle and strength and…tension. Her eyes popped open. He was in pain. She needed to remember that.
Warm sparks ignited in her tummy and spread throughout her body, heating her to such a degree she shoved the hides off her shoulders and let them drop to the ground.
After dragging another mouthful of air into her lungs, she released it slowly and started a gentle massage.
He groaned and tilted his head forward. “You’re shaking, love.”
Like leaves in the wind. “I’m still cold,” she fibbed.
“Then why’d you remove the furs?”
“They’re in the way.” Adding pressure with her fingers, she rubbed little circles at the base of his neck. The tissue was bumpy from small, hard knots. One at a time she worked them loose by prodding and pressing.
“Ivy, where did you learn how to do this?”
“I used to rub my father’s back after a day’s hunt. That was a long time ago.” She smiled bittersweetly to herself. “Before he started hating us.” Over time she’d accepted it but saying it out loud choked her up. She inhaled deeply to ward off the burning sensation in her eyes.
“I find it hard to believe he ever hated you.”
“It’s true.” She worked her hands to his collarbone then his upper spine. “He blamed Boar for Lily’s death because Boar had taken her to the green lake to teach her how to spear fish.” Ivy shuddered at the memory of her father beating Boar nearly to death with his club. “If my older brother Shale hadn’t stepped in, my father would’ve killed Boar. Since that day, Father hasn’t liked us much.”
Bronto’s shoulders stiffened. “Maybe he was just bitter.”