How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days (The Embraced #1)

She smiled shyly, her cheeks blooming a pretty pink.

“May we have a long, happy life together,” he continued, “trusting each other in all manner of things.”

Her hand trembled slightly.

He drank from his cup, watching her. She took a sip, then her gaze shifted once more to the window.

“There’s a definite chill coming in.” He refilled his cup. “We could have curtains installed.”

“It’s fine as it is.” With a hesitant smile, she sat at the table.

He glanced at the window once more. There was no discernible breeze, and no reason why a summer afternoon in southern Vindalyn would produce such a chill. Unless … the chill was caused by something else. Or someone else. Damn.

When he’d knocked on the door, he’d heard her inside, talking to someone. Was there a ghost here bothering her?

He didn’t know how well he could protect her from a spirit, but it prompted him to move his chair close to her. She stiffened slightly. “Do I make you nervous?”

“No, not at all.” She grabbed the loaf of bread, tore off a piece, and slathered it with butter.

She wasn’t a very good liar. He sat beside her. “The assassination attempt must have frightened you.”

She paused a moment, then shot him an annoyed look. “Do you know what frightened me the most? Seeing you flying through the air, hanging on a rope, and falling down the side of the keep. You could have broken your neck! Next time, take the stairs!”

He blinked in surprise, then rested an elbow on the table, grinning. “You were worried about me?”

She scoffed, then stuffed the buttered hunk of bread into his mouth.

“Careful,” he mumbled, leaning back. He bit off a small piece, then removed the bread with a gloved hand. “I appreciate that you no longer see me as a Beast, but I’m still too dangerous for you to touch.”

“I know,” she muttered as she ripped another hunk of bread off the loaf.

Was she upset that they couldn’t touch? Did he dare hope that she wanted him? “Ana.”

She glanced up at him, and her eyes widened, locked with his for a tense moment. By the Light, he wanted her. His gaze drifted down to her mouth. If only he could kiss her.

He held his piece of bread up to her mouth, nudging it against her rosy pink lips. Her mouth opened, accepting it. When she bit down, he leaned forward to bite off the other end. Their eyes met.

So close, but still impossible. Even so, his groin swelled and began to harden. Not now, he mentally warned himself, as if his cock ever listened. Damn, if he was ever able to kiss her, it would nearly kill him.

He leaned back, leaving the bread in her mouth.

She took a bite and set the bread on the table in front of him. With a slight wince, she glanced toward the window.

A chill skittered down Leo’s spine. Had their ghostly guest disapproved?

Her gaze drifted toward the bed.

Was the ghost moving? He wanted to ask her, but figured she’d clam up if he pushed too hard. Maybe if he started with something small. He motioned to the pebbles. “Why are they painted? Do the colors mean something?”

“They’re not important.” She busied herself buttering a second piece of bread.

“They’re important enough that you keep them.”

She shrugged. “They mean whatever you want them to mean. It’s nothing but a silly game.”

His mouth twitched. “A game of stones?”

She set the knife down and gave the pebbles a wistful look. “They’re called Telling Stones. It’s a game to predict the future. I learned how to do it when I was on the Isle of Moon.”

“When you were recovering from being poisoned?”

A muscle in her jaw quivered. “I thought you were hungry.” She moved the platter closer to him and selected a slice of cheese for herself.

While she ate, he gathered up the stones in his gloved hand. “Red, black, and the number two. What future did these foretell?”

She swallowed. “It was simply a game to keep us entertained.”

His fist closed around the pebbles. “Then there’s no harm in telling me.”

She studied his face for a moment, then nodded slowly. “All right, then. When I drew those three stones, I said in two weeks I would meet a tall and handsome stranger with red hair and a black horse.”

Damn. He set the stones down, gazing at them in wonder. “They told the truth.”

She gave him a dubious look. “Only if I actually consider you tall and handsome.”

He arched a brow at her.

Her mouth twitched as she plucked a grape off the platter. “Well, you are tall.”

“You think I’m handsome.”

“Do I?” She popped the grape in her mouth.

“Yes, you do. You were staring at me the first time we saw each other.”

“I was staring because the prediction had come true.”

“Ah. So you do think me tall and handsome.”

“I don’t think it.” She picked up another piece of cheese. “I know it.”

He grinned. “I knew you were exceptionally intelligent.” She smiled back, and he ran his fingers over the three stones. “It seems like a fun game. May I have a turn?”

She nodded as she ate.

He pointed at each stone in turn. “A beautiful woman with black hair will meet a man with red hair—make that a tall and handsome man with red hair.”

When she snorted, he picked up the stone with the number two. “This means the two will become one.” He set it down and looked at her. “Is that a future you can accept?”

Her cheeks grew pink, and she fiddled with her cup of wine. “I—perhaps.” She winced as she glanced toward the bed.

“Something wrong?”

“No.” She took a drink of wine.

“You were hoping I could bed you now?”

She sputtered, her eyes watering as she coughed.

He hesitated, wondering if it was safe to pat her on the back. With her gown and his gloves, there were two layers of insulation. Tentatively, he touched her. Her coughing continued unabated. No shock, then.

He patted her.

“I’m all right.” She wiped her eyes.

He let his hand rest on her back.