Friday Snippet: Wilder’s Mate (NAUGHTY WORDS)

So last week I made y’all vote on which story you wanted to see a snippet from.  There was voting! Wilder’s Mate won by a fair margin, so I’ve reset the poll and am posting it again.

And now, by (we’ll pretend it’s) popular request…

AN UNEDITED SNIPPET FROM WILDER’S MATE
(now with some rather naughty language)

There was only one woman Levi had ever valued enough to keep near. “Ada was your mother?”

She stiffened so fast her horse sidled before she tightened her hands on the reins. “Yes.”

Another thing Nate had never mentioned. “Levi talked about her sometimes. He…” He’d loved her, as much as he’d been able. “Yes, he was fond of her.”

“Yes, he was.” Her voice held tension, and loss. “He didn’t have to take us in. He didn’t have to give me a home when she died.”

The old man hadn’t often spoken of things like sentiment. “You were family.”

Her lips twitched. “I was Ada’s girl, and as welcome most days as a stone in his shoe.”

Levi hadn’t been a particularly warm man, but he was ruthlessly practical. “He may not have been handing over pretty words and hugs, but he took care of you. With a man like that, it’s all the same.”

“Never saw much use for pretty words and hugs.” A brief hesitation, and he picked up the rapid beat of her heart, fast and nervous enough to belie her calm expression. “If you brought me with you intending to have a warm body during the new moon, I’m not unwilling.”

Wilder’s jaw clenched. She didn’t think much of him, if she thought he’d plan to take that sort of liberty without asking. “Takes a damn sight more than not unwilling to heat my blood, girl.” He grinned because he knew it would fluster her. “I like my women enthusiastic.”

Color rose in her cheeks, but her eyes glinted with stubborn challenge. “It’s a wonder you find any, unless you take care not to speak to them first.”

“Funny,” he murmured. “I’ve never had a problem, discussion or no.”

“I was wrong. Thirty pounds of ego, and I pity your poor horse.”

Wilder laughed. “He’s accustomed to my insufferable bullshit.”

“I suppose he would have to be. Do you think we’ll be able to rescue Nathaniel and return before the new moon, then?”

She was eyeing him with unmistakable interest. Perhaps all her questions about the moon phase had less to do with her low opinion of him and more with her own curiosity. “If not, I’ll make arrangements.”

“I see.” She rubbed the palm of one hand against her dusty trousers, a nervous gesture that matched the quick way her gaze jumped away from him to fix on her horse’s ear. “I’ve never crossed the border before. Nathaniel took me out to the Deadlands a few times when I was younger…”

“But not after you…blossomed?” It was the most polite way he could think of to refer to her considerable curves.

Satira looked like she wanted to cross her arms over her chest again, but she only shrugged. “He said it wasn’t a good place for a young woman.”

Wilder had seen women traded and sold there, either as whores or meals, and not enough of them had been willing participants in the transactions. “He’s right.”

“I know. I’ll do what I have to do, just like anyone.”

She would have run off, unaccompanied. She’d planned on it. The knowledge made Wilder’s gloved fingers tighten around his horse’s reins. “Just remember what you agreed to, honey. What I say, when I say it.”

“I remember.” And she sounded grumpy about it, too.

The afternoon sun gilded her pale skin, and a hint of breeze ruffled the golden strands of hair that curled around her face. She’d burn without a hat or bonnet, but something told him she wouldn’t appreciate him pointing it out.

They made it out of town before she spoke again, glancing at him with both eyebrows raised. “The plan isn’t to walk the horses the entire way, is it? I can handle a hard ride.”

Leading words, ones she’d meant to make him think of fucking. Of sweat and bare skin and the delicious, wet grip of an eager cunt around his cock. “Hope to hell that’s true, sweetheart.”

He urged his horse into a gallop without turning or waiting to see if she could keep up. If she wanted to play dirty, so could he.