Free The Unforgiven by Joy Nash Page B

found a cup among his tools. She dipped it into the water with shaking hands. He accepted the meager offering and raised it to his lips. She watched his throat move as he drank.
    “
My thanks, Lilith.” A faint smile curved his lips when he had finished. “Daughter.
”
    Daughter.
    With that single word, he made her love him.
    Daughter.
    The word spun in Maddie’s head. Slashed at her heart.
    Daughter.
    Her eyes flew open. At the same instant, the ground rolled under her feet. Her knees buckled. Her balance toppled. The ground rushed upward.
    A low curse came from somewhere above and behind her. A heavy thud shook the ground. Arms—strong, masculine arms—caught her, enfolding her tightly from behind.
    Bare skin touching bare skin. Electricity zinged at the connection. A giddy sensation of relief swirled through her veins like a drug. Safe. She was safe.
    “Madeline.”
    His voice was low, urgent. Why? What was wrong? Wasn’t she exactly where she was supposed to be? She pressed her spine into his warmth, her head resting against his chest. Again, she had the sensation she was falling. This time she didn’t panic. He was here. He’d protect her.
    “Maddie,” she murmured, correcting him without opening her eyes.
    “What?”
    “It’s Maddie. Not Madeline. I hate when people call me that.”
    “Maddie, then.” Amusement softened his worried tone. He turned her body slightly in the circle of his embrace. She spread her hand on his chest and nestled her cheek beside it. His heart beat steadily under her ear. His ribs expanded as he drew breath.
    Cade. She was with
Cade
.
    He sat on the ground, his back supported by the wall of the pit. She was in his lap, his arms wrapped around her like a blanket. One of his big hands cupped her head, holding it against his chest. The other rubbed delicious circles on her back.
    “Maddie,” he murmured.
    A surreal yearning floated down on her like stardust. His scent—earthy, virile, exciting—surrounded her. She felt something inside her give way.
    “You smell good.” She inhaled deeply and nuzzled his chest. “You feel good, too.”
    “Do I?” He chuckled. “That’s tidy, then. You feel good, too.”
    The fog of the waking dream was fading. Lucidity was creeping up on her. Desperately, she held it at bay. In another few seconds, she knew, she was going to be horrified. But right now . . .
    “I’m scared,” she whispered, her lips touching his chest. “Terrified.”
    “Of what,
caraid
?”
    Of you
, she wanted to say.
    “Of . . . of dying,” she said instead.
    It was a huge confession. In the year since her diagnosis, she’d never once voiced her fear. She’d been defiant. Optimistic. It wasn’t in her nature to give up. Even when her last hope faded, she’d been practical. Everyone dies, she’d told herself. Herfather and mother were both dead. It was inevitable. There was no point being afraid. No need to burden everyone around her with her angst.
    I’m scared.
What huge relief to say the words at last.
    “I know,
caraid
.” He smoothed the curls from her forehead. “I know you’re frightened. But I’m here now. It’ll be all right. Just rest a moment.”
    It’ll be all right.
The words tempted, like an apple that was ripe and shining on the surface but rotten underneath. She blinked back sudden tears of anger. How
dare
he mouth platitudes to her? How stupid of her to want so badly to believe him.
    The anger wasn’t rational; she knew that. Cade didn’t know about her cancer or her death sentence. She couldn’t stop the burst of resentment that sent her elbow hard into his midsection, though.
    He grunted. She struggled to climb from his lap. He resisted her pitiful attempt at escape, his arms banding around her like steel.
    “Let me go!”
    She tried to get leverage, wriggling and shoving. Then she froze. His erection was pressed against her butt. Her body responded with a flood of moist, yielding desire.
    She experienced a fresh surge of