Free Perfect Misfits by Lawna Mackie

gently, she reached out, letting one fingertip touch his hot, bare flesh.
    She gasped, not out of pain, but out of amazement. She could feel his intense excitement. The thought empowered her. He wanted her, and for the first time in her life, she wanted to be wanted…whatever that meant.
    A growl escaped Ryder’s mouth, and momentarily, she removed her finger from his chest. Certain she could hear his heart beating like her own, she placed two fingers on him, tracing a path down and over his nipple. His breathing stopped as she watched him close his eye. Unable to control herself, she let her other hand find its way to his body, and rested it lightly on his massive thigh. Both hands began to travel on their on accord.
    Her lips found his chest, and the contact almost drove her insane with an unknown need. She had no idea what she felt, but it was irresistible. She was burning up from the inside out.
    His growl deepened.
    Tempest didn’t have to hope he was feeling like she was; she could feel it coursing through his body as it did hers. Tenderly, she kissed his fevered skin. Passion drove her further as her hands explored his body. Eagerly, she moved her hand along his massive thigh and closer to his crotch.
    Abruptly, he stood, sending Tempest backward onto her bottom once again. The magic she’d been feeling vanished.
    Humiliation swamped her. Everything she’d just done flooded her thoughts.
    What am I thinking? I don’t even know what I’m doing.
    For a moment, she actually wished a Vemler would kill her. She stared at the ground, unable to look up at the giant she’d just thrown herself on.
    Rogue moved behind her, then to her side, where the large critter tried to crawl on her lap.
    “No, Rogue!” she spoke harshly, and immediately regretted it.
    The gush of air pushed her hair back, causing her to finally look up. Ryder had disappeared, shooting straight up into the darkening sky.
    Her bottom lip quivered, and her vision blurred with tears that began to fall down her cheeks.
    “Silly gargdog,” she said, wiping the moisture away and pulling him close. “I’m sorry for yelling at you. Rogue, why didn’t you stop me from making a fool of myself?”
    “You like him, and Rogue believes he won’t hurt you,” he answered.
    Anger flushed her embarrassment away. “No, I don’t. It’s just that he makes me feel so…oh, I don’t know…frustrated.”
    “Tempest touched him without ending up unconscious.”
    A large sigh escaped her lips. “This is all his fault,” she spat with indignation. “We don’t need him, Rogue.”
    Rogue moved away from her and began pouncing in circles around her. “Tempest look where we are? I like him. There’s no Vemlers here, and he saved us. Fedor won’t find us.”
    Colors of all sorts danced before her eyes, even in the near-dark. There were green trees, blue running water, and pink flowers. She’d barely remembered what all those things were. Closing her eyes, she realized she could smell the sweet scent of…well, she didn’t know, but it was heavenly.
    “I know.” She hung her head, but then looked up and continued. “Do you know what’s best of all?
    “Wood! Vemlers hate wood!” she squealed with excitement.
    Like Rogue, she jumped to her feet and spun in circles with her arms wide open, temporarily forgetting the infuriating gargoyle. Rogue chased her in a circle and tackled her from behind. She grabbed at him and tickled him until he howled.
    The descent of darkness brought them both back to being serious.
    “Perhaps we should go into that lodge he made. I don’t know if it’s safe out here in the dark.” Tempest looked at Rogue, and they both moved toward the structure.
    Now, how do we get in?
    She reached out to touch the wood, and magically, a handle of sorts appeared. She grabbed it and pulled the door open, hesitating, unsure of what they would find.
    Lights flooding the lodge scared her half to death, and she let the door slam shut. The lights