Rumplestiltskin by Jenni James Read Free Book Online

right, she beheld the large pile of straw waiting for her to turn into gold. She groaned and turned farther still to see a small bed with blankets and the like.
    “Before you twist completely around and see me, I thought I had better warn you I was here this time.”
    Aubrynn jumped at the first sound of his voice and screeched when she turned more fully and saw the strange man in her room. “Great Scott! Do you intend on frightening me out of my wits every single time I am alone?”
    He grinned. “Well, not every single time. Maybe a few more though, yes.” He moved his leg that was becoming a bit stiff from the angle it was in as he sat at the spindle. “I did warn you I had that effect on people, did I not?”
    “You most certainly did.” She grinned, grateful to not find herself alone. “But how did you get here? Who are you? And what in all of the world would make you come and be here with me now?”
    He leaned back and folded his arms as best he could. “Whoa, there. One question at a time. And I promise I will answer them all for you—anything you want to know, I will gladly answer. But first, I am famished. Do you have any food perchance?”
    “I—” She blinked again. “I—I do not know. Wait. Stop. Just for a moment. Can we at least begin with one thing before I try to sort my mind into figuring out what has happened to the knapsack I had brought with me to the memorial earlier—just a moment, please?” She knelt up on her knees and brushed her dress out as best she could before stating grandly, “I am Aubrynn Sloat. I know it is not proper for a girl to introduce herself first, but as you can see, I am with a man without manners who clearly does not know these things, so I must make do.”
    Rumple laughed. Threw his head back and laughed a great hearty laugh. Something he had not done since Tilly had left him. “You have caught me, my dear. You are correct. I am something of a savage with no real manners, as you can see.” He bowed his head in acknowledgement. “Thank you for putting me rightfully in my place at such a time like this. You, Aubrynn, may call me Rumplestiltskin.”
    “Rumplestiltskin?” Her brow furrowed slightly. “Rumplestiltskin? What name is that? Do you have a distinct heritage? I have never heard of it before.”
    “Or Rumple if you would prefer something easier.”
    “Is that truly your name?”
    “Do you see someone else who would fit it more than me? Yes. It is what I am most likely called wherever you go, Rumplestiltskin.”
    “But why? I do not understand.”
    “I have never had a person so vehemently dismiss my name before; I do not know quite what to make of it. Do you perhaps not see how rumpled and stilted my skin is? Should I stand for you then?” He made as if to get up.
    “No. Please stay seated.” She herself stood, however, and approached him. Her deep brown eyes full of concern. “Forgive me if I have come off discourteous just now. I did not mean to, it is just—when did this happen to you? Where you always this way, or has something happened?”
    His own eyes locked with hers. “Does it matter?”
    She read layers of hurt within his depths and she realized this was indeed a very sensitive subject to bring up, but it also meant something to him—no matter how harmful it was—it meant something to him that she was curious enough to ask. “Yes, it does matter.”
    He stared at her a full two minutes before simply stating quietly, “No.”
    “You were not born this way?”
    “No, I was not.”
    “What happened?”
    He glanced away, his gaze taking in everything at once without looking at her. “A curse. And that is all I will say about it.”
    “No, please, do not close the subject off now.” Aubrynn stepped forward and clasped one of his hands. She was surprised to feel the zing of awareness that pinged through her at the simple touch. For a second there her whole arm felt tingly and alive.
    When his eyes met hers she could tell he was