The Calling by Nina Croft Read Free Book Online Page B

toward the horse, but halted at the edge of the clearing. Reaching out, he stroked his hand over one of the huge rocks. “This is no natural place,” he murmured. “Look”—he gestured around them—”the rocks go all the way around the clearing.” He was right. Though many were hidden among the thick trees, Freya could see the stones formed in a perfect circle around them.
    Standing upright, they towered over her head. She moved closer and smoothed a finger down the nearest, sensing the hum of magic.
    Jarrod mounted the stallion and slotted his staff into the scabbard at the side of the saddle, then reached out a hand to her.
    “Come,” he said, a thread of impatience running through his voice.
    Once again, she considered turning around and walking away, but somehow her feet moved toward him.
    His palm was warm and hard against hers as he hauled her into the saddle. She sat sideways, but he gripped her around the waist and lifted her so she straddled the saddle in front of him. For a minute, she held herself stiff and as far from him as she could, but the heat radiat-ing out from his big body tempted her. When he draped the damp folds of his cloak around them both and tugged her back against him, she didn’t fight. He wrapped one arm around her waist but loosely, and she relaxed. As they rode away, she peered back over her shoulder at the clearing. Would she ever see Shayla again? She had to believe so, but she couldn’t help the feeling that the key to finding her was in that clearing. The Goddess had told her to bring together three witches with the mark. Shayla was the only one she knew.
    Still, they had no choice but to leave now.
    Jarrod urged the big stallion into the stream and walked him through the water for about a mile before clambering up the bank and heading into the forest.
    Freya didn’t ask where they were going. Exhaustion tugged at her mind and body. His warmth stole over her, and the rhythmic movement of the horse finally lulled her to sleep.
    ~*~
    When she blinked open her eyes, the moons were low in the sky.
    She was warm both inside and out. Jarrod’s arm was around her, his large hand splayed across her belly. He held her tighter against his body. Even through the layers of clothing, the hardness of his erection pressed against her buttocks, and an unexpected heat uncoiled low down in her body. She stiffened instinctively.
    Jarrod has passed the night in a state of almost unbearable sexual tension. In sleep, Freya had relaxed and been so soft and sweet that he hadn’t been able to resist holding her closer, breathing in the warm womanly scent of her. How had the Order denied themselves this for so long?
    But her closeness came with a price. His cock was about to explode, and if she wriggled one more time, he was liable to come right here in his pants. He almost wished she would.
    Instead, she went still against him, and he knew she was awake.
    He’d sensed no one following them; maybe it was safe to stop for a while. They could dry their clothes and have some food before deciding what their next move should be. His mind was shying away from what he had seen in the clearing. He could hardly believe it. His daughter had used one of the Words of Power. The last time he had heard one was from Casterix’s lips as she tried to destroy their world.
    The strange thing was, he was beginning to understand why Casterix had done what she had. Malachi had killed her mate, and she’d been wild with grief. Jarrod’s arm tightened around the woman in front of him. She was his. He knew he would fight to the death should Malachi try and take her from him now. But how much further would he go?
    Her skin was warm beneath his palm; if he slid it up a little, he could cup her full breast. Would her nipple harden against him? At the thought, flames shot to his groin, and he bit back a groan.
    He shook his head, tugged on the reins with his free hand, and the horse came to a standstill. Time to put a halt to