Hammer

17

He watched as she walked back to the makeshift tent. He averted his eyes from her body. The way her hips swayed sent several very pleasant thoughts crashing through his mind.

Hammer really did not want to think about her like that. Even if she was his mate. That would make this entire thing too awkward for him.

He just had to get her home safely. Then he could forget about her.

But he still marveled at the fact that she had stayed. She could have saved herself instead of helping him.

There had been enough supplies in his duffel bag to get her to the next town. She could have moved quickly enough to have a real roof overhead.

Hammer wasn’t used to the type of kindness she was showing him. His time in prison had shown him the worst of humanity. He had been subjected to the worst cruelty that the world had to offer. Being with Charlie was like a balm to his wounds.

Hammer’s mind went to the scars on his back. They had started healing a long time ago.

The scars came from whips and claws. They came from fights for sport. Fights he had been forced into.

Charlie’s kindness and care were almost shocking. It made his chest ache. It made his stomach turn.

That she was his mate and did not know it made her kindness more bittersweet.

As she entered the tent, Hammer noticed she hadn’t even broken a sweat while gathering the herbs. He lay back down and considered the events of the past three days.

Charlie had the stamina of some of the strongest female dragon shifters he had known.

She had escaped from the pit on her own. She had used brute force to knock a guard into the pit and stab the other guard … the bone had simply been a small tool in her escape.

When he grabbed her, she had accepted it and held on. Any normal human being would have had a heart attack. Or passed out, at least.

Charlie was absorbed in creating a fresh poultice for his wound. Hammer examined the lines of her face as she focused on her work. Her face was heart shaped, and her cheekbones were high and defined. But the rest of her face was softly curved. Her mouth was generous and wide when she smiled.

There was a slight scar on her right temple, but it was clearly old. It was barely visible, but Hammer’s shifter eyesight picked up every detail.

She took his breath away. She was so beautiful.

It hurt him that he would be leaving her. The future did not make sense when he thought about life without her.

As they shared the small space, he could almost allow himself to forget about Ajmal.

“What are you looking at?” Charlie asked curiously. Hammer had been lost in thought. And he had been gazing at Charlie while doing so.

He cleared his throat and sat back up. “Nothing,” he said, shaking his head.

“Okay, well, I need to check your wound again. I want to pack it with a fresh compress.” She was very efficient and moved quickly.

Charlie ripped off the bandage and caught the soiled poultice. Hammer winced as she rubbed his wound down with wild ginger and garlic.

It stung a little, but then she applied the cool poultice, and he exhaled with relief. She quickly bandaged it with a semi-clean strip of fabric. Then she proceeded to pack up everything.

Hammer could see how she must have been an asset to Ajmal’s team. Her efficiency and neatness were attributes any expedition needed. Someone like Charlie was needed more than money or fancy equipment.

“You should rest.” He winced at the kindness in his own voice. Hammer knew Charlie had heard it, too, when she looked up at him in surprise.

He swallowed compulsively before speaking. “I mean, you’ve been busy nonstop for days. It isn’t healthy for you to keep going like this.”

She nodded slowly. Her eyelids were heavy, and he watched as she shivered again. That was it! Hammer thought. He refused to let his mate endure anything else.

He didn’t care if they never saw each other again. He would take care of her for as long as he had her.

The way she had done for him.

“Come here.” He growled more than spoke, and Charlie’s bright blue eyes widened. With fear? With alarm?

“You’re going to get hypothermia like that. You’re freezing, and you’re exhausted.”

She wanted to protest, Hammer thought. But he held firm, keeping his hand out to her.

“We’ll survive by sticking together and keeping warm. This weather is deadly,” he murmured. With a nod, she scooted over to him. Something twisted in his chest as he rested his chin on the top of her head. He wouldn’t be able to breathe soon.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, hugging her close to him. Hammer was relieved that Charlie stopped shivering soon after.

Hammer wasn’t sure what prompted him to speak. Maybe the silence was too uncomfortable for him. Or maybe he simply wanted to speak. After all, he had spent years locked up with only his own company. Or the company of the animals around him. And that included the prison wardens as well as guards.

“What made you pursue anthropology?” he asked. Charlie stiffened against him for a second.

Then she relaxed and gave a heavy, sleepy sigh.

“I love old things,” she began. Then she paused as if considering her answer. “But also, I learned a long time ago that the future is unsustainable unless we know everything about the past.”

“That’s a very philosophical outlook.” Hammer was surprised at the laughter that escaped him. When was the last time he had laughed? Properly laughed?

He could not remember. Maybe when he had been a child.

Charlie giggled and pressed herself more closely against him.

“I don’t know,” she murmured, her voice contemplative. “I think there are things that are sacred. Things that we should worship. Things we will never understand. But they only exist in the past.”

Then, she gazed at him.