Bawdy Ballads

The Wolf

My body obeyed and I was stuck. He tilted his head studying me and my stomach fluttered, anxious that he’d realize what the curse did. “Who are you?” I asked, hoping to break his attention.

“My name is Avery,” he said with a smirk. He closed the distance sniffing the air around me before his eyes flicked to my arm. “Show me your wrist little morsel.” I trembled as I brought my arm out to his hungry stare. He grabbed my hand in a surprisingly gentle touch as he brought my wrist close to his nose. He sniffed the scar and I shuddered. “Auntie Yaga gave you a blessing of some sort?” He said in observation not an order, but I found myself nodding at his glance. He licked out and I gasped. A tremble tore down my body that I didn’t understand. He tilted his head flashing his sharp teeth at me in a dangerous smile. “A curse?”

“Um,” I bit my lip unsure of what I could say.

“Not allowed to say,” he offered. I gave a nod thankful he understood. He released my hand, and I brought it back beneath the cloak nervously. He turned his back to me tugging his shirt up and I saw a paw scar on his lower back. “A gift I received almost ten years back.”

“A wolf paw?” I asked hesitantly. I lifted my hand, and my fingers traced it. His skin was so hot and surprisingly smooth. He growled beneath my touch.

He turned with a dark look but gave a nod. “Tell me little lamb, do you normally touch strange men you just met?”

“No,” I answered his unintentional command.

His lips lifted wickedly and something dark shifted in his stare as he glanced up and down my body. I trembled before I could stop myself. I’d never even been near a grown man in the last two years let alone a strange handsome one. “Have you ever touched a man, little lamb?” I shook my head. Dryness was seizing my throat. I licked out across my lips nervously. He growled a deep rumble. “How old are you sweet morsel?”

“Sixteen,” I answered, not wanting him to put any other commands on me. I learned just being straightforward with people helped avoid it. “How old are you?”

“Hmm you are young yet. I’m twenty years old,” he cooed, giving me another long stare down my body. I didn’t understand what he meant by that and wished I could shift away from the uncomfortable feelings blooming inside, specifically between my thighs. “I’m curious, young one, have you ever kissed a boy?”

I blushed hotly. I was not telling this stranger that! I didn’t care how uncomfortable it made me. “Not going to say,” he chuckled. “What if I decided to kiss you? What would you do, little lamb?”

“Don’t even think about it,” I warned but my voice quivered losing its edge.

He held up both hands. “I won’t, but . . .” he trailed off sniffing the air. His eyes were sharp, and fear sank my stomach. Could he know just through scent what my curse was? “Come closer little one I won’t bite,” he purred, flashing his bright white teeth.

My feet obeyed and I glared furiously at him. “Oh my . . . so obedient yet angry at the same time. Did your parents raise you to be an obedient little lamb?”

“My mother raised me properly,” I spat.

“And what about your father?”

“Dead.”

His look turned turbulent, and I fought my limbs not to flee and trigger the curses burn. “So, you have a grandmother, mother and yourself . . . no other siblings?”

I didn’t like the way he looked at that statement. Oddly hopeful and a little excited. “No siblings, I am an only child.”

“A hooded girl on her way to grannies,” he grinned dangerously. My muscles jerked and his eyes narrowed. “Don’t even think about running from me.” I gave a nod. Any thought I had of running left my mind. I frowned at that. “Come a bit closer, lamb. I want to see your face.”

My feet closed the distance until I had to peer up his tall frame to look into his eyes. “Do you have an issue with my family Avery?”

“Not at all,” he cooed as he scanned my eyes. “Your family is charming I’m sure and you are absolutely perfect, young one.”

“Perfect?” I repeated in confusion. “Perfect for what?”

“You’ll know in time,” he shrugged, “there is one last thing that would really make or break it I guess.”