An Unacceptable Mate

Chapter Twenty

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I couldn't breathe. The air was too thick and my body was bathed in heat and sticky sweat. My lungs twisted and contracted, trying to grasp onto usable air.

I threw myself upright, hand at my throat. Blankets upon blankets had been heaped over me. I quickly kicked them back, though it did little to decrease the soaring temperature. I ran my hand over my clammy forehead and shook off the perspiration. We were no longer on a ferry, that was for sure.

Sunlight streamed through a gap in the side of the wooden-stick hut. It was like one of those things you see on documentaries of the Amazon and the tribes that lived in huts.

I scanned the circular area. It was fairly basic with a pile of stones and sticks as a fireplace in the centre, the bed I was lying in and what I assumed was the toilet as a hole in the ground to the right.

I spotted some clothing at the foot of the bed, eyeing it suspiciously. It couldn't make me any warmer than I already was in my dark, tight clothing. I couldn't wait to change.

Not caring if someone would walk in, I peeled off my wet clothes and tossed them to the side, standing for a moment while I let the warm air get to my damp skin. I redid my pony tail and reached for the clothes. My mouth popped open. There was no way in hell I was wearing this!

Cream lingerie and a long white top that smelt way too much of Inerra. The idea of something smelling of him being on my body made me hesitate for a long minute. This was more intimate than kissing him.

    "Charlie? Are you awake?" an unfamiliar voice called.

I cursed rapidly, slipping the lacy underwear on and then yanking the white top over my head. It fell to mid-thigh. I tried not to growl about the shortness as I walked to the wooden door and pulled it open.

A girl, the brunette hooker, stood with a generous smile on her lips. She held a bottle of water that was condensing as it was so cold and a can of deodorant. I snatched them from her before I could help myself.

She laughed. "I guess being a human has its downsides."

I gave her a lingering glance and then stepped back so I could spray myself excessively with deodorant and then chugged down half the bottle of cool, refreshing water. Wow, I needed that.

    "I'm Annalia, but you can call me Anna," she offered kindly, stepping into the hut. I made her stumble back with my glare.

  "How about I call you hooker or whore or slut considering that is what you are," I said coolly, screwing the lid back on the bottle.

    "If you wish." She sounded hurt.

I frowned a little. If she was a hooker, why would she be embarrassed about it? Ashamed?

When I looked over at her, I was struck by the guilt in her eyes. I almost regretted my harsh words. "So...so where are we exactly? I don't think it's Europe anymore."

She smiled a little, relieved I'd not upset her again. "North Africa. Inerra brings us to all of these exotic places."

    "Why?" I blurted.

She smiled nervously. "You'll have to ask him that. I'm not allowed to talk about his plans, even if I don't agree with them."

    "Can't you run?"