Chapter Twenty-Three
Telling Stories
“You look hot.”
Absorbed in his weeding, Alex gave a little yelp when his owner arrived. She moved so quietly, this ex-soldier, like a huntress stalking game. Naked but for his collar, Alex was hot. Though June had just begun, summer had already arrived. The sun was blazing, the air late-afternoon sultry and he was running with sweat. This was cutting tracks through the dirt all over him, and gleaming on his already darkly tanned skin.
Luckily he had no open wounds to worry about. His brands had healed, as had the last of his whip welts. Since that night on the gibbet Goddess had been using a simple strap or paddle that left only bruises, or electricity, which made no marks at all. Still under all the tan, dirt and sweat he had scars galore decorat
