aHunter4Saken (aHunter4Hire) by Cynthia Clement Read Free Book Online

since you’ve landed on earth.” Kimi tried to keep the surprise
from her voice. “You must have been with women?”
    “Only
our leader, Ardal, has found his mate.”
    Kimi’s
mind drew a blank. She couldn’t conceive of a man of Niail’s age, and obvious
masculinity, never having slept with a woman before.
    “If
your implants are out, then you can feel attraction for women.” Kimi’s words
were hesitant. “You must have found some that you wanted to mate with.”
    “No.”
A flicker of emotion burned deep within Niail’s gaze. “The genetic
modifications that were done to make us better warriors also intensified our
bonding. We desire only one mate.”
    “What
does that mean?”
    “We
bond to one woman. There will be no others. Hunters will go to any lengths to
protect them, including disobeying orders.”
    “So
when you have a mate you become unreliable soldiers?” Kimi shook her head.
“That makes no sense. Plenty of men and women fight for their countries and
still have families.”
    “They
are not Hunters.” Niail’s voice was low. “A Hunter forms a pair bond with the
woman who is destined to be his one and only mate. They connect not only
physically, but mentally, and spiritually. They become one with each other.”
    “That
sounds pretty intense.” Kimi forced her voice to remain steady. “I’m not sure
that’s any different than what humans feel when they’re in love.”
    “A
Hunter always knows what his pair bond feels and needs, even if they are not
mated.”
    Silence
followed Niail’s words. The air crackled with tension and Kimi shifted in her
seat. The breath caught in her throat and she had to force herself to look away
from the truth in Niail’s eyes.
    “Why
are you telling me this?” Her voice stumbled over the words.
    “I
am certain you are my pair bond. Until I found you I had no desire to be with
another woman.”
    “That’s
not possible.” Kimi shook her head. “We just met. You’re confused because I
helped you. Patients transfer their affection to their caregivers all the
time.”
    Niail
continued to stare at her for a few seconds and then looked away. “As you say.”
    Kimi
exhaled the breath she had been holding. “Now you’re trying to humor me.”
    Niail
pushed back from the table. “I know that in over ten months of having my
implants deactivated, no woman has interested me. You are the first.”
    Kimi
gave a crooked smile. “That’s a wonderful compliment, but I’m not looking for a
partner or a mate.”
    “This
not something we can choose.” Niail picked up the empty plates from the table
and brought them to the sink. “If my head was not so foggy, there would be no
doubt about whether I am bonding with you.”
    She
went to the stove and lit the burner. She still had pancake batter to cook, and
kids to feed. She was attracted to Niail, but she wasn’t prepared to be his
chosen mate. She was an independent woman raising children. She had worked
hard. She wasn’t throwing it all away because a man appealed to her.
    Niail
cleared his throat. “I need to contact my fellow Hunters. Do you have any means
of contacting the outside world?”
    “My
one and only concession to modern technology is a cell phone. I have children.”
Kimi smiled. “That means I have to be ready for any kind of emergency.”
    “It
works in this area?”
    “There
are cell towers everywhere.” Kimi flipped a couple of pancakes onto a plate.
“The phone is in my truck. Ask Wil to get the phone on his way into breakfast.”
    Niail
went outside and called for the kids. The children were completely taken with
Niail and she heard them answer him immediately. They would be disappointed
when he left.
    Niail
returned to the kitchen and leaned against the counter. “Wil’s getting the
phone.”
    Peta
walked in at that moment. “Who are you going to call?”
    “I
must report to my brothers. They will be worried.”
    “Are
they warriors too?”
    “Don’t
be so nosy.” Kimi