Alliances (Guardians of White Light, #1) by F.J. Gale Read Free Book Online Page A

sure I sleep with one eye open then. And a stake in my hand.”
    “I’d rather you didn’t.”
    She couldn’t help but smile at his joke. She scanned the room briefly and nodded to herself with satisfaction after a few seconds. Then, abruptly, she headed into the bathroom, her duffel bag still slung over her shoulder. She shut the door and locked it behind her.
    Mathias eyed the door with amusement. She’d gone in there to change out of her street clothes, away from his prying eyes. It was odd given the tough demeanor she projected. He certainly hadn’t expected to see this side of her. She was shy? It didn’t make sense.
    He crossed to the couch and shed his leather jacket, draping it carefully on the seat, mindful of the drug samples that were tucked away in the inside pocket. He stripped off his shirt and jeans and laid them neatly beside the jacket.
    He was about to climb into the bed when he heard the sharp clank of the bathroom door lock, followed by the creak of the door. He stopped short as she emerged.
    Wearing purple sweat pants and a matching strappy tank that somehow managed to hide the nakedness of her now unsupported breasts beneath it, it was a stark contrast to her other look. Soft and sweet. He sensed a vulnerability from her that he hadn’t before. He caught her checking him out. Her eyes lingered on his chiseled abs, his satin boxers. He watched her bite her lip and abruptly look away. He decided to let it slide and climbed onto the bed.
    “You can’t sleep there,” he called as he watched her drop her bag and approach the couch.
    “Why?”
    “You need to sleep with me. They won’t hesitate to bite you otherwise.”
    She hesitated. He didn’t know the full extent of her abilities, of her power. Part of her wanted to tell him so he’d realize that she didn’t need protection from anyone. But she wasn’t sure how he would react if he knew the truth. It could jeopardize their partnership and their mission against Immortalia. Instead, she just nodded.
    “There’s too many of them. Even for a slayer.”
    She forced herself to swallow her ego and utter, “All right.” She eyed him lying in the bed, wearing just boxers. “This is strictly business, okay?”
    “Of course,” he assured her.
    Her anxiety over sharing a bed with him was intriguing. He couldn’t help teasing her a little. “Besides, you don’t do vampires, right?” he said, echoing her words earlier in the parking lot.
    “That’s right,” she said with a laugh.
    He laid his head on his pillow and relaxed into the bed. He watched her out of the corner of his eye. She climbed onto the bed. She was so cautious about it, so uneasy. She lay down and edged as far away from him as the width of the bed would allow. She fumbled with the blankets in an effort to cover herself up as quickly as possible.
    “Here,” he said, giving her more.
    “Thanks,” she mumbled, pulling the covers up over her chest.
    “I’m not going to bite you,” he told her, gesturing to the choker that she still wore around her neck.
    “It’s not…I know…”
    Mathias’ brow furrowed with curiosity. She touched her guarded neck protectively. And that was when he realized why she wore it.
    “Let me see.”
    He rolled onto his side. She pressed her hand to his arm defensively, preventing him from coming any closer.
    “See what?”
    Her warm hand on his cold skin was like freezer burn. It was so intense. He could feel her pulse racing. Once again the same overpowering sensation he had felt earlier returned. Damn, what is it? He couldn’t place it. This time, he let himself feel it, scrutinize it. He had to figure out what it meant. It was unnerving as it compromised his normal unwavering self-control over his demon side. When he was close to her, for some reason, his vampiric instincts rose to the surface.
    And then he had it!
    Her blood was pure. She was innocent, a virgin.
    No wonder being close to her was so intoxicating. The blood of a virgin