Bound by Honor by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page B

could try falling on an adversary!”
    â€œIneffective unless you want to gain three hundred pounds,” he returned. He grinned. “Although, you could certainly experiment on me, if you want to. It might immobilize me. We won’t know until we try it. Want me to lie down and let you practice?” he added with twinkling eyes.
    She laughed, but nervously. “I don’t think I’m ready to try that right away.”
    â€œSuit yourself. No hurry. We’ve got plenty of time.”
    She remembered Jess and the drug lord and her eyes grew worried. “Is it really dangerous for us at home…?”
    He held up a cautioning hand. “Stevie, how about a soft drink?”
    â€œThat would be great!”
    â€œThere are some cans of soda in the fridge in the kitchen. How about bringing one for me and your aunt as well?”
    â€œSure thing!”
    Stevie took off like a bullet.
    â€œYes, it’s dangerous,” Eb said quietly. “You aren’t to go alone, anywhere, at night. I’ll always have a man watching the house, but if you have to go to a meeting or some such thing, let me know and I’ll go with you.”
    â€œWon’t that cramp your social life?” she asked without quite meeting his eyes.
    â€œI don’t have a social life,” he said with a faint smile. “Not of the sort you’re talking about.”
    â€œOh.”
    His face tautened. “Neither do you, if I can believe Jess.”
    She shifted on the mat. “I haven’t really had much time for men.”
    â€œYou don’t have to spare my feelings,” he told her quietly. “I know I’ve caused you some sleepless nights. But you’ve waited too long to deal with it. The longer you wait, the harder it’s going to be to form a relationship with a man.”
    â€œI have Jess and Stevie to think about.”
    â€œThat’s an excuse. And not a very good one.”
    She felt uncomfortable with her memories. She wrapped her arms around her chest and looked at him with shattered dreams in her eyes.
    He took a sharp breath. “It will never be like that again,” he said curtly. “I promise you it won’t.”
    She averted her eyes to the mat. “Do you think Jess and Dallas have done each other in by now?” she asked, trying to change the subject.
    He moved closer, watching her stiffen, watching her draw away from him mentally. His big, lean hands caught her shoulders and he made her look at him.
    â€œYou’re older now,” he said, his voice steady and low. “You should know more about men than you did, even if you’ve had to learn it through books and television. I was fiercely aroused that day, it had been a long, dry spell, and you were seventeen years old. Get the picture?”
    For the first time, she did. Her eyes searched his, warily, and nodded.
    His hands contracted on her soft arms. “You might try it again,” he said softly.
    â€œTry what?”
    â€œWhat you did that afternoon,” he murmured, smiling tenderly. “Wearing sexy clothes and perfume and making a beeline for me. Anything could happen.”
    Her eyes were sadder than she realized as she met his even gaze. “I’m not the same person I was then,” she told him. “But you still are.”
    The light seemed to go out of him. His pale eyes narrowed, fastened to hers. “No,” he said after a minute.“I’ve changed, too. I lost my taste for commando work a long time ago. I teach tactics now. That’s all I do.”
    â€œYou’re not a family man,” she replied bravely.
    Something changed in his face, in his eyes, as he studied her. “I’ve thought about that a lot recently,” he contradicted. “About a home and children. I might have to give up some of the contract work I do, once the kids came along. I won’t allow my children anywhere near weapons. But I can always