CallingCaralisa by Virginia Nelson Read Free Book Online Page A

made similar choices in the
past, though. I’ve been reading because of Tabitha’s Bonded Prophecy, to see if
there is any record of Triads forming before.” Stroking the yellowed paper, she
turned the page to an illuminated image she’d found earlier. “Nothing I’ve
found so far suggests it’s happened before, but I have hope that I can find
answers.” The image showed a couple, twined in light and power, colorful
tattoos writhing across their flesh like living things. “How fares our queen
this evening?”
    When Jackson didn’t answer, she glanced back only to find he’d
abandoned his post by the door to tower over her. His gaze was focused on the
book rather than her, so she cleared her throat and returned her consideration
to the safety of the page. His voice rolled over her when he finally spoke,
making her knees go weak with forbidden desire. “Tolerably well. You’ve never
run a race, have you, Cara?”
    Closing her hand until her nails dug into her palm, she
forced iron bands of control over her expression. “I’m not the kind of woman
who calls to a mate. I’m a Recorder, an inflated term for librarian. I keep my
books, I record what happens, I stay inside. Hardly a sexy profession.”
Shrugging as if it didn’t matter, but choking on his nearness, she moved to
escape his presence and return to the window. He caught her arm, tugging her
back against the heat of his chest. Smelling of mint, his breath washed over
her neck and the side of her face as she struggled to control her breathing.
    “I would think a Hunter would decide what is sexy and what
is not. You wouldn’t be the first Recorder to find her mate, nor the last. Your
books would have told you as much.”
    His words tempted her to dream of more—to risk her security
and position in the hopes she’d find a mate to match her hidden passions. She
did know of others who’d run and been captured, but they were all lovely women
with fire in their hearts and spirit…she just wasn’t that kind of girl. “You’re
very sweet, Jackson, but—”
    Using the hand he held her with, Jackson slowly turned her
to face him. His palm grazed down her cheek, his fingertips tracing her lips.
Her breath caught and her heart raced. “Nothing I’ve had in mind when it comes
to you is sweet, my Caralisa. Run. I dare you.”
    Spinning on his heel, he exited the library, leaving a trail
of seductive masculine scent in his wake like a beacon.
    She retraced the path his fingertips had taken across her
mouth as if to capture the heat he’d left behind. Could Jackson, warrior for
their queen, possibly desire a sparrow like her? Or were his words, spoken in
darkness, simply a manifestation of the loneliness of his position?
    Caralisa did what she always did when something puzzled
her—she opened the books to try to find answers.
    * * * * *
    Carrying a pile of books, Bentley placed them on the wide
table. Caralisa’s chestnut-colored head was bent low over one. She glanced up
at him, rubbing at her bloodshot eyes, before shooting him an absentminded
smile and going back to work.
    It seemed to Bentley that he’d been collecting her
absentminded smiles for too many years to count. The friend zone was the worst
place to be and he’d called it home for longer than he wanted to consider. “So,
I found these in the stacks and all but one of the ones on your list is in this
heap.”
    “Which one is missing?” Rising, she headed to a cooler to
pull out a water bottle. She didn’t even glance at him again to see what kept
him from answering.
    “ The Catalog of Numbers . Someone must have borrowed
it.”
    Bowing her slender frame, one hand pressed to the base of
her spine as if her back hurt, she stretched up onto her tiptoes. His mouth
went dry and then watered at the idea of pushing up her white shift and tasting
the waif-like body she presented. Turning his back on her since he couldn’t
think straight while looking at her, he reorganized the pile he’d