Claimed by a Stranger (Craved Series #2) by Hazel Kelly Read Free Book Online Page A

“Thank you.”
     
    I smiled.
     
    She turned her
face back towards the sky. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my whole life.”
     
    I wanted to
tell her how much it meant to me to watch it with her, to tell her I’d never
brought anyone there before and that I was so happy that she appreciated it.
     
    But I didn’t
want to interrupt her concentration. After all, I remembered the first time I
saw them like it was yesterday, and it was something that had always stayed
with me.
     
    And I wanted
her to remember it like I had… In case we didn’t have a chance to make many
more memories together.
     
    So for twenty
speechless minutes we watched as the bats escaped from the caves into the deep
blue sky, danced, and disappeared on their nightly hunt.
     
    And the whole
time, I couldn’t shake the thought that it wouldn’t be long before Audrey flew
away, too.
     
     
     
     

Chapter
10: Audrey
     
     
    When Jack pulled up near the hotel, I got off the bike like an
old pro, though I hadn’t quite mastered the art of gracefully unbuckling my
helmet.
    “Fancy a drink,” he asked, sliding his sunglasses in his pocket.
    “I would love one,” I said, thinking a little pick me up was
just what I needed following the crash of adrenaline I felt after the bat show.
    I handed Jack my helmet and he hung it on one of the bike’s
handlebars. When he cocked his arm, I took it and started down the street with
him, relieved I wouldn’t have to put my numb butt back on the bike for the rest
of the night.
    I knew better than to ask Jack where we were headed. At this
point, I had no reason to question his judgement or whether he had a plan. So I
just enjoyed the warm, salty breeze and the feeling of having a hot doctor on
my arm… while I tried not to make myself crazy wondering what the rest of the
night would bring.
    Finally, we came to a dark bar on a corner that was lit up with red
lights and had loud music spilling out of it.
    “Trust me,” he said as he led me inside.
    I followed him up to the bar which was full of young Thai people
and a handful of weathered looking westerners.
    I would’ve preferred somewhere more private- where I might
actually be able to hear him- but anywhere probably would’ve been a letdown
after the clearing. Still, I found myself hoping we’d only stay for one.
    Unfortunately, that hope flew out the window when I saw how
excited the barman was to see him.
    “Jack!” He came around the bar and gave him a hug. “Great to see
you, buddy.”
    Jack turned around and introduced me. “Audrey, this is my friend
Jin. He owns the place.”
    “Pleased to meet you,” I said, sticking my hand out and feeling
a rush of pride that Jack was keen to introduce me to his friends.
    “You are as beautiful as Jack said you were,” Jin said, shaking
my hand with both of his.
    Jack rolled his eyes.
    “What would you like to drink?” Jin asked. “I have anything you
want.”
    I glanced at Jack.
    “Would a bucket of Corona’s suit you?” he asked.
    I nodded. “That would be great.”
    Jin stepped next to me, putting his arm over my shoulder as he
pulled out his phone. “Jack, take my picture with the prettiest blonde I ever
met.”
    “Jin, I don’t think she wants to-”
    “It’s okay,” I said, trying to act like I got that all the time.
“I don’t mind.”
    We smiled as Jack took a picture.
    “Did you get my message?” he asked, handing Jin his phone back.
    Jin nodded, reached in his pocket, and produced a set of keys.
“She’s all yours,” he said, handing them to Jack. “And I can see why you wanted
to impress her. She’s very-”
    “Thanks, Jin,” Jack said. “How about grabbing those beers?”
    Jin pursed his lips and hurried around the bar. “Nina!” he yelled.
“Corona Bucket for Jack!”
    A woman at the end of the bar began filling a metal bucket with
big scoops of ice.
    “Jin seems nice,” I said. “Though that exchange of keys was the
sketchiest thing I’ve ever