Conri by Kerryn Bryant Read Free Book Online Page A

his head against the table. “You splittin these winnings with me
mama?” Flynn asked as he leaned over and planted a hard kiss on Stella’s
lips.
    “You’re gonna have to pay for it.” The look Stella
gave Flynn made him shiver and Sarai look away out of propriety.
    “How about you beauty, wanna give the loser a kiss to ease his pride?” Kellen wagged his brows at Sarai; she
shook her head and giggled.   Kellen
pretended to be wounded as Core scooped up the cards and started shuffling. As
he dealt the men, or males as Kellen had corrected her all night long, talked
about nothing and everything.
    Stella eyed Sarai and glanced at Kellen. When the boys
weren’t looking she mouthed, He likes
you- go for it .
    Sarai imperceptibly shook her head gently and picked
up her cards. “Burn and turn Core!”
    On and on the night went. On occasion a loan Omega
would bring in a jug of something dark and frothy, the boys and Stella would
drink up while Sarai remained clear and lucid. By the time the night was over
Sarai walked away with all the winnings. And the only reason the game ended was
because after hours of heavy petting and stolen kisses Flynn had all but thrown
Stella onto the table. When they left Cort excused himself and Texas hold em just wasn’t as fun with two people.
    “Well I guess Ill be on my way.” Sarai said as she
stood only moments after Core left.
    “I. Agree.” Kellen said a little clipped and a lot
slurred. “May I escort you back to your room?”
    “I think I might be safer by myself.”
    “ Ohhh no, no
, no, nnnno . If anyone found out that
escorting you back to your room fell to my lot and I didn’t? Bad
news for this kitty.” He hiccupped and laughed.
    Sarai sighed and nodded. They walked the empty
corridors, passing by someone here or there. The more they walked the more
sober Kellen sounded. Sarai watched him closely as he told her stories about
his parents and his brother. How his brother had been   a fierce warrior once upon a time;   until one day he went out with a group and no
one came back. They lost two huntresses, one tracker and two senior warriors
that day; one of them being the best friend of Conri. Kellen said he was just a
pup at the time, his mother having lost two females between he and his brother.
    By the time they reached Sarai’s room her head was
spinning. How this pack kept itself together through so much loss was beyond
her understanding. Maybe she would ask Conri one day. She opened her mouth to
say goodnight and found herself pushed against the wall, her arms locked by her
side and Kellen’s mouth on hers.
    “Wow you’re a great kisser.” He said on a breath but
before Sarai could say stop his mouth was back on hers- swallowing her scream.

 

CHAPTER TEN

 
    Sarai’s brain went on overload. Had she given Kellen
any signals that she was interested? What prompted his unsolicited advance? And
how in the hell was she going to get him off of her? She managed to get her
hands between her and Kellen and pushed, hard. Kellen stumbled back. “Oh, feisty.”
    He stepped towards her again and Sarai let her little
bit of training kick in. She side stepped him and brought up her knee,
remembering what Lilly had told her. Shifters   are stronger than you, faster than you. They
can smell your weakness before you even know it. If you get the chance to
connect keep attacking .
    Sarai didn’t want to keep attacking; she just wanted
to let Kellen know she was not interested. She caught him in the abdomen and the
wind gushed out of him. “Kellen stop, I’m not interested in you like that.”
    “You could have said that instead of kneeing me in the
gut.” He bent over, holding his stomach. Sarai stepped to him, her hands
outstretched.
    “Kellen, I’m so sorry, I just...” Without pretense he
grabbed her arms, slammed her against the wall and wrapped a hand around her
throat.
    “Did you seriously think a kick from a mere human
would hurt?” Sarai couldn’t scream