Deadly Lover by Charlee Allden Read Free Book Online Page B

the room. A set of strategically placed partitions hid the lav. Another obscured her view of the door. With lights on, she’d have a clear view of everything else.
    The lav was only two meters away. She didn’t think he’d gotten that close, but she didn’t think he’d be hiding by the door either. How had he been able to bypass her security in the short time she’d been home…and without her hearing anything? He had to have been in the apartment when she’d arrived.
    She stood still, watching for movement in the darker corners of the room.
    Nothing.
    He was there. She was sure of it. To hell with the damn shadows.
    “Lights full.”
    The immediate response of the environmental controls banished the darkness, leaving nowhere to hide.
    Jolaj, the Ormney Law Keeper, stood just beyond the far window, narrowing his eyes against the sudden brightness of the lights. “Forgive my intrusion, Agent Rowan.”
    Her heart pounded loudly in her ears as she adjusted her stance. Sean had vouched for this guy, but she couldn’t come up with any good reason he’d be in her apartment, let alone out of The Zone at midnight.
    “I meant no harm,” he said, “but I must speak with you. Privately.” He stood motionless, hands relaxed at his sides. “I’m unarmed. There is no need for your weapon.”
    “I’ll decide what I need.” She could handle most men, but he was easily over two meters tall and muscled. If he meant her harm she’d be in trouble. He could probably snap her in two.
    Lily worked at keeping her grip on the blade light and ready. “You’d better explain why you’re in my apartment. I could shove this blade through your heart just because you’re outside The Zone past curfew.”
    He angled his broad-featured face like a curious hound. “You could try.”
    He spoke as if it were a sop to her ego. They both knew he could slip toward out-of-sync and the blade would never connect. Against her will, Lily’s hand tightened around the knife’s hilt.
    “I truly wish you no harm, Agent Rowan. I’m here to ask you for your help.”
    Help? She couldn’t imagine any scenario where she could help him. He met her gaze levelly. Cool, calm, determined.
    “How long have you been in here?”
    “Only a moment,” he said.
    He hadn’t been in the apartment when she’d gotten home. He’d slipped from the hallway into an unfamiliar room? No, he stood near the window, not the door. If an Ormney was going to slip blind into a room, they would slip back on the other side of the door where they weren’t likely to end up mangled by a piece of furniture or a wall. At least that’s what Kiq had taught her.
    From the street, then? From street level to a second-story apartment? She considered the precision required. Even more than his slip in the alley. His skills must be crazy good, but so far he hadn’t pressed his advantage. He’d been upset by the loss of the Ormney male that afternoon, but he’d only insisted on getting her medical attention. Lily took a deep breath and released it slowly through her nose then lightened her grip on the blade.
    She suppressed a shiver as the effects of the adrenalin dumped into her system began to fade and the cool air of the apartment made it impossible to ignore that she stood naked and dripping. Her modesty had died an awkward death within a month of being assigned to a roving remote access search and rescue team. No one did anything alone when they were deep in bandit controlled hill country. But being naked in front of him suddenly made her feel vulnerable.
     “Sit,” she said. “You are too damn big standing.”
    She waved him toward a chair. He might not be a threat, but she’d feel a lot better knowing that seated he’d be at a disadvantage.
    His expression unruffled, he sat.
    She reached for the robe she’d left out that morning and shrugged into it awkwardly. His eyes followed her movements as she fought the material clinging to her damp skin, twisting and shimmying her