Defender (Battle Born Book 4) by Cyndi Friberg Read Free Book Online Page B

something, or failed to do something, that brought out their darker impulses. If she’d been less argumentative or more accommodating, maybe they wouldn’t have been so cruel.
    Raylon bent, his breath teasing her ear. “You did nothing wrong.”
    She shifted in his arms, pressing herself into his chest as she buried her face in the bend of his neck. “I’m glad Garin saved you.” And she meant it. No one should have to suffer through the things she’d endured.
    “And I wish to all the gods we’d been able to save you sooner.” He slipped his free arm under her knees and held her firmly as he stood.
    Raising her face from the warmth of his neck, she looked around. He was headed toward the main door to his suite. “Please. I can’t go back there.”
    He tensed then took a deep breath and nodded. “All right.” He turned and started to set her back on the sofa.
    She tightened her arms around his neck. “If we lie down together, I think I can sleep.” When he still didn’t move, she added, “I promise I won’t take advantage of you.”
    His chuckle was warm and unexpected. “I’m not sure I can make the same promise.”
    Their gazes locked and awareness crackled around them, tingly and electric. She moved her hand to the nape of his neck and sifted his hair through her fingers. “You won’t hurt me. I know you won’t.”
    He closed his eyes and made a sound of frustration. “You’re too damn trusting.”
    Despite the warning, he carried her into his bedroom and placed her on his bed. Each move was deliberate, careful. She crossed her arms over her chest and realized the throw had fallen off somewhere between the couch and his bed. He hadn’t activated the lights, so details were lost in shadow, but she could see enough to fuel her imagination.
    He shrugged off his shirt but left the pants then crawled onto the bed and motioned her toward him. Face him or away? Which would be less provocative? Or which would be more? She wasn’t sure if she was trying to put him at ease or snap his stubborn control. Opting to face him, she lay on her side and rested her head on his shoulder as he loosely encircled her shoulders. One of her arms folded between them, providing a small measure of separation. He pulled the covers up to their shoulders then closed his eyes.
    She listened to his steady breathing and watched the rise and fall of his chest. This was where she wanted to be, but not what she wanted to be doing. He was too honorable to make the first move and she wasn’t yet confident enough to make her desires clear. So she closed her eyes, filled her nose with his scent, and willed herself to sleep.
    * * * * *
    “Did you get any sleep last night?” Garin asked. “You look like shit.”
    Raylon shook his head as he glanced at the control panel. The Phantom shuttles were even more automated than their predecessors, so there wasn’t much to do but monitor the computer. “Fallout from Chandar’s vision.” He glanced at his friend then rubbed the back of his neck. He’d updated Garin last night after round one with Chandar. But worry and frustration kept him awake and restless, so he’d activated the security feed and found Chandar wide awake and equally restless, which resulted in round two. “It was a really long night.”
    Speculation narrowed Garin’s eyes, but he didn’t ask the questions clearly written on his face. “Kotto confirmed what she told you. Vinton Tandori is dead.”
    “Does Tandori Tribe know how he died or are they blaming the explosion?”
    Garin shrugged. “Don’t know. We haven’t spoken to anyone from Tandori Tribe. Kotto combined newscasts with public records to confirm that there was an explosion and who owned the property. That’s as far as he’d gotten before I had to leave.”
    “If the shifter was Vinton’s daughter, it’s likely they know.”
    Garin’s penetrating gaze landed on Raylon again. He was clearly skimming the surface of his curiosity, which wasn’t