Dream Warrior: (Dark Warrior Alliance Book 1) by Brenda Trim, Tami Julka Read Free Book Online Page B

smirked at the blonde haired hottie. “I’m going with the drink-‘til-you-drop plan, anyone with me?”
    She turned from the table and headed back to the refrigerator where she pulled out the Limeade and other key ingredients for her passion-inspired margaritas. Her neck tingled with awareness. Someone was watching her. She cocked her head to the side and noticed not only her sister watching her intently, but Zander’s eyes had yet to leave her. She felt the censure in her sister’s glare and the erotic heat from his.
    “Stop,” she hissed at Cailyn.
    Cailyn placed her hands on her hips, “Then eat before you drink. You haven’t had much food since yesterday.”
    “You know I try to eat, Cai. If you thought getting that information from Orlando and Santiago was going to magically make me eat, sleep, and be fucking merry, you were wrong,” she snapped. No one understood what she went through and she was tired of trying to make it okay for others.
    “It’s been well over a year since he died. You don’t sleep and you’ve lost a ton of weight. You need closure, you can’t survive like this,” her sister replied as she rounded the counter and grabbed her shoulders.
    “You know Cai, closure is a myth. The most insidious myth ever created. I haven’t forgotten about him, or stopped loving him. Nothing can make his murder any less traumatic or tragic. There is no magical cure to erase the memories or the blood. My emotions aren’t a dry-erase board that can be wiped clean. It wasn’t your husband and best friend that was ripped from your life, so get off your fucking high-horse!” she sobbed and fell into her sister’s arms.
    A large, hot hand settled on her back. “Why doona you have a seat, I’ll make you a drink.” She lifted her head as the deep timber of Zander’s voice sent goose bumps coursing down her spine. When she met his gaze, the emotions she saw reflected there floored her.
    “That would be great, thank you.” She walked over and settled into one of the chairs at her kitchen table. Cailyn helped Zander, giving her space to regain her composure. Still, no one was eating and the tension in the apartment could be cut with a knife. That didn’t work for her. Not tonight.
    She took a deep breath and leaned back in her seat. She threw her hands up in exasperation. “For craps sake people, lighten up and eat.”
    Orlando and Santiago chuckled and headed over. “You don’t have to tell me twice. I’m as hungry as Cailyn. Can I make you a plate?” Orlando asked.
    An animalistic noise sounded in the apartment. Was Zander growling? As he approached her she lost her train of thought. It flew right off the track and the heat that she felt before was now a blazing inferno. She wasn’t ready for what she saw in his eyes, didn’t think she ever would be. Her devotion to Dalton produced guilt far too potent to ignore. Besides, she loved Dalton with all her heart, it didn’t matter how much Zander excited her.
    He prowled up to her and set the shiny bag in her lap then propped his hands on the arms of her chair. His hair brushed her cheek when he leaned over to whisper in her ear. His breath was a lover’s caress against her cheek. She had to change her imagery. He wasn’t her lover, and never would be. “For you, my sweet, Lady E. I hope these bring a smile to those luscious lips of yours.”
    She sat stunned as he kissed her cheek. He hovered, waiting for her to lift her head. Chicken that she was, she shook her head and kept it downcast. She had no room for a relationship and couldn’t give him what he was asking. He finally relented and straightened before picking up a plate. Only when he began piling it high with food did she lift her head. She wondered how her life had become so out of control.
    She met her sister’s questioning gaze, not going there right now, and turned her attention back to the shiny bag. “Thank you. As much as I love presents, you shouldn’t have,” she