Fire Rising (Dark Kings) by Donna Grant Read Free Book Online Page B

this felt different with Sammi—almost as if she were his to guard.
    His.
    The thought sent a bolt of lust straight to his cock.

 
    CHAPTER FIVE
    Sammi turned off the car but remained inside as she casually let her gaze roam over the small village. There were four pubs, one restaurant, a co-op, and a gas station along with a bank and post office.
    The size of the village should have put her at ease. Instead, the tingle returned full force. She rubbed the back of her neck and looked around for what had put her on edge.
    Her stomach rumbled loudly, reminding her of one reason why she’d stopped. She needed food and the P.O.S. needed petrol.
    “A quick bite for both of us,” she mumbled as she opened the door and stepped out.
    There wasn’t a cloud in sight. The sky was so bright blue that it hurt her eyes to look at it. However, it was perfect for wearing sunglasses so no one would know who she was looking at.
    Sammi slid on her shades and adjusted her purse on her shoulder before she walked into the restaurant and found a table that gave her a view of the door, but was close enough she could dart out if needed.
    It was early enough that she was able to get her order in almost as soon as she sat down. The waitress was quick to bring her some coffee, and Sammi was thankful for the dose of caffeine it offered.
    Since she was sitting by a window bathed in sunlight, she was able to have a reason to keep her sunglasses on. Sammi gazed out the window and found her thoughts turning to soulful, deep eyes and brown hair streaked with gold, of a muscular body that her hands itched to touch.
    Tristan. She didn’t want to think of him but there was something compelling and captivating about him. It wasn’t just his sublime body or mouthwatering good looks. It was the way he looked at her—as if he wanted to see her soul.
    And then there was his voice. Sammi closed her eyes, a smile beginning, as she thought about the rich baritone. The way he said her name made chills run over her skin.
    Sammi rubbed her arms as her body reacted just thinking about Tristan’s voice. She still didn’t understand how she had been so intent on leaving before, but he had managed to calm her.
    She stirred more sugar into her coffee, puzzled at how her fears had seemed to just melt away from her when he had focused his gaze upon her. His touch had been nonchalant as he gripped her arms, and yet that was all it had taken to soothe her.
    Was her body telling her what her mind hadn’t caught up to yet? That she desperately needed a man? Surely not. She had gone longer than a year without a date before. Hadn’t she?
    She thought back to her last date, which had been after Daniel. Her food was placed in front of her as she counted up the months. It wasn’t a year. It was nearly three.
    “Oh, God,” she mumbled.
    “Is something wrong with the food?” the waitress asked.
    Sammi jerked her gaze up and forced a smile through her embarrassment. “Not at all. It looks delicious.”
    She dug into her eggs and sausage as the waitress walked away, looking at Sammi as if she had grown another head. Sammi soon forgot her as she devoured the food.
    It had been good seeing Jane again, but all the visit did was reaffirm why she had to stay away from any friends or family. It would be so easy to let them close, but she knew the devastation when they left her.
    Nothing was worth that kind of pain.
    Sammi wanted to linger over another cup of coffee, but it was time to fill up the P.O.S. and get on the road again. She rose and tossed down some bills as she heard the door to the restaurant open.
    She glanced up through her sunglasses and saw a man with coal black hair and thick streaks of silver walk in. The silver in his hair wouldn’t have been noticeable except for the fact he wasn’t an old man. He looked to be in his thirties and drop-dead gorgeous as he stood in full motorcycle leathers and dark shades.
    His head turned as he surveyed the restaurant as if