Force of the Dark Wolf (Force of Nature Series) by Kathi S. Barton Read Free Book Online Page B

looked down at the little blond bundle in his lap. She was sucking her thumb and her eyes were closed. He could see her lashes as they fanned across her cheeks. He leaned down and buried his nose in her hair. Sunshine and warmth was all he could think about. He looked up at Alexis when she sat down across from him.
    “She’s never done that before. Not since my sister…she doesn’t trust others since Judith died.” Gordon had a moment to wonder if the child was more like her aunt than either of them realized. “When she died they were so lost. Darcy most of all , but Sis seemed to bounce back. At least during the day. She still screams in her sleep.”
    “Were they there? The children, were they there when it happened?” He knew that the boys hadn’t been there. T hey’d been away at camp he’d read in the report from Dallas.
    “Darcy was home from school for a doctor’s appointment. Sis isn’t old enough to go to school yet and Judith couldn’t manage day care on what little she’d get from the state. I told her that I’d pay , but she was very prideful and wouldn’t let me.” Alexis stood to take the baby from him . H e stood with her and she led him out of the room.
    They put her into her little bed. Gordon could see that the two girls shared a room. He could even tell which sibling shared what part of the room. The side that held the bed that Sis now occupied was covered in dolls and books, pink stuffed animals , and a bright pink spread. The room looked like a child played here. The other was in deep contrast to this one.
    The spread was a dark purple. That, as far as he could see, was the only color on that side of the room. It wasn’t as though the room was done in black , but it was devoid of color of any other kind. The walls were white , the dresser and the desk as well. There were no books on the shelf and the bed was neatly made and nothing was out of place. He looked at Alexis when she cleared her throat.
    “She didn’t want it any other way.” She looked at the bed. “Nothing I could do could make her chose a color. The spread was picked out by Sis or she’d have a white comforter too.” She nodded toward the door. “Let me show you out. Sis will sleep better if we leave her be.”
    Gordon followed her out without a word. He wasn’t leaving her. Not tonight or any other night if he could help it. She was his and he needed to claim her before Patrick Booth hurt her. And he would once the pack started to come down on him. He’d do whatever he could to hurt her more than she’d already been hurt by him.
    When they were in the hall leading to the front of the house he pulled her to him gently. When she started to protest , he kissed her. He didn’t kiss her hard or even with as much passion as he wanted , but simply brushed his mouth over hers.
    His body screamed for him to take her. His wolf, nearly at the breaking point , seemed to claw at him from the inside out. Gordon was careful this time to keep it slow. He didn’t want to frighten her and he didn’t want her to knee him again. He moved to take another taste of her mouth when he felt her stiffen. He didn’t let her go as much as moved her behind him.
    “Paddy, what the fuck are you doing here ? ” she practically snarled at the man in front of him. “You’re not supposed to be within five miles of me and the kids. Get out before I call the— ”
    Paddy roared at her when she came around Gordon to get to the other wolf. It was all Gordon could do not to shift and take the man. He had his scent now and he’d pay for upsetting Alexis.
    “It’s time you left. Now.” Gordon let a little of his humanity go to let the other wolf see that he meant business. He knew that this was the man who’d hurt his mate and also the man who was terrorizing the children and it was now his job to protect them as much as he could.
    The whimpering startled him for just a second. Before he could stop her Alexis was out from behind him and