Immortal Surrender by Claire Ashgrove Read Free Book Online Page B

brow. The light in his eyes sharpened. “God’s teeth, woman, you cannot be that innocent. Let me see your injuries.”
    Noelle blinked. For half a second she debated blurting out the truth. But for some unexplainable reason, she didn’t want Farran to know she’d only been kissed a handful of times. At twenty-nine years old, she should be more experienced with men. And this man clearly had no hesitancies around naked women. Besides, the last man she’d told had laughed so hard it had taken her weeks to confront her reflection in the mirror. She couldn’t stand the thought of Farran laughing at her.
    Twisting sideways, she lowered the blanket to her hip, careful to keep her breasts covered. He set a knee on the bed and supported her opposite side with a large palm. Roughened fingertips grazed over the purplish marks on her ribs, firm enough she could feel his caress, yet gentle enough he didn’t disturb the lingering ache.
    His touch sent a shiver down her spine. Warmth flowed through her veins, heating her from the inside out. It fanned into her belly, fluttered wildly, then spread lower. She averted her gaze and gnawed on her lower lip, trying to pretend this was normal. That men like Farran touched her intimately all the time. That this was no different than going to the doctor.
    As she did when she had to face the degrading necessity of a yearly gynecological exam, she sought conversation. “Where am I?”
    “In the adytum Louise tends.”
    His breath washed over her shoulder, stirring the fine hairs on her skin. She squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed down a whimper. “The what?”
    “’Tis a friend of mine’s home. Does that pain you?” He pressed his thumb into the spot he had before.
    “No.” She snapped her eyes open. Stay normal, Noelle. She took a deep breath to temper the sudden erratic beat of her pulse. “How long have I been here?”
    “You have slept for thirty-six hours.”
    As he pivoted her to look at her back, his long hair tickled her arm. Unable to suppress a nervous giggle, she squirmed. The hand at her opposite side tightened. “Hold still.”
    “Sorry.” Thirty-six hours. That meant … She twisted out of his hold to face him. “Oh, crap! Father Phanuel.”
    Farran moved away from the bed. “The Sudarium is with Lucan. Phanuel has been informed. He is most understanding, I assure you.”
    She scanned the room, in search of her purse. Had it survived the crash? “My purse, Farran. Did you find it?”
    He pointed behind her, and she turned to look. Hanging from one of the mahogany posts, she found the oversized black bag. Relaxing, she sank into the wealth of pillows propped against the headboard and closed her eyes. “Thank you for taking care of me. I suppose I should be getting home now. I’ll have to call my boss and make arrangements for another flight.”
    “Are you hungry?”
    In answer to his question, her stomach rumbled. “I could eat.”
    “Very well then.” He crossed to an overstuffed wingback chair and picked up what she assumed was her clothes. Setting them on the bed beside her, he added, “I shall bring you dinner. You may dress. Your sweater was ruined. Louise has given you a sweatshirt.”
    With another disturbingly cold nod, he strode through the door.
    Noelle looked after him for several long minutes, a wistful smile playing at her mouth. He was out of her league. One hundred percent the kind of man who pointedly ignored her on the few occasions she went clubbing. But damn, he was handsome. And the eccentric way he spoke stirred something so deep inside her she couldn’t explain it. He made her feel alive in a wholly feminine way she hadn’t ever experienced before.
    For the first time in her life, she really wanted to be something other than the science geek with glasses. Especially something other than the terribly inexperienced twenty-nine-year-old she was.
    Sighing, she leaned forward to pick up her bra. A pillow snagged on her arm, and she