Into His Command by Angel Payne Read Free Book Online Page B

glance up at Syn’s tight stare. “I couldn’t help it. You turned
     the man into a total Oompa-Loompa.”
    “A what?”
    “Oh, come on. You Cimarron kids at least watched movies on disc, right? Willie Wonka’s
     a classic.”
    “Like the chocolate bars?”
    “Like the movie . Johnny Depp? Or Gene Wilder, if you’re a traditionalist.”
    “Who?” When I threw up both hands in defeat, he scowled and flung his head back, a
     masculine version of the girly hair toss.
    Very masculine.
    And very hot.
    “Forget it.”
    The fight left me as soon as my gaze returned to the view…swiftly rendering me in
     awe. Holy…shit . So this was why everyone raved about floor-to-ceiling windows. The moon rose higher
     over the lake, a spectral smile casting silver sparkles across the waters, rippled
     by a gentle breeze. The far shores were rimmed by mist resembling angel hair.
    I shifted closer to the window, falling into silence.
    Samsyn, a few feet behind me, was also quiet. Once more, my chest tightened with that
     strange pull. I took in the quiet majesty of the valley, the mountains its dark sentinels,
     and struggled to process a wild cast of feelings inside.
    “It…hurts sometimes, doesn’t it?” I finally whispered.
    “What hurts?” His reply, roughened by lingering wrath, was as strong as those mountains.
    “Looking at it,” I explained. “At all of it.” I gestured out the window but glanced
     toward him, searching for some kind of validation…knowing I’d find it. Sure enough,
     there it was, resting in the crystal glow of his eyes. “It reminds me of how small
     I am, but also makes me feel huge.”
    Stillness. Over him and over me. But only on the outside. Inside, I was whirling.
     Crashing. Feeling as if I’d become the lake, and the surface was a serene façade for
     the wet, wild tempest underneath.
    His lips parted. Closed again. “I thought I was the only one who felt that way.”
    I fought against reaching for him. Poured my heart into my voice, instead. “You’re
     not alone, Samsyn. You know that, right? You’re never alone, as long as I’m here.”
     When he grimaced, blustering behind fake confusion, I persisted, “How are you doing
     with all of this, besides exhausted? And when the hell do you get to rest?”
    His shoulders stiffened. “A soldier’s work begins at exhaustion. You know that.”
    “I only know I’ve read that motivation poster already.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Don’t start with proper and princely on me now, big guy. Stop evading the question.”
     I turned fully toward him, wondering if I should dare a step closer. “How are you, Syn?” I refrained from moving—barely. “How are you…really?”
    So much for restraint. He pivoted quietly. Advanced by three measured steps, until
     the space between us consisted of just inches. “How are you ?”
    Time to throw him a side eye. “Uh-uh, mister. I asked first.” And busying myself with
     that meant I didn’t think of other temptations. Like fantasizing about pushing forward,
     then press my face against his chest. Then fitting my arms around him, maybe sliding
     them beneath his sweater to the muscled warmth of his skin. To behold this breathtaking
     view in the arms of a magnificent man, feeling the majesty of this land pulsing through
     his veins, as much a part of him as the stars were of the sky. To give him all my
     strength in return…letting him feel what I’d already known for so long.
    I loved him.
    I always did. I always would.
    Safer subject. Now .
    I attempted a little laugh. “Well, at least I learned something new about you tonight.”
    His head cocked a little. His brows arched. “This should be interesting.”
    “You really don’t like Oompa Loompas.”
    “Not that one,” he snapped. “Arrogant imbezak . He was treating you like the dust on his boots. How those Pura are winning converts
     to their cause is a mystery to me.”
    I had no comeback except to kick at the floor. Treading water.