Karac: Kaldar Warriors #1 by T.J. Yelden Read Free Book Online

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    “Holy shit, Nathan!  Don’t do that!” I dropped the knife, whipped around and pushed him in the chest.  He only took a small step back.  The frustrating man was grinning from ear to ear.  I scowled up at him.
    “Aw, come on.  You have to admit that was funny.” 
    “If I would have kept that knife in my hand, you wouldn’t think it was funny,” I warned.  I turned around before he could see a smile trying to emerge.  I reached for the knife as I felt Nathan’s body move in on my back. 
    “Are you saying you would have stabbed me?” He breathed by my ear and I froze.  I shivered slightly from the closeness of his body.  Nathan had become increasingly more comfortable with me in the house and sometimes I would say he was almost flirting with me.  But this was Nathan, he didn’t flirt.  
    “Never know.  Better keep one eye open when you sleep.”  I said as I cut the package open, trying not to show that I noticed how close he was to me. 
    “You mean keep both eyes open, all the time.  Someone has to keep you out of trouble.”  He stepped back just in time as I swung around with the knife in my hand. 
    “Hey it wasn’t my fault you were in the shower when the phone rang!”
    “You should have let it go to voicemail.”  He pointed out with arms crossed. 
    “It was your parents’ number.”  I said frustrated.  We had this conversation more than I’d care to admit.   
    “Still, it could have been someone looking for you.  You shouldn’t have picked it up.”
    “I told you I was sorry about that.”  I sighed, knowing he was right.
    “I’ve also had to stop you from answering the door when the UPS guy stops, or when the dogs are barking and you want to go ‘see what’s out there’.”  He raised an eyebrow to make his point.   And he did have a point.  No one was supposed to see me or know where I was. 
    “I only slip up when you’re around.  I’m blaming you.”  I pointed at him with the knife.
    “Hey, watch the pointy end.”  He raised his hands in surrender.  “And you probably wouldn’t tell me about the times during the day even if I asked.”
    “No seriously, it’s only when you’re here that I don’t think.”  I glanced away as I said that, not meaning for the words to slip out. 
    “Why’s that?”  He cocked his head to the side, dropping his hands to his side.
    “I don’t know.”  I hedged, but I could see he was waiting for an answer.  “I just don’t feel like I have to be on guard, then.  It feels almost, normal, when you’re here.”  I didn’t look at him during that last part.  It sounded too close to a confession to me.  I enjoyed his company and knew we were turning into close friends.  With him in the house, I could almost forget why I was there in the first place. 
    It was quiet for a second and I couldn’t resist, I had to look up in his direction.  He was looking at me with a smile on his face.  It was a cute smile.  Like he was thinking “you’re adorable” kind of smile.  He stepped closer to me, pulled the knife out of my hand, set it behind me, and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into him.  I was startled at first, not sure how to take this out-of-the-ordinary contact.  But it felt really good to be close.  I wrapped my arms around him and leaned my head against his shoulder.  This felt like home.  I sighed and couldn’t help the smile that came to my lips.  He leaned his head against mine and rubbed one of his hands up and down my back. 
    “This should feel normal.  I know I’m not family but you should feel comfortable here, Ashley.”  He kissed the top of my head before pulling back to look at my face.  “But we do have to curb your unconscious need to put yourself in danger.”  He smirked down at me.  I glared back at him and pushed off his chest. 
    “I do not have an unconscious need to put myself in danger.”  I turned back to the meat before