Kiss of Moonlight by Stephanie Julian Read Free Book Online Page A

his head made him feel the slightest bit out of control. And when she frowned at him, he realized he was must be grinning at her because all he could think was, Honey, let me show you just what you’d be getting.
    Gods be damned, Fate was a real bitch. And if he was feeling particularly daring, he’d say that to Nortia’s face. She’d probably laugh and agree. Then she’d tell him to man up and get with the program.
    This girl with her scarred heart, her abused body and mind and her total ignorance of the world he lived in was his . He didn’t have a rational explanation for how he knew it. He just did. And it wasn’t just lust. Lust he could control.
    This…was something different.
    So what the hell was he supposed to do with her?
    Yeah, he had a few ideas but—
    “Kyle! Kyle, we’ve got trouble!”

Chapter Three
     
    Startled, Tam nearly slid off the stool as the raised male voice echoed through Kyle’s house.
    And when the front door burst open, she jumped to her feet, ready to run. Only the sudden press of Kyle’s strong body at her back held her in place before he stepped in front of her, as if to shield her, as a man walked through the door carrying Cat.
    No, not a man. A teenager. Maybe sixteen or seventeen, as tall as Kyle and almost as broad. He held Cat against his chest, her arms around his shoulders clinging tight.
    Kyle’s entire body tightened. “ Tivr , what the hell—”
    “Two guys in the forest. They almost saw Norty before she got away. Cat and I led them away from this house before we ditched them and doubled back. We never heard them coming, never scented them. They were headed toward the Guliano place. We need to check them out. Now.”
    Check them out? What the hell did this kid mean? Why the high drama for a couple of men walking in the woods?
    Her head spinning, unable to made heads or tails of what was happening, Tam turned to look up at Kyle. “What’s going on?”
    For the two seconds he looked at her, his gaze burned. Regret and a blazing anger simmered in his eyes and she had the briefest hint of fear. Which made his mouth pull into a tight flat line.
    “Cat, take Tamra into the safe room with you and don’t come up until we get back. If Nortia returns with backup, tell them where we went.”
    Tam blinked, everything moving too fast for her to comprehend. “Kyle, what—”
    “I’m sorry, baby.” He shook his head. “I’ll explain when I get back. Just stay with Cat, okay? Please, just do it.”
    Then he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers in a short, hard kiss and started running for the front door. Shedding his clothes as he went.
    She watched his shirt fall to the floor and he was working on the button of his jeans when he disappeared out the door.
    The kid holding Cat set her on her feet and brushed a hand over her bright hair before he took after Kyle.
    Leaving Tam staring after them with her mouth hanging open.
    Until Cat grabbed her hand and started pulling her toward the side wall in the kitchen.
    “Come on, Tam. We have to get in the safe room.”
    Safe room? Why would they need to get in a safe room because there were men in the forest? Why would they need a safe room at all?
    She looked at Cat, the girl’s expression showing a fear that didn’t sit right with Tam.
    “What’s going on?”
    Cat finally dragged her to the wall and kicked the baseboard. “I don’t know. I only know Ty nearly freaked when he caught the guy’s scent. Shit, that’s not what I meant. I meant caught sight of them.”
    No, Cat meant exactly what she’d said but Tam couldn’t focus on that right now because the wall slid open to reveal a set of steps doing down into darkness.
    And terror opened a huge black pit in her stomach. “No. I’m sorry. I’m not going in there, Cat.”
    Cat flipped a switch and a dim glow appeared near the bottom of the steps.
    Didn’t help. No way, no how. Not enough light. Not enough space, enough air. It reminded her—
    “Tam,