Kiss of the Night by Sylvia Day Read Free Book Online Page B

I am simply repeating your thoughts aloud.”
    “I’m not thinking that at all,” she denied. She remembered clearly the sight of Alex’s fangs descending when he’d seen her naked and the way he’d fought back the primal instinct by retracting them again. Bree knew enough about vamps to know that must have been painful and yet he’d done it. For her.
    He’d also performed some mind trick to put her to sleep. They’d be exchanging some words about trying that again, but she knew it was another sacrifice he’d made for her, a way to give her the self-control she hadn’t been capable of last night. Alex didn’t love her, but he did respect her, which was more than a droid was capable of.
    “Alexei Night is a criminal, Mistress. I hope you keep that in mind. He is very wealthy and a very talented pilot. There is no reason for him to live his existence outside the law, but that is what he chooses to do.”
    Bree bit her lower lip. She’d already planned to ask Alex about his choice in occupation. There were alternatives she could offer him, if he was interested. She hoped he was. The council could use his skill and he would be a valuable asset to them.
    Pausing in the corridor by her room, Briana heard Alexei singing from his seat on the bridge. They’d entered the Ligerian Ice Field early that morning. Traversing through the monstrous, free-floating glaciers was beyond treacherous. A great many pilots had met their end here and yet Alex’s skill was such that she’d scarcely felt a bump since they entered. The fact that he was singing told her how relaxed he was under pressure. She paused a moment on the threshold of her cabin, listening to the beautiful sound of a foreign tune sung in his baritone. He was a man of many layers and she knew she’d barely scratched the surface. She was eager to scratch some more.
    “James,” she murmured, her thoughts half distracted with her desire to watch Alex in his element. “Were you able to receive deep space relays while in stasis? We haven’t missed any more demands, have we?”
    “I have been monitoring the news, but no further demands have been made through your private channels. Your sister sent her grateful regards and said she is enjoying her vacation with her husband. The networks have been reporting illness as the reason for your absence from the House floor, just as you’d stated in your press release. That excuse should continue to work for another few days at least, perhaps even longer.”
    “Excellent. Keep one eye on that for me. Adjust the reports from my office as necessary to keep the impression going. Also at the end of every session, I want the minutes downloaded and ready for my review. My absence will create an opportunity for one of my opponents to present their agenda. I want to know the minute they make an attempt.”
    “Of course.” He caught her arm as she stepped away. “Do you think it is wise to distract the captain at this moment?”
    She looked over her shoulder at him with a frown, still trying to get used to having her thoughts spoken out loud. “I won’t distract him, I just want to observe.”
    With that absolutely delicious thought in mind, she left James in her room and went to ogle a very sexy vampire.
    * * * * *
    Alex was grinning like an idiot. He knew it and couldn’t stop it.
    Briana’s lust and admiration saturated the air around him, coursing over his skin like warm water and causing his breathing to quicken. Anticipation thrummed through his veins, just as it did in hers. She’d been watching him for the last hour, completely silent except for the strength of her thoughts, which were powerful. Watching him at the controls had turned her on and her desire had ignited his.
    Over the last two centuries, he’d been desired for a great many things—his vampirism, his wicked reputation, his looks. Never could he recall being wanted because he was talented at something. Never had a woman grow soft and wet simply because