Lifebound by Leigh Daley Read Free Book Online Page B

reason.”
    She sat back down.
    “When Dana first found out I was a weretiger, she screamed and fainted. I’m thinking you and Josh have an even bigger hurdle to cross.”
    Adriana fought back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. “There is no me and Josh, Rekkus. There can’t be. It’s hopeless.”
    Rekkus reached out as if to pat her on the shoulder, then pulled his hand away just short of actually making contact.
    “See what I mean?” A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. “There’s no future for us. I don’t know how to make him see that.”
    Rekkus sighed and rose smoothly to his feet, carefully replacing the desk chair. “I know you didn’t mean for Josh to get hurt, Adriana. But we can’t take the chance that it’ll get out of hand again. I’m not going to ask you to stay away from him. It probably wouldn’t work anyway. But I am going to ask that you do your visiting in public places or with an escort. Even the wolfcubs will do.”
    Adriana nodded, but inwardly felt like a chastised schoolgirl.
    “And absolutely no physical contact,” he added. He glanced down at his watch. “I’ve got to meet Dana in just a few minutes. Sage should be right back. Can I trust you not to do anything you know you shouldn’t do?”
    Adriana nodded.
    He walked to the door, but before he opened it, he turned back to her. “Dana said it wasn’t fair for you guys. It’s not. I’m really sorry it has to be this way.”
    “Me too,” Adriana whispered as he left the room.
    A few moments later, a sound from the bed drew her out of her sad contemplations. Josh groaned softly and turned over onto his side, then opened his eyes and looked at her.
    “What the hell happened?” he asked sleepily.
    “Sage thinks your blood sugar dropped,” Adriana lied. “Have you ever been tested for hypoglycemia?”
    “Nope.” He rubbed his face as he sat up. “Am I in your room?”
    “Yeah, you made it into my bed, but not exactly as planned,” she teased.
    He cursed then laughed. “Just my luck. I meet the hottest girl on the planet and can’t kiss her without passing out.” He groaned as he rose from the bed and stretched, running a hand through his cropped hair. Then he flashed her those dimples in a smile that made her heart flip in her chest.
    “You go get yourself a shower and meet me downstairs for breakfast in an hour,” she said. He needed to clear the room before she gave into her baser urges again. “If you feel up to it, we’ll go for a walk or learn to breathe or feed the fish or something.”
    “What is with learning to breathe at this place?” he asked. “And candles? It’s a wonder the building hasn’t burned down.”
    She walked with him to the stairwell and pushed open the door for him, since it was enchanted to open only for paranormals. She backed away from him as far as she could, but he reached out to rub her arm as he passed. She closed her eyes and concentrated with all her might on keeping her powers firmly in check.
    It worked.

    After breakfast, she and Josh did indeed take in one of Trixie’s deep breathing classes on the beach. Maybe with enough mental preparation and discipline, she would be able to withstand the occasional touch or casual caress without losing control again.
    So far, Rekkus had been as good as his word that they would not have any unsupervised time. Trixie kept a sharp eye on them during their meditation session, and Rekkus’s mate Dana watched them as they strolled through the herb garden.
    As they headed back through the grounds for lunch, he slipped his arm across her shoulder, but it didn’t stay there long. Cemil came wandering by and found a reason to disengage her from him to look at a book he’d discovered in the library. When he left, the wolf pack had come along demanding a game of Frisbee.
    At lunch, Sage went so far as to sit at their table. She brought a cup of hot tea as well.
    “Since you destroyed my candles,” she began without