My Man Michael by Lori Foster Read Free Book Online

that the idea of a union, more than time travel, would put him off. “Afterward, all will defer to you, the same as they do our Arbiter and the Council Mavens.”
    “Your mother and her cronies?”
    Growing used to it, she skipped right past his cynicism. “It is our hope that you will be able to teach us to fight in the manner you deploy so that we are better able to defend ourselves, and so that we can retrieve those of the colony already taken prisoner.”
    Using both hands, Michael explored her fingers, opening each one, smoothing with his thumb. It was as if the size of her hands fascinated him in the same manner that his fascinated her. He lifted her hand to his mouth. “I need to know I can trust you.”
    That was not what she expected to hear. Questions, disbelief, yes, she had anticipated both.
    “How do I—”
    He drew the tip of one finger into his mouth and curled his tongue around it.
    Her heart stopped, then skipped several beats. Her breath caught, straining her lungs. The touch of his tongue felt . . . indescribable.
    Without conscious thought, her eyes closed, but quickly opened again. “You . . . you must stop that.”
    “Hmm-mm.”
    “Is that a no? Oh!” He drew another finger in, treating it to the same damp exploration.
    Deep inside her, something curled in the sweetest way, giving both pleasure and an ache.
    “You are so small-boned, Kayli. So delicate.” His thick lashes lifted and he caught her in his gaze. “And you taste good.”
    “No.” That raspy voice didn’t sound like her own at all. “That is, I am large for a female.”
    “Not the females I know.” He sucked her middle finger into the heat of his mouth.
    The curl of pleasure expanded; the ache deepened. Kayli gulped in air so fast, she almost choked; frowning at herself, she tried to pull away.
    He didn’t let her. His grasp was firm but gentle.
    “Sir, I have seen your females.” It wasn’t easy to speak with him doing that to her fingers. Inside her boots, her toes curled. “The blond one called Dakota was taller than the other, but yet not so tall as me.”
    “Dakota is a big girl.” He kissed his way down to her palm, then the inside of her wrist. “Sexy as hell, but no one would call her frail.”
    Sexy? Did that mean she appealed to him? For some reason, that irritated Kayli. “Perhaps not.”
    “You,” he said while nibbling on her, “are very delicate.”
    Compared to him and his friends, she had to agree. “I’m still fast and strong, and I’m well practiced.”
    “Interesting. If I wasn’t stuck in this bed, I’d let you show me how practiced you are.”
    Kayli scooted closer to him on the bed. “Accept my proposition and I will get you out of this bed. I will make you whole and then we can start sparring immediately. I’m most anxious to learn your moves.”
    Michael smiled lazily. “My best moves are done in a bed.”
    “Really?” That left her bemused. “I observed you in action and it seemed to me that you needed adequate room to maneuver. You were especially good at using your legs to devastating effect.”
    Michael gave a crooked grin. He held her hand to his chest. “I wasn’t talking about moves in fighting.”
    Kayli stared at him. “I was.”
    “I know.”
    Even with all the studies she’d done, he could be so confusing. “Sir, I’m not convinced that you’re taking this seriously.” Annoyed, she pulled her hand away and stood.
    It was time to give him a nudge. “If you are unwilling, or unable, to meet the duties I require, I must not waste any more time with you. I will go to my next choice of savior. He is not as promising as you, but perhaps—”
    “You’ve been checking out another guy?”
    Ah, now she had his attention. Finally. “Yes, sir, I have. Several in fact.” She hadn’t found anyone else as suitable, but a small exaggeration wouldn’t cause any real harm. “My situation is most dire. I need a commitment from you.”
    He studied her for a long