Nikhil (Kaliszian Book 1) by M.K. Eidem Read Free Book Online Page B

about him suddenly showing up and attacking me again."
    "You never will." While he spoke softly, his words held an unmistakable power behind them. "He will never harm you again, Mackenzie."
    "I believe you." Lowering her heels back to the floor, she just looked at him and waited. Slowly, he lifted the cloth again and with an intensity that should have frightened her, began to carefully and methodically cleanse her.
    Cleanse. What a perfect word, she thought, for that was exactly what it felt like he was doing. Cleansing her body and soul, removing every remnant of her time spent with the Ganglians and Zaludians.
    He started at her forehead then moved down, making sure he was extremely gentle around her eyes and lips. Once he was satisfied with the results, he started on her neck and shoulders, moving her cleansed hair from side to side.
    "Mackenzie."
    "Yes?" she asked when he paused.
    "These coverings..."
    Mac felt her eyes start to well. She knew the clothes needed to go, wanted them to go, there was nothing left of them, and they only reminded her of everything bad that had happened. But still... they were all she had left from home.
    "Things don't make a home, Mac." Her grandpa’s words echoed in her head. "The people do."
    "Don't matter," she told him, then frowned when Nikhil stilled her hand as she went to remove them. With a tug on each piece, the offending garments were gone. "Okay, I guess that's one way to take them off." Nikhil just grunted, but she could feel the satisfaction he felt in how he removed them.
    Nikhil couldn't express how it made him feel to be able to remove those offending coverings from his Mackenzie. She should never have to wear anything that a Ganglian or a Zaludian had touched. He would make sure she had only the finest of coverings from now on. His mother would know where to find them. He would... his thoughts of coverings disappeared as he realized he was touching one of her breasts.
    Carefully he cleansed the small globe, trying not to be distracted as it seemed to swell slightly at his touch; its dusty, pink nipple tightening. He was tempted to sample the small treat just to see what it tasted like, but knew now wasn't the time for that. Hopefully later, after his True Mate had fully recovered, she would allow him to claim her and offer her his Ashe bead.
    Mac couldn't believe how gentle Nikhil was being. She knew if she were cleansing herself, she probably would have removed a layer of skin trying to rid herself of all the grime that covered her. Not Nikhil, he used care as he firmly cleaned first one spot then another with the cloth, rinsing it out in the stream of hot water flowing down her back.
    When had anyone ever been so intent on caring for her ? Not her parents, although she knew they loved her, but it was a secondary love. Looking back with new eyes, she realized the majority of her father's attention had been focused on the career that had killed him, and her mother's had been focused on her father.
    Not her grandpa. While he had done his best, his mountain had always drawn most of his attention.
    Not the guys, even though they had tried. But she wasn't one of their group. They didn't know her, she was just their guide.
    No, no one had ever cared for her the way Nikhil was. As if her needs were all that mattered. She felt him tense for a moment while cleaning her breasts. They'd responded to his touch, and she knew if he had wanted to try something, she wouldn't be able to stop him. But he hadn't taken advantage of the situation, just quickly moved on to clean her stomach and hips. This extremely, large male, who barely knew her, was caring for her more than anyone else ever had.
    She was about to thank him, to tell him how much she appreciated what he was doing when he shocked her by dropping to his knees.
    "Nikhil..." her hands gripped his shoulders.
    "I know you are getting tired, Little One." He looked up at her with concerned eyes. "It won't be much longer. Lift your