Replicant: The Kithran Regenesis, Book 2 by Dani Worth Read Free Book Online

of a button, shields closed over the dome so it was protected during Kithra’s wind storms or for privacy. But the night view was so spectacular, I left it open, not giving a damn if anyone saw Erik here and wondered why. I’m sure Egan would have said the human was in a vulnerable state and I should not take advantage. My need pulled at me until I threw out every reason I shouldn’t try to seduce the man.
    “Make yourself at home.” I waved my hand at the sprawling red couch that wrapped two sides of the room. “That thing is sinfully comfortable. I’ve been sleeping out here so I can watch the animals.”
    He stood by the dome, and I flashed back to when Maska had stood as a woman in that tunnel with the lush, blue vegetation behind her. A leeto scampered along a branch near the window, hands and mouth full of twigs, its black fur smooth and silky looking. I’d seen a similar creature on Earth 3, a monkey. Our leetoes were a hundred times more beautiful with their thick pelts and gleaming emerald eyes.
    Erik stood at the dome, staring at the creature when it stopped in front of him and cocked its head to the side. “Egan told me this time is similar to Earth’s spring and the animals are making nests. Have to say, I haven’t taken a lot of time to watch them. What’s that one called?”
    “A leeto. When I was a kid, my sister made friends with one that would come up to her window and leave things on the branch right outside it. Flowers or food. We were addicted to classic Earth stories at the time, so we teased her to death about her furry Romeo.” I walked toward the bedroom, wishing I didn’t have to work so hard for this, wishing he would follow. Purposely keeping my eyes off the huge bed with its thick, black comforter, I rummaged in the open case for the ridiculously expensive whiskey I had wrapped in clothes at the bottom.
    Abruptly, my knees went weak and I sank onto the soft bed. I’d talked about my sister. Just casually threw out that tidbit like she was still alive…like it was an ordinary day and I’d see her sometime soon.
    The room spun. I froze, clenched my eyes shut.
    “Jarana?”
    My eyes flew open to find Erik standing in the doorway of my room. His broad shoulders filled the space, his blond hair catching moonlight that made it shine. I focused on him, hard, desperate to kill whatever was building inside me before it escaped and turned me into a raving maniac.
    “Let’s drink the whiskey out there. That absurd bed is not a good idea.”
    I glanced at the bed. It was round and big enough to comfortably sleep six. “Absurd? Isn’t your bed like this?”
    He shook his head, grinned. “Mine’s built into the wall. It’s huge, like all the other beds on this planet, but it’s not on a pedestal and it doesn’t turn circles.”
    Lifting an eyebrow, I eyed the walls, looking for a switch. “Didn’t know it turned circles. Cool.” Turning back to him, I held up the whiskey. “A little of this and maybe we can take a ride on the spinning bed.”
    He walked close.
    I held my breath.
    He took the whiskey bottle and left the room.
    Chuckling, I followed.
    Four drinks. It took four drinks to get the man to loosen up. Unfortunately, he loosened up too much. I broke off midsentence when I heard his slight snore. Grinning and not even close to steady, I lurched across the room and braced my hand on the back of the couch to look down at him.
    The sadness that pulled his gorgeous features down was absent now as he slept. His mouth was open and one arm dangled over the side of the couch. I lifted it and rested his hand on his stomach, running the tips of my fingers over the shiny blond hair on the back of his hand. Then I turned to look for the Dranellian cotton blanket. But I turned too fast and fell on him. He grunted, grabbed my waist. My butt ground onto his crotch hard enough to make him wince, but it was me who made the startled noise when he turned me over and flattened my body on top of