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

the tunnel. “What did you see?”
    “Her grinding on you. And you didn’t look like an unwilling partner.” The half smile that twisted Maska’s full lips disappeared as his head tilted down. “That hard cock says a lot too.”
    “I always wake with a hard-on, you know that.” Erik cursed and reached out to help Maska straighten up. Even I had to wince when I saw how gingerly he touched the Replicant’s arms.
    Maska scowled and pushed his hands away.
    Erik put his hands right back. This time, he cupped Maska’s shoulders. “Let me get you back to the med pod.”
    “I can get there myself.”
    I lifted an eyebrow. “Really?”
    He didn’t look at me. “Got here, didn’t I?”
    Ignoring Maska’s protests, Erik slid his arms under the Replicant’s legs and behind his back and lifted him from a straight squat. Impressed, I followed along. Erik was big, but Maska was taller and looked heavy. Plus, a few minutes ago, Erik was passed out drunk on my couch. He’d probably drop the man. I told myself that’s why I followed, but the truth was I wanted to watch more of their interaction.
    Maska was no longer protesting, instead staring at Erik. He didn’t hold on to the blond man, didn’t snuggle—just held himself stiff and stared. His long braid slithered over Erik’s arm to brush Erik’s hip as he walked. The style left Maska’s face so clear, his sharp features looked carved from stone. Except for that mouth. Kei was right, he really did have a fantastic mouth. The top lip had an intriguing dent in the middle, the bottom lip full. Together, they were kind of heart-shaped, though he looked too masculine to appreciate the description, should I decide to share. I smirked.
    Milky eyes met mine.
    Shock sobered me fast when I realized there wasn’t any hatred aimed in my direction. In fact, he seemed to study me with curiosity more than anything else. His eyes dropped to my chest, and more surprise hit me when my unbound breasts responded to his look. My nipples hardened and his eyes narrowed. He stared another few seconds before that languid gaze crept back up to my face. I should have ignored the hint of amusement that curled that pretty mouth of his. Normally I would have, but there was a shitload of whiskey floating in my system. “Like what you see?” I drawled.
    “Yes.”
    The simple answer carried no hint of flirting, no dishonesty. Nothing but truth. And a hint of sadness.
    Frowning, I crossed my arms over my nipples.
    “You’re very similar to the women Erik saw before he met me.”
    “You just said I wasn’t his type. So now he’s into skinny and bald?” I smirked.
    He shook his head. “Broken and lonely.”
    I stopped walking, frozen in place as Erik glanced over his shoulder. “Trust me, Jarana isn’t broken.”
    “Then you aren’t looking closely.” Maska’s words came on a whisper, and he slumped. Erik staggered and I reached out to help. He swore and pulled Maska out of my reach.
    “Don’t touch him. Just don’t.” He gazed down at Maska’s slack face. “He’s out again. Leave us. I promise to let you know when he wakes.”
    I scowled. Turning on my heel, I left them, cursing silently the entire way back to my living pod. I was not broken.
    But I was lonely.
    It hit me once I crawled into the massive round bed with the bottle of whiskey. I could have found a willing partner elsewhere on this planet. Kei for one.
    Realization kept me up the rest of the night despite the unhealthy amount of whiskey I put away.
    I didn’t go after Kei because I didn’t want him. He wouldn’t come close to easing this burn I felt in my body. I wanted Erik. But that wasn’t the thing that kept me staring into the glowing Kithran jungle outside my dome.
    Seems the Replicant had stirred something in me too, and that scared the hell out of me.

Chapter Seven
    Another yawn threatened to snap my jaw, and I was so distracted, a robotic arm smacked my helmet hard enough to send me into the cave