Return by Jordan Summers Read Free Book Online Page B

now? Soon she’d need a sci-fi decoder ring to decipher his phrases. It was almost as if his first language wasn’t English, yet she could discern no accent. “Oh, you mean a crowd. Yes, I sure hope so.” She began shoving items back into her suitcase. Brigit closed the lid, then sat on top of the bag, bouncing a couple times in order to lock it. The damn thing had to have shrunk after check-in.
    Orion’s eyes widened and his sensuous face turned down in scowl. “There were males at that last gathering.”
    Brigit glanced around the room to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything and to once again check for film equipment. There had to be a camera crew somewhere. No way was this for real. Men like Orion did not exist on this planet.
    “Will there be males?” He tried to hide the annoyance, but didn’t succeed.
    His question startled her out of her packing. Why did he sound so grumpy? “Yep, there will be guys in the audience.”
    “Then I forbid it.” His voice boomed and he slashed a powerful arm through the air.
    Brigit giggled. She couldn’t help it. That was the last thing she expected him to say. He forbade it. Orion’s hands clenched. She glanced at his face once more and the giggles turned to peals of laughter. He looked so serious, but she knew he had to be kidding. No guy got serious after one kiss.
    “That’s a good one, Orion. In fact, it’s perfect.” Her shoulders shook. “I forbid it,” she said, lowering her voice to impersonate him as she wiped tears from her eyes. “Save it for the stage, the audience will eat it up, especially once you put on that cape. Oh, I almost forgot.” Brigit unsnapped the suitcase and dug to the bottom of the bag. She felt satin beneath her fingertips and pulled. The material slid through the other items like water off sex lube. “Put this on.” She handed him the mask.
    Orion stood there, turning the item over and over in his hands like he’d never seen one before and wasn’t sure what to do with it. She thought it was odd, but didn’t have time to delve into the subject or they’d be late.
    “It goes on your face.” Brigit grabbed the mask and then stepped behind him. She stood on her tiptoes and strained upward, missing the mark by five inches. “Duck down. I can’t reach you.”
    He did as she asked.
    Brigit slipped the mask in place, securing it against his head, and then spun Orion around. Her gaze locked onto his face. She’d been going for a bit of mystery and hadn’t anticipated the impact a simple mask would make. Good God, he looked like an intergalactic bandit. All that was missing was for him to pull the sword from his side sheath and carve his initials into the wall.
    “Um…um…that’s good,” she choked out and patted him on the arm before stepping back. The need inside her flamed, refusing to be doused.
    “We need to talk,” he repeated, his voice gruff.
    “Later.” Before he could say another word, Brigit grabbed him by the forearm and dragged him out of the room. It was either that, or do something insane like blow off the contest so she could throw him on the bed and fuck him senseless.

Chapter Three
     
    The crowd was even larger than at the last costume event. Wonderful! With Orion at her side, they should win easily. Brigit gathered the material of her split skirt and pushed forward. Her right arm muscles strained as she tried to pull Orion behind her. Was he purposely digging in his heels? She glanced at his boots, then back to his face. Orion’s expression remained steely as he took in the crowd.
    Wolf-whistles came from all sides as she snaked her way through the whirling masses. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Rocket Man Rick’s face. He’d left her to be with a winner. Well there was no way she could lose now. Brigit smiled inwardly. Her costume was a hit. Her partner was beyond perfect. She looked at him once more. He didn’t look happy. Every catcall made Orion stiffen and his frown deepen. If he got