Riss by Kathi S. Barton Read Free Book Online

kitchenette, she laid it on the table while she got herself a glass of water.
    “ It’s a feather, Kala, you’ve seen them before.” Yeah, she told herself, but not as big as this one was. “So what? It’s a big feather. It has nothing to do with the dream you had. It’s a fucking feather. Get over it.”
    But for some reason her head wouldn ’t let it go. The man with the file, just before she’d left him, he’d stood up, stretched, and he’d had feathers. Actually, he’d had wings, the kind that seemed to be made from large feathers like the one she had. Shivering, she picked up the snowy white feather and took it to her bedroom, where she put it in the drawer. Then she went into the bathroom.
    “ I have to find a job today and a place to live. Not necessarily in that order, but today.” Letting out the water from the now cold bath, she stepped into the spray of hot water. Once she was out of the shower and dressed, she’d told herself that Riss wasn’t real and that the feather was from her pillow. A pillow that she had fluffed up when she’d made her bed that felt like it was made from foam. “It’s not really. I’m just stressed.”
    Once out of the apartment , she felt better…more alive, she supposed. By the time she was in her car and moving toward the newspaper office, she’d convinced herself that all of it had been a dream. There was no way she’d nearly had sex with a man in her living room, and the feather was just that. A feather. As she pulled into the side street to get a paper, she felt much better. And when she saw the help wanted pages, she knew this was going to be a good day. Going over each one, she found seven that she could do and four more she’d put on her list to send a resume to. Kala was going to be working by tomorrow. She just knew it.

Chapter 4
     
    Riss was supposed to be with her right now , but all he could think about was what he’d done. He’d not just interacted with a human, but he’d kissed one. And had her naked breast in his hand and mouth. Riss looked up from his table when someone sat down with him. Groaning to himself, he wondered how he could politely ask Arryn to leave him alone.
    “ I heard you took over the duties for Miss Marrow.” Riss frowned. He’d only said he’d finish the day, not take over. “Thanks. The man I have now is sort of funny. I’ve had a good time with him today.”
    “ I’m not her protector.” Riss looked around when he realized he’d shouted again. “I mean, I told Michael that I’d watch her yesterday. I never meant that I’d stay with her.”
    “ You’d better clear that with him then. I’m working with another charge now, and your name is on as her protector.” Arryn leaned back in the chair he’d turned to sit on backwards. “She’s not like others, is she?”
    “ What do you mean?” Riss picked up his tray of fruit that he’d not touched and stood up. “I’m going to talk to Michael and get this straightened out.”
    “ I mean she doesn’t seem to be the kind that you and I usually watch over. Our charges seem to be quieter, reserved, and more…I don’t know. Softer I guess.” The thought of how soft her breast had been in his hand and the hard nipple had been in his mouth had Riss sitting down. “She also seems to be a woman who would crumble at the first sign of trouble.”
    “ I didn’t see that.” Arryn cocked his head and Riss felt he had to continue for some reason. “She’s stronger than you think. I heard her arguing with herself just before I left her yesterday, and I think she is made of sterner stuff than most humans.”
    “ How so? I mean the woman has lost her job, and from what I saw in her file, she will be homeless in a few days. The new owners were to bring the eviction papers to her yesterday. It was why I’d agreed to go to the new human, because I knew that you’d be with her when it came.” Riss wondered why he’d not been given her file but looked at Arryn when