Sarazen's Vengeance: Book 1.1 by Isabel Wroth Read Free Book Online

chuffed at her. Kissed her again softly as he knew how and nuzzled at her soft cheek. “It is no wonder you hunger, my one. You have been asleep for a full cycle. Come.”
     
     
    ****
     
    Ohlen took her to what she’d started calling ‘the Media Room,’ for the next four days. Each time he explained the next step of the download process. What she might experience and where she would be when she woke up. Because of her reaction after the first download, he was adamant about taking her to the medical bay immediately after each session. Ensuring she suffered no adverse reactions.
    The second download completed, Andi opened her eyes to see Ohlen right beside her, his hand stroking down over her head. As soon as Ga’rae had cleared her to leave, Ohlen carried her back to their suite. Kept her cuddled close to his chest the entire way. As though she needed to be handled with the utmost care. The third time had been the same. So had the fourth.
    The fifth time Andi opened her eyes, she found herself curled up on the bed in their quarters.
    Ohlen was kneeling beside her holding one of her hands in his. Just looking at her. She felt the rhythmic sweep of his thumb brushing tenderly back and forth over her pulse. He had the oddest expression on his face. It wasn’t an expression that scared her. Waking up to Ohlen being so close didn’t scare her either. It was more that whatever emotion he was feeling, allowing to show on his face, made her stomach flip. Churn with a mix of uncertainty and shyness.
    “What’s wrong?” she murmured.
    Half afraid if she spoke louder than a whisper, he would let go of her. More and more his cautious, mindful touches were becoming addicting. They warmed her. Comforted her. Even soothed her. Made her feel safe . His lips curved up at the corners. A hint of a smile filled his eyes until they shimmered in the low light. Like fire through amethyst.
    “Nothing is wrong, my one. I was simply waiting for the moment you woke. I am swiftly becoming addicted to watching you wake. The first time, for just a heartbeat you seemed frightened. Then you caught sight of me and you calmed. I was determined to be within your range of vision each time you woke after that. It is a lovely thing to see. Your eyes are almost black when first they open. Though the more alert you are, the brighter they become. Until they are almost golden brown. I hope, one day, I can convey to you the depth of my amazement. To know that for the rest of my days, I will wake and see this beautiful miracle, each morning.”
    Ohlen said things like that to her and for a few breath-stealing moments, she didn’t know how to respond. It made her shamefully uncomfortable. Wondering how he could stand to look at her when he knew, had heard from her own mouth, every appalling admission she’d made to Clary about what Ethan had done to her.
    How Ohlen could still think she was…a beautiful miracle?
    He had treated her with the utmost care and respect. More so than any other man she had ever met in her life. It made her chest hurt to know that this fascinating, unbelievable creature, was stuck with her. She wished she had met Ohlen before Ethan had ever sullied her. Back when she was still clean and maybe…
    “I have upset you. Forgive me. I should not yet speak so frankly with you.” Ohlen’s toneless retreat jerked her out of her thoughts.
    Andi clenched her hand around his. Hating how the smile died from his eyes. How he retreated from being so open and honest with her. The brightness in his eyes replaced with emotionless blankness. She sat up and reached out with a shaking hand. Pushed a strand of his fair hair from where it had fallen across his brow. Scooted closer so she could tuck it back into the thick braid down the center of his head.
    Her heart gave a dizzying flop when he turned his face into her touch. His lashes fell to half-mast with a little huff of air. Like he was starved for every brush of her skin against