Scorcher by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page A

short.
    “Athon? Do you know her?”
    Miya was cute, sweet and the perfect Nyal woman. A daughter-in-law that any parents would welcome. She was a little clingy, but he could simply request off-world assignments.
    “Yes. Yes, I do know her. Her name is Sarah Anders and she is my mate.”  The words came out of his mouth in a rush and he watched Sarah for her reaction. Relief was what he read in her eyes, and then a strange sort of anger. 
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Ten
     
     
    Sarah couldn’t help herself, she was on her feet and walking toward him, her belly leading the way. She flared her hands as she approached her lover. “If you are telling me that you brought this woman here to introduce to your family and are now discarding her because I am here --”
    She didn’t get to finish. He embraced her, fiery hands and all. His mouth covered hers. She sighed and let her hands go out. The taste of him was heaven and she smiled as her passenger started kicking like mad. That got his attention.
    “You are pregnant?”
    “No. It is just one heck of a parasite. Of course I am pregnant. Twit.” She smiled at the Nyal woman who was watching them wide-eyed. “Hello. I am Sarah.” She held out her hands for formal greeting.
    The woman must have been raised in a formal household because she greeted her in reflex. “Hello, I am Miya.”
    “Pleased to meet you.” She left Athon and took the other woman’s arm, escorting her to the table. “It is so rare to meet a woman of your genteel upbringing in such circumstances.”
    “Why thank you.” Miya gave a timid smile and Audril looked really confused.
    They had a strange and terribly polite dinner. Sarah dropped the bomb over the sorbet. “So, Miya. What would a nice pure-blood Nyal be doing in a mongrel community like this?”
    Audril looked amused, Kathak looked offended and Athon looked at Sarah like the sun was rising behind her.
    “Well, I wouldn’t normally have considered someone of Officer Kellan’s background, but my father said it would help his company with exports. He said that Captain Lennick had connections that we would have access to.” Miya blushed and then looked over at Athon. “Not that you aren’t very attractive in your own right. But my family wouldn’t have let you near me otherwise.”
    Chuckling ruefully, Athon put his glass of water down. He had kept to water, matching Sarah glass for glass. “I was a little surprised when your father approached me, but I was so miserable that I was willing to overlook the coincidence.”
    “You are not mad?”
    “No. Vaen will take you home.” Athon’s attention was firmly on Sarah.
    “But that is most inappropriate.”
    “So is admitting that you were after me for my money. Let’s just call the last few weeks a wash and go our separate ways. Vaen can bring his mate if that will be more appropriate for you.”
    “Yes. Thank you.”
    Sarah blinked as Miya rose to her feet. That was that. She was leaving with no bitterness, crankiness or burning Athon’s balls off. She was much more lady-like than Sarah would have been in the same situation.
    Kathak smiled and escorted the young woman to the skimmer pad. He seemed pleased with how the evening had played out.
    “So I guess I will leave you two, or three to get reacquainted.” Audril nodded to them both, kissed her son on his cheek and patted Sarah’s belly.
    Finally, they were alone. “So, Athon. I suppose you have been busy looking for the perfect woman.” She leaned her head on her hand and batted her eyelashes at him.
    “No. I already know where to find the perfect woman, it was just a matter of getting her to come to me.”
    His voice was deep and husky, stroking parts of her that she had forgotten all about. “Well, technically, your mother dragged me here.”
    “Yes. How did she manage to find you?” He was up and pacing, getting closer with each pass.
    “I had to send an update to the Alliance when I was rescued and when