Seduced by Chaos by Stephanie Julian Read Free Book Online Page B

but you, sweetheart.”
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    Stephanie Julian
    “I told you—”
    “I know you’re querciola . I know what that means. I also know that there’s something between you and me that works differently. Doesn’t it?” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at her, trying to hold his impassive expression, but it was so hard in the face of her utter terror. “But do you know why ?”
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    Seduced by Chaos

Chapter Four
    Lacey’s heart raced in her chest, so fast she worried she was having a heart attack.
    He knew. He knew what she was.
    Fear should be making her shake like a leaf. She should be running for the door, running from this town, from this state.
    If he knew what she was, it wouldn’t be long before he told someone, who told someone else. And they would hear about the querciola who’d shown up out of nowhere in Reading.
    But even though he knew what she was, Teo wasn’t looking at her like she was a circus freak. Or a possession to control.
    Those hazel eyes were steady. Calm. Concerned for her.
    As her heart rate calmed, she thought back to what he’d said.
    There’s something between you and me that works differently…
    She took a breath. And then another.
    “What… What do you mean there’s something between us?”
    Though he barely moved, Teo relaxed. She felt it as a slight lessening of tension in the air between them.
    “I mean, there’s something different about how we interact. Isn’t there?”
    She paused, thinking carefully about how much she wanted to reveal. In her gut, she knew Teo wouldn’t hurt her. But her brain realized he wasn’t being completely honest. He was holding something back. Just as she had.
    Her hands flexed around the sheets clutched at her chest, reminding her that she was naked. She wanted to take a shower. She needed a few minutes alone. She needed to get the hell out of there.
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    Stephanie Julian
    But that would mean leaving Teo. And she so didn’t want to do that.
    That left her only one choice. Tell him everything and hope he was half the man she thought he was.
    But she’d do it on her own terms.
    “I’ll tell you what you want to know, Teo. But I’m going to take a shower first. I just need a few minutes to clear my head and get my thoughts in order.”
    She saw him mull that over for a few second before nodding. “Okay if I make us some breakfast?”
    Her relief showed in the small smile she gave him. “Sure. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
    Still holding onto the sheet, she skirted the bed, heading for the attached bath. But before she could make a clean getaway, Teo stepped in front of her.
    The man just towered over her. And again, she was struck by the fact that he didn’t terrify her. He should. Other men—men not as big as Teo—had frightened her.
    With one finger under her chin, he tilted her head back, far enough to lay a soft kiss on her lips. No tongue, no heat.
    For such a big guy, he was amazingly gentle.
    And it melted any lingering edges of tension from her body. She longed for his arms to enfold her, for him to draw her into the warmth and security of his body. She actually started to lean into him just before he pulled back.
    The smile tugging at the corners of his lips drew an answering one from her.
    “You better get in the shower,” he said, “or I’ll be tempted to join you.”
    She wanted to say, “Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.” But she knew what would happen if he did.
    And she really did need a few minutes to get her brain back in working order.
    She made it to the bathroom without looking back.
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    Seduced by Chaos
    * * * * *
    Teo watched her go, rooting his feet to the floor so he wouldn’t follow her.
    Damn, but he wanted to.
    Still, they could both do with some down time and he was starving. Another byproduct of the amentia —he needed to eat on a regular basis or his body would eat away at itself. The amount of food he consumed in a week would terrify his mother and should have made him