Seduced by Crimson by Jade Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

thinking of my brother, the accountant," he answered. Then he shrugged. "I hit a really bad patch in my teens. My girlfriend died violently, and I just couldn't find my way. Working with plants grounded me, gave me something concrete to do. My parents were academics, so the research and teaching part came naturally. Plus, it fit in with the rest of my extra-curricular activities."
    "Surfing?"
    He shook his head, but his gaze remained steady on her. Intensely steady, as if his next words were very, very important.
    "i didn't surf then," he said. "I'm a druid."
    She started, then chastised herself for reacting so strongly. This was southern California, after all, home of every freaky religion known to mankind. "So you worship trees and…" What exactly did druids do?
    "We revere the Earth and try to work with Her energies." He leaned forward. "It's very much like working with a person's qi, isn't it? Only instead of sticking needles into someone, I use plants to harmonize the Earth's energy."
    "That's why you want the Phoenix Persimmon, isn't it? You know what it does."
    He nodded. "My research indicates that it can have interesting chemical effects on a person's blood. Is that true?"
    "Depends on what you call interesting." And that's when she realized what made him so attractive to her. Power. He had power and the knowledge of how to use it. Not just physically; she knew a dozen or more body builders and couldn't care less about them. His power went deeper than bone and muscle. It was in the way he moved when he walked—balanced and contained. "You do martial arts."
    He blinked, obviously surprised. "Yeah. On days when I can't get to the beach."
    She nodded. Controlled qi was an awesome thing. Many a girl lusted after qi masters, herself included. But Patrick had something deeper, something more powerful than even well-channeled energy. He had the ancient Earth knowledge of the Druids. It suffused his being with an old potency that tingled along her senses. It enchanted her most primitive instincts, and it made her feel safe when she had no reason at all to feel that way.
    When was the last time that happened? Never. Certainly never with a bronzed surfer-god. Lord, she was in trouble now. She hid her groan behind her napkin. He even ate sexy, the long ivory chopsticks expertly dropping choice morsels right between perfect lips. There wasn't anything overtly sexual about it, and yet she was thinking of what else he could taste and what else he could expertly slide inside.
    "Tell me about Cambodia," he said.
    She flinched, drawn out of her sexual fantasies and dumped into an ugly past.
    "Whoa. Uh, sorry. I didn't mean to pry," he back-pedaled.
    She frowned, still struggling to find her equilibrium. "What?"
    "You looked… spooked. Really, really spooked. I'm sorry. They must not be pleasant memories."
    "No… Well, yes… I mean…" She snapped her mouth shut. Babbling wasn't her style—at least not usually. "I was young, and it was a confusing time."
    "I'll bet. Civil wars aren't pretty." He reached across the table and touched her hand. His fingers were long and calloused, and they infused her with a soothing peace that she couldn't fight.
    She raised her gaze to his. He did understand. Not specifically about her or her past, but about… What? She couldn't quite name it.
    "So let's change the topic." He looked around. He did that often, scanning the room, placing the people and the exits. She recognized the gesture since she did it as well. "Are you feeling worried with the new anti-vamp campaign?"
    She shrugged and started making designs with her chopsticks in the pool of hot sauce on her plate. "I've got no love of vamps. Have another pot sticker—they're best hot."
    He shook his head. "I'm stuffed. Have you been having problems with vamps?"
    Glancing up, she decided to be honest. "Most of us are barely getting by in Chinatown. The fangs've got money, altitude, and attitude. Haven't seen one yet who wasn't willing to