Surrender to Darkness by Annette McCleave Read Free Book Online Page B

her stare for a moment. “Aye.”
    “But she does not fight as you do, like a typhoon of power and anger. There is something unique about you.”
    “I’m what the Norse call a berserker. At certain times, I am consumed by a warrior rage that knows only battle.” He paused. “Most of the time, the rage is tightly leashed, but when my berserker is set free, I am no longer in control. He is.”
    Sora nodded. “Onimusha.”
    “Sorry. My Japanese is nonexistent.”
    Kiyoko smiled. “An onimusha is a fierce warrior with an internal demon.”
    Murdoch shrugged. “That’s as good a description as any. Is that why you brought me here? To discuss my berserker?”
    “Not precisely.” Sora inclined his head toward Kiyoko. “We are interested in the reason you lost control of your berserker at the restaurant.”
    A rueful smile graced the big warrior’s lips. “That makes three of us.”
    “And we wish to know whether it was a unique event.”
    Murdoch’s gaze returned to Kiyoko. Curiosity and a touch of amusement lay in the depths of his eyes. “What did you tell him?”
    Struggling to tame a blush, Kiyoko said, “The truth. That in a single brief touch I was able to sense the fierce power lying dormant in your body, and that a burst of that power then flowed into me.”
    His lips twisted wryly. “I see.”
    Kiyoko’s gaze dropped to her feet. Oh, my . Had he felt the same arousal? The same burning need to press hot damp skin against hot damp skin? That was beyond uncomfortable.
    Sora’s eyes narrowed. “Was your experience different from Kiyoko-san’s, Mr. Murdoch?”
    “Aye.”
    Kiyoko closed her eyes. If he admitted having similar feelings, if he went into any kind of detail at all, she would never be able to look Sora in the face again.
    “Wasn’t the same at all,” Murdoch said quietly. “I didn’t get a blast of energy. I just fell immediately into my berserker rage. It swallowed me whole, in the blink of an eye.”
    Kiyoko released the breath she was holding. Lifting her eyes, she met Murdoch’s again.
    His expression was unreadable.
    “Have you experienced a similar reaction in the past?” Sora asked.
    “No. This was a first.”
    “Then, with your cooperation,” said Sora, “we would like to test your unique connection with Kiyoko-san. To see if we can duplicate it.”
    Murdoch glanced at Kiyoko’s hands, then back to her face. Something hot now burned in his eyes, and Kiyoko knew without a single doubt that he’d shared her intimate reaction to their touch. And that he was recalling the sensations in vivid detail. Every last one of them.
    Murdoch kindly released her gaze and turned back to Sora. “Will I get my five minutes alone with Miss Ashida if I agree?”
    Annoyed that he’d made his request of Sora, Kiyoko answered sharply, “Yes.”
    He smiled faintly. “Fine. I’ll play guinea pig. Shall we go outside?”
    “We’ll adjourn to the dojo,” Sora said. “Plenty of open space there.” He peered over his shoulder. The nine young warriors were seated at a nearby table, eating breakfast and monitoring the discussion with wary eyes. At his nod, they abandoned their meal and left the building.
    Sora, Kiyoko, and Murdoch followed.
    The dojo stood across the courtyard from the great hall, a wide-open structure with slatted wood floors worn smooth by thousands of bare feet. The senshi , now garbed in traditional armor, bowed as a unit when they entered.
    Murdoch frowned at their presence.
    “Please forgive our precautions,” Sora said to him. “This is a dangerous test, and I cannot allow Kiyoko-san to be injured.”
    Immediately Murdoch’s expression cleared. “Aye.”
    “Good. Shall we start? Please take off your jacket.”
    Murdoch did not respond.
    Sora smiled. “It is an effort to preserve your limited collection of possessions, Mr. Murdoch.”
    The Soul Gatherer unzipped his coat, peeled it off, and tossed it on the floor.
    “Your weapon as well, please,” the sensei