Surviving Passion by Maia Underwood Read Free Book Online Page A

forced her into submission. It was curious enough that he was so strangely skilled at incapacitating a person, but that he should do it without any injury whatsoever to his target was beyond Selena’s ability to explain. She eyed him as he rode in front of her, wishing that she could read his mind just by watching him. He was so perceptive. Sometimes she wondered if mind-reading was his secret.
                Selena felt a haze of confusion as the big picture began to emerge in her mind. Since their paths had crossed, she had run from him, fought him, and even tried to take his life but he hadn’t so much as scratched her in his own defense. Maybe she was a worse person than he was. If Dan had been honest with her, he had only done what he thought was right, no matter how misguided his actions seemed. Selena shook her head reflexively. He still hadn’t the right to dictate her life, and she couldn’t simply forgive him for dominating her so forcefully.
                As the sun began to sink towards the horizon, they made their way to the summit of the highest hill. Selena wasn’t quite sure whether it was, in fact, a small mountain.
                Dan halted his mount as the view opened up before them and leaned forward on his saddle horn. Selena pulled up just behind, and took a breath. They were perched at the edge of a small crater on what seemed to be the only trail in or out. Below them green foliage climbed the arm of land that rose up in a protective circle around the depression within. There was an expansive pond to the northeast. Scattered dark brown wooden buildings were nestled amongst the trees. It looked like a perfect sanctuary for people who didn’t want to be found. Dan reined Buck to the right, and led Selena to her new home. It’s only temporary , she told herself.
                They followed the crooked path as it wound its way down into the steep, oak covered hill. They reached the valley in minutes, and the trees grew sparser, making space for tall grass. Some horses grazed ahead off to their right. One of them lifted its head, eyeing them before letting out a neigh. Buck returned the greeting. Soon, the first of the dark brown buildings was in sight. Its open doors revealed saddles, bridles and other horse tack inside. Before they reached it, Dan let out a piercing whistle. Selena jumped at the sudden noise. Within moments, four people came out to greet them, all eyes on her. She stared at the ground and tried to be calm but now that the moment had come and these strangers were converging on her, it was very difficult. She hoped she didn’t look as frightened as she felt. There were two men, a boy and an older woman.
                Dan dismounted and handed the reins to the boy who looked to be about twelve. “Thanks, Tim.”
                The boy nodded, patted Buck on the neck, and waited.
                “Well I’d ask how the salvage went but that seems pretty obvious,” one of the men said when he’d drawn close. He stood at average height and like Dan, was also well muscled. His receding, strawberry blonde hair was cropped short and his clear blue eyes twinkled with humor and mischief. As soon as he reached them, he folded his arms over his chest and stood with his legs apart. “Hello Miss. My name’s Cal.”
                Dan gave him a look before turning to the saddlebags on Star.
                “I’m Selena,” she replied after a nervous pause.
                The other male hardly seemed a man yet. Selena guessed he was in his late teenage years. He was toned of course, but wiry. A frizzy mop of auburn hair sat untamed over his long, unperturbed face. His half-lidded eyes looked bored and the set to his mouth, droll. He seemed quite the opposite of Cal.
                “She looks pissed, Dan,” the young man said flatly. “Why can’t you ever play