The Billionaire's Beautiful Intruder (Billionaire Knights Book 3) by Nic Saint Read Free Book Online

understand, even though Stuart had also stomached two tours of duty. Stu had survived the ordeal relatively unscathed, however, whereas he’d been pretty banged up. He found it hard to talk to anyone about his experience, and had feared that Molly would destroy the delicate balance he’d found within himself. Now, though, as she was silently trudging behind him, the only sound that could be heard, her labored breathing as they traversed the difficult terrain, he was starting to feel at peace with her being here.
    He turned abruptly and told her, “Get down!”
    She crouched instantly, her movements mimicking his, and then he pointed to a clearing about thirty yards out. She emitted a soft cry of surprise, and a small smile played about his lips. He’d known she’d like this. A herd of deer was flocked together in the clearing up ahead, grazing peacefully, unaware of the humans approaching them, as they were downwind from the graceful animals.
    “This forest is their domain,” he rumbled softly. “Much more than it is mine, in fact, but we’ve learned to coexist.”
    She gazed out at the deer and thought she’d never seen a more beautiful sight. The sun broke through the foliage up ahead, to light up the clearing, and painted the animals’ tawny coats in shimmering hues of fawn, the proud males sporting impressive antlers, like the one she’d seen before.
    And as she and Steve sat crouched side by side, she glanced over at his profile, harsh and forbidding, and was surprised at the softness around his eyes now as he gazed at the deer. He was a soldier, she knew, used to hunting and being hunted, but right now he was just a man, at peace with his surroundings, and she was floored by the sheer strength that emanated from him. He was so powerfully male as he crouched there, his eyes focused on the graceful animals, his features noble and pure, and she was struck for the first time by the thought that he was beautiful, if the word could be used to describe a male.
    Then he glanced over, his eyes crashing with hers, and she saw in the deep gray of his eyes his humanity and his compassion for the life around them. There was no need for her to be here, she realized as she locked eyes with him, but then why was she suddenly so glad that she was? To partake in all of this?
    And then the most outrageous thing happened. He took her hand and curled his fingers in hers, then whispered, “Come!” and started to lead her away from the small pack of animals.
    The touch of his fingers sent shivers up her spine, the sensation curiously intimate, and as she mimicked his movements as he lithely advanced through the undergrowth, ducking branches and vaulting over fallen trees, she was glad of the reprieve from his intense gaze that had briefly captured hers. She could remain locked in those silver eyes forever, no matter how unreasonable that sounded. He had the strength of character to make or break her, she realized on a note of panic, and she was suddenly powered by a strong desire to be her own woman again, and not be dependent on this very male man. Worryingly, it might already be too late for that, his presence affecting her powerfully.
    They’d reached the edge of the forest and she was glad to be out into the open. Standing in the shadows of the huge trees, she found herself gazing out at a part of the island she’d only seen from the sky. It stretched out into the valley beneath them, the trees darker and the thick forest more ominous. More sinister.
    “You don’t want to go down there,” Steve explained.
    “What’s there?” she asked, curious.
    “Wild animals,” he growled, and for a moment she thought he was the wild animal.
    “You mean…”
    “Wild boar, wild goats…” He shook his head. “Best to stay away.”
    “Have you… gone down there?” she wanted to know.
    He glanced up, and she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes that might have been surprise, but then it died away again.
    She was