The Bond That Consumes Us by Christine D'Abo Read Free Book Online Page B

should have dressed completely, properly before opening the door. What kind of life could he offer her? Pushing away the guilt, 31
     
     
    he stepped away from the entrance and pulled his shirt on before gesturing for her to come inside.
    Fallon’s face was as red as her hair, but he knew she was no coward. It only took her a moment to follow his lead, letting the door shut behind her.
    They were alone.
    “Umm, I’m sorry if I got you at a bad time.” She looked around the room, examining everything but him. “I can come back later if you’d like. Actually, I think I will.”
    He reached out and grabbed her elbow before she was able to turn away. When she looked at him, her mouth parted in surprise, he couldn’t help but stare at those perfect, lush lips, knowing they’d feel like heaven if she sucked his cock. His heartbeat actually increased in tempo as he ran his finger over her soft skin.
    “Please stay,” his words came out low, deep.
    She shivered under his touch. Good . At least he wasn’t the only one affected. All rational thought gone, he stepped closer to her without releasing her arm. Her hair was pulled back again, but he could still picture what it would look like covering her naked skin. She stared at him, unblinking, and this time she didn’t look away.
    “What can I do for you, Ms. Reist?” This time he spoke just above a whisper, not trusting that he wouldn’t break the spell they both seemed to be under.
    Fallon opened her mouth to say something. Stopped, and started again.
    “Please, I like it when you call me Fallon.”
    Don’t react. Be in control. He drew a slow, deep breath into his lungs. He liked the way her name sounded but enjoyed saying it even more.
    “Very well…Fallon. How may I assist you?”
    Her gaze moved back to his chest and he watched as her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip.
    “Captain Zane asked me to show you and Mr. Donaldson around the ship. I can’t get into the bar until the investigation is done, so it’s not like I mind.”
    Taber’s cock began to grow, liking the idea of being with her all day long. He couldn’t let her see how she was affecting him, so he released her arm and turned his back to her.
    “That would make our investigation go far smoother. Thank you for the assistance.”
    “I didn’t mean to interrupt you getting ready. I can meet you and Mr. Donaldson somewhere in a while if it would be—”
    “There’s no need. I only require my footwear and I am ready to leave.”
    He tried not to look at her as he pushed his foot into the protective boot and began to lace it closed. He could feel her gaze on him, watching his every action as if it were 32

     
    the most important thing in the universe. For some reason, it gave him a measure of pleasure to know she was taking such an interest in what he was doing.
    “Are you in the military?”
    Her question made him look up. “I am a member of the Briel Protectorate and am the Briel chief of security on Eurus.”
    “It sounds dangerous,” she tilted her head to the side as she spoke. “It also sounds lonely.”
    How easily she was able to see what others couldn’t. “I have many close friends. I am very rarely alone.”
    “But that doesn’t mean you aren’t lonely.”
    It struck him that she seemed to intimately understand the difference between the two. Nodding, he returned his focus back to the task of tying his boot.
    “My present state of solitude is of my own choosing.”
    “You don’t want to have close friends? People who can make you feel not so isolated?”
    She’d moved closer to him but wasn’t looking at him any longer. Her hands were clasped in front of her body, as if she was scared to touch anything. The pants she had on clung to her waist and hips but flared out, concealing the shape of her legs. She’d worn a similar article yesterday, which only served to pique his curiosity. When he stood to his full height, he moved his body into his normal military pose.