The Naked Truth by Lily Cain Read Free Book Online Page B

physical level so quickly. But in m’ittar there was no way to lie—they had both wanted the sensual contact almost immediately, and in Inarrii culture, this contact was perfectly acceptable. In the face of her recent painful experience he desired, more than anything, to heal her wounds and comfort her. Sex shouldn’t have been part of the equation, and yet it seemed that it was already part of the way they reacted to each other.
    Asler slid from her embrace and rose above her. He wouldn’t need sleep for some time, but humans needed to rest about every ten hours, if possible. Inarrii had much longer cycles, going twenty-five to thirty Earth hours before needing a sleep period. The ship had no hour-based schedule.
    He looked down at Susan, admired her beautiful skin. A flick of his hand over the side of the couch turned its air blanket on to a warm setting.
    Susan’s skin still flushed with a ruddy color across her cheeks and down her neck and breasts. Passion. Surprisingly she had been able to feel it with him, had reached for it in his arms even after the torture she’d experienced. There was no question that she had been hurt badly by the terrorists. The question was, had the torture happened before or after she told them the location of the Confederacy ship? And how much had she told them? Were there more terrorists than the few found and killed onboard the attacking ship? They needed the answers, and needed them soon.
    What the Confederacy hadn’t told the humans was just how close the alien Ravagers were to Earth. They would soon lay waste to the fragile planet if no Treaty had been established. Even with one in place, the Ravagers would likely attempt to loot and destroy anything left unguarded on Earth.
    He ran a light touch over Susan’s short hair. He liked these humans. In particular, he liked this one very much. Being within her mind allowed for an understanding of her psyche that would take years without m’ittar. She was a strong individual with depths that begged to be explored. Their planet should not be left unprotected, to be ruined. His feelings were not only based on the obvious advantages Earth’s resources would bring the Confederacy. His inner sense told him these people would be very important to his own, and that this woman would be important to him.
    Since the full development of his m’ittar, he’d focused everything on his career. His clan relied on the younger men and women to bring them honor. That honor became a kind of currency on Inarr and within the Confederacy, where Inarrii were present. He’d never taken the time to look for a mate, although he’d always imagined it might happen some day.
    He shook his head at the direction his thoughts were taking. Nothing was possible until the truth had been established and dealt with.
    Quietly, Asler made his way to the cleansing unit. Spending time in the ultrasonic cleanser could be very relaxing if it was put on the lowest setting. Susan would sleep for at least four hours if he understood the human physiology he had studied. He’d take a break in the cleanser and then file his report.
    As he stood inside the unit, he waited for peace to consume him again, to restore his equilibrium. It didn’t come. She wouldn’t leave his thoughts. He left the cleanser and skirted the office to enter his private bedchamber. In silence, he logged his time with Susan in his private records. An Examiner kept detailed reports, secure both physically and legally. What happened in any interrogation was private to all but the Examiner, at least until it was time to present any findings.
    Upon returning to the office, his eyes were drawn to her relaxed body sprawled guilelessly across the couch. He moved to stand over her. Would these hours ever end? Despite his training to uncover the truth, there was something more that compelled him to be with her. Something surprising. He wanted to be with her, wanted more from her.
    Asler sighed and stepped away,