The Price of Discovery by Leslie Dicken Read Free Book Online

she just wanted get home and think through her plans. So far, her brief encounter with Drakor and Ankra had given her no new clues as to the mysterious death of John Doe.
    Erin left the relative quiet of the sidewalk and joined the throngs in Mickey’s flashing and deafening rooms.
    She went down into the darker dance floor where she had ditched the guy at the bar. Across the room, she caught sight of Greg near one of the mirrored walls. His back was to her and she knew he held some girl in his clutches. She tapped him on the shoulder.
    â€œGo away whoever you are,” he said without looking back.
    Erin stepped around him and saw he had one hand on the girl’s hip and another cupping her face. It was Ankra.
    Her stomach knotted. “Oh, this is really great, Greg.”
    â€œGo away, Erin, I’m having the night of my life.”
    â€œYeah? Well, I’m not. I want to leave.”
    He didn’t take his eyes from his captive. “Catch a lift with someone. I’m not going anywhere.”
    Typical. Self-centered Greg strikes again. Yeah, he’ll do people favors, he’ll be a nice guy. But only if there’s something in it for him. She could never just ask him for help.  
    Erin pulled his arm from Ankra’s face. “You’re supposed to be chaperoning her from leeches, not be one of them!”
    He yanked his arm from her grasp. “Am I bothering you?” he asked his shining-eyed partner.
    She shook her head.
    Erin threw her hands in the air and groaned. “Oh, that’s just great. Give me your keys, asshole. I’ll wait in the car.”
    He reached in his pocket and held them out to her. “Have a good nap.”
    Erin snatched the keys and stormed across the room, pushing through the crowd. Once out the front door, she made a turn for the car. But the familiar wide flare of muscular shoulders made her pause.
    Erin inched her way closer. With the light from the streetlamp, she could see wild, dark hair curling over the collar of a green shirt. Drakor stood against a streetlamp, his arms folded across his chest.
    Why was he out here alone?
    Curious, but not wanting to intrude, she crept up behind him and stood nearby. She was about to say something when, without turning around, he spoke.
    â€œGreetings, Erin Price.”
    Â 
    All around him the air buzzed with nighttime insects and whispers of people walking by. He smelled their sweat and cigarettes. And yet nothing could compare to Erin.
    Drakor squeezed his eyes closed but he could not prevent the explosion within his cells. Opposite to what that other Earth female had caused, Erin’s closeness created a maelstrom in his senses. His mouth watered, his palms itched, his flesh hardened. Of course he knew she stood near him.
    But why her? No one on his planet had ever found a mate anywhere but Elliac. The very few who never found a mate at all were so unusual, they were ostracized, forced to live in a separate colony. He had spent the last several years searching for his Mharai , waiting to find her, to end this tortuous celibacy. Now only a few weeks were left until he reached the birthday when it would be too late.
    Erin Price could not be his lifemate. She was human. It was impossible. So why then did he hunger for her with such a voracious appetite? He wanted to take her nipples into his mouth, run his hands over the swell of her bottom, sink himself deep inside of her.
    He heard Erin step off the curb and stand before him. He opened his eyes, drinking in the delicious sight of her.
    Her eyebrow rose. “I assumed you would be inside dancing, having a good time.”
    â€œI was searching for you.” His gut writhed. Desire, desperation, and fury all mingled in one burning throb.
    â€œOh? You were?” Something in her voice caught him. She sounded surprised, yet enthused.
    â€œI was concerned. I saw a male disturbing you at the bar and then I didn’t see you