Warlord Reunited: 3 (Barbarian Claims) by Cynthia Sax Read Free Book Online Page A

light and loving and some of the tension inside of Berke eased.
    “Because you’re my gerel ,” he murmured. Ellie was more important to him than duty or even honor. “When I defeat Tolui and battle his army, it will be for you.”
    “We’ll defeat Tolui together.” Ellie captured his face between her hands, her fingertips coarse, her hands belonging to a warrior female. “And there won’t be any more battles. My plan will work.”
    Could we defeat Tolui together? Berke leaned his forehead against Ellie’s, their noses touching, her breath teasing his lips. Can I risk her to win this war? If she died… “No. I can’t lose you, Ellie.”
    “I’m not as fragile as you think I am.” She petted his head, smoothing his long hair, her caresses soothing him. “Before I met you, I was the best bounty hunter credits could buy.”
    And I forced her to give that up. Berke straightened. “All I wanted to do was keep you safe.” He lifted her, slipped into the captain’s chair and settled her on his lap, relishing her slight weight, how her ass nestled against his hard groin. “You’re my light, my treasure, my reason for being.”
    “And all I wanted was to stand by your side,” Ellie whispered. “In battle or in peace. I’ll assist you, Warlord. Haven’t I already proven that with the clone detector?”
    The clone detector could end the war. Berke propped his chin on the curve of her shoulder. Ellie’s curls teased his cheek, soft yet strong, as alive and as contradictory as his female.
    They watched the distant stars blur in the viewscreen, the constellations as familiar as his own hands, a symbol of all that he fought to protect.
    No, not all that I fight for. Berke flattened his palms against Ellie’s stomach. All she wants is to stand by my side. He took a deep breath and asked, “What is your plan?”
    Ellie swung her legs to the side, her pert ass perched on one of his thighs and she gazed at him, studying his face. Berke didn’t know what she looked for. “My plan is your original plan except instead of Zeta trading Khan to Tolui for credits, I’m trading you.”
    Berke frowned, thinking of reasons to discard the plan, not wanting his reckless female to be anywhere near his enemy. “Tolui will send a clone.”
    “Which I will detect and reject.” Ellie grinned, flashing white teeth, the sparkle returning to her eyes.
    “He’ll blow up the ship,” Berke countered, unwilling to take any chances with his gerel .
    Ellie made a rude noise with her lips. “You’ve been fighting forever. He’ll want the satisfaction of killing you himself. That was Tolui on Chamele 1.” She trembled and Berke tightened his grip on her, seeking to ease her fear. “The rage I felt radiating from him couldn’t have been copied.”
    “He could have killed you while in that rage.” Berke glared at the mark on her cheek, wishing to kill Tolui for that affront alone.
    “But he didn’t kill me.” Ellie pressed an index finger against his lips. “Because I’m good and because he thinks we’re on the same side. He thought I was there to kill you. He still thinks that.”
    Berke nipped her fingertip, tasting salt and female. “You’re good but not invincible and you don’t know what that clone-lover thinks.”
    “Is it that bad that he loves clones?” Ellie caressed Berke’s nipples, swirling her fingers over the flat flesh, the stimulation hardening his cock. “I’ve met clones. They’re not that different from you or me.”
    “According to Tolui, they’re superior.” Berke scowled, negotiating with the rebel an exercise in frustration, his demand for a clone-governed system ridiculous. “He has enhanced his manufactured warriors to benefit his own purposes, uncaring of the consequences, and he’d have Chameles serve these creations of his.”
    “You? Serve?” Ellie laughed. “Never.”
    “I only serve you.” Berke wedged his hands between her thighs, spreading her legs wider, opening her to