Wray by M.K. Eidem Read Free Book Online Page A

leave,
wanted to run away, just as she always did but she couldn't. She
wouldn't. She'd told Jen in that phone call that she had grown up
that she had changed and it was time to prove it. Wray had been
nothing but caring and understanding since she had woken. He saved
her from the Ganglians. He had saved her when they crashed. She
couldn’t repay that kindness by expecting him to see her as
something more than what she was. A victim. She couldn't change
what had happened to her, but she’d be damned if she let it break
her. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to Wray.
     
    ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
     
    Wray's eyes followed Kim as she moved away
from him. He had seen the tears she’d tried to hide as she slid
from his arms. Why had he done it? Had he really become so selfish,
so spoiled as Emperor that he would put his wants and needs
before those of a female? And not just any female, but Kim?
    Somehow, in a very short time , she had become precious to him. Her strength and
courage combine d with her gentleness and
caring had worked its way into his heart in a way no one else ever
had.
    “Please , Kim. I am
sorry.” He said, holding out his arms. “I will not touch you like
that again. Please, I don’t want you to become chilled, you need
never fear me.”
    “I’m fine and I don’t, fear you that is.”
Still, she couldn't make herself move towards him. “But I do
understand what you are saying. I wouldn’t want to touch me either
if I were you.”
    Wray frowned at her words. Of course, he
wanted to touch her, she was beautiful and soft and... why would
she think he wouldn’t? “I do not understand.”
    The small smile she gave him was
heartbreakin g in its acceptance. “I do, so
it’s okay.” She looked around the cave and realized it was bigger
than she thought. “You said we were on Pontus?”
    “We are.” Wray let his arms slowly fall to
his sides, watching her carefully as she looked anywhere but at
him. “It is a small mining planet on the edge of the Kaliszian
Empire. Tell me what you meant by my not wanting to touch you.”
    “Kaliszians… are they like the Ganglians?”
she said instead.
    “No.” Wray rose and slowly moved towards her.
“Now answer my question.”
    “Then what are they like?” Kim asked, taking
a step back before she stopped herself. She was done backing
away.
    Slowly Wray advanced on her, not stopping
until their bodies were nearly touching. His eyes searched her
upturned face for the slightest hint of fear. Instead, she stuck
her chin out so stubbornly that it nearly made him smile. She was
such a brave little thing.
    “You will explain what you meant by me not
wanting to touch you.” He demanded again in a tone every warrior
obeyed.
    Kim just looked at him. She didn’t want to
explain. Didn’t want to hear him say that he only tolerated
touching her that it was something he would have done for anyone.
Wray had come to mean a great deal to her, despite everything that
had happened to her, she found she enjoyed his touch. She needed
it. It made her feel whole again, safe; if he took that away from
her… it might be what finally broke her.
    “Please , Kim.”
Wray's voice dropped as his eyes searched hers.
    It was the ‘please’ that did it. Somehow, Kim
knew he didn’t say it often and because he had now, she found she
couldn’t deny him.
    “I just meant I understand why you wouldn’t
want to touch me. After what the Ganglians…” Kim never got to
finish her sentence as she was lifted off her feet and pulled
against a heaving male chest.
    Wray couldn’t believe the rage that filled
him when he realized she thought he didn’t want to touch her…
thought he didn’t want her to touch him… all because the Ganglians
had. Pulling her off her feet, he growled out angrily.
    “You think I do not desire your touch!” He
lowered his face so they were nose to nose. “That I would not
welcome anything you would be willing to give me?”
    “But you said… “ she