1. That’s good, she told herself. The
barrier appeared to have been lifted, and they were back at square one. For
some reason, she didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot with this man. In
fact, as crazy as it sounded, she wanted to take another deep breath of his
cinnamon scent. Maybe it was from something he’d come in contact with earlier
that day. One way or another, she promised herself she’d find out. Closing her
menu, she laid it on the table. “Let me guess. You can read Cajun French.”
2 “Of
course I do.” As soon as she’d retorted, Cherron knew how it sounded, and
quickly amended her reply. “I mean, I care very much for him. To be honest,
Liam, I don’t believe the soul-burning type of love you read about in romance
novels, or see on the movie screen, really exists. My parents were married for
almost thirty years before Dad died. And not once in all that time did I ever
see them kiss one another. Or hug. Or even put their arms around each other.”
She pushed her broccoli around on her plate with the memories. “I think, in
order for a marriage to survive, there has to be a mutual respect for each
other. And some fondness. But out and out love? It’s a bogus emotion. I believe
when people care for each other, they call it love and let it go at that.”
3. Yarrolam
launched himself at the two men holding Cherron, slamming sideways into the man
with gun. Both Cherron and the man who held her fell backwards under the
impact. Turning slightly, he slashed down with his thick claws across the first
man’s wrist, severing the hand holding the pistol. Before the second man could
worm his way free from underneath Cherron, Yarrolam twisted his body and
brought his Ruinos hand down on the guy’s Adam’s apple. The man released his
grip on her and clasped his neck in a vain attempt to staunch the flow of
blood.
4. “And
then what?” She tossed a concerned look at him. “Liam, how long are we going to
have to watch our backs?” Her worry was a bitter cloud, striking him full in
the face. This time it was stronger and more pungent. The longer they remained
together, the more he was going to become aware of her feelings, her moods, and
her emotions. The knowledge left him both exhilarated and depressed. This woman
was meant to his, yet she was already spoken for. But he refused to claim her
until she either withdrew herself from Aaron, or declared herself no longer his.
5.
His embrace tightened slightly, but it still
wasn’t what she wanted. Glaring up at him, she stared into those
chocolate-brown eyes with their silvery pieces of glitter. His expression was
unreadable…until she saw the crack in his façade. Somehow, she knew he wanted
to do more. The subtle hunger was evident in the tense lines around his eyes
and mouth.
6. A
hand closed around her mouth the same instant she recognized the unconscious
form. The action prevented her from crying out at the sight of his bruised and
blood-covered skin. His Ruinos head sagged, facing the floor. He was held up
off the floor by his elbows. His hands and arms appeared encased in some sort
of silvery wrapping or cast that acted as handcuffs. His legs and feet were also
bound at the ankles by the same kind of covering that made a metallic sound
when it scraped across the threshold. Before she could get to her feet, another
hand clamped down on her shoulder, keeping her from rising.
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