Read Online Close Contact by Katherine Allred - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Katherine Allred
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he’d contradict that story.
I forced my gaze to a spot over his shoulder so I could concentrate. “Yes, but not deliberately. I thought I was alone and he startled me. When I turned, I accidentally hit him. I’m not sure how I managed to knock him out.”
There was a splash from the direction of his bathing tub and I glanced over just in time to see Peri pop her head out and flip to float on her back, spread wings moving her in a lazy circle. A happy gurgle issued from her chest. Apparently her protective instincts went south when the choice was me or water.
Reynard was watching her, too, one dark brow arched as he did something to fasten the tight black pants he’d pulled on. “What manner of beast is this?”
Lillith whispered frantically in my ear, and I repeated what she was telling me. “Her name is Peri. I found her washed up, nearly dead, on a beach of the eastern sea when I was last in the area. I nursed her back to health and she’s been with me ever since.”
He reached for a silky white shirt and then held it while he studied me minutely, his face without expression. Nervous under those pale blue eyes, I shifted from foot to foot and brushed my damp palms against my skirt.
“What were you doing outside the castle?”
Again Lillith prompted me. “I was looking for an establishment called the Terpsichore. I’m to work for the owner, Marcus Kent. I was told it was near the castle, but not the exact location, and I saw no one about to ask directions of.”
Suddenly I was thankful everyone had been orderedto stay inside tonight. Otherwise, my story wouldn’t have worked.
Slowly he pulled the shirt over his head and it slithered down his body, the hem hugging his slim hips. Abruptly, I forgot I was afraid. There should be a law against men like him wearing a shirt that clings to every ridge and muscle. Didn’t he know what it did to those of the female persuasion?
“You traveled without escort?” He put a black belt studded with blue stones the color of his eyes around his waist and buckled it.
“No!” Lillith yelled in my ear. “Remember, women on this planet don’t travel alone. He must be suspicious. Think fast and try to look sincere!”
I stopped blinking so my eyes would tear up, stepped forward, hands held out beseechingly, and improvised like crazy. “My father hired two men he mistakenly trusted to bring me here, but they left me near the mountains this morning with only the clothes on my back, and a skin of water to sustain me. Claiming to have business in another city, they pointed me in the right direction and then departed. I believe they were crooks, sir, only after my father’s coin. I could have been in danger from wild beasts, alone as I was.”
“You’re overacting,” Lillith told me. “Turn it down a couple of notches.”
Deliberately, I ignored her and let my bottom lip tremble.
To my surprise, one side of his mouth kicked up in a tiny smile, exposing one very dangerous dimple. Dangerous to my peace of mind, anyway. It was all I could do to keep from jumping him on the spot.
Especially when he crossed to me, stopping close enough that my skirt tangled against his legs. Putting a broad callused hand under my chin, he lifted my face to his gaze.“You are a pretty one,” he murmured. Then his voice hardened. “Too pretty to be such a good liar.”
I let out a gasp of outrage and jerked away from him. “I’m not lying!” Okay, I was, but there was no way he could know it, not for sure.
Before I could blink twice, he had my skirt up and my knife in his hand, the tip pressed against my throat. “Helpless females such as you’re pretending to be do not carry such weapons,” he said. “Now, I’ll have the truth.”
Here’s the thing. I’d only completed intensive combat training a few days ago, and Alien Affairs instructors are very thorough. Because an agent’s life depends on it, they teach us to react to a threat first and think about it later.
I forced my gaze to a spot over his shoulder so I could concentrate. “Yes, but not deliberately. I thought I was alone and he startled me. When I turned, I accidentally hit him. I’m not sure how I managed to knock him out.”
There was a splash from the direction of his bathing tub and I glanced over just in time to see Peri pop her head out and flip to float on her back, spread wings moving her in a lazy circle. A happy gurgle issued from her chest. Apparently her protective instincts went south when the choice was me or water.
Reynard was watching her, too, one dark brow arched as he did something to fasten the tight black pants he’d pulled on. “What manner of beast is this?”
Lillith whispered frantically in my ear, and I repeated what she was telling me. “Her name is Peri. I found her washed up, nearly dead, on a beach of the eastern sea when I was last in the area. I nursed her back to health and she’s been with me ever since.”
He reached for a silky white shirt and then held it while he studied me minutely, his face without expression. Nervous under those pale blue eyes, I shifted from foot to foot and brushed my damp palms against my skirt.
“What were you doing outside the castle?”
Again Lillith prompted me. “I was looking for an establishment called the Terpsichore. I’m to work for the owner, Marcus Kent. I was told it was near the castle, but not the exact location, and I saw no one about to ask directions of.”
Suddenly I was thankful everyone had been orderedto stay inside tonight. Otherwise, my story wouldn’t have worked.
Slowly he pulled the shirt over his head and it slithered down his body, the hem hugging his slim hips. Abruptly, I forgot I was afraid. There should be a law against men like him wearing a shirt that clings to every ridge and muscle. Didn’t he know what it did to those of the female persuasion?
“You traveled without escort?” He put a black belt studded with blue stones the color of his eyes around his waist and buckled it.
“No!” Lillith yelled in my ear. “Remember, women on this planet don’t travel alone. He must be suspicious. Think fast and try to look sincere!”
I stopped blinking so my eyes would tear up, stepped forward, hands held out beseechingly, and improvised like crazy. “My father hired two men he mistakenly trusted to bring me here, but they left me near the mountains this morning with only the clothes on my back, and a skin of water to sustain me. Claiming to have business in another city, they pointed me in the right direction and then departed. I believe they were crooks, sir, only after my father’s coin. I could have been in danger from wild beasts, alone as I was.”
“You’re overacting,” Lillith told me. “Turn it down a couple of notches.”
Deliberately, I ignored her and let my bottom lip tremble.
To my surprise, one side of his mouth kicked up in a tiny smile, exposing one very dangerous dimple. Dangerous to my peace of mind, anyway. It was all I could do to keep from jumping him on the spot.
Especially when he crossed to me, stopping close enough that my skirt tangled against his legs. Putting a broad callused hand under my chin, he lifted my face to his gaze.“You are a pretty one,” he murmured. Then his voice hardened. “Too pretty to be such a good liar.”
I let out a gasp of outrage and jerked away from him. “I’m not lying!” Okay, I was, but there was no way he could know it, not for sure.
Before I could blink twice, he had my skirt up and my knife in his hand, the tip pressed against my throat. “Helpless females such as you’re pretending to be do not carry such weapons,” he said. “Now, I’ll have the truth.”
Here’s the thing. I’d only completed intensive combat training a few days ago, and Alien Affairs instructors are very thorough. Because an agent’s life depends on it, they teach us to react to a threat first and think about it later.
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