Read Online Talson Temptations 2: Talson's Test by Marie Harte - Free Book Online Page B

frowned. “My father and brothers are strong, but not as strong as me. And yeah, I’m bragging.”
    Her smile stole his breath. “So the women are stronger?”
    “Yes.” Her smiled faded. “Which is why our males are so set on finding and keeping ‘San Fal females. I was raised on Werfal 5, surrounded by men all the time.” He stilled, not liking the tone of her voice. “You weren’t hurt by any of them, were you?”
    “No way.” She looked him right in the eye. “I won’t tolerate abuse. Not from anyone.”
    “Good. Because I hear of anyone giving you any problems, they won’t live long enough to apologize.”
    She opened her mouth and closed it, eyeing him with uncertainty. Her gaze moved from his wide shoulders to his large hands. “Yeah, I can see you not having a problem dealing with abusers.”
    “No one hurts what’s mine.” He hadn’t meant to grit that out, but the thought of anyone harming her made him see red.
    “Easy.” She covered his steaming hand with her own and looked at him with curiosity. “You really don’t like the thought of me in trouble, do you?”
    “No.”
    Her slow grin took him aback. An ache swelled in his breast, a need to comfort, to protect, to love her growing inside him. Spreading like a damn disease. “What are you doing to me?”
    “What, Z? What am I doing to you?” She watched him with an expression he couldn’t read.
    “I don’t know. I feel things. For you. I don’t know you, but I want to. I think… I need you, Adri. And not just for sex.” Did he sound as confused as he felt?
    “Well, it’s mutual.” She sighed. “Can you rinse my hair?” He hurried to take the rest of the soap from her, soothing her with a gentle touch that had her wavering on her feet.
    “I’m sorry. But I’m so tired. I just need to sleep.” He turned off the water and found a few towels to dry them off. “Come on, baby.
    Let’s get you back to bed. The rest of this can wait until tomorrow.” Or later today, as the case might be.
    He carried her back to bed and tucked her in. The poor woman was already asleep, and already moving toward him in the bed. He hugged her tight and closed his eyes.
    He didn’t dream, not at all.
    * * * * *
    The next morning, Z, Adri and Val sat around the small dining table in the suite, feasting on Otra berries, omelets and bacon, an Otra favorite. One thing the humans knew how to prepare.
    He took a long swallow of caffeine. “Drink your coffee with the berries, baby.
    They’ll perk you up some. You need the energy.” She looked tired.
    After a few bites of his own meal, he noticed the silence and looked up. “What?” Val grinned. “A little motherly this morning, aren’t we, big brother?”
    “Fuck off—I mean, screw off, Val.”
    Adri bit her lip, but he could see her smile. The gesture made him feel ten feet tall.
    “You think that’s funny?” he asked her.
    She shook her head and lifted the coffee to her mouth after taking a few bites of the energizing Otra fruit. “Not at all. Hmm. That’s good. Just what I needed.”
    “Not all you need,” Val murmured, looking her over like a prized steak.
    Z growled, “Watch it.”
    Val blinked at him. “What’s up? We’re not done with The Testing yet. You’re kind of possessive all of a sudden.”
    Z was, and he didn’t understand why. “I, ah. Sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
    Adri sighed. “We need to talk about all this. If Val is your eda , and you’re in The Testing, then we really are iriu .”
    Z frowned. “I didn’t know there was still a question about that.” He leaned closer and kissed her with possession in mind. “You’re mine, Adri. Say it.” She glared back at him. “I just spent the last nine months trying to be anything but under a man’s thumb. We may be mated, but that doesn’t mean you can tell me what to do.”
    Before Z could argue, Val cut in. “Explain that, Adri. Maybe it would help us all if we knew more, like where you