Read Online To Trap A Temptress (Southern Sanctuary - Book 2) by Jane Cousins - Free Book Online Page B

you… sounds like fun.”
    This
close she noted several grains of white sand clinging to his shoulder, it was
all she could do not to reach out and brush them away.  Remember cool,
calm and controlled she reminded herself.  “The tour leaves now and you
haven’t had breakfast.”
    “I
grabbed something from the kitchen when I got up but this…” He reached over
snagging a croissant from Nell’s plate that she’d only nibbled at, tearing off
one end with those sharp white teeth of his.  “…will tide me over until
lunch.  Come on Doc, you said the tours leaving.  Catch you guys
later.”
    *                     
*         
            *
    “I
really am capable of walking on my own you know.”  Nell tried
ineffectually to shake Drum’s hold on her arm as they emerged from the path
onto the main beach. 
    “Sorry.” 
He didn’t look at all sorry as he slowly released his hold.  “Force of
habit, always keep those that are dangerous and the ones you want to protect
close.”
    Nell
turned and stormed across the sand.  “You don’t have to protect me. I’ve
been looking after myself for almost thirty-three years now.”
    Despite
the shifting sand Drum suddenly loomed next to her, sweeping the crook of his
arm once more around hers.  There was something about her walking away
from him that he just really couldn’t stomach.  “Actually I’d designated
you more under the dangerous heading Doc.”  He looked down noting his hold
on her once more.  “Like I said, hard habit to break.  Come on that
looks like our guide.”
    He
pointed towards a weathered middle aged native, wrapped in a sarong of gold and
blue, the resort colours, waiting by the water’s edge near the hire shack. 
He smiled at them as they approached, though the smile drooped slightly as his
gaze shifted to something behind them.  Curious Nell turned her head, gob
smacked to find Case and a long line of women trailing them, Devon wearing a
barely there black bikini covered by a sheer black sarong leading the charge.
    “Wow
you’re like the piped piper of women.”
    “Why
would they be following me?” 
    He
looked genuinely confused enough to make Nell laugh.  Goddess darn it,
didn’t the man have a conceited bone in his all too perfect body? 
    Finding
her sunglasses in her bag Nell slipped them on, this was going to be a very
long day if she had to spend it watching all these predatory females circle
Drum like sharks.  Surprising even herself this time she grabbed his arm and
tugged.  “Come on let’s go get our paddle boats sorted out before they run
out.” 
    She
was not acting out of jealousy she told herself manoeuvring her body so she
kept the voracious women at bay, she was just protecting the big innocent lug.
    *                     
*         
            *
    Drum
closed his eyes for a brief second revelling in the feel of the sun heating his
skin, recharging his soul.  He couldn’t remember a time in the last five
months that he’d just kicked back and relaxed like today. 
    He’d
felt selfish as hell contacting Marcus and the others this morning to tell them
that he was taking an enforced cosmic vacation.   They’d been more
than supportive of him but what he really heard in their voices was
relief.  Perhaps he’d been driving everyone too hard in the search for
Serena and the Chaos demi-god brothers.  With Vaughn’s priorities
elsewhere – namely on dealing with the ramifications of being melded to
Hadleigh when they’d shared blood following her near death experience   – he’d felt the need to step up, prove to his
friend that the team was just as capable under his leadership as they had been
under Vaughn’s care.  Okay so maybe he’d been going a little overboard
with the scheduling, the demands and the assault training drills. 
    Of
course just because he was on vacation didn’t mean he could let down his