Emerald Fire Read Free Page A

how much he craved the touch of his own kind or how much he really missed his mate. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to invade you like that.”
    Sarah reached him before he could turn and run. Delicate fingers touched his arm and ignited an inferno in his gut.
    “Don’t go. Please.” Her eyes begged him. “I’m flattered. And…and well, it was nice.” She let him go and twisted her hands together, dropping her gaze to the floor. “To be honest, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt any man’s touch.”
    He thought for a long moment and realized he didn’t really want to leave either. He wished to learn more about Sarah. Not to mention, he was seriously considering her offer to accompany him into the house. He didn’t want to go in there alone, and to ask any of his friends to come with him would make him appear weak. She had offered, though. Maybe, it was simply her curiosity, but at this point, he didn’t care. He was desperate to have the task of opening the house and going through all its contents done and over. He nodded and sat back down. “I’ll stay.”
    She gave him a kind smile that helped him relax. “Good.”
    He cleared his throat. “So if I may ask, how long has it been for you?” He watched while she busied herself chopping up the ham.
    She paused as if uneasy.
    “I’m sorry, that was rude of me.”
    She flashed a nervous smile. “No, I don’t mind talking about it. It’s been almost a year.” She pushed a mug of coffee in front of him along with a bottle of agave and some cream then set out plates and utensils. He tried not to remember when his mate used to do this for him. He’d loved helping her in the kitchen and had forgotten how much he missed it.
    “Unless you count the sex I’ve paid for, which was six months ago.” She cracked several eggs into a bowl and whipped them.
    “Uh. I see.”
    She looked over her shoulder with a raised brow. “You’re wondering why I pay?”
    The woman standing over a hot skillet was beautiful enough she could have her pick of men. Of course, he wondered. “Well to be honest…”
    “I met a man long ago. Human. He fell in love with me, and I broke his heart.” She turned to grate some cheese, and he saw the pain in her eyes. It was apparent she was still racked with guilt about it. He found he didn’t like that look on her face and wanted to soothe it away.
    “I understand. It’s the one curse of being with humans. Did he know what you were?”
    Sarah shoved a steaming plate of food at him and a big glass of milk. “He did, and I tried to warn him that we could only be lovers, but a person can’t help how they feel.”
    For some reason, Brock hated the thought of another loving her, even a human. He shoved his envy down, attributing it to his lack of companionship. “So you decided it was better to hire someone to pleasure you?”
    She sat next to him. “No. It was after I fell in love that I decided I had to pay for sex until I found my mate.”
    He could only nod. Just the word “mate” made his skin crawl. “This smells really good.”
    “Thanks.”
    He took a bite and let the saltiness of the ham settle on his tongue before swallowing. “So how long have you lived here?” It seemed like a change of subject was in order.
    She wiped a napkin across her plump lips, and he had to divert his gaze before he did something stupid. Like kiss her.
    “About a year. I love photography, and this place gives me some wonderful pictures. I can sell them at the local markets during the busy season.” She sipped her coffee. “What made you come back now?”
    He looked down at his food and wondered if it hadn’t been for Damis and Kat’s pushiness if he’d be here at all. “I have some good friends who told me it was time to let go of my past.”
    She touched his arm, sending a shockwave of desire straight to his groin and fear through his blood. “I’m sorry for your loss, but your friends are right. It’s time to move on.” She