Rebel's Desire (Iron Portal Paranormal Romance Series) (Iron Portal Series Book 4) Read Free Page B

herself, but then it hit her. It didn’t matter what this man thought of her. He could be pissed. Think of her as a slut. Or a freak. A slutty freak. Whatever. Her sister had been kidnapped and she had no idea what she was going to do. Going to the club was the only thing she could think of, and still it wasn’t enough. In fact, it had almost turned the situation into an even bigger disaster.
    When she didn’t answer right away, the man led her into a nearby alley, then turned her to face him, his hands cupping her elbows. “Tell me what just happened. And I want the truth.”
    “Would you believe me if I said I was overcome by how hot you were and I just couldn’t help myself?”
    “Then would you believe me if I told you I lived in the penthouse at the top of the Space Needle?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
    She thought it was a rhetorical question, but he was waiting for her answer.
    “Uh…no.”
    He leaned in close. “Don’t pull that crap on me, Kitten.”
    She flinched at his harsh tone, drew her arms close to her body and balled her hands into fists.
    He took a step back, a flash of remorse on his face. “Why were you running?” When she didn’t answer right away, he reached forward and twisted a strand of her hair around his finger. “Tell me,” he urged softly.
    Her bare arms were cold where he’d been touching her. She almost wished he was pissed off again because at least she knew how to deal with that, but concern? From a total stranger? It pierced through her defenses like anger never could, and she felt the sudden, idiotic urge to cry.
    Which would be stupid. Very stupid.
    She absently twisted the rings on her hands. “I’m fine. Thanks for your help. Those men were after me, that’s all.”
    “Yes, but why?”
    She shrugged, not wanting to explain any further if she didn’t have to. Even though they were in the Circus District, she didn’t dare say anything that would tip him off that she was a Talent. She wasn’t feeling up to seeing the revulsion in his eyes. She’d experienced enough of that today.
    “Did you steal something?”
    Her head snapped up. “For Pete’s sake, no! I’m not a thief.”
    A smile teased the corners of his lips. “Okay, I didn’t think so, Kitten.”
    “Good,” she said angrily. “And don’t call me that. It’s annoying.”
    “Then what should I call you? Red?”
    “Ugh. That’s worse.”
    She considered giving him a fake name, like she and her sister often did when guys would hit on them in a club.
    “Tonight, I’m going to be your cousin Mandy visiting from Portland.”
    “Okay, and I’ll be Janna. Our wealthy grandfather just died and left us millions, including his private jet.”
    “No, then they’ll want us to pick up the tab.”
    “Oh, good point. How about you came up here because Gramps died, and they’re going to be reading the will tomorrow? We don’t know yet whether we’ll be wealthy or not.”
    “Perfect. It’s interesting, gives us lots to talk about, but it’s not too far-fetched.”
    The truth was, she and Becca had more fun creating the pretend backstories than actually using them. More often than not, they just used the names.
    Her heart grew heavy at the thought of her sister. And for some reason, she didn’t want to lie to this man. At least not about something as trivial as her name.
    “I’m Keely.”
    He cocked his head slightly and nodded thoughtfully.
    Wait. He didn’t recognize the name, did he? Recognize that she was Bernard Weber’s daughter? Was he nodding because it confirmed his suspicions? First there was Cole on the street corner who had recognized her, and now…this.
    “Keely,” he repeated, as if trying out her name on his lips. Her heart sped up just a touch. “I’m Toryn.” His smile was genuine, but hesitant, as if he didn’t do it much.
    Her paranoia disappeared. He didn’t know who she was.
    But now she felt awkward again. Had she really just made out with this man? Because,