Safe In Your Arms Read Free Page A

clean-shaven, thanks to the kit in her hand. His eyes beneath dark eyebrows, which arched in displeasure at her, seemed to glare harshly. She couldn’t see what color his eyes were, but she did know he was young and hot as hell. His attitude, however, was in need of a serious adjustment.
    He seemed to be studying her, debating on how to answer her question, and Mina wondered if he even knew why he’d taken the risk of saving her. She almost hadn’t made it. Last thing she remembered was the water closing in over her head and the vague disappointment that she was going to drown because she was weak with hunger. This man, who was glowering at her with an unfriendly frown, had obviously saved her. He’d pulled her out of the water, taken her out of her wet clothes and even applied a bandage to her cut. She wanted to know why he’d bothered.
    “Chalk it up to a momentary lapse in judgment. A bad one at that.” He shrugged a solid shoulder beneath a white T-shirt as he stood up. “I suppose you’re hungry.” He moved to the small chest and produced a can opener before grabbing up one of the cans on the top of the pyramid. Mina gasped and threw a hand over her face as he tossed them both at her. She felt a little foolish as the items landed softly on the mattress beside her. A peek up at her benefactor made her bite her lip as he stared down at her in an uncomfortable silence.
    “Yes...thanks,” she whispered, feeling like a child once more.
    “Don’t hurt yourself, Duchess. I have things to take care of. I won’t be back for a couple hours. I strongly suggest that you eat and rest. If you have to go outside, then stay close to the cave. You might be tempted to go for a swim, don’t. The Z’s are sticking close to the beach, hoping to find any stragglers they missed. You. Stay off the beach and don’t leave sight of the cave.”
    “I’m not a pet. Give me my clothes, and my weapons, and I’ll get out of your hair.” He took a couple steps closer, causing the flickering light of the small fire to illuminate the harsh beauty of his face. His brows drew together over dark blue eyes that forced her to feel his stubborn will. Sensual lips parted to reveal startling white teeth as he shook his head at her in aggravation. Temper and determination filled his features as he pinned her with a look of pure authority, marking him as an alpha male determined to press his warning on her.
    “You aren’t my pet. You are an irritating complication I hadn’t counted on. I will do my last duty to your family by keeping you alive until you are strong enough to at least swim safely to the mainland without drowning.”
    “Last duty? You know my family and my name. Who the hell are you?”
    “You don’t like to be kept in the dark, Mina? Well, I don’t mind keeping you there. Now, do me the favor of following my simple instructions and your possessions will be returned to you as well.” He turned to lift the blanket, but paused to look back at her. “I’m sorry about your friends.”
    Mina sat there with her mouth open as he disappeared outside and the blanket slid back into place. She stared at the blanket for several moments, waiting for him to return. Expecting him to come back in and attack her. When he didn’t come back she tried to relax her death grip on the shaving kit.
    She didn’t understand. Her reluctant hero obviously knew who she was, but didn’t want to share his identity with her. Mina wasn’t a fool. She knew her father had made enemies over the years. What politician didn’t? He could be out to ransom her, if it were pre-Z-Day. Money would mean nothing to this man. No, his attitude hinted at a personal association with her family. The image of blue eyes the exact shade of his, only belonging to a much younger, friendlier male, flashed in her mind, but she shoved it away. The crush of her past never called her Duchess nor used such an insulting tone of rude aggression toward her. Shoot, he’d