The Taming of Taylon Read Free

kind. Seen him come close to breaking the most sacred of their laws. So what would he care about killing her?
    That was one of the dangers when you hopped from planet to planet. Not all planets kept their gates up. Many forgot about them altogether. That was why she always did her research. She and Kylie both knew the risk. They’d already been on this planet for six months. Six months of running and hiding, and trying their damnedest to find another gate.
    When Bracken stopped, her heart paused before taking off again at breakneck speed. He grasped the back of her thighs as he lowered her to the smooth stone floor. A tingling sense of want flowed through her. Desire burst into a flame in the pit of her stomach and burned a course to her fingertips.
    Get a hold of yourself . She shook her head. He might be handsome, and he might have a body straight out of a dream, but he was a jerk.
    This bath was going to happen. The realization hit about the same time as the rush of apprehension that hit her squarely in the gut. She might be a virgin, but she knew what could happen between a man and a woman. “Fine. I’ll bathe if you take off.”
    A seductive smile lit his face showcasing perfect white teeth. “It’s too late for that. I mean to see the job done to my satisfaction.”
    Taylon warred with herself, determined not to show the yearning racing through her. Only the tiniest of shivers made it past her defenses. Him give her a bath? His hands roving all over her body? No way. Not if she could help it.
    Looking up from the floor she found herself staring at the tawny perfection of his chest. Her breath caught in her throat. She choked on a cough as she pulled in air. What was wrong with her? It wasn’t like she’d never seen a shirtless man before.
    Not like this . Gritting her teeth she tried to think of something to say. Anything to get him to stop before he removed his pants.
    She opened her mouth, not sure what might come out. But her tongue lay lifeless. Hell and double hell. She watched as he undid the ties at the top of his pants exposing more flat tanned skin.
    Look away. Look away . Taylon turned her head, but not before she saw the beginnings of onyx hair. Would it be silky like the hair on his head? Or would it be --
    What was she doing? Behaving like one of those simple-minded women from the gathering, that’s what. She didn’t want him. She couldn’t want him.
    “Hope you enjoyed the show.”
    Glancing down, she found him immersed waist high in the pool of swirling green water. The water reached his nipples. Taylon watched as they changed from flat discs to slightly protruding pebbles. She felt her own nipples harden in response.
    “Now it’s your turn.”
    Flames raced up her face. Damn him. Was he kidding? Surely he didn’t expect her to strip down.
    “Must I leave this pool? I will undress you myself. And that is only the beginning.”
    He meant it. She had no doubt about that. Taylon stared at the floor in front of her. She had two choices. Strip or run for it. Making her choice quickly, she turned her back to him and bent to remove her slippers. His audible intake of breath was her signal. She inhaled deeply and bolted for the door.
    Thousands of glints of light reflected off the walls. Water rushed the edge of the pool beside her as she heard his feet hit the concrete floor. He was right behind her. But he was too late. Closing her hands around the handle, she pulled hard, opening the door just wide enough for her to slip through.
    Honey amber eyes stopped her in her tracks. She’d known those eyes for over ten years. Her sister in everything but blood stared at her.
    What was Kylie doing here? She had almost two years before she reached the age of maturity. The creatures’ side of the mountain was off limits to all except those women attending the Gathering.
    “You are lucky you stopped. Had you had left this room your punishment would have been severe.” His voice shook her out of her