Zora's Dawn (Defender Book 1) Read Free Page B

thoughts at this time and especially not about this woman. He tried
to push the images away; that he failed to hide his reaction was evident in the
way her eyes widened. Powers blinked, thought desperately of fluffy kittens and
put his mind back on track.
    Zora
stared at Powers, too startled to look away. For a second there something had
flared in his dark eyes, something hot and primitive. Zora felt her entire body
react, a tingling that went from her breasts down through her stomach and into
her groin like a fire tipped arrow. An image of a naked Powers poised above her
flashed into her head causing her mind to momentarily stop. Shocked at her own
thoughts she closed her eyes and thought of coffee, mmmmmm, coffee. No that
wouldn’t do, too sexy, coffee. Paperwork, that should do it. Feeling more
normal she opened her eyes and found Powers staring at her quizzically, no sign
of that searing look that had turned her insides to mush. Zora blinked,
confused, had she even seen it or was it imagination?
    “Tell me
Zora, do you often feel hungry around me?” Powers gazed seriously at her while
Zora’s thoughts flipped back to where they were a few seconds ago.
    Hungry? Is he
kidding? A woman would have to be dead not to feel stirrings after that look
from him. Seeing him still gazing at her, waiting on her answer, Zora was about
to speak when she realised belatedly that he was referring to actual food
hunger. She could feel an embarrassing blush sweeping up her throat and over
her face, making even her ears burn. The curse of the redhead, pale skin that
showed absolutely everything. Gazing steadfastly down at the table she gave his
question unnecessary focus. Did she feel hungry around him?
    Actually,
she realised, she did. But then she usually saw him in the mornings and she
often skipped breakfast so to be precise she was hungry before she saw him
rather than because she saw him. Shaking her head in irritation she realised
that she was actually taking his question seriously. Looking up she caught the
traces of a smile hovering around his full lips and remembered that her face
was still flushed. She was sure he could not possibly have guessed the
direction in which her thoughts had gone, yet that was a decidedly male gleam
in his eye and the hint of a smile seemed definitely to be smug. Groaning under
her breath Zora remembered that uncanny way he had of reading her mind and her
face flamed even more in response. Well attack was always the best defence.
    “What on
earth are you on about now Powers? Why would I be hungry around you? It’s not
like you suck the energy from me or anything.” Satisfied that her tone was suitably
derisive Zora picked up her coffee, noted it was almost empty and wondered if
they would be here long enough to justify a second one, and maybe a few more
donuts, or they made a great red velvet cupcake here too, and she really was
still hungry.
    Powers
deep voice cut through her thoughts of red velvet cake. “I’ll get you some more
coffee soon and a red velvet cake too, to go. You need to come with me Zora,
there’s something I need to show you that will explain so much more easily than
words can.”
    Zora
blinked in astonishment. Go with him? Go where? And dammit how did he know she
was thinking about the red velvet cake? And oh my lordie lord maybe he knew
exactly where her thoughts had gone before. Was that why he wanted her to go
with him? What exactly did he want to show her? Opening her mouth to ask that
question she was forestalled by Powers standing up and reaching out a hand to
help her.
    “Come on
Zora, time to go. Let’s get you your coffee and cake, and go to my place. I’m
afraid what I have to show you is not nearly as much fun as you are imagining.”
    Gobsmacked,
Zora allowed herself to be herded over to the counter. She did not once look at
him while she waited for her coffee refill and her cake, to go, but she was all
too aware of the amusement seeping from him. Deciding it was