Carpathian 09 - Dark Guardian

to know that my species exists. Do you understand what I am saying? I am willing for this man to come under my protection because of your affection for him. That is no small thing. But he must accept our relationship.
    I don't accept our relationship. We don't have a relationship. For God's sake, I'm talking to you with my thoughts, not out loud like a normal human. I hear and see far better than I should, and you and I both know I should be dead. I wasn't, was I ? You did some weird thing to me to bring me back, and now I'm a zombie or something . She ended on a note of near hysteria.
    Lucian laughed softly and leaned to brush the corner of her mouth with his. "You are so beautiful, honey."
    He didn't have to have that mouth. It had to be a sin to have a mouth like his. And his voice should be banned, too. "I am not, but I appreciate that you would say so." No one had ever described her as beautiful.
    "There was no one to do so. Now you have me." He looked once more at Jaxon's partner.
    Barry found himself smiling at the man. "I wish she had told me sooner, but of course I understand.
    Drake's a threat we haven't been able to keep out of her life. I hope you realize you will have to be on guard at all times. If you come down to the station, I'll show you everything we have on him. It's important you recognize him. There's a good chance he'll try to kill you."
    Jaxon pulled her hand from Barry's and shifted away from Lucian, withdrawing into herself. "I think both of you should leave. This is too public a place. There's a good chance he's watching us right now."
    Lucian again cradled Jaxon's small body, protectively sweeping her close beneath his shoulder as if he hadn't noticed that she was trying to keep away from him. You worry altogether too much about Tyler Drake, honey. He is not invincible.
    Neither are you . Her wide dark eyes moved over his face almost lovingly, although she didn't know it.
    She decided she liked having someone to argue with. To worry about. To tease and laugh with.
    I knew I would grow on you . There was his laughter again, velvet soft, seductive.
    I'm just lonely . She tilted her chin at him defiantly. A troglodyte would have done just as well, so don't start puffing up your chest . He had a darn nice chest, truth be told.
    His laughter set her pulse rate soaring, and the warmth of his breath on the back of her neck sent shivers of longing throughout her body. She turned to her partner, determined to ignore Lucian and his effect on her. "When do you get out of here, Barry? They're letting me out today."
    "You nearly died. What are they thinking?" The shock was clear on Barry's face. "Are the doctors idiots?"
    "I have connections," Lucian intervened softly, smoothly, once again his voice and eyes holding Barry spellbound. "I'm taking her to my home. The security there is very tight. No one gets in without my knowing about it. And I'll see to medical care for her. We won't have to worry so much about her. Here, let me give you my private number and address. You can reach us anytime in the evenings. I work almost exclusively in the evening and night, as I deal with so many different countries and time zones. Just make certain you leave your name, and either Jaxon or I will get back to you as soon as possible. When are Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    you to be released?"
    "They said maybe three days. Then I'm off work, on disability, for another three months at least. Then a desk job for a while. What about you, partner? You coming back soon?"
    Lucian's fingers tangled in hers. Deliberately he brought her knuckles to the warmth of his lips. "I would rather she not answer that or even think about it at this time. You know how stubborn she is."
    "There's no question that I'll be going back to work. It's what I do to make a living," she said indignantly.
    Barry threw back his head and began to laugh. "You happen to be engaged to one of the wealthiest men on the face of the earth. I don't think making a living is going to be much of a problem for you."
    She glared at him. "For your information, Lucian isn't nearly as rich as everyone keeps saying. And in any case, I like to work. We're not married yet, and anything could go wrong. Maybe it will never even happen. Did you think about that? And what if we did get married and it didn't work out? Do you have any idea how many marriages fail?"
    "That is so like you, Jaxx. She already has her marriage