Warriors of Poseidon 05 - Atlantis Redeemed

floodgates to a darker, hungrier emotion. “You are not an easy woman to be around, are you, Truth Teller?
    You catch even the palest shades of falsehood in otherwise truthful statements. No, it is not entirely true. But the truth encompasses my desire for you and seemed a bit aggressive for such short acquaintance. There is much more I would love to do with you than talk.”
    Her eyes darkened, and she drew in a slightly ragged breath, giving him hope that she was not unaffected by him. It was too soon, though, and they had much to do before they explored this passion that flared so brightly between them.
    “Let’s leave desire to the side for now, okay? Anyway, you just summed up my entire life, Brennan. Nobody ever found me easy to be around, including my own family. Sorry I bother you, too.”
    He could tell that he had hurt her with his careless words, and the pain of it seared through him, but he was unused to feelings and their aftermath and had no idea how to undo what he had said. He wanted to understand, though, so he could better know her.
    Atlantis Redeemed – Warriors of Poseidon 05
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    “Tell me what it’s like. You have a Gift that was long ago lost to Atlanteans. We call those who can hear and feel the resonance of truth and deception ‘truth tellers.’ They were much revered in our society, or so the ancient tales go, but too often—” He stopped, cursing his stupid tongue.
    “Too often what?”
    “It is nothing. We should go to find Lucas and Alexios.”
    “Tell me,” she demanded. “Too often they went crazy? Too often everybody hated them? Do you think I don’t know that? Do you think it’s easy to hear every lie, no matter how small or insignificant? Yes, it’s a very helpful talent when I’m investigating a story. But the rest of the time? Ha. Society can’t survive without polite little deceptions. White lies. ‘Yes, you’re still as lovely as the day I married you.’ ‘Great try hitting that ball, little Junior.’ ‘Sure, I’d love to go to the hockey game with you, honey.’” She put her head in her hands. “I always know. When my date thinks I’m not as cute as his last girlfriend, or my boss thinks my writing is crap, or my dad is having an affair with the babysitter. I always know.” When she looked up at him, tears glittered in her lashes and they were like daggers to his heart. “And you know what? I hate every minute of it. I’d give anything to not know. Just for a day, or a week, or heck, even an hour. I’d love to not know.”
    “Please forgive me.” Brennan dropped to a crouch in front of her and put his hands on either side of her knees on the bed. “I am a thoughtless fool. I will try harder. Please do not cry. I cannot bear it, and I am afraid I will thoroughly unman myself by crying, too.”
    She smiled a little. “Men can cry, too, in this century.”
    “Not me. If I start, I am afraid I would cry for at least ten days, or even thrice that. You will be forced to call the front desk and ask for buckets to catch the tears and I will flood the park,” he said, deliberately widening his eyes in an expression of exaggerated solemnity, in hopes of making her laugh. “Next the television person will be reporting on bison caught in the flood, being forced to swim for safety.”
    Tiernan laughed out loud. “Okay, you win. I’ll quit feeling sorry for myself, but only for the sake of the buffalo.”
    He leaned forward and kissed each of her eyelids in turn, tasting the salt of her tears and imprinting her onto his soul like a branding. “You are a courageous and selfless woman, Tiernan Butler. Now let’s go find Alexios and figure out our plan.”
    He stood up, pulling her with him. “We should change clothes before we meet Alexios and the others. I will turn my back, if that will suffice?”
    She shook her head. “I need the other room again. I’ll be quick.” She handed him her phone and dashed off, and he put the phone on the desk and stared intently at her picture while he quickly changed out of the tuxedo. This time, he did not feel her fading in his mind as quickly as Atlantis Redeemed – Warriors of Poseidon 05
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    before, but the haze still began after only a few short minutes.
    “Tiernan? I need to see you,” he finally called out, hating his own helplessness.
    She flung the door open and stepped out, as beautiful as ever but more covered up in a dark green sweater, jeans, and boots. “I’m here.