Read Kathi S Barton - [Aaron's Kiss 04] for Free Online

essence from him. She didn’t move for a very long time, didn’t drink his life giving blood, and barely breathed. Tucker thought he had failed her as well, when suddenly, she swallowed what was in her mouth, then again when his blood filled her mouth again. It wasn’t long before she reached up and held his arm closer to her mouth, but she didn’t open her eyes. Relief so profound surged though his body and heart.
    “Thank you, Tucker,” the master said softly. “When you finish here with Sam, could you please meet me in the downstairs living room? It will be at the bottom of the stairs and to the right; we’ll be waiting for you. I can’t thank you enough for this, for helping her. I appreciate it. My family appreciates it as well.” He only nodded at him, but didn’t take his eyes off the woman in his arms. Aaron had called her Sam. And though it was a strange name for a woman, Tucker thought that it probably suited her better than most girly names would. She looked to be hard and tough, soft and sexy. Sexy was an understatement, he thought, but let it go.
    Tucker fed her for another few minutes before he pulled his wrist away and sealed the wound with his own saliva. He then picked her up and tucked her into the bed, bringing the thick covers up and over her warming body. He wanted to join her in the bed and to hold her until she was better, but knew that he couldn’t. She didn’t know him any more than he knew her. And being a woman, waking up next to a strange man would be scary. But Tuck did know this, Sam was his mate. Someone he had given up on, and now that he had found her, it was too late.
    ~~~
    Aaron stood at the fireplace waiting for the people in his family, his Kiss, to settle.
    He knew they had questions, and right now he was not sure how to answer them.
    Tucker had sensed Sam; Aaron knew it as sure as he was standing there. But he also felt his sorrow at doing so. He couldn’t wait to talk to the vampire. He wished he had taken the time to read over the brief letter that Tucker had sent to him a few days ago.
    “Want to explain to me why we just left a perfect stranger in our upstairs bedroom with a woman who was in our care? I wasn’t even aware you had someone coming in tonight, yet you let him heal her. Aaron, what are you not telling me?” Sara was relieved that Sam was going to live; Aaron could tell that. His mate wanted Sam to heal so that Sara could kick her ass, but to leave her in the care of a vamp they didn’t know concerned her. He took her into his arms and held her as he spoke.
    “She’s his mate. Tucker James came here to ask to be in our realm, and found Sam.
    That’s why she would only take from him and none of the rest of us.” Aaron looked to the door just before Tucker walked in.
    “She drank, sire. And I have deepened her sleep. I believe she will be fine now.
    I…I’ll be going now. I’ve changed my mind. If it would please you, I’d like to stay in your realm for a mere fortnight then move on. I won’t feed from the humans unless they’re willing, nor will I cause you any problems.” Tucker hadn’t looked at Aaron once. But had delivered his speech looking at the floor in a very subservient way. For some reason, this bothered Aaron more than he could say.
    “Come in and sit down, Tucker. I think we should talk about what happened between you and Sam, who I assume you know is your mate. You can’t leave her now.
    You’ve given her your blood. To leave her now would cause you both undue harm and you know that.”
    Aaron had always liked the straightforward approach. He saw no reason to change his ways now just because this man cringed at his tone. But it did give him pause, the way this man acted, the way he had behaved.
    Tucker glanced toward the stairs and then up at the master before dropping his head again. Aaron reached out to touch Tucker’s mind and couldn’t believe the incredible amount of sorrow there. Pain as well. He could also tell that