Read Kierra's Thread (Argadian Heart Trilogy Book 2) for Free Online Page B

altered as well. Instinct told her he
hid the full import of that change well away from her. Every now and then she
came close to breaching the barrier, but she felt an unusual fear inside him
and immediately the barrier would strengthen. What was it that he could
possibly fear so much?
    Shaking her head, she attempted to clear her thoughts. Her
lips curved in a smile as she thought of the night before.
    She and Jarek had been alone in her apartments. They’d sat
cross-legged on the floor, facing each other. He called it a game of physical
quest. One designed just for them.
    When he removed his shirt, his broad, solid chest was
exposed to her. Ebony, curling hairs thickly splayed across the sculpted
surface of a solid contour of deep, sun-kissed flesh, teasing her. His dark
brown nipples, beaded hard, beckoned her touch.
    His green eyes had glowed like when they were in
thoughtwalk, an intense, vibrating florescent gleam of passion.
    Her own sexual radiance began to emanate, a deep, rich green
cloak of color moving outward to enclose them both in preparation.
    His mind reached for her, multitudes of color traveling
along the slim silver thread that bound them.
    “Touch me.” His voice was a thick, rich cream, enticing her.
    Extending a tentative hand, her palm flattened against his
pecs, the muscle quivered and tightened beneath her touch. His colors stroked
her mind, as she stroked his body.
    A quiver of pain echoed along her arm and into her chest.
    “Do you wish to stop?” he’d asked, feeling the same
vibrations run through her with his mind. She couldn’t break eye contact with
him and, instead, simply shook her head.
    Her other hand rose to his chest, flattened, and they simply
stayed that way for long moments as she let the knowledge of his heat and
energy merge and pass through her.
    The colors of his essence soothed her, stroked through her
mind, settled her within a cocoon of pleasure. She caressed his chest, swirled
her thumbs over tight, hard nipples, liked the feeling and an answering
response surged in her physical body. Swirling fire entered her stomach and
veered downward. Her shax released what seemed to be a liquid fire of pure
need, and her radiance shimmered brightly. Her breath quickened.
    “I want to seal with you, Jarek.”
    “Not yet, na nivia . You’ve only just begun to heal. I
would do nothing to cause you pain. We will go slowly.”
    All these years he’d been so patient with her. Yet he’d
always had faith her spirit and her body would mend.
    She felt the glimmer of unshed tears in her eyes. “I love
you, Jarek.” His fingers spasmed against his thighs.
    “Touch me, Jarek. We can move slowly, but I need you to
touch me.”
    He raised a hand and placed it lightly over one of hers. She
felt a tingle, like an ache, but not quite the same, more a throb of
acknowledgment. The sensation was one of excited awareness, the shade of pain
was consumed by the pleasure.
    “Jarek,” she whispered.
    Carefully, he rested his other hand over hers. “I have
waited for this moment, dreamed of it.”
    The air around them was scented with arousal, hers as well
as his, an awareness of need. They sat like that for long moments, as Jarek
entered her mind and guided her to sanctuary—a place of safety where his colors
would slide through her, pleasuring her in the ways of a Serdionese
mindwanderer. Slender shafts stroked her, eased her, teased Kierra, until wave
after wave of his passion colors consumed her.
    Later, when Kierra returned to awareness, she’d been shocked
to discover her nails had dug deep gashes into Jarek’s chest. She’d been
horrified, but he’d smiled.
    “I have many scars, sweet Kierra. But these will always
bring pleasant memories—reminding me of you. Soon, Kierra, I promise you, we
will seal in the ways of your people.”
    Although Kierra had protested, he had left her with that
promise. For the first time, she’d asked Jarek to stay, but he’d refused,
telling her his