Free Kiss of Moonlight by Stephanie Julian

proud.
    But she might just hit him. And he might like that a little too much.
    Her ice-blue eyes burned and that heat called up his own .
    But first, he had to tell her what was going on. Had to explain why she couldn’t return to her house. Why she had to stay with him. Even if she didn’t want to.
    And because he wanted her to understand exactly why she had to stay, he didn’t temper his words.
    “The men in the forest were looking for you. They’d been sent to kidnap you. They didn’t know who’d sent them. They didn’t know why this person wanted you.”
    He moved closer, breathing a little easier when she didn’t pull away from him, just stared at him with utter confusion.
    “But…why would someone want to kidnap me?”
    “I don’t have any idea. But I want you to stay with me until I find out.”
    Her mouth dropped open in shock seconds before she started to frown. “What? Why?”
    “Because…”
    I want you where I can watch over you. I want you in my bed even though I know you’re not ready for any kind of physical relationship. Because I can’t breathe at the thought of you out in the world somewhere I can’t protect you.
    Which of those explanations didn’t sound completely irrational? Which of those wouldn’t have her running for the nearest door?
    “Because I can protect you better if you’re close while I try to find out who those men were working for and why they want you.”
    There, that sounded rational enough.
    But Tamra was shaking her head. “No. I need to go to the police, tell them—”
    “You don’t have to worry about the men.”
    She drew in a sharp breath. “What do you mean?”
    “I took care of them. They won’t be able to hurt you again.”
    She paused, her eyes widening. “You killed them?”
    He didn’t answer, didn’t want to lie to her. But he also didn’t want her to get a false impression of him right from the start. He was what he was, damn it. She’d have to know that sooner or later, though he hoped the entire truth wouldn’t need to come out until later.
    Yes, he was an assassin. But for now all she needed to know was that he was a soldier. And he didn’t take prisoners. He got answers, then he disposed of the problem.
    “They couldn’t be released. They knew you were living in the house.”
    The color drained from her face and he realized he might have pushed her too far. “I don’t understand.”
    Before he realized what he’d meant to do, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her against him, surrounding her smaller body with his much larger one. She didn’t soften against him and her hands came up to press against his chest. But she didn’t push him away and he considered that a win.
    “Neither do I .” He spoke directly into her ear. “But I will. I have resources. I’ll find out who they were working for and what that person wants with you.”
    “But why?”
    “They didn’t know—”
    “No, not the men you— Not them. Why would you do this for me ? You don’t even know me.”
    She looked up at him, confusion dulling the brightness of her eyes.
    He wanted to kiss her, to replace the confusion with heat. And he was so damn worried he’d scare her away, he froze.
    Until he remembered her earlier declaration. She’d stood up to him.
    So he leaned down and put his mouth on hers. Not hard. Hell, he didn’t even really kiss her, not like last time. He just pressed his lips to the warm silk of hers. And pulled back before he lost his mind and slipped his tongue into her mouth.
    He hadn’t closed his eyes so he’d watched every stunned emotion flit through her gaze.
    And the one emotion he’d dreaded never showed. Fear.
    She wasn’t afraid of him.
    He drew in an easier breath.
    “I don’t want you to be hurt, Tam.”
    She shook her head, her eyes huge. “I don’t understand.”
    “You don’t have to. At least not now. Just agree to stay here tonight. Get some sleep. In the morning, we can start looking for some answers.