Free Passion Ignites by Donna Grant

within his fingers as he held her tenderly. If he had brought her to the flat, he’d had ample opportunity to harm her, and yet he hadn’t.
    â€œNo,” she answered.
    He relaxed. “I’m glad to hear it, because I’m only trying to help.”
    Lexi felt her strength waning quickly as the room began to spin. She hated being sick, and now was the worst possible time. Perhaps a hot shower would do the trick. And clothes. She really needed more clothes on if Thorn was going to stand so near.
    Thorn. Such an odd name. Was it short for something?
    â€œNay,” he answered, a small smile playing about his lips. “It’s just Thorn.”
    Could he read minds? That should bother her more, but she couldn’t stop looking at his mouth. And it wasn’t just his mouth. It was the entire package.
    But his face … wow. His penetrating dark eyes hypnotized her. His brows were thick, slashing over his eyes in a hard line that went with his square chin. And that jawline. It looked as if it had been cut from granite.
    Muscles bulged on his arms. His tight shirt formed over his wide chest and thick shoulders. Hard. He was hard everywhere.
    Except his mouth. It simply wasn’t fair for a gorgeous man to have such a tantalizing mouth. Almost too full for a man, but Lexi liked the look. She wanted to touch his lips.
    No. She wanted to kiss his lips.
    She grew concerned when she saw one side of his mouth lift in a smile so wicked and wanton that her stomach fluttered. Surely that wasn’t right. That only happened in books. People’s stomachs didn’t flutter from a smile. Right?
    Lexi lifted her gaze to Thorn’s eyes. His smile was fading as he frowned. It took everything she had to stay on her feet. She was suddenly thankful that he was holding her because the room began to swim again and she couldn’t keep her eyes open.
    She needed to get back to bed. All of a sudden, she realized that her feet felt as if they were blocks of ice.
    â€œLexi?”
    She licked her lips and tried to step out of his grasp. “I need to lie down.”
    The next instant she was in his arms. Lexi rested her head on his shoulder. She should demand that he set her down so she could walk. The problem with that was that Lexi didn’t think she could make it to the bed on her own.
    She fought to keep her eyes open when he returned her to the bed and covered her. It was wrong on so many levels that she was sick. She rarely got sick, but this one was a doozy.
    Every inch of her ached. It was as if getting out of bed and learning she’d lost those days was all done on adrenaline. Once that faded, her body let her know quickly how bad it felt.
    â€œRest,” Thorn ordered, though his deep brown eyes were filled with concern.
    â€œI can’t. I need to find…”
    â€œYour friend’s killer.”
    Lexi’s muddled mind tried to sort out how Thorn knew, then she didn’t care. “Yes. The Red Eyes need to be stopped.”
    â€œThey’ve noticed you’ve been following them. They’re tracking you now. You can no’ go out there, and especially no’ sick.”
    Lexi wanted to cry. She was failing.
    â€œYou’re no’ failing, lass. You’ve worn yourself out.”
    â€œStop reading my mind.”
    He was grinning again. “I’m no’. You’re talking.”
    Lexi wanted to argue the point, but it was taking too much energy to keep thinking, much less talking. She let her eyes close.
    As she drifted off to sleep, she heard Thorn say, “The Dark Fae willna harm you. No’ while I’m around.”
    Thorn checked Lexi’s forehead to make sure the fever hadn’t returned. Then he sat back in the chair and called to Darius.
    Darius immediately answered. “ What’s wrong? ”
    â€œ Lexi woke. Her fever might be gone, but the sickness isna. She’s going to need a doctor. ”
    â€œ I’ll