Free Heat of the Night by Sylvia Day Page A

confident, which I like."
    "You like me."
    She snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't know you near as well as you think you know me. The only thing really working in your favor is that you're best friends with Aidan, who is overall a nice guy."
    Connor stuck out his lower lip in a mock pout. "The three orgasms don't help?"
    The corner of her mouth twitched and he was suddenly determined to make her laugh out loud. She was too serious, and he couldn't shake the feeling that the exterior shell protected a vulnerable middle. A middle that very few people were ever privileged enough to see.
    "We shouldn't have done that," she said.
    He flushed the toilet and then moved to the sink to wash up. He studied Stacey's reflection in the mirror. Their eyes met and held, "Why not?"
    "Because our best friends are getting married. You and I are going to run into each other occasionally and this," she waved a hand between them, "is always going to be there.

That we know sexual things about each other. That I've seen you take a leak."
    Pulling the towel off the rack, Connor dried his hands and then leaned back into the counter. "You don't remain friends with the people you sleep with?"
    She bit her swollen lower lip. He wasn't a kissing man usually, but the desire to feel that mouth against his had been undeniable and he'd indulged. Stacey had full, plush lips. Connor wanted to feel them everywhere. All over his body.
    At the thought, his cock, which was already at half-mast from the clenching of Stacey's recent orgasm, leaped to attention.
    "Okay." She pointed an accusing finger at his waving erection. "That thing is a sexual lunatic."
    Connor laughed and then fell silent when she joined him. The sound wasn't what he had expected. Instead of a girlish trill, it was low and throaty, almost rusty sounding, rarely used. Her green eyes sparkled and her cheeks flushed.
    "Beautiful," he said.
    She looked aside, then she turned away, moving back into the dining room to collect her discarded clothes. She held them to her torso in an obviously defensive posture and he took up her abandoned position of leaning against the jamb.
    "You didn't answer my question," he murmured, watching her intently.
    Shrugging, she said, "I have bad taste in men."
    He didn't say anything to that, just considered her carefully.
    "I'm going to take a shower." She moved to walk past him.
    He reached out and caught her arm, stopping her. "Stacey."
    Her gaze rested first on where his hand wrapped around her upper arm, then it lifted to meet his. Her brows rose.
    "Do you like Chinese food?"
    She blinked and then gifted him with a soft smile, recognizing the olive branch. "Moo shu pork. And cream cheese wontons."
    "Got it."
    There was a slight hesitation, then she nodded and moved to the stairs.
    Connor knew what would happen next. She would come down washed and dressed, an outward show of her inward decision to wipe the slate clean. She would want to start over and pretend as if they'd just met and never fucked. He knew because it was how he handled similar situations in the Twilight. Early morning training had worked for centuries as an excuse not to spend the night. He wished Stacey had given them more time to be lovers, but he respected her decision and even thought she might be right. Better to end this as a quick, unplanned rut than to risk a messy situation.
    By nature the Elite avoided emotional attachments. Very few of the Warriors partnered and those who did rarely stayed that way. Detachment was required to succeed and for those Guardians who were unfortunate enough to fall in love with an Elite, it was a lonely and unequal romance. The Elite were incapable of giving as much love as they received. In addition, for Connor it was simply bred into him to keep his focus on his mission.
    "The Bruces live and die by the sword." He repeated the familiar refrain aloud. There was no other way.
    This was why he was especially suited to protecting sensual