Free 3013: Renegade by Susan Hayes Page A

were only fourteen? How did you manage?” The badlands were a harsh, cruel place to live for a, fully trained and well-armed adults. He couldn’t imagine what it must have it been like for the girl she’d been back then. When she answered with a simple shrug and a feral grin, Nikolai fell a little bit in love with her.
    “I got by.”
    He hadn’t even seen her move, but at some point in their discussion she must of, because the next thing she did was to hold up the folding knife he always kept in his pocket. “How did you…”
    Her grin morphed into a smirk and she danced back a step. “I’m actually a much better thief than you might think, given that you two caught me last night.”
    “Let’s not forget that you managed to lock yourself in your room this morning, too.” He knew better than to goad her, but fuck, she was so damned sexy when she got her dander up. Besides, she clearly didn’t want to talk about what was what like for her out there, or she wouldn’t be trying to distract him.
    “You’re not going to let me forget that, are you?” She took a step toward him, her eyes flashing with green fire.
    “Not ever, little vorovka . Now, give me back my knife.” He held out his hand, half hoping that she wouldn’t give in that easily. His blood was heating, his cock was swelling, and he was dying to taste her lips again.
    Come and play with me, minx.
    Alayna didn’t want to talk about her childhood or what life was like after she’d been tested anymore. It had been a long time since anyone had cared enough to ask, and while she appreciated the fact Nik had, she wasn’t ready to open up to him. Not yet. She took another step back, dangling the knife in front of her, but Nik didn’t follow. His gaze was hot enough to sear flesh, and she could see the telltale bulge of his erection trapped behind his jeans. It was clear he wanted her, but the way his one fist was clenched at his side, he was determined not to make the first move. If she didn’t, Alayna felt certain he’d go back to preparing their breakfast. It made her feel oddly safe to know that he was waiting for her.
    “And if I don’t?” She bounced back another step, testing him again.
    “Alayna…” he growled her name in warning and her nipples tightened in response to the hunger in his voice. She might not be ready to tell him her life story, or let down the walls around her heart, but if she was being honest with herself, she wouldn’t mind feeling his cock pounding into her again. She just needed to know if they were serious about her being more than a sex toy.
    There was only one way to find out.
     

 
    ***
    CHAPTER NINE
     
    Nikolai knew the moment his minx made up her mind. Her eyes narrowed and the tip of her tongue flicked over her lower lip. She stood where she was, but her gaze drifted down to his crotch and then slowly back up again, until she was looking him in the eyes.
    “Don’t move,” she told him and he froze in place, one hand still outstretched in front of him.
    Alayna prowled up to him slowly, ignoring his hand to tuck the knife back into his pocket. This time he was aware of every moment of contact. The warmth of her hand, the way her fingers brushed through the fabric to caress his thigh before withdrawing. A hint of vanilla and spice teased at his nose, and Nikolai realized it was the scent of one of the shampoos they’d stocked her bathroom with. He liked it. No, he loved the fact she was wearing their clothes and smelled of the soap they had picked out for her. His fingers itched to sweep the dark, silken fall of her hair back from her face so he could see their mark on her again, but he resisted. She was testing him right now, and he would be damned if he was going to fuck this up. For once, he was going to resist the need to be in control and let her take the lead.
    Just this one time.
    “Do you want to kiss me?” she asked.
    Nikolai’s cock jerked in his pants. He wanted to do a lot more than just