Free Taboo (A Tale of the Talhari Book 1) by Heather Elizabeth King Page A

worry about? You’ll be here to protect me.”
    He studied her face, tilting her head up so he could look into her eyes. “I’ll be here to protect you. For as long as you need me.”
     
    She came out of her bathroom, intending to put blankets and a pillow on the pull-out in her office, but was surprised to find that Alaric had already made himself at home in her bed.
    He lay on his back, sans shirt, hands folded behind his head.
    His chest was bare.
    She blinked.
    His chest was bare.
    She’d thought bodies like his only existed in Hollywood, but she’d been wrong. She could see every muscle, every curve of his biceps. He was like something out of a movie, or a magazine.
    His hair fanned out beneath him on the pillow. His grin was nothing short of sinful.
    “I didn’t think you’d mind,” he said. “I don’t have a toothbrush or anything with me, so all that was left for me to do was get into bed.”
    She stared at him for a few beats, wondering how she’d survive the night with a man like Alaric in her bed. No matter what, though, she refused to continue to behave like the self-conscious, shy, adolescent she’d seemed like all night.
    Stiffening her spine, she stepped into the bedroom.
    She always wore yoga pants and a tank top to bed, and tonight was no different. She had toyed with the idea of putting on something cute, then realized that she didn’t own any cute nightwear. That might be one of the major reasons why she was still single.
    “I called the team and let the team know not to expect me,” he said, still looking as though he’d slept in her bed a million times before. “Tomorrow, I want to move you to the motherhouse. I’d feel better with you there.”
    “Okay.” She walked to the far side of the bed.
    “Turn off the light and get into bed.”
    She turned and shut off the lamp, then eased under the covers. She nearly melted when his arms went around her, then gradually she relaxed into him. She’d never felt so cared for. His chest was warm against her back, his arms wrapped so securely around her that she realized having him there did make her feel safe. Who could possibly hurt her when she had her own super warrior in residence?
    “What other technology does the Talhari have?”
    “Embeds.”
    She thanked God that he seemed to understand talking calmed her. He wouldn’t pressure her to do anything she wasn’t ready for.
    “What are those?”
    “They don’t exist yet, they’re in the planning stages.”
    “Tell me about them anyway.”
    “Embeds are in development for Talhari warriors. They’re a sort of implant that would go into our brains and allow us to communicate telepathically whenever we’re on patrol or on the trail of an undesirable. That’s what we call supernatural creatures.”
    “You can’t just talk to each other?”
    “Sometimes extreme stealth is required. We can’t talk to each other, sometimes we can’t even move or our quarry will know we’re there. Embeds will allow us to communicate silently to each other. When we’re not working, we turn them off.”
    “Embeds.” She snorted a laugh. “It’s incredible. How soon before they’re rolled out?”
    “Months at least. I’d go so far as to say years. It’s advanced technology that requires insertion into our brains, so great care is being taken. They have to test and retest the safety, do trials before they can even consider inserting them into a warrior.” He was quiet for a moment. “You know I don’t usually do this; behave like this.”
    “Like what?”
    “I don’t stay overnight with women. I don’t get overprotective of women. Keeping people safe is part of my job, but with you it’s different. I’m different and I’m not so sure I like it.” He waited about a minute, then spoke again. “Aren’t you gonna say something?”
    “I don’t trust myself to speak.”
    “Tell me you feel it too.”
    “I feel it.” She rolled over to face him. Although the night was dark, bits of