Free Bonded by Nicky Charles Page A

wanted a man around that
might suddenly go rogue?—he headed back to the bedroom, thinking
they might have another round. Easing the door open, he slipped
inside and came to a sudden halt, his plans fizzling out. She was
sound asleep.
    Reno leaned
against the door frame, once again marvelling at how the moonlight
highlighted her body. A faint flush still stained her cheeks and
her hair curled about her bare shoulders. He could see other marks
on her skin, signs that their passion hadn’t been gentle. Just the
thought had his body stirring and he had to fight the desire to
climb back in bed and rouse her. Swiping his tongue over his lips,
he recalled her taste.
    Brandi rolled onto
her side and murmured in her sleep, her hand reaching out for the
blanket. Reluctantly, he stepped forward and pulled it up hiding
her beauty. A small smile graced her lips before they slackened
again in slumber.
    Should he stay the
night? They’d barely shared a few dozen words and he knew next to
nothing about her, yet for some reason he was reluctant to leave,
feeling a need to guard her while she slept. However, the battle
he’d waged with his wolf just moments ago reinforced the fact that
he shouldn’t get too attached. He wasn’t suitable material for a
relationship with her or anyone.
    After a moment’s
debate, and against his better judgement, he pulled a sheet of
paper from a notebook he found lying on her desk and scribbled his
phone number and the words ‘Call me.’
    He never did that.
Brief encounters, one night stands; that was all he had to offer.
The paper crinkled as his hand fisted around it. This was
foolishness. Complete and utter idiocy. He was an Enforcer, dammit.
Shaking his head at his own stupidity, he flattened the page and
placed the note prominently on her desk. Donning his clothes, he
then let himself out and headed back to his temporary home.

Chapter 5

    Brandi awoke the
next morning feeling relaxed and happy after having slept more
deeply than she had in years. Stretching, a secret smile spread
over her lips as she recalled why. She, Brandi Johansson, had had a
one night stand with Reno Smith. Just the thought made her giddy
and she allowed herself to giggle like a school girl while giving
herself a hug.
    She relaxed and
sank back into the pillows, running one hand lazily down her side.
Naked. God, she never slept naked. The covers brushed over her skin
as she adjusted her position and she wondered why she’d never tried
sleeping in the buff before. It made her feel deliciously sexy and
wicked; a woman of the world. The type of woman who would meet a
man in a bar and take him home. And it hadn’t been just any man. It
had been Reno Smith.
    Pushing a stray
curl from her face, she contemplated how the previous evening had
gone. When she’d bumped into Reno, her brain had gone to mush and
she’d hardly been able to string two words together. He hadn’t
seemed to mind though. In fact, he’d actually been...nice. Except
for when he’d dissed her fighting skills, that is. But then again,
he’d only been telling the truth. And once the awkwardness had
passed, she’d actually enjoyed his company. His stories of life as
an Enforcer were both entertaining and fascinating, especially the
parts about his work with the ACS.
    When she’d talked
to Tabi later on, she’d only half-heartedly scolded her roommate
for setting her up yet again. And when Tabi had urged her to grab
the opportunity and get it on with Reno... Well, just a glance at
Reno’s handsome face and amazing physique had made her own doubts
easy to dismiss.
    All evening she
had felt Reno’s intent gaze as it raked over her body. Whenever
she’d caught him looking at her she was sure he was stripping her
naked in his mind. From anyone else, she might have found that to
be offensive, but with Reno it had seemed right. Her wolf had
revelled in the attention, spurring her onward, encouraging her to
dance more provocatively than normal. When he’d