Free Light to Valhalla by Melissa Lynne Blue Page B

his wife . S oft light illuminated the shimmering green of her eyes, sending an array of amber sparkles floating through the endless depths . Alex could be lost if he wasn’t careful—th ough a large part of him did not want to be careful . “You’ve a nasty bump on the head,” he murmured , brushing a thumb across the smooth flesh beneath the gash hidden in her hairline.
    “My head hit something sharp in the crash . The broken window I think. ” Reflexively she reached up to touch the injured scalp . T heir fingers collided and a heated blush flooded her cheeks . Charl otte snatched the hand away, but Alex captured her fingers, curling the slender digits within his own . Her eyes widened and Alex moved to draw her close, but she pulled away, quickly backing to a single chair beside the wall . For the barest instant pure vulnerability flickered in her eyes, worse even than with her captors in the woods . She blinked , and that quickly, the guard flashed back over her eyes.
    Alex sighed, Charley obviously hadn’t reached the same peace about the past as he had . More slowly he followed , seating himself in the adjacent chair . After the black moment in London when he’d truly believed he’d lost her without having the chance to apologize for all that had gone so horribly wrong or even begin to make amends he simply needed to be near her . What a fool he’d been to shut those he loved from his life these last years . “Are you really all right after today, Charley ?”
    A gusty breath swept past her lips— full, very tempting lips — and he was reminded of that moment in the woods when he’d been possessed with the urge to kiss her.
    “I’m sorry I wasn’t home to protect you .”
    Charley s hrugged , weary face cast downward . “But you came for me. ” She tipped her head back, hesitantly meeting his gaze . D isbelief shown in tho s e huge eyes and his chest tightened with the sudden, awful realization that she had no faith in him . “When I saw you running in those woods I thought you were a mirage ,” she continued . I knew I was going to die, that those men would— ”
    “You can’ t think I woul d have left you to those animals. ” Alex scoffed, raking an incredulous hand through his hair . What a muck . His own wife sooner believed he’d leave an innocent woman to rot than pay a ransom or come for her.
    “I—”
    “Speak no more of it . ” H e raised a silencing hand, searching for something suitable to say… something to instill confidence . Show her that he was not a total scoundrel . Intently he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and splaying his p alms before him . “You have my solemn vow they will pay for their ill treatment of you.”
    Charley cocked her head, spearing him with the full devastating effe ct of those crystal clear pools . He gulped . Disconcerting those eyes… far too green…  “ Thank you,” she murmured, offering up a tentative smile . Her demeanor softened and a spark of kinship, mayhap even promise, warmed her face .
    Ever uncomfortable with praise or gratitude of any kind, Alex executed a curt nod and sat back in his chair .
    “ I’m glad you’re home, Alex . However uncomfortable your homecoming last night was, I do worry terribly while you’re away . I always have . We receive so little word I forever fear the army dispatches that come to the house bear bad news.”
    Unsure how to respond because the worry she spoke of was a direct result of his own coldness h e simply kissed her forehead . Charley shivered beneath the touch and Alex grew more than a little unnerved himself . If only he didn’t feel so damn guilty about his stubborn, misguided silence .
    She laid her head against the back of the chair , shuddering once more . He knew the most intense desire to take her in his arms , comfort her and wash the pain from her eyes. “ I’ll be fine, but n one of this has sunk in yet . I still can’t fathom anyone being paid to kill me