Free Helion by Olivia March Page A

She may have even
said it out loud a few times. Verdun had definitely looked at her askance once
or twice. But mostly he just observed Evelyn. It was actually sort of sweet. He
asked to learn how to change her diaper and how to change her clothes. He didn’t
try to observe her breastfeeding but he watched her give Evie little bites of
baby food. It was strange, being around this Keeper who actually seemed engaged
in everything about her daughter. Even Evelyn’s own father hadn’t wanted
anything to do with her, or Gwen herself, once she was pregnant.
    Too soon though she heard the sound of commotion outside the
tent, along with the distinct whooshing sound she now knew heralded a
lightstepping Keeper. She’d asked Verdun how they did that little move, how
they were able to move so fast. His answer had been extremely vague, a
non-answer really. He just said it was a talent they had as Keepers, the ability
to cut through the air at high speeds. Just another advantage in a race
literally saturated with special gifts, it seemed.
    Helion came striding into the tent just then and for a
moment Gwen froze. He looked as he had when she’d first met him, covered in gore
with a dangerous, predatory look in his eyes. It was a look that said he’d
enjoyed his work and was looking forward to going back to the office. Gwen felt
herself responding to him in a basic, primitive way, like a woman greeted her
man who’d been to war and back.
    And then his gaze swung around to meets hers and the breath
literally stilled inside her lungs. That look went completely through her,
questioning, daring. It said he knew her body was responding to him and he was
ready to accommodate her. For one weak moment she wanted to throw caution to
the winds and run over and kiss his lips off. But then Helion’s eyes lit,
literally lit from within, like a demon’s. And just like that Gwen snapped
herself together again and fell back on her plan. Spiders, boogers, diapers,
white sauces!
    “Hello, Commander. You’re looking very…uh… It seems you
found some Scourge today…” Her voice trailed off, not sure how to continue with
that polite attempt at chitchat. Half her brain was occupied thinking about
gross things just to tamp down her libido and the other half left over wasn’t a
scintillating conversationalist. She could only blame Helion for that. The way
he was looking at her was so intense and feral she was moments away from lying
on her back and giving him a blank check.
    Well, he had been looking at her that way. Now his
expression went from hot to confused to amused. Gwen regretted the sexy look
was gone but amusement was a much safer emotion.
    “Yes, we took down many Scourge today, little mother. I’m
eager to get cleaned up but first, Healer Nathal wanted me to ask if you were
willing to allow him to do another scan of you and your daughter.”
    Gwen immediately wanted to protest but stopped herself.
Helion wasn’t ordering her to get more scans, he was essentially asking. And
the previous scan Nathal had done hadn’t caused them any harm. Considering all
the Keepers had done for them, protesting some harmless scans would be petty.
And by the look on Helion’s face, he was waiting to see if she was that petty
or if she could be reasonable. Gwen lifted her chin higher and gave Helion a
challenging look.
    “I’m willing to get more scans done. Thank you for asking
this time.” She paused for that to sink in, though judging by his smirk he wasn’t
insulted. “When does he want to see us?”
    “Now would work, Lady Gwen. As you see, I need to bathe. You
may stay of course, that offer to help me wash is still open. And you can be
sure I’d return the favor.”
    Helion’s eyes were once again challenging and a hint of that
feral intensity was back. Damn. Spiders, boogers, white sauces!
    “Ah, thank you, Commander, but going to do the scans now
suits me fine.”
    As Gwen went to pick up Evie, she refused to feel let down
by her own