Free A Touch of Lilly by Nina Pierce Page B

whiskey heat. But that was only a pipe dream.
    “ Dallas?”
Her eyes fluttered as she lifted her head and let it roll along her
shoulders. She focused on the man kneeling between her legs, his wide
palms warm on her thighs. A perfect position for her to do the most
damage. “Where am I?”
    The
deep brown of Dallas’ eyes betrayed no emotion but concern dug
a deep V in his brow. “Do you remember what happened?”
    Yes,
she remembered every detail . And these two males would pay for
having gotten in the way of her capturing the Znedu. “No. I…I
remember going back to the tavern in hopes you were there, but I
didn’t find you…so I…” Her skin flushed
from the lie, but she hoped he believed it was her shyness over their
liaison. “I decided to find another client. A Znedu I believe.
We’d just agreed to terms when a fight broke out—”
    “ Oh,
that’s fucking bullshit.” Thaegan strode around the
chair, standing behind Dallas. The moment he caught her scent, the
Ka’al’s shoulders stiffened. The muscles of his jaw
bunched and the ridges along his forehead and nose pulsed with barely
controlled emotion. “She’s lying,” the Ka’al
said through clenched teeth. “You don’t remember trying
to take a slice out of Dallas?” He crossed his arms over his
chest, his fists clenching and unclenching as he fought for control.
    From
the bulge in his pants, she wondered how much longer he could keep
from touching her. She needed to get free. At this point, with no
reaction to her scent from Dallas, it seemed the big alien was her
only hope. No doubt the Ka’al and she were still bound by the
energy thread she’d created in the alley. Lilly ramped her
energy up a notch, hoping Thaegan would step closer.
    “ I’m
sure I don’t know what you mean.” She was stalling for
time, trying to figure out how Dallas could be so close and not feel
the sensual current crackling in the air. Her gaze flitted from the
Ka’al’s obvious arousal to Dallas. But it wasn’t
the fly of the human’s jeans that drew her attention. It was
the gaping hole at his thigh. The flesh was covered in dried blood
and showed only the slightest hint of the deep wound the dagger had
carved out. Even with the medical advancements she’d seen in
deep space, nothing prepared her for the sight. “Dallas, your
leg…how’s that possible?”
    Color
flooded Dallas’ cheeks and he stood abruptly.
    Thaegan
growled low. “I’m afraid you don’t get to ask the
questions here, woman.”
    “ But
he’s—”
    “ Just
fine,” Dallas cut her off. “No thanks to you.”
    “ It’s
not like I meant to—”
    “ You,”
Thaegan shook his finger at Lilly, the hatred narrowing his golden
eyes to dangerous slits, “need to stop talking. I’ve
never hurt a female. But there’s always a first time.”
    “ Really,
I—”
    A
deep growl bounced off the wooden walls of the cabin as the Ka’al
lunged for her. Dallas was quicker. His fist shot out, catching the
alien in the jaw. Thaegan stumbled back and Dallas stepped between
her and the angry alien.
    “ Don’t
do it, Thaegan. I’m warning you.”
    The
hulking Ka’al’s stunned expression would have been
comical if it weren’t for the animosity sluicing off the men.
    “ How
the hell can you defend her after what she’s done?”
Thaegan absently rubbed his jaw. “She needs to tell us
the truth. A little persuasion would be a satisfying means to
that end.”
    Dallas
worked his fist, no doubt shaking out the pain. “We’ll
get her to tell us the truth, but not with violence, Thaegan.”
    The
Ka’al screamed in frustration. “Let me prove to you how
dangerous she is.”
    “ What
the hell?” she countered. “A tiny woman against the two
of you? How can I be dangerous? Especially trussed up like someone’s
Sunday dinner.”
    Dallas
turned slowly, his eyes darkening with some very negative emotions.
“You know, Lilly, I’ve been wondering the same thing. I
have no doubt whatsoever