Free Time Untime by Sherrilyn Kenyon Page A

“Love them, but distance doth make the heart beat stronger. It also does wonders for my social life, since women tend to look down on men who work for their dads and live over their father’s club.”
    She pressed her hand to her temple as she tried to follow his train of thought. “I don’t understand. You still live over your father’s club.”
    “Yes, but now they don’t know it’s my father’s club. I went from being a mooch to interesting with one little job change.”
    Deep, masculine laughter drew her attention to the man behind Rain.
    Her heart stopped as she saw the one who’d rescued her. The one she’d wanted to comfort in her dreams. Only he didn’t look so vulnerable now.
    Rather he looked like the fierce warrior who’d been one step from carving the heart out of the man who’d insulted him.
    Not sure of his intent where they were concerned, she tried to get up, but Rain stopped her. “Easy. Ren said you were cut pretty badly.”
    “Ren?”
    He indicated her warrior watching them. “Intense dude over there, staring a hole through me. I know you haven’t missed his presence. Only Sunshine could be that oblivious.”
    So his name was Ren and not Makah’Alay.… Much easier to pronounce.
    But she still wasn’t ready to let her guard down. Especially not with someone so lethal. “He’s a friend?”
    Rain glanced over at him. “God, I hope so. While I’m tough, I’m pretty sure he could kick my ass. Don’t really want to test it. Know what I mean?”
    Yes, she did. “Where am I?”
    “Ren’s place.”
    She winced as pain lanced her side and reminded her of how nasty a wound she’d taken. “Shouldn’t I be at a hospital or something? Why am I here? And where is here?”
    “Vegas, and this place is protected to keep you safe. Hospitals aren’t.”
    Her head hurt so badly she could barely follow his rapid-fire weirdness, which left her feeling like she was in the middle of a puzzle with missing pieces.
    How had she gotten to Vegas from Alabama?
    No, she couldn’t be here. Rain was being stupid or playing a prank of some kind.
    “I’m not in Nevada, Rain. I can’t be.”
    “’Fraid so, hon.”
    No, no, no. Her head reeled over what he was telling her. It just couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible. She couldn’t get halfway across the country without knowing it.
    Could she?
    All of a sudden, thunder clapped so loud, it jarred the entire house.
    Squeaking in alarm, she shot to her feet, then winced at the pain in her side. “What in the world was that?”
    “Bad thunderstorms and flash floods are moving in.”
    A weird sensation went through her at Rain’s words. It was the kind of chill her grandmother would say came from someone walking on her grave.
    She caught the look on Ren’s face. “You felt it too, didn’t you?”
    But he didn’t respond. Rather, he turned and left the room.
    Rain shrugged at her. “He doesn’t talk much. I haven’t really gotten much more than a single word out of him. Talon said having a conversation with him is like pulling teeth. And here I thought Storm didn’t talk much. I think I’ve found the only person alive who speaks less than my bro. Who knew, right?”
    Was it because of the stutter…?
    No. That was a dream. Not reality. Just because she saw it in her head, it didn’t mean Ren had a stutter.
    It didn’t.
    Or could it?
    Curiosity settled on her back and rode her with spurs. “I’ll be back in a sec.” She headed after Ren, wanting some answers.
    “Bathroom’s the first door on the left,” Rain called after her.
    She barely registered that as she headed down the small hallway, looking for Ren.
    She found him in a bedroom that had been converted to a gym in the back of his small, ranch-styled house. Probably no more than 1,800 square feet, the house was sparsely furnished and had few decorations. Some old pottery, rugs, but nothing on the walls except for a TV in the living room where she’d awakened and a smaller one here in