Free TheKnightsDruid by Shannan Albright Page A

back.
    “It seems like a nice night for a walk on the beach, don’t you think?”
    “We have a perfectly good bed right here.”
    “Yeah, and a broken door, that won’t stay closed.” She stared pointedly at the open door.
    He followed her gaze and frowned. Any passerby had a good view into the room, and more importantly the bed. “I’ll have that fixed first thing in the morning. Until then I’ll get a blanket.” He grinned, wiggling his brows.
    Her laughter filled him with a sense of pleasure he never felt before, the delightful sound followed him into the bathroom’ linen closet where he kept towels and extra blankets, grabbing a large soft blanket he was at her side in less than a minute.
    “Wow that was fast.” She chuckled, noticing the heavy material draped over one broad shoulder as she took his proffered hand letting him lead her out into the hallway.
    “Darlin’, that’s the only thing that will be fast this evening. I plan on taking my time exploring every inch of you.”
    He felt her shiver and couldn’t help the grin from spreading over his lips. Something inside him settled for the first time in centuries. He finally put his past behind him and with Juliet’s hand firmly in his he would take the gift offered.
    The future looked bright with this enigmatic woman by his side.
    * * * *
    Darius repeated the relaxation exercises for the tenth time and gave a foul curse as once again his concentration fractured. Damn Simon to hell and back. His stomach cramped, chest tight with the emotions churning inside of him. He willed his hands to unclench as he lay on his bed flat on his back staring up at the ceiling. It was all Simon’s fault. If he hadn’t…well, then Darius wouldn’t… shit ! He couldn’t even think the words to himself.
    If he was honest the real reason why he felt so conflicted boiled down to one thing, his reaction to Simon. A large part of him wanted what Simon offered. What the hell did that make him? Never before had there been a single time he felt any sexual urge when it came to men. He loved women damnit!
    Then why do you want Simon so badly? A small voice questioned inside his head. He didn’t want Simon that way, couldn’t. Could he? Fuck, he did and for the life of him he didn’t know why. Simon was his best friend, He trusted him with his life. They did everything together, joked, fought, ate and fucked women together.
    He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose where a headache was forming. Taking a deep breath he pushed all thoughts of Simon out of his head and concentrated on his breathing and only that. In and out, in and out, slow deep breaths. Closing his eyes he relaxed his muscles and let his arms rest loose at his sides. A deep breath in and a slow exhale out. He pictured a black void. Inhale and exhale. A pinprick of light formed in the center of the blackness, growing larger as the vision began. His head throbbed painfully as color swiped the blackness away, solidifying into crystal clear clarity.
    “Oh, Hell no!” adeep voice growled, firm hands gripped his shoulders scattering the vision forming.
    White hot agony seared through Darius’s skull as the connection splintered. His body shuddered through the wave of pain crashing through his system. His eyes flew open to glare up at Simon.
    “Get the fuck away from me. Do you know how hard it was to bring on that vision?” Darius snarled, baring his teeth at his friend.
    Simon straightened looking down at him with concern and a shadow of uncertainty flickering in his light blue eyes for a brief instant before growing distant. “If you are so damned fired up to do this then someone needs to be with you.”
    “Oh, yeah? When did you become my mother huh?”
    “When you stopped taking precautions, asshole,” Simon bit out between clenched teeth.
    Darius jerked up off the bed and gave Simon the best intimidating glare he could muster. Emotions seethed just under the skin as he looked, really looked at the