Free Guardian by Loribelle Hunt Page A

again, but she also refused to give up the woman she’d become. He’d mentioned compromise days ago, but he was already back to his old ways, trying to get her to move inside the compound and quit her job. She could fight him, but it was exhausting. He was so…much. His personality was so overwhelming. Demanding. Would he be able to help himself? The sex was awesome, though. Couldn’t it just be about that? He broke the kiss and stared down at her.  
    “What’s wrong? I feel your pain, baby.”
    “It’s nothing.” She tried to tug him back down to meet her lips. Not only did he resist, he let her go and stepped away. Frustration burned in her stomach.  
    “I know when you’re lying to me.” He took her hand, lacing their fingers together. Damn it. Of course he did. And right now she didn’t know what she wanted much less what she needed. She wrenched free from his grip. She needed to think.
    “I’m going on a run. I’ll stay in the compound,” she added snidely.
    He didn’t protest when she stalked out. She already had her running shoes on and stopped just long enough to pull her mp3 player out of her purse. She clipped it to her waist and stuck the buds in her ears. She didn’t count on him following, but he kept his distance so she didn’t bitch. Much. Or out loud. And then a perfect, evil thought occurred to her.  
    Grinning, cranking up the volume on her mp3 player, she headed for the longest trail inside the fences. She wondered if he’d kept running after she left. He’d always hated it. She, however, loved to run and in the last few years she’d taken up marathons. For the first few miles, he kept up easily, but it wasn’t long before she heard him struggling.  
    She slowed to a walk and veered off the path, heading towards the stream and little watering hole that was a hot make-out spot when she was a teenager. She supposed it still might be, so she hit mute on the mp3 player and paused outside the clearing, cocking her head to the side and listening. It was silent and empty, but not abandoned. In the years she’d been gone, someone had brought in a picnic table and a couple of lounge chairs. She stretched out on one, not looking at Zach when he took the other.  
    “Feel better?” he asked drily.  
    The hell of it was she didn’t.  
    “Are you gonna tell me what’s wrong?” There was a hint of exasperation in his voice. She sighed.  
    “Why are you doing this, Zach? Trying so hard to get me back?”
    He gave her a shrewd look. “I don’t think so. You know why I want you back, baby. I show you every night. What’s really wrong?”
    “Do I know why you want me back? I’m not so sure. Sex? That’s easy. You can get that anywhere.”
    “You can’t be serious. This is not about getting laid.”
    “Nice bonus, though, huh?” she asked sarcastically.  
    He stood and paced. “Okay, wait. We’ll deal with that in a minute. That isn’t what upset you so much you tried to run me into the ground.”
    She shrugged, but kept a cautious eye on him. “I had a moment. Sue me.”  
    “What do I have to do to get you to talk to me, damn it? You have to admit I’ve been trying.” He was angry and she was glad since it sparked her own ire.  
    “For how long, Zach? How long are you going to try? When are you going to revert to true form?”  
    She stood, ready to leave and find someplace she could be alone. He grabbed her hand before she could go. The look on his face was unbelieving and hurt. She almost softened, but she knew Elect males. Any sign of weakness and they took full advantage. She tried to tug free.  
    “Oh no, baby. You aren’t going anywhere until you talk to me.”  
    Whether she liked it or not, she did owe him an explanation of some sort, didn’t she?  
    “So talk,” she countered, feeling belligerent now. “When does the reversion to the real Zach happen?”
    “You’re afraid.”  
    “No, I’m not,” she scoffed. “I’m just pissed off in