Free Deliverance by Adrienne Monson Page B

them to have any pretense about arousing her.
    The hands stopped at her midsection, making her wince. She realized that her stomach had healed closed, but part of her intestine was still outside of her body. A nasty expletive whispered on the air, then a sharp scalpel was cutting into her skin a minute later.
    Leisha moaned softly when she felt her organs being rearranged for the second time that day. Then the hands were no longer invading her insides. Once again, Leisha prepared herself for violation of another kind when the clamps over her ankles suddenly lifted.
    Leisha knew she should do something, maybe even ask who this person was and what he was doing, but she couldn’t bring herself to talk. She couldn’t even bring herself to be concerned about what was going to happen to her. She just hoped that they would chop off her head and be done with it.
    When all of the clamps were lifted from her, she drew in a deep breath. She hadn’t realized until that moment, but her lungs had been cramping up from the close confines.
    Arms snaked around her shoulders and legs, and lifted her. She was pulled into a broad, muscular chest. When she breathed in the scent of the man holding her, she smiled.
    “I like this aberration,” she said hoarsely.
    “Shh.” The shadow carrying her rushed out into a dim hallway.
    Leisha saw four guards bound and gagged on the floor. “Yeah, this is a good one.” She started with giddy laughter until a warm hand clamped over her mouth.
    There was another admonition for silence, and Leisha burrowed her face into the hard muscle. His motions were quick and fluid, and soon she found herself resting more peacefully than she had in ages.
    She woke when Rinwa’s voice pierced her sleep. “She’s not responding to anything.”
    Leisha’s eyes opened, but she still couldn’t bring herself to focus on anything. It felt like she was being jostled about in the trunk of an SUV.
    “They broke her.” Tafari’s voice cracked when he said it.
    “We don’t have time to worry about it now. We’re still too close to the base.” Rinwa cleared her throat. “Guess it’s time for me to apologize.”
    “What do you mean?” His deep voice filled the car.
    “Come on, do I have to say it?” After a brief pause, Rinwa sounded reluctant as she continued. “You’ve been preparing to sneak away from the immortals over the past couple of years, and I’ve been ridiculing you for it. But if it hadn’t been for you subtly moving away from them, they’d be on our tails already.”
    “Thank you,” Tafari replied. “But I should have left months ago. If I had, I could have contacted Leisha and they would not have found her.”
    “We can’t be sure of anything. Leisha’s always been good at lying low, and we had no reason to think otherwise. Besides, who’s to say the immortals wouldn’t have found you two anyway?”
    It grew quiet again and Leisha’s mind wandered. The vibrations and rocking of the vehicle they rode in lulled her into a light sleep.
    She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she became aware of a soft mattress cushioning her body. Everything was still and calm, though she ached.
    Warmth covered her in a pleasant way. Pressure of someone’s skin covered her lips and suddenly rich, sweet blood poured into her mouth. Leisha moaned as it coated her tongue and her throat. She eagerly swallowed it down. Becoming aware of herself, Leisha wrapped her arms around Tafari’s shoulders and squeezed as she drank from his neck. He was lying on top of her and she enjoyed the feel of his weight.
    His wound closed up and she sighed in disappointment.
    “Bite and open it up again,” her husband commanded.
    Leisha was about to, but stopped. “My teeth aren’t sharp.” She closed her eyes. “I wish I had Liam’s fangs.” She shuddered. “Blunt things hurt more when they cut you. I don’t want to hurt my Tafari.”
    “I do not mind,” he stated. “You need more blood.”
    “Blunt