Free Dark (Beautiful Ashes #1) by Lora Ann

taken aback by that. Leith continued, “Alone, please.”
    Tar communicated clearly with a leveled glare at the other man before he kissed Keeley, hard and fast, staking his claim. Jealous much. Though Keeley would be lying if she didn’t admit, she liked that—a lot.
    The door snicked closed as Leith motioned for Keeley to take a seat. Uh-oh. He paced, causing her gut to go into overdrive with a sick feeling. She couldn’t take it. “Stop! Just tell me,” she pleaded.
    A stern nod of his head brought him face-to-face with her. “The assignment has changed.” Keeley gesticulated with her hand for him to continue immediately. “They don’t want you sold.” Her face twisted in confusion. He took a fortifying breath. “You’re not a virgin.” Her eyes widened. “Look,” he squatted down in front of her, “they would demand an exam—”
    “And would discover I was lying,” she finished for him.
    A solemn gaze met hers. “Why would a girl taken against her will choose to lie about her innocence?”
    Yeah, she got the problem and began to curse herself for all the stupid choices she’d made in her life. Counterproductive. “Then how can I help?” The light came on before Leith could answer. Her hand went over her mouth, stifling the gasp. “Oh, my God! They want me to actually help sell these girls?!”
    “No!” he barked, “though that may be kinder than their proposal.”
    Confusion knitted her brow. “I’m not following here.”
    He stood and paced once more. Keeley realized he was ordering his thoughts. He turned toward her. “They want you to prostitute yourself.”
    Her hands began to shake. That was ten kinds of fucked-up, betraying Tar and herself. “I can’t.”
    “Thank God,” he blew out. “I’m glad you won’t put yourself back into that line of work.”
    She scoffed, “Work? Leith, I sold my pussy for drugs.”
    His face went red and his hands locked onto her tiny shoulders. “Don’t you ever say things like that.”
    “The truth?”
    Leith took a step back as his hands fisted at his sides. Shit. The zing of attraction was racing through his veins. No go. He respected the hell out of Tar, plus, he wasn’t into stealing another man’s woman. His dick searched for who woke him up and attempted to salute Keeley. He turned away from her and adjusted his erection. “Desperate people do desperate things. Besides, did you ever sell your body when you weren’t craving fire?”
    “Of course not!” she exclaimed. Caleb lurked in her mind, whispering, “ But you loved what I did to your lovely cunt and body .” She shook out her hands as sweat began to bead on her forehead.
    Leith misunderstood. “Hey,” he pulled her up toward him and enveloped her in his arms, “I’m so sorry.”
    She pushed back but held her palms on his chest. “I’ve done other things that,” she swallowed the lump in her throat, “I shouldn’t have.”
    Damn she was beautiful. Vulnerable. Those tears on her cheeks called to his lips. Fuck. Leith realized he couldn’t be around her. He meant to step away; instead, he brought his body in direct contact with hers. Keeley’s surprised gasp told him she felt his arousal against her stomach. He fought the groan threatening to escape. “Doesn’t matter to me,” he admitted. Get your hands off her. She belongs to Tarius. A man you not only like but revere.
    Keeley raised her gaze to his. “Tar is special to me.”
    Those words were the cold water Leith needed. “As he should be,” he declared, backing away from her.
    “So, I may have another idea on how to help.”
    Smart girl. “I’m listening.”
    “There are ways, or favors, I can sell that wouldn’t require sex, per se.”
    His wild-eyed gaze met hers. “You want to let…”
    “I have no qualms with pain.”
    Leith caught something dancing in her eyes. He realized there was more than just her not having an issue with someone hurting her—she craved it. Holy fuck! He also acknowledged how