Awakening The Warriors Read Online Free

in his eyes. A quick flash before he shielded it by half-closing his lids. I wondered what it was, what he’d been thinking. One thing I did know was it had made me feel flustered, unsure, like I was a school girl. He leaned back sufficiently to gaze down to where we were still joined and his voice reeked of satisfaction when he said, “We will do this again, and soon. But slower. Now we must make haste.”

Chapter 3
    We crept along the rock-paved passageway in single file. Ahead, Quain led our little band with Jerrell bringing up the rear. The other prisoners trotted behind Quain. Relia and I trudged in front of Jerrell with the body of Finnan draped over the stretcher the Darkons had fashioned out of the bench that had been in our cell. I was in front, my arms pulled back to grasp the stretcher’s crude handles, and my muscles screamed for relief. My teeth sank into my lower lip and I swallowed my whimpers.
    But the need for stealth was paramount.
    The faintest sound could alert the Elite soldiers of our whereabouts. And we had still to locate any other prisoners before we made our rush for the shuttle bays. Even now I found it hard to recall those last lust-filled moments in the Darkons’ cell. With my body throbbing in climax I had been oblivious when Quain had broken free of his chains. But when he recalled me to reality with the touch of his hands on my face, I had scrambled off him with more haste than dignity. My face burning, I had tugged on my clothes and boots and by the time I had finished, Quain had released his other two companions. I had glanced round just in time to catch Quain and Jerrell clasp each other’s upper forearms and lean their foreheads together. Relief? Their usual act of greeting? Or something much closer? Considering what I had just been doing with the both of them, maybe I didn’t want to know.
    Alas, there was nothing we could do for Finnan, and the other warriors had refused to leave him behind.
    Precious time was spent making the stretcher amid voracious complaints from Ana and her friend, quickly doused by Quain who immediately made it clear who was in charge. So far, luck at been on our side, although every cell we had passed had been empty.
    Not for the first time did I wonder about the brutality of the guards. What had they hoped to achieve with such methods? Questions buzzed like crazed March flies inside my head and I wished there had been time to query Quain or Jerrell. Probably Jerrell, because when he regarded me, his features softened. Not so Quain, who had hardly spared me a glance since I had jumped off the table.
    Quain held up a hand and we halted. I craned my neck and saw him disappearing around a corner. Barely three minutes had passed before he returned, striding past us to confer with Jerrell in low tones. He marched back to stop beside me.
    â€œYou and the others will remain here until we signal the all clear.” Quain grasped the handles from me and after nodding to Relia to do the same, lowered the stretcher to the ground. The next instant he was rubbing my arms, working his fingers into my sore muscles to release the tension. Head bent, he took my hands in his, massaging my stiff fingers and I sucked in a breath, staring down at his dark hair, taking a moment to admire the glints of silver highlighting the blue black depths. He glanced up, snagged my gaze and held it. His expression was all male, dominant, possessive and proud as he stared at me.
    Heat crawled over my face and down my neck to settle somewhere close to my heart, and I trembled.
    â€œAs soon as we’re out of here, I’m on the first ship back to Earth,” I stated loudly.
    Challenging Quain was not a good idea because he dropped my hands, cupped my face then pressed a hard, thorough kiss on my lips. And desire exploded deep in my belly. I thrust my hands into my pants’ pocket before I wrapped them around his neck and pulled him into my arms.
    â€œDo as