Cherished Read Online Free Page A

at all. Whoever these men were, they weren’t the typical subordinates.
    Talia eyed the three men as she went still in Xander’s arms. He seemed to sense her unease because one hand tightened just above her knee while the other hand soothed up and down her arm as if to calm her nerves.
    As if.
    These were powerful men in their own right. Hell, maybe they were some type of royalty. Maybe the whole damn island was some posh refuge for exiled princes and the like.
    Okay, she was starting to get hysterical even if she was exhibiting no outward signs. But inside her head, she was screaming what the hell and fast wondering just what she’d gotten herself into.
    This was beyond something as simple as being a mistress. Or whatever the hell word she wanted to call it. Maybe whore hadn’tbeen far off the mark though she winced at the mere whisper of the word in her mind.
    She was beginning to feel like a…thing. Something purchased, bartered, borrowed. Oh God. It was a revolting thought.
    “You better say something damn quick, Xander,” one of the other men said in a grim voice. “She’s looking like she wants to jump out of the window.”
    “Perhaps I was a bit too blunt in the explanation of my expectations,” Xander began.
    “You think?” the first man said, shaking his head.
    Xander sighed and then touched Talia’s cheek so she would turn away from the men to look back at him. “Talia, these are my most trusted men. They act as my security team, but they are much more. They are friends. They are the only ones I trust implicitly. With my life and now yours.”
    He gestured to the first one, the one who’d said Xander was scaring her. “This is Garon.”
    Garon inclined his head in a nod even as his gaze burned steadily through her. He was…hard. He looked like a hard man. Not much give to him. Even Xander had made somewhat of an effort to make her feel at ease. Garon just kept looking at her with eyes that told her he’d have her soon enough.
    “And next to him is Sebastien.”
    Sebastien had collected her from the car but she remembered little of her impression of him. She’d been too nervous about arriving and seeing Xander. Now as she studied him, she realized that he wasn’t the sort of man she’d normally overlook. Tall, broad shouldered. Taller than Garon but leaner and not as stocky. Garon was…well, he resembled a boulder. Big and hard. An immovable force. Sebastien had dirty blond hair that was streaked as if he’d spent a lot of time in the sun. Garon’s hair was dark and cut short. He looked like the type who never let it grow even a centimeter longer than the predetermined length. Sebastien…he looked a little more laid-back.
    “And last is Nico, who hasn’t yet decided to enter the room apparently,” Xander said dryly.
    Nico…He seemed quiet. He’d yet to say a single word. Garon and Sebastien had offered their dry opinions on the matter at hand. But Nico just stood back with those dark eyes and studied her intently like he was seeing right through her soul.
    His hair was longer and jet-black. Sleek and shiny, hanging to his shoulders. He wasn’t as tall as the others. He was probably just under six feet but somehow he seemed much bigger. His presence seemed to dominate the room.
    “It is a pleasure to meet you, Talia,” Nico said in a soft voice.
    She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do and she sure as hell wasn’t sure whether she was pleased to meet him or the others yet either, so she simply nodded and tried to hold it together until she could make better sense of it all.
    “Sit, all of you,” Xander commanded. “You’re making her nervous standing over her. I want her to feel comfortable here.”
    Sebastien snorted. “After what I just overheard, you’re going to have to do a hell of a lot more talking for her to feel comfortable.”
    Xander shot him a dark scowl but then directed an apologetic look at Talia. “You must forgive my bluntness. I’m not one for dancing