Darkness Unbound Read Online Free

around a central black marble counter nursing beers.
    Christian announced, “We’re going out.”
    “How the hell did you get her out of bed? And…whoa. What are you wearing?” asked a pierced out the wazoo magus she’d learned two days ago was an ex-Army Ranger named Nate.
    “Kane, you now a part of this group?” Astrid asked, narrowing her gaze on her previous work partner whose longneck bottle sweated in his left fist. Kane wasn’t a magus. She found out on the plane ride here that his cousin, Dr. Kira, was the magi’s doctor.
    Kane stared wide-eyed, giving her a head to leg once-over, not once but twice. His right fist massaged his five o’clock shadowed chin, and then combed through his spiky blond hair. He remained mute with a dumbstruck expression. Finally, he choked out, “Whaa…”
    She suppressed a smile. A feminine thrill hit her stomach. She could count on one hand the number of times a hot, ex-Ranger, super spy found her brain-stuttering attractive. Once.
    Right now.
    She and Kane had danced the edge of get-it-on or keep-it-professional for several years, ever since a post-mission alcohol overindulgence led to an unforgettable kiss. She had slammed on the brakes, terrified of ruining their working relationship. She’d murmured to him, This is crazy. He’d whispered, I know what I want. And I want you. The thump-thump those words ignited in her previously deadened heart escalated terror into panic. She’d been running ever since.
    Even so, for the past five years he’d been her oasis in a wasteland of emotional pain. Only he could make her smile when she entered one of her foulest moods. Only he recognized her suicidal martyr tendencies for what they were, and cared enough to caution her or protect her.
    She long ago admitted she was susceptible to him. The alpha badass soldier mentality usually pissed her off, but not his. Although his obsession with her safety irritated, she found everything else sexy as hell. But she would never act on their attraction. She’d never give another man the opportunity to pulverize her heart.
    Christian chuckled. “Round one to Astrid. I knew those clothes would be hot. Let’s get outta here.”
    “Anyone else going with us?” she asked. Her gaze slid to Kane, hopeful.
    “Just us,” Christian announced with finality. This was not an open invite for boys’ night out.
    Too bad Kane wasn’t joining them. If so, this foray into intoxication was certain to stay professional. He’d make sure she stayed out of a stranger’s bed, not that she’d ventured into any bed since Zannis. Kane’s bed, though? No guarantees on him discouraging that. Oddly, she wasn’t opposed, even though she knew he deserved more than a meaningless one-nighter. Her head pounded. A drink sounded very good. She had to be careful. She rarely imbibed beyond a single beer. Alcohol went straight to her head. Fast. Losing control terrified her.
    Later in downtown New Orleans, Christian approached their table carrying fistfuls of shots. Two women ambushed him. One whispered in his ear and the other ran her hands suggestively over his chest and then southward. A beautiful smile curved his lips. He murmured to them. The girls giggled. One pulled a card from her handbag and pushed it into his jeans’ pocket before moving away.
    He slid three shots in front of Astrid across a scratched blacktop table. “Drink.”
    “What are those?” She pointed at the shots.
    “Please tell me you’ve done a shot before.” Christian took the seat across from her.
    Astrid snorted. “Of course I’ve done a shot. What poison did you choose?”
    “You’re wound tight. These’ll help you relax.” He smiled. In a smooth tone he said, “Drink.”
    She smiled, somehow trusting him, needing to do what he suggested. She gulped down a shot of clear liquid. Oh, crap. Tequila. The expensive stuff. Smooth and lethal.
    Christian said, “Did you notice all the guys in our three-sixty? They’ve got it bad for you.