The Island Of Dragons: A Paranormal Shifter Romance Read Online Free Page A

name.”
    Warren’s dark eyes had begun just faintly twinkling in a way I didn’t like, and now he dipped his head in a nod with the corners of his well-proportioned mouth twitching almost imperceptibly, irritating me further.
    “Your logic makes complete sense.”
    I nodded in return, tightening my arms across my chest. “Yes, you may as well refer to me as Miss Eleanor Christine Elizabeth O’Brien, esquire. And in fact, I demand that you do.”
    “Agreed. Though while we’re at it, we may as well begin referring to any high school student who’s ever considered taking a biology class as Doctor .“
    I nodded once. “I think that’s a wonderful idea, actually. I think that’s a fantastic idea.”
    Warren’s full lips had begun twitching just a bit more noticeably.
    “Glad to hear you think so.”
    Just then, a dark-haired young woman wearing a white top, skirt, and shoes stuck her head in the door. “Chief Knight? How’s our patient?”
    He turned his handsome face toward the door to respond. “Spirited. I think she’ll make a complete recovery.”
    The woman smiled, more at me than Warren, making her warm brown eyes sparkle. “I’m happy to hear that.”
    She then came bustling into the room, politely kicked Warren out, and escorted me to the in-room bathroom, which I realized I needed to use badly. After using the facilities, I looked in the mirror and saw that my long, wavy, strawberry-blonde hair seemed to have been brushed.
    My face appeared to have been washed as well, judging by the fact that not a trace of the light makeup I’d been wearing the night before remained. Although, I figured, it might have all been washed away by my wild tumble in the ocean.
    When I emerged from the bathroom after helping myself to a new toothbrush and a mini tube of toothpaste, the nurse introduced herself as Melody, then began leading me back to bed with an arm around my shoulders. “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of getting you washed up last night when you were out cold. I also put you into pajamas. Just wanted to let you know that Chief Knight had nothing to do with that. I made sure you had your privacy.”
    I thanked her, trying to fight a mental picture she’d put into my mind, a mental picture of “Chief Knight” undressing me. Although unlike the reality would have been the night before, in this mental picture I was wide awake, my fingers straining to touch the hardened planes of his chest even while he removed my top and let his own fingers begin exploring.
    I hated that this picture had popped into my mind’s eye. Sure, Warren was attractive, and incredibly so; I couldn’t deny that. However, I wanted nothing to do with a man who suspected me of being a spy and an “enemy combatant.” I would rather be undressed by any other man, even a convicted criminal. Even a convicted murderer. Or so I told myself until the mental picture of Warren and me that I’d developed disappeared.
    Melody settled me back into the crisp-sheeted hospital bed, telling me that she’d given me some I.V fluids the night before. “I bet you’re still a bit dehydrated, though, and hungry, too, I’m sure. Just give me a minute to grab your tray, and I’ll be right back.”
    She was back in less than a minute, actually, bearing a tray loaded with eggs, bacon, fruit, toast, and no fewer than three tall glasses, two filled with water, and one with juice. There was coffee as well, which smelled so good to me the scent was almost intoxicating.
    After a quick sip or two, I realized what I was thirstiest for was cool, clear water. While Melody did some tidying in the room, I was halfway through my second tall glass when Warren strolled in the room, thumbs in the pockets of his battered jeans.
    He came to a stop bedside and surveyed me with the same faint twinkle in his eyes that had been present earlier. “Being an attorney must be thirsty work.”
    I set my nearly empty glass on the tray with a slight bang.