Passion Awakened Read Online Free Page B

went
beyond her exterior shell. If she didn’t know any better, she swore Creed could
read her deepest thoughts, desires. She should feel exposed, but for some
illogical reason, Shayla didn’t mind. The almost intimate connection with
another soul felt…nice.
    “ That is the reason why none of your ‘help’ will
matter with my injury.”
    “Are you ill? Is that a port for some kind of medicine?”
    He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and
bringing them closer. “You are a curious woman,” he said, his tone
matter-of-fact.
    “Guilty.” She quirked a smile. “Comes with the territory.
I’m an author, and one could say I’m either blessed or cursed with an
insatiable curiosity.”
    A slight smirk lifted one corner of his mouth before
suddenly disappearing as if she’d imagined its formation. “I need to step outside.
There’s something in my bag that will answer your questions, and perhaps give
you the proof you need to believe I’m telling the truth.”
    “By all means.” Shayla rose from her chair to give him room.
“If you think you’re ready to get up?”
    He eased to his feet. “I’m fine.” And he seemed to be. Creed
took a slow step forward as if testing his balance, then proceeded on to the
door and beyond. Good. He appeared to have bounced back. That meant he would be
ready to leave as soon as possible. Yeah. She rubbed the outside of her arms,
suddenly chilled. That was a good thing.
    A few seconds later, he returned, carrying his backpack.
After grabbing a seat on the sofa once more, he reached inside and pulled out a
slender black… What was that? A ruler? Holding it between his thumb and
forefinger, he tapped twice on one end. Up popped a three-dimensional clear
display.
    “Wow.” She couldn’t hold back the word or the incredulous
note in her voice. “I haven’t seen anything like that except in the movies.” On
automatic, Shayla retraced the three steps that placed her back in her chair
beside Creed. She had to have a closer look.
    “Search,” Creed stated at the display. The display
brightened and a blank field formed at the top with a blinking cursor. “Sustain
origin and usage.” The words auto-filled the defined area, and a half second
later, the device beeped. A picture appeared within the perimeter of the 3D
display as well as a rolling screen of text. Creed glanced Shayla’s way, then
held the device out to her. “Here. This will explain my arm as well as why I
need to remain here until I’m found and can be returned to my time. As soon as
possible.”
    Shayla stretched out her arm and Creed released the thin
strip onto her palm. It was so light. She curled her fingers around the edges
and pulled it in for a closer inspection, the metal cool against her skin. So
silent. No screen. Not even an opening for where the light beamed up for a
display. How in the hell does this work?
    She finally dragged her gaze back to the
information floating in the field of light. “Sustain?” Shayla tilted her head
in Creed’s direction.
    “Yes.” He nodded. “Read on.”
    “A hormone-based drug developed in the year 2515 for the
purpose of suppression of the human libido and resulting pleasure receptors.”
She glanced up from under her lashes at the man on the sofa. He sat quietly,
watching her as she consumed the info and its implications. “After multiple
study trials, the government found that use of the medication decreased the
individual’s tendency for criminal behavior, and with the urge for sexual
activity repressed, the spread of disease within the population had a
noticeable decrease. For the past century, the Federation of Americas has
legally mandated that every citizen of its territories be implanted with the
Sustain infusion system.” This couldn’t be for real. She swallowed hard at the
lump forming in the back of her throat. Nausea bloomed in her gut, swelling
with each sentence that unfolded in her mind.
    “Typically the system is inserted into