The Golden Bell Read Online Free

he could shake some sense into her. “If we hadn’t come, Rory
would have abused you in ways I wouldn’t describe to my least
favorite dog. The pheromone would have ensured you got some
pleasure out of it…at first. I’ve seen what was left of the women
he used. Their minds went long before their bodies go.”
    She still wouldn’t look at him. Her voice was
hollow. “I know what he was. I’m glad he’s dead.”
    “The pheromone really shook you up, didn’t
it? That’s normal. Time and a real lover will cure that.”
    Her eyes widened in shock. “I’m not…” she
sputtered, and seemed flail for words. “What is this, Dr. Fallon’s
Rx for love?”
    “If you like. I’ve had some experience with
female charmers. The only real cure was lengthy separation and…” he
trailed off, smiling with fond remembrance. The cure had been
intensive, the relationship short. She’d sent him away, claiming
affectionately that he’d exhausted her, but there’d been a smile on
her lips as she wished him well. The smile grew wicked as he
remembered what else she’d said. Find a woman who can keep up with
you, love. I’ll be content with lesser wine from now on; you’ve
proven how exhausting it is to drink from your vintage.” Rain’s
presence reminded him that it had been months since he’d last
shared pleasure. Interest made his smile grow. “I could help you,
if you like.”
    “I don’t like,” she snapped, far too quickly.
“A cold shower works just as well.”
    Judging from the look in her eyes, that
wasn’t the whole truth, but some playful flirting might be just
what she needed to overcome the fear he read there. The girl needed
to lighten up. “What about a massage? I’ve been told I have the
magic touch.”
    Had she been a porcupine, her quills would
have gone up. “Do you understand rejection, or do I need to get you
a dictionary? I don’t bedrock with anyone, and definitely not total
strangers.”
    That made him study her. A virgin? Untouched
at twenty-two? Or so battered she refused to acknowledge want and
need, possibly even emotion? His mood grew more serious. “Has
someone forced you?”
    Anguish flashed in her face. Her jaw
tightened as she hid her wounded eyes. “Not exactly.”
    Protectiveness made his voice darken. “You
were attacked.”
    “Nobody finished what they started,” she said
quickly, staring at her plate. “I’m not that helpless.” She sent
him a quick, fierce glance and stabbed a bite of dinner, pushing it
around on her plate.
    ‘Nobody’ implied more than one attacker,
perhaps more than one incident. When had it happened? After her
father’s death, while she was on the run? She was too tightly wound
now to question further, but there would be another time.
    It grated that any woman would be attacked,
but bit even deeper with this one. She was under his protection
now, whether she cared for it or not, and he took that
responsibility seriously. She couldn’t stay on the edge she was
walking, one wrong step, and the knife’s edge would cut her in
two.
    Fortunately, he was a man of many talents.
Taking care of women ranked among his best.
    They were finishing their meal as the
doorbell rang. Excusing himself, he answered it, then returned
bearing the delivered packages. He set them on the counter before
her. “Your clothes have arrived.”
    Clearly puzzled, she reached for a bag and
stared at the contents. Slowly, she drew out a pair of folded jeans
and looked at the tag. “These are in my size.”
    “I glanced at the tags on your clothes before
I tossed them in the wash. We can exchange anything you don’t like,
but I wanted you to have a selection.” He watched her as he
casually started clearing the table. She looked overwhelmed.
    There was nothing extravagant in the bags,
not knowing her tastes, he’d had the sales lady pick up common
designs like t-shirts, a clingy knit top and a sweater. The white
athletic shoes would do until she could choose her own, and