Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
They were connected so closely that it didn’t shock him that despite the fact that she wasn’t telepathic, she had found the pathway without his aid. The only problem was that pathway included Rubin.
“You performed surgery on this woman, Diego?”
Diego deliberately kept his eyes closed. He knew Rubin thought he had cut her open and performed surgery in the accepted sense of the word.
“She was going to die if I didn’t,” Diego explained. “And stop calling her ‘this woman.’ Her name is Leila, and she’s my woman.”
A long silence ensued, but Diego didn’t take the bait. He didn’t open his eyes. He was too exhausted. He simply shifted just a little closer to Leila until the heat of his body seeped into the coolness of hers. He wanted to put his arm around her, but his body felt like lead. After the run up the mountain, a difficult healing session and giving blood, he had crashed.
“Diego.” Rubin’s tone was cautionary. “You’re certain you aren’t wounded? This is unlike you.”
“Just tired, Rubin,” he assured.
Again, there was a silence. He heard Rubin moving around the room, shifting positions so he was kneeling on the other side of Leila.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you crashed after using a psychic talent.”
That tone was one Rubin used when he wanted to throw his opponent off the track and make it seem as if he had no real interest in the subject. What it really meant was that his extremely intelligent brain was computing information at a rapid rate, and he would puzzle out exactly what was truth and what wasn’t.
“You’re going to find out as soon as you examine her. I did my best, but I’m not you.” He made the admission because he truly had no choice.
Again, there was silence. Diego pried his eyes open just enough to see his brother bending over Leila, his palms inches from her body as he examined her. Rubin was thorough, moving carefully from the top of her head to her toes, and then his hands moved back to her middle. His palms remained over her abdomen for so long Diego couldn’t keep his eyes open.
I don’t think I can do this. Leila sounded shaky.
All his body wanted to do was sleep, but he couldn’t leave Leila alone with Rubin while he allowed himself to drift off. She’d gone through hell and was nervous having another man show up when she was so vulnerable.
Rubin is my brother, sweetheart. He’s the best man I know. You’re safe with him.
He’s married. You said he was married. If something goes wrong, just with him healing me, he could be in trouble. I’m worried enough about you. I don’t want him on my conscience.
She was telling him the truth, and yet there was more to it than that. She didn’t trust Rubin. She had reason not to trust men, and she was in a very vulnerable position. What he couldn’t understand was why she didn’t feel Rubin’s true character. His absolute goodness.
I’m right here, sweetheart, he soothed. I won’t pass out. You’re safe, I give you my word on that. And there truly isn’t anyone better at this.
He felt her clinging to him, her mind solidly in his. This was a woman who single-handedly destroyed her enemies when she was injured. The fact that she turned to him, trusted him, sent him soaring when he wasn’t a man who soared. She’d introduced quite a few firsts in his life. Just the fact that she was counting on him gave him the added strength to stay alert.
What can he do that you didn’t do?
Diego recognized that she was distracting herself, still clinging to him, needing him to talk to her so she didn’t think about a stranger invading her privacy. She would be humiliated when she realized Rubin could hear her. Rubin was a strong telepath, every bit as strong as Diego. The two had been using telepathy since they were children. The more they’d talked to each other mind to mind, the more their abilities grew in strength. Now they did so without thought.
I don’t have his expertise, Leila. The repairs he makes will hold up far better than what I did.
He felt her instant protest, and again, there was a visceral reaction of joy. He hadn’t experienced joy in his life. Not ever that he could remember. She’d given that to him. She believed in him. He knew, because she was in his mind, that she could see who he truly was—not the white knight she persisted in calling him but the predator stalking enemies. She had to know that when he hunted, he was more animal than man, yet she accepted those traits in him.
Rubin lifted his hands away from Leila and sank back, his face pale. It was the first time Diego wasn’t able to help him, although he tried to force his leaden body to work. Rubin needed care.