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Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 8
Chapter 8Tiernan had kept his word, she discovered the next morning. Cleo arrived just after breakfast with several outfits that were appropriate for going out. When she peeked out the opened door behind the other woman, there was no sign of the soldier who’d been her guard the past two weeks. She exhaled with relief, though she still wasn’t confident their bargain could work. How was she supposed to try to be happy with him when her family needed her?She pushed aside the thoughts that had whirled through her brain most of the night to focus on her friend. Cleo invited her to tea that afternoon, and she accepted, deciding it would be her first test run of her newly returned freedom. Even though it was just down the hallway in a sitting room, it would be good to get out of the confines of her room.After Cleo left, she put away the outfits and took a bath, finding ways to fill the rest of her morning as she had the past two weeks. While she wanted to throw open the door and go outsid
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 9
Chapter 9Tiernan came back to the suite earlier than his usual time that evening. Madison was still mulling over her afternoon tea and contemplating her place in the harem, so she was distracted when he entered.He sighed harshly. “I thought you were moving past the silent treatment?”She blinked. “Oh, sorry. I was lost in thought.”“About what?”None of your business. “Nothing important.”He made a sound in his throat, but let the subject die. Instead, he handed her a small box. “Open it.”She looked at the wooden box, admiring the carved hummingbird. “It’s pretty.”“Open it,” he said again. He seemed to be reining in his excitement.Was he that eager to be giving her a gift? Vowing to make a big production of whatever was in the box, she flipped the lid with her thumb. A genuine smile curved her lips as she touched the pretty necklace made from gold so shiny that it must have been purified and crafted before The End. The asymmetrical pendant had a pink stone in the middle, and she
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 10
Chapter 10Tiernan stared out the window, lost in thoughts of Madison. He couldn’t seem to get her out of his mind. Disconcertingly, it wasn’t just the physical images of their nights together that kept distracting him. Instead, he would randomly remember a snippet of the conversations they had shared the past few days, or the way she could switch from angry to amorous in seconds, if he provided the proper incentive. It was too early in the day to go back to the room. He couldn’t give up hours of work time, but maybe he could slip in for a quick—“Commander.”He blinked at the slightly annoyed note underlying Aidan’s tone, suggesting the captain had tried to get his attention more than once during their sit-con meeting. “I’m sorry. What?”Aidan’s expression betrayed no irritation, and his tone was brisk. “We have threats of riot in the Spokane-Brokenbo province.”He frowned. “What? Why?”Aidan consulted a paper in front of him. “Reports are sketchy, but the people claim they haven’t b
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 11
Chapter 11Madison tried to figure out what had happened, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Something had changed. Tiernan was no longer as warm with her as he had been, and there was an assessing look in his eyes sometimes when he looked at her. She’d find herself in the middle of a passionate moment, hovering on the brink of release, and meet his gaze to find him giving her a look as if he was analyzing her in a dispassionate way that was incongruent with their intimacies.Maybe he was just worried about what was happening in Spokane-Brokenbo, though she’d heard no further updates. He hadn’t shared his confidences with her since that night four days ago. He also hadn’t shared a meal with her and only came to her late at night before leaving early in the morning. They were still having sex, but it was starting to feel more like physical release than anything truly satisfying, in much the same way it had when they had been engaged in their hostilities before coming to a truce.Sh
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 12
Chapter 12Madison woke with a pounding head and burning eyes. Her neck was at an odd angle, and she realized she had slept on the settee, still fully dressed. She’d decided yesterday evening not to let him touch her last night. It wasn’t a resumption of the Cold War strategy she had implemented upon her arrival. Instead, it was pure self-protection. She was still hurting and angry, and she hadn’t been able to tolerate the thought of his hands on her after his cruel words. She had girded herself to battle both him and herself, opting to stay on the settee to confront him.All her preparation had been for naught. Unless he had come in long after she was asleep—and she had slept poorly—and crept out before she woke, Tiernan had not come back to the room last night. She’d been wrong to think he couldn’t hurt her any more than he already had. Knowing he had shunned her presence cut deeply. Also knowing Tiernan hadn’t spent a night alone in years made her burn with agony, because he wouldn
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 13
Chapter 13Madison woke to find herself pressed against Tiernan. Her eyes widened when they met his, and she opened her mouth to speak, though she had no idea what she was going to say. He kissed her before any words could emerge, and it was the same sort of soft, coaxing kiss that always melted her. The angry, shamed part of her still wanted to push him away, suspecting he had spent his absent night with another of his companions, and she remained stiff for a long moment, until his gentle mouth and softly caressing hands smoothed away her resistance.Their lovemaking was slow, almost tenuous, as they let their bodies speak all the things they both wanted to say. Or maybe she was misinterpreting his apologetic touches and soothing kisses. Perhaps she was fooling herself so she could continue sharing her body with him. Even the doubt of that couldn’t hold back her cries of passion, and she was eager for him when he lifted her thigh and entered her carefully, drawing out his possession
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 14
Chapter 14After it reopened, Madison returned to the clinic and her apprenticeship as nurse, assistant, and receptionist. Much to her guard’s dismay, she had recruited Corporal Vincent to be at Lucy’s beck and call. She didn’t think Vinny minded helping out with the clinic—or following around the slightly older Lucy, who had a butt he couldn’t seem to stop admiring. Rather, his apprehension seemed to stem from the fact that she was out of his sight a good part of the day.She couldn’t fathom what danger might befall her in the clinic. Honestly, why would she be a target in any form, except in general? She appreciated having a soldier to walk her to and from the clinic, for safety’s sake, but didn’t see a need just because she was Tiernan’s companion. He’d have to have some kind of strong feelings for her before she could ever be a weapon used to hurt him.Not that he didn’t care. He’d been sweet to her the past week, bringing her a gift almost every night. Nothing elaborate, and she
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 15
Chapter 15Another three weeks flew by before she knew it. Tiernan had honored his promise and resupplied the clinic, including securing their power source and providing a new centrifuge. A burly nurse retired from the military also came with the gift. Edward was a reticent man in his late fifties, but he approached his job with dedication and skill. In no time, the clinic seemed transformed, and patients were receiving better care than ever.It was a good thing they didn’t need her so much right now, she told herself, as she found Susan and Edward in the lab, heads bent over lab samples. She was glad not to be leaving them shorthanded for the next week. Of course, she was going to miss her work, but Tiernan had requested—actually asked, not demanded—she clear her calendar for the next eight days to help him keep the daughters from the Republic of Texas entertained. He had also recruited Cleo.“Susan?”The woman looked up, and there was a hint of color in her cheeks. Madison speculate
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Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 42 & Epilogue
Chapter 42They didn’t have much more of a chance to talk until several hours later, back in their suite. She was curled against him on the spacious bed, providing what comfort she could. While she had stood by his side during the ordeal of removing Aidan’s body and explaining to his troops what had happened—and the need to ferret out all those loyal to his dead brother—she could only imagine how soul-wrenching it had been for Tiernan.It had been draining for her too, and she knew killing Aidan would haunt her nightmares for years to come, but now was not the time to have a cathartic release of emotion by discussing her role in his execution. That time would come after Tiernan had healed a bit first.At least she was sure he harbored no resentment toward her for killing Aidan. Tiernan had held her hand or kept her within touching distance throughout the time they had dealt with the aftermath. She’d had to bite her tongue not to counter him when he’d claimed responsibility for Aidan’s
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 41
Chapter 41They stared at each other for a moment, hurt and confusion—along with a strong undercurrent of anger—in Tiernan’s eyes. “How could you do all this, Aidan?”Aidan shrugged. “I’ve already explained all that to Madison. Perhaps she can enlighten you, if you both survive.”Madison bit her fist as the men surged together, trading punches and kicks. They grunted in their exertion, and she honestly couldn’t tell who was winning for several minutes. It wasn’t until Tiernan managed to shove Aidan’s head up, his arm against his throat, that she saw a chance to help. Without hesitation, she grasped the pitcher on the dresser and slammed the pottery down on Aidan’s head. He slumped atop Tiernan a second later.Tiernan pushed him off, wincing as he got to his feet. He cradled his middle. “I think he broke a rib.”“Are you okay?”He nodded, though grimaced. “I’m glad you didn’t call out.”She frowned. “I didn’t? I just stood there frozen?” Shaking her head, Madison let some of her self-d
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 40
Chapter 40“It used to be a bathroom,” said Aidan conversationally. “Joseph Archer was a bit eccentric and had a lot of unused rooms bricked off. He claimed it would reduce heating costs. There’s a shared bathroom down the hall.”Swallowing thickly, she turned slowly, not sure how to reply or even begin to justify her reasons for being here. “Uh…”He smiled, and it was full of gentleness. “It’s okay. I know why you’re here.”Madison couldn’t look away from the crossbow at his side. “Uh…”Aidan glanced down at it before setting it on the nightstand. “I’m not going to shoot you, Madison.”Relief surged through her. She had been wrong. Not about him being the missing twin, she was sure, but he clearly wasn’t the one who had killed Joan.Shaking his head, he said, “No, then they’d know it was me. It has to look like rebels.”Ice water coursed through her veins at his words, and she took a step back without thinking, running right into the brick wall. Her mind searched for a way out, but a
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 39
Chapter 39She had reached no conclusion by the time Tiernan came back a little while later. Getting to her feet, she went to him to lean against her lover. “Do you have any idea who did this?”Tiernan hugged her tightly against him. “No, but I’ve asked Aidan to investigate. The shocking randomness of the crime makes no sense.”“Maybe it wasn’t so random,” said Madison, convinced of at least one thing. Joan’s secret had been the reason for her death. Drawing Tiernan over to a loveseat away from Catherine’s cold gaze, she put her arm around his shoulder and told him what she had learned as gently as possible.He sat in stunned silence for several minutes, before shaking his head. “No, that can’t be.”Madison understood his reluctance to accept it. “I’m sure she was telling the truth, Tiernan. Somewhere, you have a twin brother.” And someone willing to kill to protect his location. She didn’t voice that thought, not wanting to upset him further.His lips compressed. “How could she do it
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 38
Chapter 38Her heart skipped a beat. “So he did die.”She shook her head. “No. Commander Archer was a good leader, but cold.”Madison nodded her agreement, having reached that conclusion just by what Tiernan had revealed about his childhood. “I can imagine.”“She didn’t want the Federation torn apart by two heirs, and she said there was no room for co-leaders. A commander had to make the final decision with no one having the authority to question him.”Madison grimaced. “She was thinking all this as she held her babies?”Joan scowled. “No, dear. She found out in her second trimester she was having twins, so she had time to think and plan. When the babies were born, she never held the younger one. Instead, she had me take him to his father, and troops escorted them from Seattle-Archer, along with instructions never to return.” Looking disgusted, she shook her head. “The woman just sent away her infant without looking back, as though he was no concern to her at all.”Madison’s heart stu
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 37
Chapter 37Madison had expected to have some morning-after regrets, to second guess her decision to put the betrayal behind her and move on. To her relief, she had nary a flicker of doubt as she woke up beside her lover. Her only moderate regret was perhaps a lack of sleep. She was exhausted from their marathon lovemaking and couldn’t stifle a yawn.He grinned. “I wore you out.”To her amusement, he also yawned. “It looks mutual, my love.” Trailing her hand up his chest, she rested her palm between his pecs. “I had planned to go to the clinic today.”He frowned, but didn’t issue a dictate. She gave him points for diplomacy when he said, “Maybe you should take a nap this morning and go in the afternoon.”Madison nodded, having already reached that conclusion. “I think you should join me.”Tiernan lifted a corner of his mouth. “We both know there won’t be any sleeping if I stay.”Sticking out her lower lip, she said, “I need you more than sleep.”He shook his head, softening the rejecti
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 36
Chapter 36She turned her head slightly on the pillow, so he could hear her. “Mostly in the lower part, but it’s sore everywhere.”Oh, his mind could conjure so many images to fit “everywhere.” He stifled a groan as he fantasized about spreading the oil over her back, down her legs, and back up to the apex of her thighs. “Okay.” His voice sounded scratchy.Still trying to be as aloof as possible, Tiernan sat on the bed beside her, straining awkwardly to reach her back. The first feel of her skin was heaven, and warmth suffused him. Not just the heat of arousal, but genuine tenderness at the close physical contact that she wasn’t immediately jumping away from upon realizing he was touching her. He’d gotten so desperate that he’d started waking up at least an hour earlier than her just so he could hold her against his body, in his arms, as she slept. That was the only time she wasn’t rejecting him.Besides now. Trampling his rampant hope with the reminder that a massage didn’t mean anyt
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 35
Chapter 35God, he was stubborn, and she was getting frustrated. They had been engaged in a battle-of-wills for five weeks now. She hadn’t given an inch in her determination to make him accept she no longer loved him, and he hadn’t surrendered at all in his quest to regain her trust and love. Every night, she fell asleep in his bed, oftentimes waking pressed against him in a parody of a loving embrace. Each time, she had found the strength to pull away and go on as though nothing had happened.If only she could convince her damned hormones that nothing was happening and wouldn’t ever again, at least not with Tiernan. It was getting incredibly frustrating to have him so near, but not able to reach out and touch. Oh, she knew he would readily accept any overtures she made, but that was tantamount to giving in. She couldn’t do that.Not that she was certain why at this point. Was she still so hurt and angry that she couldn’t believe he was contrite? Was it just too unbelievable to imagin
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 34
Chapter 34He woke her early on punishment day, not giving her the option of refusing to attend. Madison was undecided if she wanted to be there, and perhaps he’d picked up on her indecision, leading him to choose for her. Or maybe he was just an overbearing tyrant. Perhaps both.Grumbling in protest, she washed and dressed before following Tiernan. When they turned to go upstairs instead of down to the main floor, her heart leapt into her throat. As they climbed the stairs, she couldn’t help remembering how awful it was to be confined to the cupola. Had her continued insistence that their relationship was over made him so angry that he was going to imprison her in the tower again? Did he somehow envision that would make her realize she still wanted to be with him? In fact, it would certainly be the death knell of their affair—which was already over anyway, she hastened to assure herself.As they walked up the stairs to the fourth floor, she strove to control her panic and asked in wh
