An Original Sin Read Online Free PDF Page B

questions we don’t want to answer.”
    Logical. He could learn to hate that trait in her. Carefully, he set her on her feet.
    She glowered up at him. “I’ve decided to go with you. While you were playing caveman, I realized you were right this once. We can’t stay here, and you’re obviously not fit to cope with even this degree of modern life. You need someone to keep you from lopping off the heads of innocent strangers. Besides, we need to find a place to discuss why we were sent here together and how we can get back to our own times.” She shrugged. “It’s the only reasonable thing to do.”
    “I must have sinned greviously to deserve such penance.”
    “What?”
    “When my penance is done ye’ll be free of me.”
    Never. She didn’t understand his mutterings about penance, but one thing she knew for sure—he was the one. Him. The man chosen to repopulate the earth with males. She’d forgotten that little fact during her battle of words with him. Luckily, she’d remembered while she hung over his shoulder. Must’ve been all that blood rushing to her head that had cleared her senses.
    Why Leith? She didn’t know, but humans had learned there were no random acts in the universe. He was the one. This stay in the year 2000 must be like a halfway house. She’d ease him into what to expect when he got to her time. No, Leith wasn’t getting away from her. “We can come back here when—”
    He made an irritated noise. “Powers strong enough to drag us from our time dinna need us in a certain room, lass.”
    His statement made sense, though she hated to admit anything he said made sense. “I suppose you’re right, butthere’s an order in the universe, and I think we’ll have to come back to—”
    He smiled at her. Lord, that smile would mow women down by the millions. Of course it didn’t affect her in the least. She touched her nose. Was it in that ancient tale of Pinocchio that someone’s nose grew when they told a lie?
    “Dinna fash yerself, lass. I’ll take care of ye.”
    “Hmmph.” Even as she rejected his easy assurance of male dominance, a second reason for staying with him poked at her—one she resisted: fear. The only fear she’d experienced in her life had revolved around the worry that her newest model wouldn’t be sensual enough, marketable enough. She’d never felt the gut-wrenching fear she felt now. And Leith Campbell was the only familiar person, however aggravating, in a world gone crazy. She’d cling to a Rilior smoke devil right now, if he offered a familiar face. She glanced up at Leith. Close enough.
    “Come, Fortune.”
    Come, Fido. Fear, confusion, and anger jigged in time to her pounding heart. Anger leaped the highest. “Four-Two-N. My name is…” Reason joined the dance. No, she’d be safer answering to Fortune. No need to call attention to herself.
    She studied the man next to her. She’d never blend into the local populace as long as she hung around with him, and she intended to hang around him like Saturn’s rings. She refused to admit any relief at the thought. No way did she need him.
    And he had a lot of nerve assuming he should lead. She was much more qualified to think of a rational plan of action. She’d always been the one in control. Even as a child, she’d made her own decisions while her mother spacehopped across the galaxy.
    OK, she couldn’t match him physically, but she could punch holes in him intellectually. After all, she had asix-hundred-year advantage. Punch ? She’d have to make sure none of him rubbed off on her. “For your information, Your Hugeness, intelligence is power, not size and strength.” She felt like a child sticking out her tongue, but she couldn’t help herself.
    Leith grinned at her. “Mayhap in yer time, but we’re not in yer time. And I’ll always be bigger than ye.”
    Bully. “Fine. Lead on, oh primeval one. Should I stay two steps behind you?”
    “Aye, although five would show more respect, ye