As Long As Read Online Free PDF

one. Familiar. As expected as it had been, it was still surprising.
    And eternally scary.
    ~ ~ ~
    “Greetings.”
    Sokar kept his voice soft as he addressed her. He took a step away from the drapery. Watched her fingers tighten on the stem of her glass. Aside from her stumble when she’d seen him, she looked completely unaffected. It was an act, however. Her heart was pounding in rapid bursts through her chest. Sokar knew, because his matched. Each heartbeat came on the heels of the last, carrying a slightly painful twinge. It wasn’t entirely pleasant. But he gloried in every single one.
    The day had been a measure of anxiety and slowness. The pilot had received instructions from Akron. He took Sokar to a tailor. Then a men’s salon, although whatever they’d done with his grooming wouldn’t last. He had no reflection, so he couldn’t tell, but Stanislaw told him he looked good. He should. He wore a suit that had way too many zeroes in the price tag in his opinion. It must be worth it, however, for his appearance gained even more glances than normal, and more than one interruption when he’d gone back to the lobby. All of it added up to more time wasted. He chafed at every second that ticked by. Then, he’d had to suffer another plane ride, although he’d muted it somewhat by absorbing information from the laptop computer Stanislaw brought out. Then, he’d had to endure more attention when they landed. Good thing Stanislaw handled everything. Sokar hadn’t paid any attention. He’d been dwelling in a realm of anxiety he hadn’t known existed. And...finally!
    Now!
    He’d found her again!
    He gave a silent word of thanks to the god, Osiris ; the wife and consort, Isis ; and especially to the god, Amun , before stepping closer. He reached arms-length of his mate before stopping, suddenly leery of contact. He had to physically tighten muscles to prevent further closeness. He didn’t remember her as quite so tiny. Nor as feminine. And nowhere near as lovely. She took his breath away, and he’d but recently gained the ability.
    That’s when he realized why. He matched her. She was holding her breath as she looked up at him, her back straight. Her chin high. Immobile. And then he spotted something. She was trembling. She exhaled slowly only to gain another quick breath that she also held. Sokar matched it as well, and then wondered if she kept this up, how he could prevent light-headedness.
    “Have you come for the statue?” she asked.
    “No.”
    Was that his voice? Gruff. Almost growled? Threatening-sounding?
    It appeared she interpreted it that way, too. Her eyes widened a fraction before she glanced away. It took a mere second before she returned to lock gazes with him. It wasn’t attraction or interest he saw in her eyes, however.
    It was fear.
    “No?” she asked.
    I have come for you.
    He didn’t say it. He didn’t trust his voice. He settled with a head shake. She looked so small. So vulnerable. So frightened. As incredible as it was, he felt a sting behind each eyelid. He blinked rapidly against the emotion. Was it possible? He could experience tears?
    “Then...why?”
    Sokar had to look away. He moved his gaze over her head, out at the incredible vastness of light and humanity that was Cairo nowadays. It didn’t remotely resemble the city he’d seen built. It barely resembled the one from fifty years ago. He was overwhelmed with the urge to snatch her up. Hold her tight. Never let her go. But, he suspected that would be as easy as hugging a scorpion. A venomous, angered one. He looked back down. She hadn’t moved. She wasn’t taking her eyes off him. And she had incredible eyes. Brown. A beautiful shade. Warm. Deep. She bent to place her glass on the floor beside her foot.  She didn’t move her eyes from his.  The move placed her neck in a graceful arch.  Tempting him.  She was truly beautiful.  He cleared his throat.
    “What is your name?” he asked.
    Her eyebrows rose. She clasped her