Marked by Hades Read Online Free PDF Page B

more at her arms. His intense stare triggered gooseflesh on all of her skin, exposed or not.
    Another stomach rumble.
    His jaw clenched, and he said, “Let me get you some food.”
    “I’m fine.” She stepped back, nearly to the frozen foods now. Looked as though she was going to the homeless shelter for another meal, considering she didn’t even have enough for a bag of chips.
    “Tell that to your growling stomach.” He grabbed the bag of chips she’d been eyeing.
    His thigh muscles bulged beneath tight jeans as he stepped forward. Strength, mystery, and intensity oozed from his strong, dominating gait. All of which made her stomach clench, but not in fear. It was desire.
    She must be delirious from lack of food.
    “Energy bars. Those are good.” He stepped to the other aisle, and all she could do was watch as he moved with the grace of a cat but the lethality of a mountain lion. But he still glowed.
    Like an angel.
    She wanted that peace. Even with all the emotions flashing through her body and soul, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her, and at least that provided some comfort.
    A tingle bloomed on her shoulder, and she went to scratch it but resisted. It’d taken nearly an hour to cover that mark up, but she didn’t dare go out with it exposed, worried it would mark her as a target somehow.
    Hell, she had no clue what she was doing, and the mark had made everything worse. Today was the first day she’d even felt hungry, after being sick and unable to sleep the last two days.
    Her stomach rumbled again. The man hesitated, but only for a second, then went back to grabbing items off the shelves.
    “Do you like root beer?”
    How’d he know that was her favorite? “No.”
    He grabbed a two-liter of the treasured drink as if she hadn’t spoken.
    “No. I don’t.”
    He grinned and worked his way down the aisle, toward the cash register.
    It took all her willpower to stay put. She couldn’t let a total stranger, no matter how sexy or angelic he was, buy her food. Evidently self-preservation took over, because she moved toward him as if on autopilot.
    He stood at the register, his back mostly to her, and dug out his wallet. Thumbing through a wad of cash, he pulled out a hundred-dollar bill to pay.
    Maybe she could play him for some of those bills.
    The thought tasted like bitter bile in her mouth, and she hadn’t even said it aloud.
    She hated the confusion roaring through her, the not knowing what or who she was. And right when she needed to be strong to resist touching this tall, generous, glowing stranger, all the angst of her situation pummeled into her.
    She wanted to touch him very badly.
    “Come on.” He held out his hand.
    She waved it off and moved forward. “You lead.”
    He paused for a breath, eyeing her shoulders again, then abruptly strode through the doors. The cool November air met her exposed skin with a slap, sending a chill rattling through her.
    “You do realize it’s winter, right?” He glanced over his shoulder as he led onward.
    “I’m fine.”
    “Fond of that phrase, aren’t you?” He stopped, then handed her the bag of goodies and shrugged out of his jacket. “I won’t have you freezing.” He clamped his jaw down and shook his head. It looked to be more out of frustration than worry.
    She’d had a vivid imagination of what might be beneath that jacket of his, and he didn’t disappoint. He wore long sleeves, but his muscles pulled the fabric tight across the chest and biceps, promising hours of excitement if she could touch his body.
    The shirt tucked into a narrow waist, and a black belt held up the faded jeans. Combat boots again.
    Damn, he was sexy. Dangerous, too.
    She shook her head free of the thoughts. Before she’d noticed, he reached for her arm. She jerked back, narrowly avoiding contact.
    “I won’t hurt you. Put this on.”
    She handed him the grocery bag and took the coat. It carried a hint of spice…bergamot. Yes, that fresh, rejuvenating smell infused her