Talon/Xavier (Bayou Heat) Read Online Free PDF Page A

He should have looked ridiculous in the cozy setting with handwoven rugs, walls lined with stuffed bookcases, and the echoes of a loving childhood, but he didn’t.
    He looked…at home.
    A familiar pang of envy sliced through her heart before she was squashing the worthless regret.
    Homes were places you kept your shit until you moved on to the next place. End of story.
    “Talon,” he said, his voice rubbing over her skin like rough silk.
    Isi frowned. She had a vague memory of Ashe mentioning the Hunter who had been tracking down Pantera traitors.
    “No one told me you lived here.” She edged her way toward the door. She needed to be away from the disturbing cat. Far, far away. “I’ll go somewhere else.”
    “Where?”
    “Home.” She didn’t know what she was going to say until the word left her lips, but suddenly she knew that’s exactly where she was going. She’d had enough of freaking Pantera and their soggy Wildlands. She belonged in New Orleans, running her shop. “Where I should have gone weeks ago.”
    “What about your sister?”
    She shrugged, continuing to inch toward the door. “I can come back.”
    With a blur of motion, Talon was off the bed and blocking her path. “No.”
    Her jaw clenched as she was forced to come to a halt. “No?”
    He planted his fists on his hips, the T-shirt stretched tight over the sculpted muscles of his chest.
    “Raphael sent me here to protect you.” He didn’t bother to hide his anger at being stuck on babysitting duty. “I can’t do that if you leave the Wildlands.”
    Her chin tilted. “Thanks, fur ball, but I’ve been taking care of myself a long time.”
    The golden eyes narrowed. “What is it with you and my fur?”
    “I want it staying the hell away from me.”
    He prowled forward, his heat wrapping around her with sensuous pleasure. “You weren’t so averse to me and my fur when you were clinging to me and telling me how good it felt.”
    She meant to hold her ground. She really did. But as he continued his ruthless path forward, she discovered herself retreating until her back was pressed against a tall bookcase.
    Annoying ass.
    “That was—”
    He halted inches away, his hands lifting to grip the shelf on each side of her head. “What?”
    “I was suddenly feeling better, that’s all.”
    “Raphael mentioned it has something to do with the house,” he said, his gaze lowering to the pulse that thundered at the base of her throat.
    Isi grimaced. Yeah. She’d thought it was the house.
    Until Talon appeared and the illness went from manageable to completely gone.
    “Whatever,” she muttered. “I’ll feel even better at my own house.”
    He leaned down, his breath searing over her lips like a kiss. “Ain’t. Gonna. Happen.”
    “It’s not your decision.”
    “Do you think you would last one second without Raphael’s protection?”
    “So he keeps telling me.” Her lips flattened with a stubborn determination. She’d allowed herself to be bullied into staying for weeks. Or at least she told herself she’d been bullied. Otherwise she would have to admit that she stayed for Ashe. An unacceptable explanation. “How do I know that’s not just bullshit to keep me here?”
    “Raphael doesn’t have to use empty threats,” Talon warned. “If he decides to keep you here, I guarantee you that you’ll stay. One way or another.”
    She glared into the savagely beautiful face. “So when you said you’re here to guard me, you meant I’m your prisoner.”
    “Raphael asked me to make sure you continued to help to his mate.”
    Oh, yes. Raphael had made it clear that he would move heaven and earth to protect his mate and child.
    Which didn’t make her jealous at all. Nope. Not at all.
    “And what I want doesn’t matter?” she snapped.
    “No.”
    She gave a humorless laugh at his complete lack of apology. “Nice.”
    “It’s the way it is.”
    “Fine.” She dipped down to slip under his arm, heading toward the door. “I’m