The Immortal Game (book 1) Read Online Free PDF

he said. “Actually, he wasn’t even usually faithful.” He laughed, but it was a humorless sound that soon turned into a long low groan. He slowly doubled over and his hands went up to cradle his head. His long fingers tightened and pulled at his dark curls.
    “What is it?” She looked all around his face and head, not sure what was wrong.
    His breath came out in a whoosh. “Give me your hand.” He reached across the table and grabbed for her.
    She clasped his warm hands between both of hers. “What—” She started to say, but the electric sizzle of energy that came off of him took her breath away. She tried to pull away from the frantic sensation but he held her tight. The buzzing slowly quieted and the wild pulsing faded. A tranquil feeling filled her. It mixed with the subtle rush of excitement of his skin on hers.
    His shoulders relaxed. His breathing slowed. He kept his eyes closed. “Calm.” He nodded.
    When he looked at her his blue eyes were rimmed in red and the sockets were surrounded by dark circles. It had all happened in a minute.
    “I get headaches,” he said. “They’re sudden. It’s gone now.”
    A small smile flitted across his lips and Ruby felt like her chest might explode. Self-conscious and confused she let his hand slide out of hers.
    “I better go,” she said. It was midafternoon and she was sure the study group had long started.
    “You want to go do something?” he said, and she saw a lightness come into his shaded eyes.
    “Huh?”
    “There’s something I want to show you.”
    Recognition dawned on her. So he was that guy. He wantedto “show” her something. How gullible did he think she was? She knew about guys, though she hadn’t dated much.
    “Listen,” she sighed. “I have a lot of studying to do.”
    “You say that a lot.” He leaned back again and crossed his arms.
    “I say what?”
    “That you have to study.”
    “Well, I do. I have plans,” she said. “And they require work.”
    “What?” he shrugged. “Whatplans?” His head was cocked to the side, looking at her, daring her.
    “Well…” She picked up her coffee cup and rattled the latte-colored ice at the bottom. The familiar architecture of her future flowed naturally from her. “Medical school. Double residency in emergency medicine and surgery. A contract with Medics for Mercy.”
    At this point people usually nodded and congratulated her on her ambitious future. Instead Ash shrugged again. “What about having a little fun?”
    A rush went through her. “I …”
    He stood and reached for her hand. “Do you drive?”

FOUR
    The little blue truck’s doors squeaked. An ancient crack ran along the windshield’s lower edge and rips in the plastic seats let yellow foam show through. The truck had been Ruby’s father’s. Ruby and the nannies that cared for her when she was young had what they needed in the city, but when her father was home between trips to war-torn countries he liked to go camping. She could almost smell the faint woody scent of campfire on the upholstery.
    She distracted herself from these memories by watching Ash fold himself into the small space next to her. His head brushed the ceiling. His knees jutted up in the gap between him and the dashboard, which was also beginning to crack, she realized.
    There was a loud screech from the engine as she started it. She quickly threw it into gear to silence the loose belt, but Ash didn’t notice the sound. The dark circles and the redness in his eyes from the headache were gone. Now there was nothing but eager excitement there.
    There were no roadblocks or traffic as Ash directed her to drive out of the city and up into the mountains. Ruby felt the electricity of his body close to hers in the tight cab of the truck. Butterflies fluttered in her chest and her head felt like it was floating above her body. Twice she misheard his directions and they had to turn around.
    “What’s this?” Ash touched the ID tag that hung by a lanyard