Page 51 of Kane's Bounty
Chapter 9
He’d toldthe truth when she’d questioned him bringing in a condom. He’d been hopeful she would let him make love to her. He wanted her, but if she had been even slightly reluctant, he would have backed off. Her willingness and responsiveness brought him more pleasure than he could ever have imagined.
She was in his arms, though still not sleeping, and he couldn’t help how happy he was to have her there. He should be worried. In only a few hours, she would be carted off to jail. Still, he was content with the time they had and confident they would be together.
In truth, he barely recognized himself. What had happened to the pessimistic Psi-hunter who thought humanity was a collection of hate and depravity? He couldn’t find him anywhere.
He still had to deal with Thorn and Banta. He looked down at her sweet face where it was tucked against his chest. A wave of possessiveness washed over him. She was his and anyone who hurt her would have to pay.
“Lena?”
“Yes.” Her voice was sleepy and sexy as hell.
“You should sleep. Tomorrow will be another long day.”
She opened her tired eyes and stared up at him. “I wish I could.”
He rolled onto his side so he faced her and her head shifted to rest on his biceps. “I can help you. We are safe, and if you let me, I will help you fall asleep, but you have to trust me.”
Her face was tight with strain. When they’d made love, she’d been relaxed. She had let go of the demons in her mind. Now in the dark, they were tormenting her.
“When I start to doze, he’s there.”
“I know. Let me take him away, just for tonight, just enough of it so you can sleep.”
She leaned up on her elbow and moved just slightly away from him. “You want to get into my head.”
It took all his restraint to not move closer to her. “Do you want me to tell you exactly what I would do?”
She nodded, looking as if she was a little girl who feared the monsters under the bed. Except Lena’s monsters were real.
“You’ll have to let down your barrier.”
She stiffened, sat up and turned away from him, rubbing her arms as if she were cold.
He sat and touched her cheek. Her skin was soft and warm. “I will barely need to breach, Lena. Just enough to put a block up.”
She turned her head to look at him. “What kind of block?”
“It’s only temporary. You can remove it whenever you want and I will help you do it in a few days. It’s not good to block the things that torment us. We have to deal with them or they drive us crazy. But for now, I think it would help if you could get some sleep.”
“I feel as if I’ve lost my mind and I’m terrified, Kane.”
He moved to sit behind her and she leaned back against him. Instantly, he wrapped his arms around her. “You won’t lose your mind. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met. You just need some time and sleep. Let me help you.” She nodded.
He maneuvered them so they were lying on their sides facing each other. Her eyes were closed tightly. She looked ready to take some kind of punishment. His anger at Troth Banta surged. He had to fight to suppress it. Anger could not enter into what he was about to do.
“Look at me,” he said.
She opened her eyes.
Normally, he would take the person’s head in his hands, but he didn’t want to frighten her. Resting his forehead against hers, he took a deep breath. “Let down your wall, Lena.”
He felt the barrier strengthen for a moment before it slowly lowered and disappeared. Kane couldn’t help the joy blossoming within him as she showed her complete trust. He pressed forward with his mind, not invading or sharing. He only searched for the darkness. It wasn’t hard to spot. Lena’s natural mind was filled with love and light. When he found what Banta had left behind, it was dark and angry. Kane used his gift to push the spot into a corner. She would still have to deal with it at some point or let him help her convert the energy into something else, but that would take time.
He built a psychic wall around the memories which were not her own. As he backed out of her mind, he suggested, Sleep.
By the time he was out and his eyes opened, she was breathing evenly in her sleep.
