Dark Defender by Alexis Morgan

out-of-the-way little park.”
    “I lost my virginity right there on that table. That’s the sort of thing a guy never forgets.” Honesty made him add, “Well, not that exact table. It was wooden and painted dark green.”
    “Who?” She slapped her hand over her mouth. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”
    “I wasn’t going to tell you anyway.” Even though curiosity was eating her up, judging by the way her eyes kept darting to the table and then back at his anatomy. “Why don’t you change into your clothes so we can get a hotel?”
    “Where should I change?” She looked around for some kind of shelter, other than the surrounding trees.
    “This is no time for modesty, Brenna. If we walk into a hotel lobby with you in your hospital gown and slippers, they’re going to know something is fishy. We can’t use a public bathroom for the same reason. I promise I won’t look.” Unless he was sure he could get away with it.
    To give her some semblance of privacy, he walked over to the picnic table and stretched out on top of it. He thought about closing his eyes, but as tired as he was, he couldn’t risk it. Exhaustion was playing hell with his concentration already. The sooner they found sanctuary for the night, the better off they both would be.
    The sound of a car door opening startled him into sitting up, then he realized that Brenna was using it as a screen to change behind. It worked pretty well; in fact, too damn well. He could see her shoulders and a tantalizing hint of her cleavage, then nothing at all until below the door, which revealed her lower calves and bare feet. Who would have thought such glimpses would be so erotic?
    Despite his promise, he couldn’t pull his eyes away as she slid the straps of her bra up her arms, then leaned forward to adjust the fit of the cups before fastening the front clasp. It was like a reverse striptease, but with the same effect on his body. When had putting on a T-shirt turned into a seductive dance?
    First one foot and then the other disappeared into the lightweight running pants he’d bought her. When she stood to tug them up to her waist, there was a quick flash of white, no doubt the plain cotton panties he’d picked out. He didn’t think she would have appreciated getting skimpy, lacy ones from him, but he’d had a hard time reining in the urge to buy them.
    The car door slammed shut. “I thought you weren’t going to watch.”
    No use in denying it. “I lied.”
    Looking thoroughly disgusted, she stuffed her hospital gown and robe into the shopping bags. Turning her back on him, she used the brush he’d bought to work the tangles out of her dark brown hair. If she thought she was shutting him out by facing away from him, she was sorely mistaken. She looked damned fine from any direction.
    As if sensing his continued scrutiny, she glanced back at him. “Don’t stare.”
    “Sorry.” Not that he was. The genetic anomaly that made a man a Paladin had also gifted him with a very healthy sexual appetite, and he’d been on a starvation diet for far too long. Still, one look at the fading bruises on her arms had him banking the fires.
    “Let’s get out of here.” He stood up and stretched, trying to get the kinks out of his back and neck before climbing into the car.
    Brenna winced as she settled into the front seat and fastened her seat belt. He had to admire her stamina. She’d been through hell the past few days, with no end in sight, yet she didn’t complain and kept going. It shouldn’t surprise him. She had a lot of her father in her, including a similar, frighteningly powerful intellect.
    “There’s a hotel not far from here.”
    She opened one eye and gave him a suspicious look. “Another vivid memory from your past? If so, pick another hotel.”
    Her tart remark startled a laugh out of him. “Back then, the backseat of a car or a picnic table were the fanciest accommodations I could afford.”
    She didn’t look convinced.
    “I