"Alexis Morgan - Dark Protector" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morgan Alexis)

wasnтАЩt smart to make a target of himself.
тАЬStep up on the machine.тАЭ Laurel held a bouquet of wires in her hand. One by one, she peeled the
protective paper off the electrodes and began sticking them on his chest and arms. Each time her
fingertips brushed his skin, a ripple of awareness burned along his nerve endings. He was glad that she
didnтАЩt have the monitor turned on yet, or every wicked thought he was having would have been
recorded. Like how he wanted to haul her off to somewhere private and kiss her senseless, for starters.
And what would Dr. Neal and his associates have made of those readings? When he smiled at the
thought, Laurel instinctively backed up a step. Smart girl. If she was a little afraid of him, theyтАЩd both be
better off.
тАЬStart out at a slow pace, then gradually speed up. I know how fast you guys heal, but that was a
bad break in your leg. I donтАЩt want to risk further injury to it.тАЭ
тАЬItтАЩs fine.тАЭ
Not quite, but in another day it would be as good as new. He started off slowly, letting his muscles
warm up and stretch out. After the first few minutes, he fell into the familiar rhythm of his early morning
runs. It felt good to be moving again, to feel his blood circulating, his lungs drawing in air.
His leg was holding up so far, with no appreciable difference from the uninjured one. Even if it had
acted up, he would have continued on as long as it would hold him. He needed to know if he could
depend on it when he went back out into the field.
The likelihood of a major shift in the fault line that ran along the western edge of Washington was
becoming more and more apparent. If the barrier went down, it could be a bloodbath and every sword
would be needed.
Which reminded him that he still needed to go to the armory before the day was out.
тАЬYou can start slowing down.тАЭ Laurel moved away from the monitor to add the final printouts to
his chart.
Devlin kept up the pace for another few minutes, partly because it felt good, and partly because it
allowed him that much control. Laurel ignored his little rebellion, maintaining her focus on the various
readings the machine was spewing forth. He hated having everything about him being reduced to a series
of endless numbers and charts, as if they were more real than he was himself.
 He gradually slowed to a stop and stepped off the machine. Swiping a towel off a handy pile, he
wiped the sweat off his face and neck and waited to see what she wanted to do next. He had a few ideas
of his own on that subject, but doubted if she would be interested. Besides, this wasnтАЩt the place for such
thoughts.
Cameras and microphones allowed the guards outside to monitor everything that went on. If he
gave in to the temptation of taking Laurel Young to bed, it wouldnтАЩt be with anyone looking on.
тАЬWhatтАЩs next?тАЭ
One look at her face and he knew. He wadded up the towel and threw it in the direction of the
hamper in the corner. Another damn brain scan, looking for proof that his grasp on his humanity was
slipping away. тАЬAnd if I refuse?тАЭ
Her chin came up a notch, her eyes flickering to the camera on the ceiling before returning to meet
his gaze. тАЬIs there a reason you would?тАЭ
тАЬNo, other than being tired of being poked and prodded.тАЭ He gestured toward the thick chart on
the counter. тАЬDo you have any idea how many trees died just so you can quantify me?тАЭ
Some of the tension left her shoulders as she realized he wasnтАЩt going to refuse. This time, anyway.
тАЬLetтАЩs get it over with.тАЭ
He followed her into a small room that held a narrow bed and yet another electronic console filled
with gauges and switches and blinking lights. None of the Paladins liked this particular piece of
machinery. It was their judge and their jury, a court where the accused was presumed guilty and had no
chance to speak in his own defense.
And the price for being convicted was swift and immediate execution.
No matter how many times heтАЩd been through the procedure, it never got easier. Very little