Skin Walkers Conn by Susan A. Bliler Page A

as a bow-string, and he felt ready to snap from the tension. He sat silently cursing himself for not asking Dr. Arkinson the important questions.  Like, how long would it be before he would eat or sleep again, how could he expedite the process, and more importantly, was any of this going to adversely affect Aries.  
    He knew very little about the delicate creature asleep in his bed, but he knew with all certainty that he wanted her protected.  From whoever was tracking her, from Monroe and Mason, from other Walkers, hell even from himself. 
    Anger tore through him then, that he should be so concerned with someone he’d only just met.  I’m a merc , I don’t have time for this love y -dove y bullshit !  
    He stood then and paced to stare ou t his window.  Surely, the other Walker ’s that had been afflicted hadn’t tried to fight it .  They weren’t as strong as he was , they didn’t have the will or capabilities to control the beasts within.  But he did.  He turned to frown down at Aries.  H e would.
    ***
    Aries woke in the morning and was instantly mortified to discover herself still in Conn’s bed.  She’d come in late last night unable to sleep.  She wanted answers about Walkers, and when she’d discovered the suite empty she’d opted to wait in his room for him until he’d returned. She’d never imagined she’d fall asleep in his bed.  She slapped a hand over her eyes in humiliation , Shameless! 
    Sitting up she shoved the hair back from her eyes and paled at the pain that greeted her.  It was always strongest in the morning before she had the opportunity to tamp it down.  She swallowed hard and threw up the mental barriers she’d learned to erect over the years that made it possible for her to not only function through the constant pain that hounded her, but to almost forget it was there entirely . 
    She quickly surveyed the room and was more than a little relieved to find that Conn had n’t returned.   God only knew how she’d explain herself if he had .
    She crept out of the bed and snuck to the bedroom door, pulling it open a mere fraction to peek down the hall.  The coast was clear.  With any luck, she’d just crawl back into her own bed and Conn would never be the wiser.
    She was tiptoeing across the hall to her room when Conn’s voice stopped her.  “Coffee’s on.”
    Her head snapped to the end of the hall where his voice had come from, but he wasn’t standing there smirking at her as she’d expected.  Instead she heard the clang of a pan .  She inhaled and the scent of freshly brewed coffee was much more enticing then climbing back into bed, so she shrugged one shoulder and strode casually down the hall to the kitchen.
    In the kitchen, Conn was lining strips of bacon in a skillet.  The toaster rattled on the counter behind him as two slices of toast shot up, and a pan of scrambled eggs sizzled next to the now hissing bacon. 
    “Got your appetite back I see.”
    Conn didn’t look up when A ries entered and at her comment his brows drew tighter together. 
    Aries dipped her head, trying to get a better look at his face, “Aw come on.  You can’t still be fasting ? ”
    Conn reached up and retrieved a single coffee mug from the cupboard before turning and filling it with steaming fragrant coffee.  “Believe me, it’s not self-induced.”
    Aries fingered the white streak at her temple , “It-it’s been days Conn.”
    He looked at her then, noticing how comfortable his name sounded on her lips.  “I know.  It’s alright.  I’ll just…”  He looked around the kitchen, not quite sure what it was he could do to bring back his appetite or to placate her on the matter .  “I’ll try some toast a li ttle later.  In the mean time,” he crossed to the table and set the mug of coffee he held at the lone place setting, “you want cream?”
    Aries followed slowly, reluctantly taking her seat at the table.  “If you’ve got it.”
    Conn turned to retrieve