“This isn't good.""What isn't good?" Kelon asked Donovan, coming into the kitchen. He nodded to Lisa standing in front of the stove. She flinched, blushed and then glared at him. He cocked an eyebrow at Donovan. He shrugged. "She's mad because I won't discipline her." Lisa snorted and stirred the pot of oatmeal on the stove. "Oh please. Like I couldn't get a spanking if I wanted one.”

“If you’ve got a bag in that SUV, you might as well get it out.”“He’s not staying here,” Lisa countered.“I say he is.”Lisa yanked at the coat from within. “You’re not the only person who lives here, Robin.”“No, but I’m one-third owner of the house.” She motioned Donovan toward his truck. “Consider whatever part of the house he’s in as my third.”“Damn it, Robin! I don’t want him here.”“I do.”“Why?”Robin cocked her head to the side as if considering the question. “Because he’s got that big, mean, don’t-mess-with-me look of a rottweiler on steroids that could be a deterrent to any repercussions from your trip into town today, and because”—she shrugged and a smile touched her lips—“he bothers you in a way I’ve never seen you bothered. It’s interesting.”

“Why?" Why wouldn't he let her go? Why did he make her stay?She felt the brush of his lips over her hair."Because I need you.""You don't know me.""I know." His finger under her chin lifted her face. "But I've waited centuries for the chance.”

“You heard about the waterfall incident.""No Protector hasn't."Robin sighed. "One skinny-dipping session and a woman's branded a troublemaker for life.""It wasn't the skinny dipping that got you in trouble.""There was no way to know Donovan would be training the new soldiers over there that night.”

“Her eyes widened. “My.” She looked at him hesitantly and then bit her lip. “This might be more difficult than I realized. You’re a large man, aren’t you?” She blushed. “I mean, all over.”He managed to nod. Yes, damn it. And getting excruciatingly larger by the minute.”

“Oh God.”I told you not to look.”No, you didn’t. You said ‘in a minute.’ That’s not the same thing at all.”It is to me.”She swallowed back her gorge. Her throat was tight in the aftermath. “I’m adding communication issues to the stuff we need to work on.”I communicate just fine. The way I see it, your listening is off.”

“It was a unique experience. He'd never been jealous of a juice glass before.- Kelon”