Born of Defiance

“You’re still the most beautiful female I’ve ever seen.”


She stepped toward him to kiss his lips. “You keep sweet-talking me like that and you’re bound to get lucky tonight.”

Talyn smiled bashfully at her teasing. “It’s so good to see you, Felicia.” Even better was being around someone who actually talked to him like a sentient being and didn’t order him about like a dog.

She kissed him again. “Why don’t you take a minute to get comfy and I’ll heat you up something real fast? I bought some street clothes for you and put them in the closet and dresser. There’s even sweatpants for you.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

He stole one more kiss before he went to change.

Felicia smiled at his hot, seductive lope. She couldn’t wait to take a bite of that lush, ripped body. And tonight was finally the night. Her hands shook with anticipation.

Honestly, she wished she’d had a little warning. This wasn’t how she wanted to seduce him the first time. But at least she wouldn’t have to wait any longer.

As soon as she had a plate warmed, she went to find him. She had no idea why he hadn’t returned.

Until she entered the bedroom.

Wearing only the pants to his uniform, he was sound asleep on the bed. She was slightly offended until she got close enough to see the deep welts and bruises on his arms and back. The marks on his chest. Tears blinded her as she realized just how badly he’d been mistreated.

She set the plate on the nightstand before she reached to cup his cheek. “Talyn?”

He sighed in his sleep, but didn’t stir. If anything, he seemed to go deeper into his dreams.

The poor thing was exhausted. Wishing she could make it better, she pulled out another blanket and used it to cover his body.

Feeling for him, she curled up at his back and held him close while he slept. How unfair that he was spending all this money for her and had yet to get the very thing he’d paid for. No wonder he told everyone she was his girlfriend. That was much more true of their relationship than companion and patron.

Brushing her hand through his braids, she wished she could give him the life he deserved.

Yet he never complained about anything.

Not once had he even hinted about how badly they treated him at work. Rather, he’d sent her little notes asking how she was doing. If she needed anything. Telling her that he was thinking of her. When she’d asked how he was doing, he’d responded with either generic or missing you.

Nothing else.

But then, he was a Ring fighter and had been one half of his life. Having someone routinely beat the utter hell out of him was normal. Yet for all that, he wasn’t the beast others accused him of. There was a kindness in him that was unfathomable to her.

And the more she saw the real heart of the Hammer, the more she wanted to be with him.

“I think I’m in love with you, Talyn,” she whispered, knowing she’d never dare say that to him if he could hear her. Honestly, she’d been infatuated with him the instant he’d gone from confident to bashful the night they met. And it’d turned to love the moment he’d refused to embarrass her with an inspection in front of her broker and guard. That amount of compassion and regard for her feelings… she’d known then just how rare a creature he was. How decent.

And as she held him in the dim light, she wanted more than to be his companion.

She wanted to be his lady. In every way. An impossible dream. Without a paternal lineage, he couldn’t legally marry.

Ever.

If she stayed with him, she’d never be able to have children. They would arrest him for it, and it would be wrong to bring them into a world that would never hold them with any regard. His life showed her exactly the misery that would be theirs.

And still she wanted that dream of a family with a ferocity that scared her.

“Stop with your useless dreaming, Felicia! The world is harsh and ugly. The sooner you accept it, the better off you’ll be.” Her mother’s bitter words were implanted in her mind.

But she wasn’t her mother. And she didn’t want to be her. What she wanted was to be Ger Tarra Batur. Talyn’s beloved and revered wife.

Most of all, she wanted Talyn to have what he deserved. A home he could go to every night and be held by her.



Talyn came awake to his wrist alarm buzzing. Thinking he was in the barracks, he cursed. Until he realized there was a warm body pressed against his bare back and a tiny hand tangled in his braids.

For one second, he was in heaven.

Turning over, he smiled as he met the sweetest gaze he’d ever imagined. Then he remembered that his alarm was still going off.

“Shit! I slept the whole time?” Gah! He wanted to kill himself for wasting his precious hours with her.

“I tried to wake you, but you were sleeping really soundly. Sorry, sweetie. I fell asleep, too.”

Savoring the endearment, he turned off his alarm.