by Storm Savage
“Like I said before, Hatch has an uncanny way of drawing women into his net. Usually he ruins them before they get away. You, my angel, were lucky.”
“I was hoping he’d move on and stay in New York for good.”
“There’s something you’re not telling me. I can see it in your eyes.”
She looked down at the floor and sighed. “Von found me.”
“The Satellite already found you?” Raef looked stunned. “How? What did he want? Why did he let you go?”
“I don’t know. He was…intense.”
“What did he say to you?”
“Not much. We did some kind of verbal dance. Something about me as a prodigy needed to undo their curse.”
“That’s all you’re going to tell me? Why do I get the feeling you’re holding back?”
“You, of all people, know that I cannot break the bonds of sisterhood. My conversation with the Supreme Lioness is sacred.”
“I would never try to invade that sacred bond. What I see in your eyes goes deeper than your secret colony of women…is it the Satellite…or Hatch?”
“I don’t know. Maybe both. Obviously, I can’t trust either. In fact you might be the only one I trust right now.”
“Apparently not enough.”
“Why are you doing this? You are the only person I ever took into the village with me. Wasn’t that enough to show how I feel about you?”
“It should be, I know. I just can’t shake this feeling that there’s something going on with you that you’re unwilling to share.”
“I do have a lot to sort through right now and I’m sorry that I cannot bare my soul to you, it’s just not my way, I’m sorry.”
He half smiled with a slight shrug. “I guess I’ll have to live with that.”
She kept her voice soft and gentle. “I don’t want you to feel as if you have to live with something you’re not comfortable with. My feelings for you have deepened tremendously over the past weeks. But I also realize that my lifestyle…who I am and what I do…is not something many men can handle. I’ll understand if you need to back away.” As badly as it hurt to say that to him, she couldn’t be selfish.
“That’s exactly what I feel you doing, backing away.” He placed his hands at her waist. “I get that you come from a different culture. I can handle that. What bothers me is that you’re shutting me out.”
“I have to, don’t you understand?” She gazed up with pleading eyes. “I learned things during my visit with the Supreme Lioness that I need to handle…things that don’t involve you and shouldn’t involve you. I don’t want you getting hurt or becoming a pawn in someone else’s game because of me.”
“You’re headed for some serious shit, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “Stuff I can’t tell you but wish I could. I have to undo the damage caused years ago by a different generation. If I fail, my entire sisterhood nation could fall into enemy hands. Please don’t ask me to reveal more. Information will only get you killed.”
Conflict flickered in his eyes. “I want to help, but I did promise not to ask about your sisterhood. I don’t want to lose you now that we finally got together.”
“I don’t want to lose you either.” She touched his handsome face. “Which is why the less you know the safer you will be.”
“Is someone after you?” His voice sounded worried.
“Something like that.”
“Then let me help. You need someone to watch your back.”
“The enemies I face won’t hesitate to take you out if you get in the way. This is one battle I must fight alone.”
“No doubt all of this has to do with your run-in with Calder, am I right?”
“Only some of it. And you’re beginning to sound jealous.”
“The man stole my best friend’s wife and his fiancé. Surely you can understand my concern.”
“I do, but I am not those women. I am skilled and have been raised in an environment where men are the enemy. They are a means to an end, never to be trusted unless that trust is earned,” she blurted out, then covered her mouth with one hand in sudden regret of her being too blunt.
“Is that all I am to you? A tool? What will you do with me when I’ve fulfilled my purpose to you? Turn me over to Naami for breeding?”
“No! It’s not like that with you. I have feelings for you.”
“But?”
“I can’t allow them to cloud my thinking. Not yet, not now.”
“Then when?” He stared into her. “What must I do to earn your trust?”
“Trust me,” she replied in a soft tone. “That is all I ask, that you trust me until this fight I must fight is over.”
“Trust.” He scoffed. “I trusted a woman long ago and that didn’t turn out very well. Ian trusted Cassie and that got him dead. And you won’t even tell me your last name, so clearly I have not earned your trust according to what you told Cooper O’Toole. Yet here you are asking me to trust you when you can’t even return the favor.”
Suddenly at a loss for words, she simply stared back at him.
“No rebuttal?” he pressed.
“No…you’re right. Maybe you shouldn’t trust me.” She eased from his grip. “I’m very tired. Would you rather I sleep in a hotel?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, of course not.” A pained look flooded his eyes. “Please, Flame…stay. Obviously, we’re both on edge.”
“You didn’t mention how Cooper took the news about Ian? Wasn’t Ian his second in command?”
Raef’s demeanor intensified. He shifted his weight. “Another puzzling aspect to this entire ordeal, Coop didn’t seem upset at all over losing Ian. He shrugged it off and muttered something about another casualty of war. Any idea what he meant by that?”
Flame buried her emotions instantly. “No, none. Maybe Coop isn’t the great guy that his followers think he is.”
“Maybe not,” he said with a skeptical look.
She could see him trying to piece things together. Raef was sharp, this she knew.
“Perhaps I should sleep in the guest room tonight. I can see how tense you are.”
“No, angel, I’ll be fine.” He pulled her close and placed a tender kiss on her lips. “We’ll get through this. Why don’t you go ahead up and settle in. I’ll unwind with a few drinks then I’ll join you. You look stressed, I’ll be careful not to wake you.”
“Thank you. I really could use a good night of uninterrupted sleep.” She touched her lips to his. “I’ll keep the bed warm.”
“I’m sure by morning we’ll both feel better. We can talk more then, if you want.”
“Okay.” She offered him a warm smile, grabbed her backpack, then headed up the spiral staircase to the second floor. A warm shower and a soft bed would be wonderful.
Hopefully, we’ll both be less irritable in the morning.
* * * *
Raef grabbed a bottle of bourbon and a crystal tumbler from his built-in bar. A cool breeze floated in off the waves. He loved living on the West Coast with the warmer climate and sunnier days. He was glad Hatch preferred life in the Big Apple. New York City offered plenty of excitement but LA did not lack for fun either. The biggest perk was the three thousand miles of American soil between him and Hatch, yet the prick was still hopping a plane to come and make another play for Flame.
He sighed while plopping into a lounge chair on the patio facing the beach. Waves tumbled ashore, leaving behind white froth as they rolled back out to sea. The moon had slid toward the west, indicating the hour had grown late. Sounds coming from upstairs faded, making him realize that Flame had settled in and had probably fallen into a much-needed slumber. Her evasiveness troubled him but not enough to give up.
Though his plans for a romantic reunion followed by steamy sex had been shattered, he understood her calling better than she realized. Though he longed to re-establish their physical connection before Hatch came breezing back into their lives, he’d gladly wait for Flame to unwind and hoped that she�
�d open up to him about her obvious concerns. His animosity toward Hatch grew with each passing moment. Why he couldn’t simply accept Flame’s decision and let her go infuriated him.
He polished off the last of the bourbon and headed inside. Just the thought of sliding in beside the fiery woman in his bed aroused him. Even if they didn’t engage in sex tonight, breathing in her sweet scent and curling up behind her soft body would be heaven enough. A knock on the door sounded as he approached the staircase.
“Damn it all to hell,” he growled. “That better not be Hatch or I will kick his ass out the door this time.” He padded to the door and quietly opened it. “Whoa, Naami, what are you doing here? And at this hour?”
“Hello, Raef. I’m sorry for barging in so late but I don’t know this area very well and didn’t know which hotel would be a good choice.”
He did a quick once over then let her inside, surprised she’d made it safely all this way dressed like that. Her sheer blouse and flimsy skirt weren’t exactly subtle. “Sshh, Flame has gone up to bed, she was exhausted. How did you find my house?”
She batted long lashes and stared at him with those memorable warm brown eyes flecked with gold. “I’m sorry, but I stole a peek into Flame’s cell phone during your visit and memorized your number. Then I used GPS to find your house.”
He swayed a little as the liquor went to his head. “A little sneaky, don’t you think?”
“I couldn’t help myself.” She unbraided her long auburn hair and fluffed it around bare shoulders. “I am fertile for just a little longer this month and I just had to try one more time.”
“Uh…I believe we already had this conversation. I’m not interested in becoming a sire.”
“Do you realize what a noble deed you’d be performing by breeding a queen? Your offspring would be royalty and start a new line of rich heritage.”
“Babe, I’m not actually sober right now, so perhaps you should take one of the guest rooms. I can’t exactly toss you onto the street but I’ve already got the woman I want in my bed for the night.”
She unbuttoned her blouse to expose a pair of lovely, high, firm breasts. “We don’t need a bed. You saw how we live. Luxury is not something we allow ourselves to embrace.”
“I’m going upstairs now. As tempting as you are, this is not right.”
“There is no need for protocol.” She blocked his way up the stairs with surprising grace and speed. “I want your seed, nothing more.”
Her scent floated over him and he found it unusually enticing, like a powerful aphrodisiac. His jeans grew painfully tight as his arousal mounted at an alarming rate. He couldn’t deny that her youthful body was very appealing. He recalled Flame mentioning that Naami was only in her twenties. Their first encounter had been somewhat tense with the young queen seeking a mating and Flame telling her no. His thoughts began to blur as she pushed his shirt away and rubbed her bare skin against his.
“Naami,” he protested. “No…please, we shouldn’t be doing this.” Yet the peculiar bouquet of her perfume made it hard to think. Strange lust coursed through him.
“Flame will get over it.” She began nibbling at his ear and circling it with her tongue.
Raef felt self-control slipping away under the effect of too much liquor, not enough sleep, and a feeling he couldn’t explain. She pushed him down to a sitting position on the bottom step. When he didn’t fight her, she nudged him to lay back.
“No,” he muttered. “I don’t want to get rough with you, now please stop.” But his words came out much weaker than he had planned.
Her soft lips left a trail of kisses from his neck to his waist as she deftly worked open the fly to his jeans. All the while, he was shouting no, no, no inside but his body defied him by responding positively to her tantalizing touch. The sisterhood women definitely possessed a higher level of skill in the art of seduction than any women he’d known. He silently cursed the erection in her hand as she went down on him. His mind wanted her to stop because he knew this would lead to trouble but his body ached for relief from the fire she ignited.
“Relax,” she purred upon sliding back up his body. “Nobody will know. I’ll be gone before Flame wakes.” She lifted a white gauze skirt and straddled his waist.
He inwardly groaned as her moist heat engulfed his entire length. She rode him hard and fast as if afraid he’d regain control and halt this blur of madness. Every muscle in his body tensed. Any sense of morality he had dissipated beneath her potent spell. She was young, tight, and uncannily hot. He doubted any man could or would want to resist this alluring vixen.
“Yesss…” she breathed out her response as he exploded inside, spilling his full release in her wanton body.
His sex jerked with force as she took him all the way, draining every last drop until he was utterly spent. A wave of regret washed over him followed by a torrent of guilt. With the burning lust in his treacherous body slaked, rational thought returned to his mind and he felt suddenly sober.
“What have I done?” He groaned and rolled away.
“With any luck and if my timing is accurate, you’ve just sired the next ruler of our colony if the child is a girl.”
He looked up in shock. “And if it’s a boy?”
“I’m sure that Flame told you the male children are placed in homes until they are raised. Let’s just hope this one is a girl. If not, I will be back.” She pulled herself together and straightened her clothes. “Either way, this is good. A male sired by you will be an excellent breeding prospect and that is the purpose of all women in the village, to produce more of our kind.” She flashed him a haughty grin. “Flame is a warrior. She cannot comprehend my desires.”
As the alcohol wore off and reality settled in, Raef realized he’d made a disastrous mistake. This woman had an agenda. He sprung to his feet and zipped his jeans, then braced one arm over the door before she slipped away.
“This isn’t about you wanting a child. You cunningly orchestrated this entire night to strike back at her. You’re jealous.”
“Doesn’t really matter now, does it?” She laughed softly. “You had your guard down and I took what I wanted.”
“Why would you do this to her? I thought the women in your sect were pure and kind-hearted?”
“We do what it takes to survive and ensure the future of our elite nation. When it comes to men, there are no rules unless that man is bound, which you are not. We are free to use men as we see fit so get over yourself.”
He shook his head in dismay. “That’s the second time tonight I’ve heard something along those lines. I refuse to believe that Flame is anything like you. She is loyal and everything I want in a woman. Now I’ve gone and ruined any chance of a future with her.”
“Don’t be such a fool. You’ve done nothing more than give me your seed. The child will never know you. We do not release paternal information to offspring unless absolutely necessary. You can still play house with your precious warrior woman.”
“I can’t live behind a lie.”
Naami quickly plaited her hair then tossed the long braid behind her back. “Why not?” She stared up at him with those captivating eyes. “Flame does.”
“What?”
“Oops.” She sounded anything but sincere. “I guess you’ll have to ask her.”
He pushed on the door when she tried to squeeze past. “Ask her what?”
Chapter Three
Flame woke to voices coming from downstairs. She glanced at the clock and groaned. Who would be here at this hour? It’s almost dawn. She rolled over and tried falling back asleep but curiosity denied her slumber so she sighed and slid out of bed. After pulling on a t-shirt and comfort shorts, she tiptoed to the top of the staircase. Her eyes flew open upon seeing Naami leaning against the front door and Raef boxing her in with both hands braced on the doorjambs.
“What the hell is going on?” She trotted down the steps.
Raef spun around, bare to the waist with guilt painted all over his
face. “Naami was just leaving.”
“Naami…what are you doing here?” Flame made a quick visual assessment of the situation. “You just couldn’t let it go, could you?”
“Let what go?” Raef asked.
Flame let out a frustrated sigh. “She has a shadow complex. She wants everything I have. I was offered the title of queen before her but I turned it down. Naami, here, wants it all. She wants to be queen and warrior, wield the Sai, birth a prodigy…everything. Isn’t that right?” Flame shot her a hot look.
“It’s not fair that you have it all. Everyone wants you. You are the prodigy, the infamous warrior, and the only one who can fight with Sai daggers. Even the title of queen was offered to you by the Supreme Lioness. You get everything you want. I’m sick of it. Therefore, I took what I wanted and the only thing you cannot have—Raef’s offspring. You aren’t the only lioness who can seduce a man!”
She glanced at Raef again, taking a closer look at his disheveled appearance. “I see.”
“Flame, I—”
“I don’t need to hear it.” She faced her palm toward him and looked away. “Get out, Naami. You got what you came for.”
Raef stepped away from the door. “I’m so sorry, angel. I drank too much. She knocked on the door. I thought it was Hatch. She came on hot and heavy. I…I…oh hell, there’s no excuse for what I’ve done. I was weak and foolish.”
Flame slanted him a curious look. Rarely did she see a man admit his shortcomings.
“You’re not going to accept that lame excuse, are you?” Naami’s voice rang with jealousy.
“Why? Would it bother you if I forgave my boyfriend after you took advantage of him? Do you think I’ve forgotten our lessons in seduction? Did you think I missed the scent of Marabella?”
Naami’s confident expression diminished instantly. She lowered her eyes. “He does not need to know.”
“Which of the chemists indulged you?” Flame demanded to know.