by Mia McKimmy
The front door slammed and Riana went into the kitchen. Elle was bent over the sink guzzling water from the faucet, her face pink from exertion. She’d just returned from her fighting session with Kyra. “How did it go?”
Elle wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Well, I didn’t take her down. But, she didn’t take me down either. I definitely gave her a run for her money. She’s tough. She’s been doing this all afternoon and no one has put her on the mat. If you or the girl who’s with her now doesn’t, she’s going to be hard to live with. I can hear her running her mouth now.”
Dread curled in Riana’s gut. If Elle couldn’t beat Kyra, there wasn’t any hope for her. In the past, when she and Elle sparred, Elle could beat the crap out of her without breaking a sweat.
Riana put on her tennis shoes and left for the gym. When she entered, Kyra sat in the middle of the mats with her legs crossed, drinking a bottle of Voss water.
“Come on, Martin, let’s get this over with,” Kyra said.
Riana’s stomach somersaulted. What Kyra probably meant was, “Come on in. Let me beat you down so I can go home.”
“Are you still undefeated?”
Kyra’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah, why? You plan to change that?”
Riana squared her shoulders. If she let Kyra know how nervous she was, or how much she despised fighting, it’d only make her draw this out longer. Fear seemed to boost her ego. When it came to fighting ability, Kyra’s tenacious ego needed no extra fuel. Riana pinned her with a determined stare. “I guess we’re about to find out.”
Riana crouched, flexed her fingers, and they began circling each other.
As Kyra lunged, Riana sprang to the side, barely escaping a blow to her stomach. The padded mats squeaked in protest under their weight. “Do you really think this training will be enough for us to defeat a feeder?”
Kyra continued circling her. “No, it won’t. We don’t expect you to defeat someone with a life-time of fighting experience after only four weeks training. Our goal is to teach you enough skills to avoid capture. Your best hope is to always stay conscious of your surroundings, and not put yourself in the position to be attacked in the first place.”
Kyra kicked out, and her foot made contact with Riana’s thigh. A jolt of pain shot through her hip. She resisted the urge to shake away the pain and shifted her stance, readying for the next attack.
“What have I been telling you girls all morning? Focus! Focus! Focus! If you’re engaged in a fight, it requires all of your attention. Not chatting-up your attacker about…what if’s. Now come on, Riana, get in this fight and let me see what you’ve got.”
Before the last word came out of Kyra’s mouth, she jumped up with both feet and nailed Riana in the stomach. She grunted as the breath left her body and staggered back several feet before regaining her footing.
A devilish glint settled in Kyra’s eyes. “Come on, little girl. You can lie down now, and we can go home. Or, I can continue this dance until the sun comes up. Your choice.”
God, she wanted to knock that smirk off Kyra’s face. The last thing she’d do was lie down and make it easy. No wonder she doesn’t allow the other girls to watch these sessions. With her attitude, Elle would have already jumped in and attempted to beat the crap out of her.
As Kyra circled her, Riana stood still, tensed and ready to strike. When Kyra got behind her, the sudden squeak of the mat alerted Riana that she’d sprung forward. Riana dove out of the way, twisted around and lashed out with her foot. The blow connected hard against the back of Kyra’s leg. It buckled. She staggered and almost hit the mat.
A wicked smile crossed Kyra’s face. “Not bad, now you’re taking this seriously.”
Riana blew out a tired breath, lifting strands of loose hair from her face. Kyra’s back was to the door when the airlock broke and the door slammed shut. Riana glanced over Kyra’s shoulder, but kept her in her peripheral vision, and waved.
Kyra twisted, looking toward the door to see who had the balls to enter her forbidden session.
As hard as she could, Riana side-kicked the back of Kyra’s knees, they buckled and her body hit the mat with a loud thud. Riana burst into laughter. “Gotcha!” With her hands high above her head, she did a victory dance around the mat. If she’d had a camera to capture the shock on Kyra’s face, the moment would’ve been perfect.
Kyra got to her feet and shook her head. “I guess you did. But you will not be able to trick a feeder during a fight.”
“I didn’t trick you. It’s not like I persuaded the janitor to walk through the door. You, my dear, are the one who lost focus.” Throwing those words back at Kyra was almost as satisfying as winning.
Kyra glared at her with one arched brow. “You may have taken me down this time, but just remember, we still have two more sessions before you graduate.”
Oooh, she is so going to make me hurt after this.
On the bright side, no one else in the class defeated her on the first try. At least she had bragging rights, for now.
Riana went home to get ready for her date with Cy. She showered and noticed a few light bruises across her hip and ribs.
I bet there are no lingering marks on Kyra’s body.
She dried her hair, and applied some blush and mascara. She hardly wore make-up. But Cy was so dang handsome, she needed the help.
Riana entered her bedroom, pulled open her closet and starred at the compound uniforms and two outfits she’d brought from home. She glanced at Elle lying on her bed. “How can someone dress for a date with only two choices…and he’s already seen one?”
“That should make your choice easy,” Elle mumbled, not looking up from the romantic suspense novel she was reading.
“What would make it easy is if I’d brought something decent to wear.” It would do no good to borrow something from Elle. Her two outfits consisted of a pair of jeans and workout clothes.
“Riana, just calm down. The guy’s so taken with you he wouldn’t notice if you were wearing a potato sack.”
“Yeah, right.” She pulled her only option from the closet, a pair of black casual pants and cream sweater. As she zipped the pants, the doorbell rang. Riana’s heart jumped and accelerated at the same time, going from sixty to one-twenty in under a second.
“He’s here,” Elle sang out as she slid off the bed and went to answer the door.
Riana took a calming breath.
He’s just a man, like any other man. She rolled that phrase over and over in her mind. But deep inside, she knew it was far from the truth. Cy affected her on a level she’d never experienced…from anyone.
She slipped on a pair of flats and headed down the hall. As she caught sight of Cy, she drew a breath. He wore a pair of black dress slacks and a light gray, V-neck, cashmere sweater that emphasized his glacial-blue eyes. The sleeves pushed quarter-length on his muscular arms revealed a light dusting of dark hair. She wondered where else on his body it might be?
I thought he was sexy last night, but tonight he is absolutely, lascivious. Good Lord, how will I ever make it through this night with my clothes on?
Cy held a single white orchid. “You are beautiful.”
As he handed her the flower, their hands brushed, and her body came to life.
Really? Again with the womb seizures?
Riana cleared her throat to regain composure. “Thank you. I hope we’re not going somewhere fancy. My wardrobe choice was severely limited.”
He flashed a sensuous smile. “You look perfect.”
“So do you,” she replied, feeling like nine kinds of stupid. What was it about him that made her sound as if her I.Q dropped ten points every time she opened her mouth? If she didn’t get a grip, by the end of dinner she’d be spouting incoherent babble.
They left her building and walked to the underground parking area where the Protectors kept their vehicles.
A beep sounded as Cy hit the remote on his keys, followed by the purr of an engine. She turned to see which car
had started. Her mouth gaped as she focused on one of the sweetest rides she’d ever seen—a shiny, black, Audi R8 Spyder.
“Nice,” Riana said.
Cy stepped closer and opened the passenger door. A devilish grin crossed his sensuous lips. “And, fast too,” he whispered, as if it was for her ears only. Goose-bumps crept up her neck, and warmth pooled low in her stomach.
As he walked around to the driver’s side, Riana ran her hand across the soft, camel leather seats. She knew for a fact the car cost a small fortune. Being a Protector must pay really well. Her intern’s salary barely kept her above poverty level.
They left the compound and headed down the mountain. “So, where are we going?”
“I made reservations at a small Greek restaurant in Asheville. They serve authentic Mediterranean food, inspired by Greece and Italy. The food’s delicious, and it’s off the beaten path of the tourist section. With everything that’s going on, I wanted to stay close.”
“I wondered where we’d end up, since you restricted everyone to the compound.”
“We can’t take the chance of something happening to any of you. However, I do have a little pull.”
She noted a hint of humor in his voice, and gave him a questioning glance.
“Miles and Kam owed me a favor,” he explained. “They’ll be guarding the restaurant while we’re inside. I’d never risk your safety.”
Before long they pulled into the restaurant parking. She scanned the area, but didn’t see either of his friends. Cy came around and opened her door, and then offered his hand to help her out of the low sports car.
The moment their skin touched, the shocking tingle returned, by-passing the rest of her body and making a beeline straight between her legs. They both flinched. A brief look of surprise crossed Cy’s face and his eyes softened to a sensual, darker shade of blue. The sweet scent of lust surrounded them both. Their scents mingled and it was the most intoxicating aroma she’d ever smelled. Riana shook her head, and decided to keep quiet in case he was only reacting to her reaction.
The atmosphere inside the restaurant was relaxed and romantic. Her mouth watered as the aroma of fresh herbs and warm bread filled the air. The hostess led them to an intimate table in the back. Cy pulled her chair out, and then took the seat with his back to the wall. His position gave him a clear shot of the door and everyone inside. He appeared relaxed, but she could tell he was aware of everything around them.
Riana opened her menu. “Have you eaten here before?”
“Yes, many times.”
“What’s good?”
“Everything here is good. But, my favorite is the Filet Gorgonzola. Or if you want seafood, the Pasta Athena would be my second choice.”
The waitress who took their orders wouldn’t make eye contact with Riana. The blonde bimbo couldn’t take her eyes off Cy long enough. Riana glared at her as she turned to leave. The girl’s actions irritated her more than she wanted to admit. Even though it was rude, she couldn’t much blame the waitress. A female would have to be blind not to stare at someone like him.
***
As the waitress left their table, Cy noticed Riana’s scowl. From her evident irritation, she didn’t like the girl staring at him. Unless it was excessive, he didn’t pay much attention. But if her actions caused Riana one second of displeasure, her mind would become as blank as a fried computer screen.
Moments later, the waitress reappeared with their bottle of Pinot Grigio. As she poured the wine, Cy entered her mind. He planted the idea that she would become repulsed each time she looked his way. The girl sat his wine in front of him and stiffened. Ice hit the floor as she plopped the bottle into the wine chiller, and fled toward the back of the restaurant.
Riana’s gaze followed her. She looked at him and grinned. “What did you just do?”
He tried for an innocent tone. “I gave her a little nudge in the opposite direction, that’s all.”
Riana’s eyes narrowed, but a smile flirted at the corners of her mouth.
She took a bite of cheese, and made a delightful moan of pleasure. The sound vibrated deep within Cy’s core. As she savored the cheese, he got lost in how soft and inviting her full lips appeared. He wanted to reach across the table, pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. He’d never wanted to touch, and taste anyone the way he did her. The constant throb inside his pants when she was near wasn’t helping. Nor him imagining the look of pleasure on her face as her body writhed beneath him.
Riana took another wedge of cheese. “You should try this. It has the most amazing flavor.”
“I’d rather watch you enjoy it.” Cy took a slow drink of wine as her long, slender fingers brought the cheese to her mouth. Could he possibly be lucky enough to share his life with someone like her? The more time he spent with her, the more every fiber screamed she was his.
He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, but he wanted to touch her again. Mostly to see if that lustful look returned, a look he wanted to keep there the entire night.
Riana’s hand lay on the table. He reached over and covered it with his. She froze; her expression a mix of lust and confusion.
She leaned forward and whispered. “Did you feel that?”
“Yes. It happens every time we touch.” His voice came out low and needy as his thumb slowly stroked along the back of her hand.
“What’s causing it? And why is it becoming more…intense?”
Cy wasn’t sure about her definition of intense. If it was anything like what he felt, intense was an accurate description. “I believe I know what it is. But, I don’t want to frighten you… scare you off.”
“I’m not frightened. Nothing like this has ever happened to me. If you have a theory, I’d like to hear it.”
Cy had no idea how she would react to what he was about to say. He took a deep breath and released it. “I talked to my mother about it after we met at the pub.” He hesitated, and took another sip of wine.
“Well?” Riana prompted.
“Mother said it’s because we are true Sivadian life-mates.”
The color drained from Riana’s face. She lifted her wine glass and downed its contents, not taking her eyes off his.
Oh God. That was the last thing she expected to hear. I better start talking, fast, before she bolts.
“Mother described everything I’ve felt since we met. She said it would continue to get stronger each time we’re together, because this is more than just attraction. It’s due to the cells in our bodies recognizing each other. Our cells connect, and crave each other long before our minds accept it. How much do you know about true life-mates?”
“I’ve been told it exists. That’s about it though. My mother never spoke about it much. She said my father was her life-mate.” Riana hesitated, and shook her head. “I’m not so sure that’s true anymore?”
“Why’s that?”
Riana chuckled. “Let’s just say I’m having ‘mommy issues’ right now.”
Cy’s body reacted to her laughter, again. The sound warmed him somewhere deep inside he’d never known existed until he met Riana. He had a hunch she would awaken a lot of feelings he’d never known before.
Cy’s muscles tightened as his eyes scanned the room. Something menacing was suddenly near. Nothing looked different than before. Taking Riana away from the safety of the compound might not have been the best idea.
***
Their food arrived and Riana pulled her hand from beneath Cy’s so the waitress could sit the plates on the table. She immediately missed their connection. Since the moment he dropped the ‘life-mate’ bomb, her stomach had tied into knots.
Get a grip. You’re acting like a love-sick teenager. Maybe it’s because I’m nearing my time of fertility. Nothing about the strange chemistry between them made sense. But, life-mates?
As soon as the waitress left, she looked into the intensity of his incredible eyes. “Is there some way to be sure this is not…just attraction?”
Cy�
�s eyes softened to that sensual, darker shade of blue. A devilish, but sexy smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “Yes, there is. However, if we try to find out here, we may end up embarrassing ourselves, and I’m sure we’d be asked to leave.”
His answer caused a tingle to sweep up the back of her neck and across her face. “Maybe, we should wait then.”
Riana tried changing the subject. But, no matter what they talked about during their meal, the sexual tension between them continued to rise.
Before they left the restaurant Riana noticed Cy’s aura had turned darker. Outside, his eyes scanned the area as if he were expecting an attack. She looked around the parking area for Miles and Kam. “Are your friends here?”
“Yes, that’s their Harleys parked at the end of the building.”
He didn’t appear to relax until they were back in his car and headed toward the compound.
As they drove through town, Riana watched the lights shimmer off his dark hair. He glanced over at her and flashed a heart-stopping smile. Then he reached and took her hand, brought it to his lips and lightly kissed her knuckles. Riana tried not to squirm in her seat as moisture pooled between legs.
Good, Lord! What this man does to me should be bottled. Women would break their necks to get to a store and buy it.
Riana wanted to get back and resume their conversation from earlier. Things were moving at warp speed, but for some reason she didn’t care. The sexual tension between them almost took on a life of its own.
Right now, given the choice of dying or staying away from Cy, I’d have to give death some serious thought.
Chapter 13
After dark, Vind arrived outside the compound. He paused at the gates as Cy and the redhead from last night left in a black Audi. He had planned to finish searching the offices. However, this particular turn of events was too tempting. There would be less activity around the offices later, and it would raise less suspicion if he entered the gates when they returned.