Wicked Waves: Solsti Prophecy #2

by Kay, Sharon

  Tension ricocheted through her body at Kai’s cocky attitude and she gritted her teeth. No one annoyed her like he did. The nerve of him, waltzing in and starting a fight with Brenin—

  Her muscles clenched again, this time with breath-stealing heat, as her mind flooded with images of him wielding that heavy sword. His bare chest and arms rippled with every movement, each sculpted ridge and plane honed and battle-ready. And so damn hot. Her fingertips had tingled with the urge to touch him.

  She shook her head, shoving away the memories of his chiseled torso. He’s an ass. Not letting him rent space in my head. Brooke shut off the water and toweled herself dry. Her stomach let out a growl. The banana she had eaten before her session with Brenin hadn’t been enough. She didn’t plan to make another fancy breakfast, but Nicole made sure Demon Central was stocked with fresh food.

  She pulled on jeans and a light blue T-shirt, and walked downstairs to find the kitchen empty. Grabbing a red apple from a fruit bowl on the island, she took a bite, pausing to savor the sweet taste. She walked over to the window above the sink and leaned a hip on the counter, crunching contentedly as she gazed into the back yard. Where should the koi pond go?

  The basement door opened, pulling her from her thoughts, and Kai strode into the room.

  “Hey,” he said casually, as if he hadn’t insulted her just thirty minutes ago.

  Thank God he’d put his shirt back on so she’d have an easier time ignoring him. She turned her back, staring out the window.

  “I think I’ll join you,” he said, and she heard a loud crunch as he bit into his own apple.

  “Go away, Kai.”

  “Is that what you really want?”

  She froze, mid-crunch, aware that his voice came from right behind her, not over by the fruit bowl where he had been two seconds ago.

  Clutching her apple to her chest, she peeked down in time to see his powerful hands settle on the counter on either side of her hips. Caging her in. She gulped and took a shallow breath. Right behind me.

  But she didn’t feel any fear. Despite his grumpy demeanor, she had never once thought he would physically harm her. And right now, he wasn’t even touching her. At five foot eight, she wasn’t tiny, but Kai was well over six feet tall. Big enough to stand over her like this. She couldn’t feel his touch, but the heat rolling off his body made her skin feel too tight.

  The air in the room crackled, charged with tiny sparks. They danced across her bare arms, reminding her of the zing she felt when she’d brushed against him yesterday. His scent swirled around her, enticing her nose with leather and soap.

  “You know what I think, Sprite?” The deep timbre of his voice made her stomach flip. He leaned in so close that his breath tickled her ear. She glanced down again at his hands, her senses on overload. She couldn’t speak. So close.

  “I think you don’t want me to go away.”

  Yes. No. Don’t stop talking! His voice lulled her. Heat flooded her veins, and she felt her eyelids dropping. Everything in the room distilled down to the two of them, her senses incapable of registering anything else. She swallowed her last tiny mouthful of apple, wondering how he would taste. He had bitten into an apple, too. She would be able to taste the sweetness on his tongue…

  “Is that it?” A flicker of movement was the only warning she had before he lifted a lock of hair near her ear. He drew it gently between his fingers, letting the strands fall back down. She wanted to lean into him, wanted him to do it again. She tilted her head toward him, her muscles acting on their own accord.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  She felt movement in the air behind her as he switched sides to murmur into her other ear.

  “Yes, you want me to stay?” His voice melted away the last of her tension. “Or yes, you want me to go?” Her neck tingled where her hair had fallen back. His mouth was inches away. Her body felt heavy, like she couldn’t stand up anymore. Her back burned with heat, and she ached to push up against him, to feel his hardness against her softness.

  “That’s okay, you don’t have to answer.” She thought she felt him shift behind her. Would he touch her? God help her, but she would let him. She took another shallow breath, feeling his warm breath on her neck.

  He spoke again, his voice rough. “I’m sorry for what I said downstairs. You win, Sprite. I’ll leave you alone.” Before she understood what was happening, the air at her back turned cold, and his footsteps left a hollow echo on the stairs.

  She exhaled sharply, her shoulders sagging. She dropped the apple into the sink and clutched the counter for dear life. What the hell? Her pulse raced, her heart thundered in her chest, and her breath came ragged and choppy. She blinked at the loss of his presence.

  She rubbed her temples. What is wrong with me? The rudest man she had ever met whispered in her ear, and she turned to mush? She’d been three seconds away from whirling to face him and hauling his mouth down to hers. His scent lingered in the air and her skin still tingled, craving the touch he didn’t give her. She shook her head to clear it, but her body wouldn’t let go of the sensations. Of Kai.

  CHAPTER 4

  BROOKE WAS SWAMPED WITH PROJECTS for her clients. Located in the trendy River North neighborhood, the graphic design firm where she worked had grown exponentially in the last five years. When she started there, she’d been one of two designers. Now, the company employed six designers and desperately needed a seventh. Until one got hired, Brooke and her colleagues had to work overtime.

  Rhys, ever-talented with technical stuff, had offered to install a computer-aided design program and a large-screen monitor so she could work from Demon Central. Brooke declined his offer as sweetly as she could, knowing she needed some boundaries.

  The clock on her computer read eight pm. Her third twelve-hour day in a row was drawing to an end, thank God, because the exposed bricks and duct work of the office were starting to blur together. She yawned and stretched her arms above her head, then swiveled her chair around. Her co-workers were still there, turning off their computers and packing up.

  “C’mon, Brooke, time to go,” said Charles. “Boss left half an hour ago.”

  Brooke rubbed her tired eyes and smiled at her friend. “Do you and Jay have plans for tonight?”

  “We’re gonna check out the new steakhouse on Wells. Then it’ll be time for a long soak in the tub.” Brown eyes twinkled mischievously from his handsome face, and his white teeth gleamed against smooth dark skin. Thick biceps reflected the hours he and his man spent in the gym. If he’d had any interest in women, she definitely would have dated him.

  “I want to hear all about it tomorrow. The restaurant, I mean.” She powered down her computer.

  “Girl, you planning on a hot date?” he asked.

  Brooke slung her bag across her shoulder and sighed. “No. Maybe Nicole and I will go there for drinks.”

  Charles linked her arm with his as they walked to the elevator that opened directly into their third floor office. “You’re gonna meet a hottie real soon, sugar. Some tall guy with a big personality. Someone who can keep up with Miss Brooke Bonham!”

  “Did your crystal ball tell you that?” she asked as the elevator dinged and they stepped inside.

  “Baby girl, my balls ain’t crystal, but they are F-I-N-E.”

  Brooke snickered and elbowed him in the ribs.

  Charles looked at her seriously. “You are overdue for someone to treat you like a queen.”

  “You’re sweet. Can you be my queen?” She sighed and batted her eyes at him, then dissolved in a fit of giggles. “I’m so tired I’m getting slap-happy.”

  Charles burst out laughing as they walked through their lobby and into the autumn night. “Honey, you’re too much.” He walked her to the Brown Line and waved as he caught his bus to the Gold Coast. “See you tomorrow.”

  Brooke watched his bus merge into the light Wednesday evening traffic. She loved her work, but good co-workers made all the difference.

  The
last two nights, she had collapsed exhausted into bed when she got home. Tonight, she needed to let off some steam. Instead of going home when her train reached the busy Fullerton Avenue station, she changed to a Purple Line train and texted Nicole. On my way. Need a workout.

  Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the Central stop, surprised to see Nicole waiting for her. Pulling her into a hug, she said, “You didn’t have to come down here to meet me.”

  Nicole shrugged. “I wanted to. More sister time. Besides, Rilan has all the guys learning some old demonish stuff.”

  “Did they all sit willingly, like good little demons?”

  A smirk lit Nicole’s face. “They pretended to grumble about it, but I think their inner geeks were thrilled.”

  They made their way to the house, the air crisp with fall’s chill. The scent of burning leaves drifted through the night air, and Brooke inhaled deeply. She loved that smell.

  “Look, the harvest moon!” Nicole pointed to the huge, orange sphere hanging between the trees. “It’s so beautiful, but as soon as wispy clouds blow in front of it, it turns eerie.”

  “All it needs is a witch on a broom,” Brooke added.

  “That is a distinctly possible situation.”

  Brooke grinned. “Witches and demons and nymphs, oh my!”

  Nicole let out a loud guffaw and raised her hand for a high five. “Hell yes!”

  Brooke smacked her sister’s palm. One year older than her own age of twenty-seven, the two of them had been inseparable for as long as long as she could remember. Their giggles settled down to a comfortable silence as they walked another block. “Work has been so crazy, I haven’t even talked to Gin since…” she counted mentally. “Last Friday’s video chat.”

  As they turned into the driveway, Nicole gazed up at the stately brick mansion. “What do you think it will take for her to walk through those doors?”

  “I still haven’t figured that out,” Brooke said as they walked up the driveway. Two years younger than Brooke, Gin was the most stubborn person she knew. She thought Brooke and Nicole were reckless to use their abilities, and she had no interest in honing her own affinity with fire.

  Opening the front door, the sisters were greeted with shouts and computer-generated gunfire coming from the great room.

  “Boo-yah!” Rhys yelled, jumping off the couch, Xbox controller in hand.

  “Pussy,” Brenin muttered.

  “I guess the lesson is over,” Nicole said.

  “Not for Gunnar. He’s still up in Rilan’s study,” Rhys said over his shoulder.

  “Maybe I should check on him,” Nicole said, smiling.

  A frisson of anticipation shot through Brooke’s body as she wondered where Kai was. With Rilan and Gunnar? Out patrolling the city? And why do I care? Like a rubber band, her mind snapped back to the last time she’d seen him. In the kitchen, standing so close, tantalizing her senses…

  No. His insults lingered in her thoughts, too. He’s an ass, remember?

  The sisters climbed the stairs to the second floor, where Nicole ducked into Rilan’s suite and Brooke went to her room. My room. She shook her head. Demon Central felt more like home with every day that passed. When did that happen?

  She stored several changes of clothing here, as well as travel sizes of all her toiletries. Changing out of her work clothes, she pulled on a black sports bra, loose-fitting red tank top, and yoga pants. She tugged her long brown hair into a messy bun atop her head and slipped back downstairs.

  Rhys and Brenin were so absorbed in their video game that they didn’t notice as she made her way through the house and down the basement steps. Well, she amended, they were probably aware of her on some level. Their heightened demon senses would register every scent, sight, and smell around them.

  The pounding drums and screeching guitars of Iron Maiden echoed in the lower level, vibrating the door of the training room. She pulled it open and stepped inside. Mercy.

  Kai was engaged in an impressive display of swordsmanship. Alone. She stood by the door, partly because she was unsure of what to say. She hadn’t seen him since their little incident in the kitchen on Sunday. When he not only apologized for insulting her, but made her insides turn to jelly with barely a touch. She pushed the heated memories from her mind, needing to focus on her workout.

  However, another part of her was transfixed. Wearing only sweatpants, Kai moved with a swift grace she would never have imagined. Flashes of silver met her eyes as he swung the huge sword with ease. His bare feet skimmed across the blue mats, the muscles in his arms and back rippling with every twist and thrust. She had never seen him in action, except for his skirmish with Brenin. He looked magnificent and lethal, and she couldn’t tear her gaze away.

  He stopped and faced her, his handsome face showing no surprise. Of course, he would have scented her the minute she opened the door. He strode to the sound system against the wall and lowered the volume. “I didn’t know you were coming over, Sprite.” His tone was pleasant. Not laced with his usual sarcasm.

  She swallowed. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I…I had a rough day at work, and I wanted to take it out on the bags.”

  “Then the place is yours.” He spread his arms and turned toward the weapons area, picking up his T-shirt from the floor.

  “You don’t have to go.” The words tumbled from her mouth before she could stop them. “This room’s big enough for both of us.”

  He pivoted to look at her, sword in one hand and T-shirt in the other, and a smile twitched across his sensual mouth.

  Her water bottle fell to the floor with a thud. He had never smiled at her before. He’d smirked when he insulted her, sure. But this was genuine, reaching all the way to his twinkling brown eyes, and devastatingly handsome.

  Get a grip, she berated herself as she bent to retrieve her water. She crossed the room, daring to glance at him, and found him still grinning at her. Her stomach flipped.

  “As you wish.” He tossed the T-shirt back into a corner and resumed his practice.

  She set her water down and pulled a pair of boxing gloves off a shelf full of equipment. The guys didn’t need them, but she and Nicole didn’t relish bloody knuckles. After a few minutes of warming up with soft jabs, she let loose with a series of right and left hooks. She moved through all the punches she knew, then kicked the crap out of the bag with her roundhouse. She was in the zone, utterly focused, picturing not a punching bag before her, but random bad guys.

  When she stopped for a drink, Kai’s voice jerked her out of her little world. “Remind me not to be on the business end of your kicks,” he drawled.

  “Good idea. Those guys usually don’t get back up for a while.”

  “You done beating up that bag?”

  “I’m done with the bag, but I’m not done for the night.”

  “Good, because I want to show you something,” he said. “I mean, if you want.”

  Who are you and what have you done with Kai? No insults, no orders, and even a smile. This was so different from the way he usually acted. Maybe it was that big harvest moon. She suppressed a smile and stretched the muscles she’d abused. Whatever the reason, this wasn’t just a civil conversation, but an enjoyable one. First time ever.

  Turning to him, she asked, “What is it?”

  “I know the broadswords can get heavy—”

  She snorted. “Oh, just a little.”

  “We have some small thin blades. I think you’d like those better.”

  She raised her eyebrows. Curiosity piqued, she followed him to the weapons table.

  “This is patterned after an Italian long sword.” He picked up a shiny blade that was surprisingly thin. He offered the hilt to her and she grasped it, amazed by its light weight. It looked delicate, the hilt being small enough for her hand but big enough to cause damage if she needed to hit someone on the head.

  “Wow.” She noted the double-edged blade. “Why couldn’t I start with this one?”

  “Brenin ha
d the right call. You need to know how to handle the heavier swords in case that’s the only thing available. At least know how to block strikes until you can get to a weapon that’s more your size.”

  She lifted the sword, entranced by it, yet unsure of how to handle it. “Show me what to do.”

  Grinning, he walked her through the basics of stabbing and thrusting with the slender blade. She did okay for her first time, using him as a target. He dodged out of the way every time. But when they moved on to swinging and chopping, she had more trouble executing the proper motions.

  “Your problem is with the follow-through.” He frowned. “I think that will just take time and practice. Here, try to start with your arm like this…” He moved behind her, gently guiding her wrist and elbow.

  She sucked in a breath at the contact. His hands were warm, and those zings of electricity returned, swirling around her arm. Her world slowed down to the laziest fast-forward setting on her DVD player, and she watched his hands touch her skin, heard his voice at her ear. Her mind didn’t register his words, but her body greedily drank in every detail of the demon beside her.

  His hands tightened a fraction and his body stilled. She turned her head to peek at him, wondering if he felt the same way she did.

  “Did you have a date today, Brooke?” he asked, his tone cold, his jaw set. His words pulled her from her trance.

  “What?”

  He repeated his question.

  She stared at his hand, still encircling her wrist. Her body drowning in the warm, pleasurable sensation of simply being next to him, her mind was nowhere close to being able to process his unexpected words. “What are you talking about?”

  He dipped his head slightly toward her arm. “I smell a human male.”

  “Are you saying I smell like a man?” She gaped at him and tried unsuccessfully to jerk her arm away. Even for Kai, this was a new level of rudeness.

  “You’ve been in close contact with one. His scent lingers on your skin.” Kai’s voice was low and rough.

  “I haven—” Brooke stopped mid-sentence, her eyes slowly lowering to the floor. Charles. They had walked arm-in-arm out of the office tonight. Kai took issue with Charles? The idea would be funny if it wasn’t so preposterous.