Storm Mistress

by Rivers, Brandy L

  “Toryn being the exception, and I think it’s because you’re afraid you really are in love for once.” Lana nailed that on the head. Except she was terrified because she was head over heels in love with him.

  Isa clenched her teeth. “Today is not the day for this. I’m still on edge from being attacked in my own home. Please, if you really are my friend, drop the shit.”

  “All right, you win.” She threw her hands up. “Get to work.”

  Chapter 9

  A week went by, and things settled back down. Isadora spent most of it with Toryn, either at his place or hers. At least until Friday night when Leon showed up at Shenanigans.

  She slipped out of Toryn’s arms as Leon made his way to them. The sadness in her eyes froze him in place.

  Leon sidled up next to Toryn and asked, “Why don’t you tell her what’s going on with you?”

  “I don’t want to hurt her,” he answered lamely. Isa slid into a seat at the bar next to some guy she would normally have at least flirted with. Instead she shook her head and turned straight toward Lana, ignoring his overtures.

  “You won’t, dumbass. She’s as lost as you are. Look, she’s not even responding to the meatstick clearly coming onto her.” Leon snorted a laugh. “She’s worried she’ll mess us up. And we’re simply a front. One I can’t believe she hasn’t figured out yet.”

  “Isadora doesn’t want me. She goes for what she wants.”

  “No. She keeps looking over here, at you, like she wants to do something, say something, but she doesn’t have the nerve, because she thinks you’re with me.”

  “That woman has more balls than anyone I know,” Toryn squeezed his eyes shut and started for the hallway, out of sight. “If I was what she wanted, she would have me.”

  “She doesn’t think you want her. Why should she? You play aloof, and pretend to be into all these other people so she doesn’t figure it out.”

  “Damn it, Leon, I’m not good enough for her. I’m never going to be. If she knew everything—when she does learn everything—she’s going to walk away and never look back.”

  “Then explain your dream? Explain how that happens? Your child, Toryn, and hers. How the fuck does that happen if she doesn’t want it too, because she obviously has the capability to stop someone she isn’t interested in.”

  “Wishful thinking?” Toryn answered bitterly. “It’s not a vision. Only a dream, not the future.”

  “Bullshit. It’s the future. You’re afraid. You know that once she learns the truth, she’s not going to want what they expect her to. She’s not like Henroyld, she’ll never be like that piece of shit.”

  “I know she’s not, but she won’t want my friendship once she learns the truth. How could she? I was a different person before she stole my damned heart.”

  * * * *

  When Leon walked into Shenanigans, Isa remembered the one reason she hadn’t broken down and confessed her feelings to Toryn. Their relationship was shifting, she felt it, but he was still with Leon.

  Isa watched from the bar, waiting for Toryn to leave with his man. She didn’t have to wait long.

  Once he was out of sight, she paid her tab and started for the door. She ran into Mike on the street.

  “Leaving already?” he asked, defeat in his tone.

  Isa nodded. “I’m tired. I think I need to sleep.”

  “Look, even if we don’t have our old arrangement, I’m still your friend. I care about you too much to let you shut me out. Let me walk you home at least.”

  She looked down the road, ready to say no, but she felt someone’s eyes on her. Swallowing back the thread of fear, Isa nodded. “I’d like that. One of these days, you’re going to make a lucky woman very happy.”

  He sighed, but held his tongue. She knew what he wanted to say, and she had no good answer. He took her arm and started walking.

  Isa laid her head on his shoulder. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry. I didn’t realize what you were feeling until it was too late. I never meant to lead you on.”

  “I know, Isa. Besides, you’re right. We’d kill each other in less than a week. Doesn’t mean we can’t still dance from time to time. Without the kissing and everything.”

  “If you had come earlier, I would have taken you up on that.” She met his gaze. “I was worried you would hate me. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.”

  “I know.” He nudged her. “Now stop. We’re good.”

  She felt a tiny bit better. At least she wasn’t losing a friend.

  Chapter 10

  Isadora gave up on sleep at dawn and dressed in workout clothes. Heading to the gym, she hoped brisk exercise would give her some clarity.

  She pushed herself too hard, ran until she could hardly breathe, and then went to do some lifting.

  That’s when Toryn walked in, and everything slid back into place. She finally allowed herself a full breath and slowed down to a normal pace. He gave her a smile that held something more than usual.

  Isa briefly hoped Leon had dumped him, but cursed herself for even entertaining that thought. Once she finished her set, she went to the locker room and hurried through a shower.

  When she was done, she found Toryn standing at the door with a grin. “Breakfast?”

  “Sounds divine.” Her stupid heart was soaring. After an entire week of their normal friend routine, now she was all giddy after six or so hours without him.

  “Didn’t expect to see you here so early,” he murmured, but didn’t appear to be disappointed.

  Isa shrugged. “Went to bed shortly after you left last night. Alone.”

  “I would have walked you home.”

  She shook her head. “You were with Leon. Besides, Mike walked me home.”

  “You didn’t…” His brow arched.

  “No. Thankfully, we’re good. I was worried the friendship would fall apart when the sex went away.” She smiled. “I’m glad I was wrong.”

  “I’m happy you two worked things out.”

  She shrugged as they stepped into the rain.

  The Monsoon was only a couple blocks away so she grabbed his hand and ran, laughing the whole way.

  The waiter, Jason, looked up as they stepped inside. He greeted them with a smile, then asked, “Same as usual?”

  Isa nodded. “Mmm, please.”

  “Same,” Toryn confirmed and Jason went to place the orders while they found a booth.

  “So what happened to Leon?” Isadora asked out of morbid curiosity. “I figured you two might be working out this morning,” she winked, “or more likely, sleeping in.”

  He didn’t bite. “We parted ways after leaving the bar.”

  “What?” Her heart stuttered, and she mentally slapped herself for getting her hopes up. “Really?”

  Nodding, he shrugged. “Wasn’t in the mood.”

  “You and Leon okay?” Isa asked with genuine concern. She didn’t want to be the reason the one good relationship he had fell apart, even if a tiny part of her hoped otherwise.

  “We’re fine. I was simply tired.”

  Feeling awkward, Isa leaned back in her seat and looked out the window.

  After a few minutes of silence, he quietly asked, “Didn’t get much sleep, did you?”

  “Nope. I wish I could curl up and go back to bed, but then I’d dream that damned nightmare again and no fucking thank you.”

  “What nightmare?” His voice had grown serious.

  She didn’t want to embarrass herself. It was really stupid anyway. A big ugly dog that her imagination made monstrous. “You’d laugh, and I don’t feel like being ridiculed.”

  He let it drop as Jason brought their breakfast and refilled their coffee.

  She sat up and ate slowly. Despite the intense workout, her appetite was missing in action. Picking at her food, she tried to sort her thoughts, but she kept going back to the nightmares.

  “You’re coming tonight, right?” He wore a wicked grin.

  Swallowing back her first thou
ght, she smirked. “When don’t I?”

  “Never know. Maybe you got tired of me, too.” That look tore her up. So sad, tinged with real worry.

  She reached over and squeezed his hand. “That’s not possible. Hell hasn’t frozen over. Besides, I don’t know what I would do if you ever got tired of me and all of my shit, but I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

  He watched her so intently that she froze with her fingertips still on his fingers. There were words on the tip of his tongue, but they never left his lips.

  He finally smiled and she reluctantly took her hand back.

  “Don’t worry, Isa. As you said, hell hasn’t frozen over.”

  “Thought you didn’t believe in hell?”

  He winked. “Then I guess it will never freeze over.”

  Jason sat down next to Isa as they finished their breakfast. “So Isa, I hear you put some asshole in jail last week.”

  That wiped the smirk clean off her face. “Who told you that?”

  He nodded toward the counter, and she saw that prick Remus. “You don’t want to know exactly what that asshole said, but I figured you should know he’s spreading shit.”

  Her stomach bottomed out and she tried to shove past Jason. He grabbed her shoulders and settled into the booth to better block her. “He’s not worth it. Don’t let him bother you.”

  “Don’t let him bother me?” She was nearly yelling. “I was attacked in my own home. Why wouldn’t I have that fucker arrested?”

  “Whoa, that explains the bruises I glimpsed last week.” Jason held his hands up in surrender, but he wasn’t moving either.

  * * * *

  He’d had enough. Toryn was out of his seat, since Jason wisely kept Isadora from approaching Remus. However, Toryn had no qualms about giving the slimy shithead a piece of his mind. He hadn’t found proof yet, but he knew Remus was somehow involved with Evan’s interest in Isa.

  He stormed right up to Remus who was gloating over at Isadora with that smarmy grin. That is, until Toryn stepped into his face and picked him up by the front of his shirt. “What the fuck is your problem? Are you pleased some asshole hurt Isadora? In her own home?”

  Remus went white as a sheet and sputtered, “She was so into him. I don’t understand why she would turn him away and then involve the police. She was all but asking for it.”

  Toryn dragged him outside, around the building, and finally into the alley where he slammed Remus against the wall.

  “Listen to me, and listen closely. Isadora did not deserve what that asshole tried to do. She wouldn’t let him take it further than a kiss that first night and then ditched him. The second night she straight up told him to leave her the fuck alone. What makes you think she asked for anything?”

  “You know how women like her are. They want the attention, but you have to show them what they really want when they don’t go along for the ride.” Remus answered honestly.

  Toryn couldn’t contain the boiling rage and punched Remus square in the face, relishing the way his nose crunched under the impact. “You touch her without permission, and I don’t care who’s backing you, I will kill you. Do you understand me? You will not harm her, and if I hear so much as a whisper about such a thing, I will end you.”

  “You have no right to touch me. Wait until your master hears of this.” The cocky prick smirked.

  “We’ll see what happens. I will protect Isadora from any threat. That is my assignment. You would be wise to remember that.” Promise made, Toryn turned and stalked back inside where he placed a few bills in Jason’s hand.

  “You okay?” he asked Isadora, who looked pale.

  “Yeah, thanks. I wanted to beat the shit out of him myself.” She nodded wryly at his bloodied hand. “I’m sure you were more effective.”

  Toryn certainly hoped Remus got the message. He wasn’t playing around where Isa was concerned. “Let me walk you home.”

  Chapter 11

  Her hair was still in rollers, and she was only half-dressed because she was having a bitch of a time trying to get the damned corset laced by herself. Her phone rang and she cursed as she picked it up.

  Toryn’s chuckle washed over her. “Well, hello to you, too.”

  “Sorry,” she muttered. “Can’t lace the damned corset,” she growled.

  “Ooh, I’ll be right over to help,” he promised.

  “Thank you.” Her agitation was replaced by relief.

  “Can I come?” Leon purred from the background.

  Okay, awkward, but she rolled with it. “Uh, sure?”

  Toryn sighed. “I have a better idea. I’ll ride with Isa and you can drive down there separately. That way I can come back with you and she can get herself home if we all part ways.”

  Damn, she would have to limit her alcohol consumption if she was driving, but if she kept busy taking pictures, that wouldn’t be hard.

  “That works.”

  “Aw, but it would be so much more fun to bring her back here tonight,” Leon pleaded and started noisily kissing on Toryn. She had to bite her lip to stop the moan from escaping because that was one hot image she shouldn’t be picturing.

  “Wouldn’t want to be in your way,” she lied, when she would so love to be right in the middle.

  “You wouldn’t, it would be perfect.” Leon had the phone now, but she heard Toryn’s sigh.

  “Tell Toryn I’ll expect him here when you two are done.” Isa hung up before she had to hear any more tantalizing sounds and left the corset on the bed. She even unlocked the door before taking her rollers out.

  * * * *

  “I wish you would stop with that,” Toryn muttered as he started for the door.

  “The awakening might not be such a big deal if there were two of us to keep her occupied. Besides, it’s not like we haven’t shared a woman, or few, in the past,” Leon added lightly. “And we really aren’t together.”

  “She thinks we are.” Toryn shook his head. They were still at Toryn’s office, not in bed, and hadn’t been doing anything freaky. Leon had brought some information about Evan, none of which turned out useful. “Something is going on with her. She’s down. I hate it.”

  “Isa had you to herself all week. Then I show back up. It was guilt on her face when I walked up to join in on the dancing. She feels the shift between you two. Neither of you are hiding it well.” Leon leaned against the desk and gripped the edge. “You need to come clean. Tell her everything.”

  Toryn pushed his fingers through his hair with a growl. “Don’t remind me. It’s getting harder to pretend she’s not everything I want.” Sighing, Toryn ushered Leon out so he could lock up.

  “Talk to her, Toryn. Do it tonight. I guarantee she’s as in love with you as you are her.” Leon followed him down to his car.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “It’s the truth. Have I ever lied to you?”

  “No. But how do I explain my orders? My past? How do I get her to forgive me for all the secrets?”

  “Don’t be so fucking stupid. Isadora is an amazing woman, and she’s going to drive Henroyld up the wall because she is completely opposite of what that bastard expects. Trust her, she honestly believes you are her best friend, and you are, in spite of the secrets. She doesn’t trust anyone else like she trusts you. Not even Lana.” Leon slapped him on the back. “Stop pussyfooting around, and tell her already.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Toryn promised and left the building, turning the opposite direction as Leon.

  He walked the three blocks to her place. In no time he was up at her door, which opened. He was going to have to talk with her about keeping that thing locked. Anyone could have walked in.

  Then he saw the rhinestone studded corset and had to grin. Okay, so maybe it was to allow him easier entry. Still, it wasn’t safe. He picked up the garment and headed for her bathroom, where he watched as she sprinkled glitter on her face and bare shoulders.

  The indent of her waist called to his hands. He wanted to finger the
edge of the soft suede hot pants hugging the delectable curve of her ass. Her raven hair was pulled over her shoulder, in a sexy fall of curls, displaying her pale shimmery skin.

  Fighting off his erection was damn near hopeless, and instead of being a perv, he cleared his throat. “Hey Isa, you know your door was unlocked?”

  Turning, she smiled, one brow arching. “That was fast.”

  “We were done.” He handed her the corset, hoping she covered herself before he gave into temptation to do more than glance at her full breasts.

  With a sigh, she took it and spun toward the mirror. She put the molded cups in place, catching her bottom lip between her teeth.

  He wanted to tear the suede from her body and take her against the counter. Burying himself so deep they became one. Swallowing back the groan that wanted to escape, he laced the corset before he lost control over his desires.

  “You look like a fantasy,” he told her.

  “Thanks, and before you scold me for leaving the door unlocked, I knew you wouldn’t be super long, and I wanted to finish before you got here.”

  “Figured that out when I found your top lying on the bed. Still, not a good idea, Princess.”

  She rolled her glittering eyes. “Yes, dad.”

  When she turned around, he finger combed her hair as she stared up at him. So damned beautiful. He couldn’t keep his emotions from shining through his expression.

  Her smile brightened, her eyes softening as her hands splayed out on his chest.

  Toryn fell still as he stared back. He wanted to kiss her, needed to taste her lips. With no way to explain that, he stood there.

  Isa’s eyes slid shut as she leaned up, pressing her lips to his, shredding his control. His fingers tangled in her hair as he pushed her back against the counter, his tongue sweeping into her mouth.