by I. T. Lucas
Pushing off the couch, Anandur got in her face. Blocking her way, he gripped her hands. "I'm sure Okidu wouldn't accept your help. A beautiful woman such as yourself should be kept pampered and spoiled, and her delicate hands kept safely away from the hazards of hot pots and sharp cooking utensils." He lifted her hands and kissed the back of each one before letting her pull them out of his grip.
"Oh, really?" Kian's icy tone took them all by surprise. "I wasn't aware that you had experience keeping beautiful women, your usual fare being more of the disposable kind."
Syssi had no idea where he had come from. They had been sitting in the living room this whole time, in full view of the front door. "Oh, hi, Kian, I didn't see you come in. I told the guys you weren't home."
"Obviously," he barked back.
What is his problem? Kian looked furious, his tone sarcastic and accusatory.
Anandur took a step back away from her. "Hi, Boss. We just got here. And we found the lovely lady waiting for you. She was really disappointed it was us, and not you. I told her we came for Okidu's cooking, nothing else."
Anandur's hints fell on deaf ears. Kian wasn't paying attention to a word that left Anandur's mouth. Holding his fists tight by his sides, he looked like he was a breath away from pounding Anandur's face into a pulp.
Syssi held her breath, waiting for Kian to release the punch that would come smashing into Anandur's face. Kian's anger and barely contained aggression was frightening.
"Yeah, it's like he said. We got here, and here she was like that…" Brundar was obviously trying to get through to Kian and avert the brewing storm by backing his brother.
But why? What was he so angry about?
It must've had something to do with her; both brothers were acting as if Kian had caught them with their hands in the cookie-jar, or rather the bone stash—cowering before the alpha dog and crawling on their bellies.
It was ridiculous.
It was insulting.
It reminded her of Gregg.
Fits of ungrounded, irrational jealousy—she was well acquainted with those.
Any man glancing her way had been a suspect. Any guy she had happened to mention, regardless of the context, had been a suspect as well. It had been even worse than the constant complaining because his accusations implied that on top of what he had perceived to be her many other flaws, he had also deemed her untrustworthy.
For Syssi, it was a deal breaker.
Overcome by bitter disappointment, she felt the bile rise up in her throat. Her Prince Charming, the man that had rocked her world only the night before, had just turned into a slimy toad.
Ugh!
Talk about naiveté…
"You boys go on playing your wolf-pack power games and growl at each other's throats to your hearts’ content. I'm out of here."
Turning away and marching to her room without looking back, Syssi hoped she'd sounded as disgusted as she'd felt. In truth, though, she was fighting back tears.
The last thing she wanted was for Kian to see her cry and realize he had disappointed her. Because it would imply that she'd entertained unwarranted expectations. After all, for Kian she was probably nothing more than a convenient lay, and an easy one at that.
A woman he believed would jump on any attractive pair of pants that crossed her way.
CHAPTER 26: BRUNDAR
Brundar cringed. Kian looked like he was hanging by a thread, and if he snapped… well… it was hard to tell who would have the upper hand in this fight. Though Brundar had a strong suspicion, it wouldn't be his brother.
Coming up in the service elevator with Okidu, Kian was helping the butler bring lunch up from the basement kitchen. He must've smelled the girl's arousal as soon as its door opened. Her scent was sure potent enough to overpower even the strong aroma of the freshly cooked food. Then walking in on the big jerk flirting with Syssi, he surmised what had gotten her so aroused, or rather who.
"Get the hell out!" Kian barked at Anandur as he whipped around to follow Syssi.
"Don't be a jerk, Kian, it had nothing to do with us. She came in after smoking outside and that scent was already there…" Anandur tried to explain.
Turning his head with just a slight twist of his torso, Kian pointed his finger at Anandur, staring him down. "If I ever catch you flirting with her again or even looking at her with anything other than courtesy and respect, I'm going to pound the living daylights out of you. Are we clear?"
"Crystal!"
"Good! Now, get out of here before I change my mind and beat the hell out of you just to make sure you got it!"
"Yes, Boss!" Anandur dipped his head and headed for the front door.
Behind him, Brundar threw an apologetic glance at Kian before following his brother out.
It wasn't really Anandur's fault. How were they supposed to know Kian felt so possessive about Syssi? It wasn’t as if he'd ever acted this way before. There was no way for them to recognize the signs.
Although thinking back, they should have.
The way he had been frantic to get to her before the Doomers had. The way he'd snapped at Anandur and him for checking her out when they'd first met her… It had been more than a simple concern for a mere acquaintance.
Standing next to his brother as they waited for the elevator to come up, Brundar accused, "You really did it this time."
"What? You were just as surprised as I was that he called dibs on her."
"Yeah, but you kept on going even after we figured it out."
"I know… Just couldn't help myself. You know how I get." Anandur shrugged. "No big deal. He'll get over it. You know how Kian gets all worked up. And anyway, he couldn't have done any serious damage to me even if he tried." Anandur stretched to his full height and pushed his massive chest out.
"You're so full of crap." Brundar shook his head, doubting Anandur had it right. Kian wasn't as big or as strong physically, but he was, after all, Annani's son.
A direct descendant of the gods.
CHAPTER 27: KIAN
Rushing after Syssi, Kian reached her room in a few long strides. But then, standing in front of her door, he hesitated before knocking.
Not because he sensed she was angry, that would've been fine. He could've dealt with that. But because the dark scent reaching his nose was laced with disappointment and regret.
Fuck! Can you say overreact?
What had gotten into him?
When the elevator's doors had opened, the scent of Syssi's arousal had hit him head-on, making him instantly hard. With a big grin spreading across his face, he had dropped the tray he had been carrying on the kitchen counter and turned toward the siren call of Syssi's aroma. But then, hearing Anandur's come-on lines and realizing what had gotten Syssi so aroused, he had been gripped by intense jealousy.
Blinded by fury, he had stormed into the living room with every intention of doing harm.
Only his hard-won self-control had kept him from leaping at Anandur and ripping the jerk apart. Or maybe it had been the nagging feeling in the back of his mind that there was no way a girl like Syssi could've been attracted to Anandur.
Even if the guy was known as an irresistible female magnet.
If nothing else, the way she had stormed off had convinced him that he had gotten the situation all wrong.
Way to go, asshole… Kian felt like banging his head on the closed door.
He had to fix this somehow. The prospect of Syssi looking at him with anything other than her sweet, wide-eyed adoration was killing him.
Rapping his knuckles on the door, he probed, "May I come in?” hating that he sounded like a wayward child begging for forgiveness. But then, if it came down to that, he knew he would beg—on his knees if that were what it took. And it pissed him off that he found himself needing to apologize.
Again.
It wasn't something he found easy to do. Truth be told, even when an apology was in order, he rarely did. Maybe it was a personality flaw.
Fuck maybe
!
It was a flaw…
Each time he had been forced to make amends, getting the words out had felt like chewing on shrapnel.
CHAPTER 28: SYSSI
As she stuffed her few possessions into her travel bag, Syssi's anger gave way to disappointment. She was forced to recognize her mistake for what it was.
She shouldn't have come here in the first place, and definitely shouldn't have stayed with Kian at his home. She knew next to nothing about him. And evidently, being great in bed did not equate to him being a nice guy. Trouble was, she had chosen to trust him when she should've been more careful and guarded.
It appeared that contrary to the way she saw herself, she was still naive.
Damn Kian for giving her a beautiful illusion and then shattering it. Except, she had only herself to blame.
Stupid! She was so bloody stupid!
Kian's rap on the door came too soon, and she wanted to tell him to go away.
She didn't want to face him, or the drama that was sure to follow when he'd see that she was packing to leave. But something in his voice tugged at her stupid soft heart, and she invited him in. "Sure, it's your home…" And anyway, she figured refusing to talk to him would only postpone the inevitable.
"Why are you packing?" Kian pointed at the bag the moment he stepped in, his angry face belying his apologetic tone from a moment before.
Well, surprise, surprise. That’s what she got for being a softie…
"It was a bad idea for me to come here. I should've stayed at my brother’s. I would've been just as safe with him as I am here," she said in a flat tone that could've made Queen Amidala from Star Wars proud, while pretending to rearrange her bag so she wouldn't have to look at Kian.
It was all a front, though, and on the inside she was falling apart, struggling to keep breathing through the choking in her throat. Berating her own stupidity for making what was nothing more than a tryst into something meaningful, she was trying to reignite her anger in order to fortify her resolve.
I'm such a girl, she thought, tearing and choking instead of lashing out and giving him a piece of my mind.
But what would've been the point?
The disappointment would still be there, and venting her anger would not make that sour feeling go away.
He was who he was, and not who she wished him to be, and that didn't give her the right to penalize him. Only to walk away.
"I'm sorry." He surprised her. "Please don't go."
She lifted her head from where she was bending over the bed and turned to look at his pleading eyes.
He had gotten her attention.
Not making demands or pounding his chest with his protector routine, he had said the only thing that had any chance of changing her mind.
With a sigh, she sat on the messed up bed and faced him. "Do you even know what you're apologizing for? Or is it a blanket statement meant to absolve you of whatever I might find objectionable?"
It had crossed her mind that he might be clueless as to what had offended her, and she had no intention of making it easy for him.
"I don't know what came over me. I felt this insane surge of jealousy… It never happened to me before, and I didn't know how to deal with it. I'm sorry if I acted like a jerk…" He pinched his forehead between two fingers. "And for being rude," he tacked on.
"Why?"
"Why was I rude? Because I'm an uncouth brute? What do you want me to say?"
Yep, clueless.
"Why were you jealous?"
"Isn't it obvious? Anandur was flirting with you, and the big oaf has a reputation as an irresistible ladies’ man…" Kian rolled his eyes. "And you seemed to like him. A lot… That incredible smell you gave off—" He stopped mid-sentence.
Looking up at Kian, Syssi felt profound sadness. He had no idea that it wasn't his rude behavior that had hurt her, but his misguided belief that there was anything to be jealous about.
"What?" Seeing her resigned expression he raised his hands in defeat.
"Don't you get it? How offensive and degrading it feels? Your lack of trust in me? Your belief that I might be tempted by any attractive man that passes my way? Like some floozy? Maybe you have some justification to feel this way; as it sure as hell didn't take you long to get me in your bed. But rest assured it's not something I often do, or ever…" Unable to hold back the tears anymore, she felt them slide down her cheeks. It took all her willpower just to stifle the sobs that were stuck in her throat and pushing to get out.
"Oh, sweet girl…" Kian dropped to his knees in front of her and hugged her to him tightly. Stroking her hair, he pulled her head to rest in the crook of his neck. "I'm so sorry, baby. If it's any consolation… I wasn't thinking rationally at all. It was pure animal instinct. If I had stopped to think for a moment, I might've realized how stupid I was. Can you forgive me? Chuck it to 'the-clueless-male-defense-plea'? Please?"
"I don't know…" she croaked, smiling behind the tears that were wetting his skin.
Shaking her head, she couldn't believe she was contemplating giving him another chance. But the feel of him, and dear God… his scent… were scrambling her brain.
"What's going on?" Amanda said from the doorway. "What did you do to the poor girl?”
Walking in, she sat on the bed next to Syssi and pushed Kian away. Then tugged on Syssi's shoulders to bring her into her own arms.
"What did this meanie do to you?" Amanda patted Syssi's hand while glaring daggers at Kian.
"Nothing, I just need some time to figure things out. I need to call Andrew. If he calls and does not get a hold of me, he is going to freak out…"
Syssi looked at Amanda, beseeching her with her eyes to stop the questioning. They could have a girls’ talk later. As it was, letting Kian glimpse her vulnerable underbelly, she was already feeling too exposed.
CHAPTER 29: KIAN
Glaring at Amanda, Kian was infuriated with her for poking her nose where it didn't belong. This intrusion on his privacy was becoming intolerable. "Go home, Amanda. Everything is under control," he dismissed her, trying to pull Syssi back. Amanda didn't let go, though, and the tug of war was becoming ridiculous.
"Yeah, I can definitely see that. Crying girl and all… Syssi, would you like to stay with me for a while? It's only across the hallway, but I promise you it's way more fun than here… We can do each other's nails and gossip about Kian… Play with makeup and trash talk Kian… You know, all the fun things we girls do."
He hated to admit it, but Amanda's attempts to cheer Syssi up were working. She chuckled and dried her tears with the comforter, thankfully ignoring his furious expression that had nothing to do with her and was directed at Amanda, who couldn't care less.
"Thanks, I would love to. I think the last time I had a sleepover at a girlfriend's house was in middle school."
Pretending to be excited by Amanda's invitation, Syssi was putting on a good show. Except, he wasn't sure who she was trying to convince; them, or herself. But he wasn't fooled. She looked as if she would do just about anything to get out of there as quickly as she could, and Amanda's offer just provided her with a convenient excuse.
As if to prove him right, she got off the bed and shoved whatever was still strewn about into her duffel bag. "I'm good to go. Packed and everything." She slung it over her shoulder and headed for the door.
He just couldn't let her go like that. Not without setting things right between them first. But as he reached for Syssi's arm to stop her, he felt Amanda's hand on his shoulder.
She shook her head at him. "Syssi needs some space. Let her go," she whispered so quietly only he heard her.
Nodding reluctantly, he let Syssi pass and followed them to the front door.
"I'll see you later.” Syssi said her goodbye with a slight tilt of her head, without even looking at his face.
"Don't worry. I'll take good care of her," Amanda mouthed before shutting the door behind them.
Standing at the threshold of his apartment, Ki
an looked at Amanda's closed door. Just a few steps across the vestibule, it was so near, and yet as far as his welcome went it might have been in a different zip code.
Sighing, he stepped back inside and closed the door, then headed for the kitchen to eat his lunch by himself.
Alone, sitting at the counter, the irony of his situation was not lost on him. Finally, he got his wish and none of his relatives were there to bother him.
So why did he feel like shit?
CHAPTER 30: SYSSI
Amanda's place was a mirror image of Kian's. Same layout, same placement of furniture—the decor and colors a slight variation on the same theme. Clearly, both apartments were done by the same interior designer.
"Come on, sweetie, I'll show you to your room." Amanda led the way down the corridor and opened a door to the left. "Just drop your bag on the floor. Let's go and have something to eat. I can hear your belly rumbling from here." Throwing her arm around Syssi's shoulders, she turned on her heel and walked her toward the open terrace doors.
"Onidu, honey, we have a guest. Would you be a dear and serve us lunch on the terrace?" Amanda called out before stepping outside. "It's such a beautiful day. It would be a shame to waste it." She pulled out a chair for Syssi and sat down across from her.
"Onidu? Is he related to Okidu?" Syssi asked.
"Yes, my darling butler is the same as Kian's; a present from our mother."
"Your mother gave you butlers as presents?" Syssi was perplexed by Amanda's peculiar choice of words.
Amanda smiled and waved her hand dismissively. "It didn't come out right. You see, the Odus were trusted members of her own staff for years, and she wanted her kids to be well taken care of by someone she could count on implicitly. So she assigned one to each of us. I grew up with Onidu as my companion, and when I left home, naturally, he had to come with me. Without him, I'd be a complete mess. He does everything for me. And he keeps me safe. Don't you, sweetheart?" She smiled at her butler as he arrived with the tray of food.