by Lori Foster
“Several,” she agreed. “The intruder didn’t restrict himself to the appointed time. He slipped in unannounced, and undetected.”
His brows lifted with approval. “Smart girl.”
“Like it takes a genius.” She punched, he ducked, and she ended up behind him. Before she could take advantage, he whipped around, caught her arm, and dropped her to the floor.
She rolled away so he couldn’t get on her.
Then she smirked. “I always heard that the big ones were slow.”
He lazily redirected his stance, and waited.
Kayli couldn’t tell if her taunts got to him or not. He did a great job of hiding his emotions—as any good warrior would. “I’ve already called a meeting to warn everyone of the danger. We’ll take added precautions, of course.”
“Such as?”
Noting that he stood more on his right leg than his left, she considered her next blow. “I’ll program Hauk to alert us to anyone new entering the town.”
“He can do that?”
“Yes.” She eased forward. “But first he’ll need to be refreshed on everyone who is a legitimate part of our colony, so he doesn’t send out any false alarms. We have plenty of members who come and go, you realize.”
“How long will it take Hauk to get programmed on everyone?”
She shrugged again. “At least several hours, maybe up to a day or more. It depends on how quickly everyone responds to the directive. He’ll have to scan all the locals and take into account new residents as well as those that have moved on. It’s something that I now realize we should have been doing on a regular basis instead of waiting for a breach. I’ll prepare a new order for that today. In the meantime, I’ve ordered a rotation of defense personnel to watch the perimeter—”
So fast that she knew she’d have to eat her words about his size slowing him down, Michael shot in on her. He grabbed her in a double-leg hold and she went down hard on her behind.
Her anger was such that she wanted to hurt him, and she did. While he wrangled for a better hold to control her, she landed several elbows and fists to his shoulders and neck, and got in one good knee to his ribs.
He took each blow without making a sound, and she almost immediately regretted the flash of anger.
That is, until he flattened her out, stretching her beneath him.
Breathing hard, still teeming with resentment, Kayli dared him with narrowed eyes and clenched teeth.
He surprised her by saying, “I watched more footage last night of you fighting. You’re good, but your moves are predictable and easy to anticipate.”
Regrets were forgotten; she head-butted him, making him curse while she indulged a big, taunting smile.
Obnoxious brute. “Apparently they’re not that easy to anticipate.”
With his hands locked around her wrists, he levered up on his forearms. That kept his head away from additional attacks, but it also pressed his hips in tight against her.
Oh God. She knew this was how he’d enter her, if they had sex. And she could almost feel the press of him pushing into her body, how he’d fill her. Her nipples tightened and her heart tripped.
“I’m trying to talk with you, Kayli.”
“I don’t want to talk with you.” She struggled to ignore his big, hard body touching her in all the most relevant places. It proved impossible. “I don’t want to be protected by you. I don’t want a union with you.”
“Well that’s too damned bad, now, isn’t it.” He came down, nose to nose with her, almost smothering her with his incredible weight. “You brought me here, lady, and I’m not leaving, so deal with it. And so help me, if you club me again, I’ll turn you over my knee and paddle your sweet little ass. Just see if I don’t.”
Such an outrageous threat made her gasp, but as soon as she recovered enough to speak, she struggled against him. “If you ever—”
“Yeah, I know.” His mood nearly matched her own now. “You’ll get pissed and cut me off. From everything. How original for a woman.” His scorn was a live, palpable thing sizzling between them. “And here I thought you were different.”
She leaned up to scream in his face, “I am different, damn you!”
Eyeing her, he tsked. “I’ve been a bad influence on your language.”
Oh God. She wanted to kill him. She wanted to have sex with him, too. But right now, killing him took precedence. “Get. Off. Me.”
“Not just yet.” He settled more comfortably again, and instead of squeezing her wrists, his thumbs caressed. She still couldn’t get free.
And her body wasn’t in agreement with her mind anyway.
“Now,” he asked, “can we agree to talk like two reasonable adults?”
Giving up, Kayli went limp on the floor, lifeless in his hold. She rested her head back with a sigh and stared at the ceiling. “I keep explaining to you, Michael, we have nothing further to discuss.”
“I’m still here, babe. You took me from everything familiar to me, and now, over one lousy dispute, you want to kick me to the curb, leaving me floundering about all alone?”
How could he sound so reasonable? That wasn’t the situation at all, and yet … it sort of was.
“There’s no reason for you to flounder and you know it. Numerous women have already made it clear that they’d love to be aligned with you.”
“Even your sister, huh?”
Oh, that hurt. “Leave Idola out of this.”
“Why? She’s a terrible flirt, at least according to Mesha. She did make a few moves, but mostly out of habit I think, not any real interest in me.”
Kayli doubted that. How could any woman not be interested in him?
He leaned closer, put his nose near her neck, and began softly nuzzling.
She heard him inhale, slow and deep.
“Michael,” she squeaked, almost desperate to interrupt him. His warm mouth touched, light as a butterfly, against her sensitive skin, and his breath teased over her, raising goose bumps. “I would have you still help the colony. We need you if you’re willing. But our association—”
“Our union.” His voice was gentle, persuasive.
“No.” She hated to say it. “That’s over.”
“Why? Because I screwed up? Hate to break it to you, doll, but it’s going to happen again and again. I’m human, and I have flaws.”
“No, really?”
“Brat.” He smiled, making the insult sound like an endearment. “Being overprotective, especially toward you, is something that’s bound to repeat. All I can promise is that I’ll try to give you room to do your own thing, but only if you’ll allow me to give you better instruction and be a part of any threat you face.”
“We’ve been over this.” And then, because it had eaten away at her all night long, Kayli turned her head to look at him. “I have a question for you, Michael. Will you give me an honest answer?”
Wariness had him pulling back a few inches. “Let’s hear the question before I commit.”
Did she really want to know? Yes, she had to know. If he cared for her, if he loved her a little, then maybe they could work through their differences as he suggested.
But … she didn’t think that was the case. Bracing for his reply, she drew a fortifying breath. “Aside from the fact that I’m the one who brought you here, and therefore most familiar with you, why do you want me?”
He frowned at her. “Why wouldn’t I want you?”
Evasions were the tactics of people who felt cornered. “I’m sorry, Michael, but I need to know.” She tried to sit up, but he used gentle leverage to keep her still.
“Settle down.” He did adjust some, nudging her legs open so that she held him in a position far too intimate for comfort. “I like you right where you are. It’s safer for me.”
Like he actually worried about her as an opponent? She didn’t think so. More likely, he didn’t want to risk putting a scratch on her, and he thought that was best accomplished by keeping her pinned down.
&nbs
p; And of course, his worry about her being injured was the crux of the problem. “I know what type of women you gravitated to in your own time.”
“I’m all ears.”
No, he was all charm and temptation, and she had to fight herself as much as him to stay on course. His preferences in women were well known to her. Remembering those preferences were part of what had kept her awake last night. “You enjoy beautiful, overtly sexual women who don’t have a combative bone in their very soft, very feminine bodies.”
“Sometimes.” Michael shrugged without denial. “What’s your point?”
Why did he have to be so deliberately obtuse? “That’s not me. That could never be me.” Which meant he could never really care for her.
“Oh, I dunno.” He bent again and kissed her chin. “Even with all your sleek muscle tone, which I find sexy as hell, by the way, you’re still very soft in all the right places.” He kissed the very top of her left breast. “Here.” He pushed his hips inward. “And on that killer ass of yours.”
“Stop that.” She could not let him weaken her with physical need. She was stronger than that.
She had to be.
He did stop, but with him so near she felt his sexual interest, could see the striations in his intense blue eyes as they studied her.
“Just making my point, because, lady, whether it’s overt or not, you’re plenty sexual.” He nuzzled into her neck again and sent chills of sensation down her spine. “Last night, the sounds you made, the way you looked and the way you tightened …” He growled low. “Damn, baby, it was something to see.”
“Michael!”
His gaze burned as he smiled at her. “You were so incredible, I thought I was going to embarrass myself.”
She shook her head at him. “The things you say …” His outrageous disclosures kept her face hot with embarrassment, but deep inside, she was glad that she’d pleased him.
“You smell incredible, too.” Cautiously, he eased closer again to tease the sensitive skin of her throat with his lips and tongue. “I think I’m already addicted to your scent.”
Her heart started pumping too hard. Desperate to get her questions answered, she whispered, “I do not want you to seduce me, Michael.”
“Oh, I think you do.” He lowered his voice as he looked at her tightened nipples. “But I would never force you.”
“I know that.”
“The fact that I could seduce you,” he continued with confidence, “even now with you still peeved at me, just goes to show how innately sexual you are. Being inexperienced doesn’t change that.”
Kayli let her eyes narrow. “I’m more than peeved, and you know it.”
“Understood.” Unfazed, he tucked his hips in the smallest bit, letting her feel his growing erection. “So why don’t you tell me what I need to do to make it up to you?”
Love me. Closing her eyes, Kayli held that awesome thought at bay. She drew in a calming breath and when she opened her eyes again, she felt marginally more controlled—or at least, as in control as she could be while lying beneath Michael. “For a start, you could answer my questions.”
CHAPTER 17
KAYLI saw Michael give a grievous roll of his eyes. “It’s going to be that way, huh?” He softened his complaint with a smile before he leaned down and kissed her. He kept kissing her, over and over, the touch of his mouth always brief but possessive. “All right, babe. We can play things your way.”
“I’m not playing.” But obviously he was.
Given her mood, he forced more gravity into his tone. “I admire you.”
Not trusting that, she asked, “Why?”
“If you have to ask, you must be suffering some severely low self-esteem. Do you really not know how wonderful you are?”
No one had ever called her that before. “I’m just me.”
“Mesha adores you. She told me so herself. I think she’s suffering a little hero worship, even.”
“Truly?” Mesha was very sweet, and she always listened when Kayli gave her advice.
“And why not? On top of being sexy as sin, you’re also smart and brave and protective. In fact, you have the same basic sense of protectiveness that I have.” His expression turned grave. “And while I’m thinking about it, that brings up a question of my own. You’re in the protection business, and I know, regardless of your doubts, that you’re damn good at it.”
Despite herself, the praise warmed her. “Thank you, Michael.”
“So what if another warrior got into trouble, but she was the independent sort and didn’t want your help. What would you do, Kayli? Would you let her be hurt?”
He tried to turn the scenario around, to catch her as a hypocrite, but she wouldn’t let him. “I hope that I would respect her wishes. At the very least I’d wait to see if she could handle it herself or not.”
“It’s a tricky thing, to know exactly when to interfere and when to stand back. Add emotion into the mix, and it only gets tougher.”
“Emotion?” she asked with a little hope.
“We’ll be in a union, remember? That means we’ll have a responsibility to each other. The thought of standing by and seeing you hurt is nearly impossible for me.”
“Maybe I’d surprise you and not be hurt.”
“Maybe.” He grinned. “But that’s just it. I haven’t seen you fight except in practice, and playing around with me.”
“Playing?” Now that just plain insulted her. True, she hadn’t wanted to do him any serious harm, so she hadn’t given it her all. Still …
“Oh, come on, darlin’.” The grin turned to a teasing, dubious smirk as he shook his head at her. “Please tell me you weren’t seriously trying to take me out during that little half-baked skirmish?”
Take him out? No. Remove his smug arrogance? Definitely.
But admitting it now would gain her nothing. It would only make her look as temperamental and moody as most nonwarrior females. “I know you want to make a point, Michael, so get to it.”
“In almost every situation, your instincts would be the same as mine: to protect. But,” he said when she started to speak, “I am trying. You just have to give me time to adjust to the whole role reversal thing here.”
That brought Kayli full circle, making her sigh in frustration. “Tell me why, Michael. Why should I give you time? Why do you want more time? So you admire me. So what? I’m sure there are other women here you could admire just as much.”
“It’s possible, but I don’t want them.” Appearing perplexed, he let out a long breath. “I can’t pinpoint what it is about you, Kayli. It’s a combination of things, chemistry at its best. It’s how you look, how you act and talk, the way you smell and taste, the unique way you make me feel.”
He sounded as confused as she, but it was a start. After all, they hadn’t really known each other long. For her, it didn’t matter; she’d lost her heart the first time he kissed her.
But for him, a man of his experience, wanting someone was pretty routine, not a momentous occasion. “How do I make you feel?”
Frustration showed in his expression, and in the set of his broad shoulders. “Hell, I don’t know. Different for sure.”
“Different from other women?”
“Well yeah, since I’ve never met any other woman like you. But I enjoy you.” His voice deepened. “I’ll enjoy you even more once we’re free to be as sexual as I’m dying to be.”
Perhaps what she needed to do was give him more time. And then she could not only show him how capable she was, but also give him an opportunity to get used to the different roles women now played.
The problem, of course, was that being in love with him left her wallowing in unfamiliar emotions.
So irresponsible.
So shortsighted.
But it was too late now, at least for her.
She had to do the right thing, for herself and those who depended on her. If that meant going along with his demands to get his assistance with the intruders, then
that was what she would do.
Ready to wade through tricky negotiations, she said, “Let me go, Michael.”
With a grumble, he released her wrists and started to sit up.
“Where are you going?” Kayli caught him with a tight hold around his thick neck. His skin was warm, sleek, and the muscle beneath thrilled her.
Cautious, he turned back to her, one of his brows lifted. “Are you forgiving me, or preparing to deck me again?”
Somber, uncertain, she said, “We’ll see.” She stared into his eyes. “But Michael, if we’re to get along at all, you really must do your best to trust in my ability and experience.”
“You have my word that I’ll give it my best shot.” Just as solemn, he said, “And you’ll need to do your best to cut me some slack and know that even when I do screw up, it’s not an insult to your ability, and it sure as hell doesn’t mean I don’t trust you.”
Feeling more confident now that she’d made her decision, Kayli teased, “It’s just because you can’t help yourself?”
His grin did funny things to her stomach. “Yeah. You have that effect on me.”
She swallowed, nodded. “Michael, I would ask for a concession as we both try to adjust to the differences in our time periods.”
He didn’t like the idea of a concession at all. “All right. Let’s hear it.”
She may as well get it out in the open. “I would rather not join in union.”
He stiffened, his arms going straight so that he loomed over her. “Now wait a damn minute—”
“But,” she said, wanting to finish before he misunderstood, “I want to be intimate with you. I want to share time with you.”
Instead of being grateful, umbrage added an edge to his tone. “So you want to fool around, you just don’t want to be stuck with me, is that it?”
In truth, she didn’t want him to be stuck with her when he realized he didn’t love her and never would. Unwilling to bare her soul that much, she firmed her resolve. “Something like that.”
His brief expression of hurt surprised her. But it faded away until he looked more offended, and then angry.
His right eye twitched, his jaw went tight as he stared at her. And after what felt like an eternity, the light of challenge entered his gaze. “Fine. While we’re at it, I have some stipulations of my own.”