by London Casey
With her purchases tucked into her day bag, Chrys walked up a hill, turned down a quiet street and settled for a small mom-and-pop cafe for lunch. Suppressing laughter at Mah and Adonei’s antics, she stepped through the door and was immediately shown to a table out back with a clear view of the sea’s crystal blue waters off in the distance.
The food was fabulous. She’d never been a big fan of Mediterranean food, but this stuff was wonderful. With every kind of cuisine under the sun to choose from, perhaps the French five-star restaurant down the street would get a visit before she headed back to the ship later. After all, Ibiza was no backwater island, but a place where the young and chic came to vacation.
Her companions were quite a pair. The faint image of the two lions grooming each other lovingly as she sipped a cup of espresso produced an inward smile. Then the next instant, Mah swatted at Adonei’s head after he’d said something so totally male even Chrys grimaced. The lioness was quick-witted and even quicker with her claws. And, of course, Chrys had to throw in her two cents, usually on Mah’s side. Soon Adonei was mumbling about catty women who were too smart for their own good, and perhaps he would go and keep Rahn company after all. Chrys bit the inside of her cheek and tried to keep her mirth under wraps—not smart to have the locals thinking she’d gone bonkers by laughing at someone they couldn’t see.
After lunch, she stepped out into the bright afternoon sunshine. The sun was dazzling, shining off the many white stone churches common in every town on the island.
Then the hairs on the back of her neck hit orbit, standing on end as the bottom fell out of her stomach. Someone was watching her.
After waltzing around the island with no set destination, Chrys had no idea how far away or where her nearest shipmates were hanging out. Yep, it was times like this she sure as hell appreciated having a spirit guide. Correction—two spirit guides.
At the first twang of apprehension, both Adonei and Mah bolted up into sitting positions, ears pricked forward. Adonei’s presence faded and she knew he’d gone to investigate what, or rather who, was both ahead and behind her. There was no doubt that in the second she stood in front of the eatery, pretending to explore the beautiful potted plants, Adonei had scoped out each possible route in and out of the area as well as surveyed every person in close proximity.
Meanwhile, Mah’s calm power-infused presence radiated down their newly formed bond. Someone might be tailing her, but she sure as hell wasn’t alone. Far from helpless, Chrys readied herself, reached for and caught the calm focus required to quickly measure and take down an enemy.
The air off to her left rippled in waves just before Adonei’s huge corporeal form shimmered into view. Mahpiya remained out of sight, but clearly visible in her mind’s eye.
*You are indeed being hunted.*
Hunted? Who would dare?
*It is the Eden person. I do not like it.*
‘Well, that sure as hell makes two of us,’ she hissed back. Why would Eden be tailing her? He’d always appeared to be so nice and gentlemanly. Not to mention damned good-looking. Did he really mean her ill? Perhaps Adonei was simply overreacting. Or, as usual, he’d been correct in his first assessment of the man.
Well, time to find out.
‘Adonei, please lend me your senses.’
Immediately, eyesight and hearing sharpened. Natural ability increased many times over as every cell was infused with the lion’s raw power. Taking her time, Chrys and her two invisible escorts turned down a narrow road and out onto the main boulevard.
Eden was a good enough distance away that a typical person wouldn’t have noticed his presence. The man was awfully good at tailing, which meant only one of three things—she and Adonei were both paranoid, Eden was a bad guy or he was a special ops person like herself. Odds on that first one were highly doubtful and the thought of him being either of the other two sent a chill up her spine.
She kept moving. With her enhanced senses, not only did Chrys catch the musky scent of his body, but she could have heard his soft footsteps a mile away.
Then, as suddenly as she’d sensed Eden behind her, he was gone. Only to be replaced by the presence of another man she hadn’t expected to run into.
Rahn was across the wide boulevard. He stalked—it was the only word she could think of to describe the graceful and dangerous way the gorgeous man moved—down the stairs of what appeared to be the town hall and headed her way.
Two men were at his side. One was a local cop. In her line of work, she could spot a government gofer a mile away, even if he was dressed casually in cargo pants and a button-down shirt. The other man, taller than Rahn, but not nearly as well-built, was none other than the captain of the ship. So what was Rahn doing with these people? His case was supposed to be in Rome, not on Ibiza.
‘What the hell is Rahn up to? I’d recognize that I’m-on-duty look anywhere.’
Not expecting either cat to actually tell on the man, Chrys ducked into the nearest shop and waited for him to pass by.
This direction headed right for a crowded town market her tour group had passed earlier. If she was careful, it would be the perfect place to tail him without being noticed. She hoped. After all, Rahn wasn’t one of the most distinguished undercover specialists in her unit for nothing. But she was damned good at her job too. And at the rate the men were walking they’d passed by now.
Chrys stepped out into the street on silent feet.
And ran right into Rahn’s chest.
“Chrys?”
She watched the expressions on his deeply tanned face morph from surprise to understanding to flat-out pissed off. His jaw tightened and ticced. The lips that had kissed her so wonderfully every day and night now pulled back in a snarl, baring sharp white teeth.
Shit. So much for following him at a discreet distance.
“What the fuck are you doing up here by yourself?” he growled quietly. One look at his face and the men accompanying him gave sympathetic smiles and got the hell out of Dodge. The man looked like a volcano.
“Woman, get your ass back to the ship right fucking now. Better yet, I’ll take you my damned self.” He grabbed her by the hand and practically dragged her down the hill.
What the hell was going on? She didn’t think she’d ever seen Rahn so angry. Not even after the time he’d been shot in the ass by a bad guy while diving for cover in the middle of a shootout.
And who the fuck did he think he was talking to? She was a grown woman who didn’t require nor allow a babysitter.
“Slow the hell down or let go of my damned hand,” she snapped. “I’m wearing sandals, not running shoes.”
His answer was a grumble she couldn’t quite make out. Sounded something like having to get his woman back where she belonged?
*Well, my mate, shall we leave these two alone for a time?* Adonei asked Mahpiya. His tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth and Chrys could have sworn he was grinning. With that, his corporeal form vanished and his presence dimmed. Mahpiya disappeared all together.
Damned cats.
Eden bit back an eager grin. His thoughts were fixed on the beautiful prize of a woman walking ahead of him. Chrysalyn’s smooth caramel skin glistened with a light sheen along her shapely calves. His mouth watered at the strong compulsion to taste the crease at the back of her knee to confirm the moisture was a film of sweat mixed with the tangy humidity of the island.
Chrys called to him—mind, body and soul. She was only a short distance away now, barely a block. If he could get to her before she reached the town square, he’d have a chance to, uh, persuade her to spend a bit of quality time with him before it was time to return to the ship to leave port.
Eden wasn’t sure why, but just as he was about to pass the steps of the town hall, he came to a halting stop and stayed put, just out of sight.
Seconds later, the Rahn asshole came down those steps accompanied by a local cop he recognized from his last trip through here, along with the captain of their ship.
Risking a peek out of the little alcove he’d ducked into, Eden watched the Rahn asshole rake his hands through his hair. At this angle, the man reminded Eden of one of his own cousins. A strong chin, even stronger body, deeply tanned skin. An air of nobility and honor clung to him like a second skin. His stance screamed royalty. Just like himself.
Listening intently, Eden’s spine stiffened at the words of the three men who stood talking on the steps. His lungs seized as if they were afraid to breathe. Heart kicked up into a wild rhythm. Stomach twisted into a sick knot.
Eden’s Catalan language skills were somewhat rusty, but he recognized the words “dead” and “killer” in any language.
The Rahn asshole’s jaw clenched tight as he questioned the peace officer. “The woman found early this morning. Same description? Same type of wounds?”
“Yes, sir. She was found just after the ship pulled into port. Wealthy female, Caucasian, blonde hair. Not a resident of the island. A visitor…”
“Who didn’t come here on our ship,” Rahn interrupted. “Naked and bound, but other than the knife wounds, she was untouched. No rape, no assault. Damn it, just like the others.”
Eden pressed closer against the wall between him and the other men.
“Anyone else know about this?” Rahn asked quietly.
The captain of their vessel replied. “Absolutely not. I’ve spoken to all of the officials in every port we’ve touched. They’ve all agreed to let your agency handle the situation.”
Agency, eh? So the Rahn asshole was some kind of high-up law dog? And if he worked with Chrys, did that mean she was a cop too? Eden backed up the way he’d come and took the long way around back to the ship. His harem mistress needed a talking-to. And he obviously needed a change of plans.
Rahn was practically on her ass as they both stormed through the door into their apartment. She rounded on him, her face lined with confusion and her fist jammed into her hip.
“Rahn, what the hell are you so upset about?”
The image of his beautiful mate flashed into his mind. She lay in a crumpled, bloody heap, her lifeless eyes glazed over, seeing nothing. The woman they’d found earlier could have easily been Chrys. Just the thought of not having her at his side sent a rush of heated fury through his soul. He teetered dangerously close to the edge of sanity just now. Simply couldn’t handle losing her. Not again.
“Damn it, Chrysalyn, how the hell can I protect you if I can’t manage to keep your ass where you belong and away from danger?” he yelled.
Yelled? He never yelled. The wide bug-eyed shock on Chrysalyn’s flushed, but lovely, face was enough to embarrass him down to his toes. He took a step back, appalled by his own behavior. Didn’t last long, considering there was a murderer on the loose and she was prize pickings.
Sobering quickly, he snapped his mouth shut, knowing the wheels of her agile mind hummed from the implication of his words. Damn, he couldn’t believe what he’d just let slip. And Chrys wouldn’t forget it. In fact, the woman was probably weighing the importance of each word he’d just said.
But instead of giving him the argument he expected, she turned to duck into the sanctuary of her bedroom.
He wasn’t having it. Anger flared. Control didn’t seem to be anywhere near at the moment, which seemed to be the case more and more of late when in her presence.
“Woman, do you hear me talking to you?” Rahn growled, reaching for her. He had to feel her, had to hold her in his arms. A deft pop of her knuckle in just the right spot had his muscled forearm numb in seconds.
“Yeah, I heard you all right. How could I not? And keep your damned hands off me.”
“What? Well, you haven’t seemed to mind my hands on you every night we’ve met up in bed.” Ouch. He hadn’t meant to say that. The hurt look on her face told him she hadn’t expected him to, either. “Chrysalyn, baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. It’s just…”
“Save it, Mr. Benson.”
Aw, hell. She’d called him Mr. Benson. Definitely not a good sign.
“If there’s one thing I can’t stand is a man who throws something in my face. Someone who takes a special moment and turns it into a guilt-inducing negative,” she fumed.
A grumbled “asshole” reached his ears as she stomped over the threshold of her room and slammed the door in his face. He stood there with his nose pressed against the smooth lacquered wood and tried to gain at least a bit of composure. With a sigh, he sucked down his pride and let the groveling begin.
“Chrysalyn, I’m sorry,” he called through the door. “I was just so worried about you, I lost it for a minute. A body was found just this morning, not an hour after we docked.”
Her door slid open. Well, he’d gotten her attention, but the flint-hard look in her eyes clearly said he wasn’t getting any forgiveness. He prepared to spend a lot of time on his knees making up for this blunder. But god, was she worth it.
Lowering her head, she glared up at him with a “you’d better have a good explanation” look. Damn, she was so sexy. Even more so in her anger. He must be nuts. Raking a hand through his hair, Rahn backed up a step, blew out a frustrated breath and spoke as many words as he could string together. Which weren’t many.
“Chrys, you know the position I’m in.” He shot forward in just enough time to get his boot wedged into the space between the doorjamb and the open door. “Listen, I’m working. I’m undercover. I lied about going to Rome. My case is right here aboard this ship. We didn’t know the danger or what was going on until after Geri sent you here on vacation.”
Arms crossed over her tempting bosom, she snapped. “Why didn’t she just have me work the case since I was already here?”
“Because you’re supposed to be on vacation. If you don’t believe me, then call her. But I can’t divulge the nature or details of this case without her permission. I’m sorry, sweetheart, as much as I love you, I can’t…”
Oh hell. Had he just let that slip too? God, he couldn’t seem to keep anything behind his teeth when Chrys was around. Perhaps it was her fierce spirit that kept him off balance. Or the way she gazed at him with those lovely almond-shaped eyes of hers. Or that luscious ass that winked at him every time she walked by. Or her scent. Or…hell, he could go on forever. The list of what he loved about her was simply endless.
“Rahn? Did you say…? No, never mind. It doesn’t change the fact that you lied to me. What else did you lie about, huh? Did you just want to get a bit of bedtime distraction while you’re working your case, just to disappear from my life again after it’s over? Son of a bitch.”
Again, he was presented with her back. But there was no way he was letting her go. She might not believe what he said, so he’d just have to give a bit of action to go along with them. He reached out, careful to get her by the wrist so she couldn’t do that pressure-point arm-numbing thing on him again.
Instead, he found himself rolling across the floor into her room. His head made contact with the foot of the large platform bed with a thud. And all the air whooshed out of his lungs when a pissed-off sistah landed hard in the middle of his chest.
Thighs spread wide, Chrys sat high up on his pecs. Arms trapped at his sides, the woman used the odd angle of his neck for leverage. A strong thumb pressed into the base of his trachea and delivered a most uncomfortable sensation that made him want to gasp and gag at the same time. He couldn’t move without injuring her or himself.
“And I told you to keep your damned hands off me,” she growled.
Skirt bunched up around her hips,
the subtle scent of her delectable pussy tickled his nose. His cock shot to attention. A lethal agent sat on his chest, a thumb in just the right position to cause his windpipe considerable damage, he couldn’t move…and he had a hard-on?
Yep, he was definitely crazy.
Chapter Eleven
Chrys instinctively eased the pressure off his throat when Rahn gagged. But only a bit.
How dare the idiot bring up their lovemaking. He clearly didn’t trust her to walk down the street alone. Then another thought bloomed in her mind—murders. He’d insinuated that they were tied to this ship somehow. They had to be or he wouldn’t be as ridiculous about her being off alone when he knew she could take care of herself.
On the other hand, spirit guides for company or not, Rahn had let her waltz around unarmed and unaware of the true danger.
Adonei and Mahpiya stirred in the forefront of her mind for the first time since she and Rahn had literally run into each other on the hip, upbeat avenues of Ibiza. A wisp of thought eased through their bond and she felt like an instant fool.
Trust between her and her mate had nothing to do with this situation. After all, she’d suspected the man had been working a case all along. The rules that applied to Aegis agents, unfortunately, didn’t apply to relationships. He wouldn’t and couldn’t share with her. The more she knew, the more danger she was in. The man was protecting her. Not to mention following protocol and orders. Just as she would have done had their roles been reversed.
Mahpiya gave her a glimpse of what her man was feeling. A flood of insecurity and heart-seizing fear streaked through their bond. Every emotion she could think of flooded her consciousness, caught up in a tangle of uncertainty, followed by determination and fierce protectiveness—and it was all Rahn’s.