by M. L. Guida
Eric put on his sunglasses, hiding his magnetic eyes. Good.
Concentrate. Keep your hands to yourself. He wants Lilly, not you.
She banged her skis together pretending to knock off snow, even though they were clean.
“Where are you from?” he asked.
“Boulder.”
“I’m from Denver.”
“I know.”
He elbowed her side. “So, you were listening?”
She scooted away, trying not to give into temptation. “No, I wasn’t.”
“How did you know I was from Denver?”
“Wh-wh-what?” She faced him. “You-you-you thought…I wasn’t. Wh-wh-whatever.” Sputtering again. Damn! Heat filled her cheeks, stomach tightened. She hoped Eric didn’t get the same annoyed look Luke got when she reverted to stuttering, but Eric gave her a gentle smile. Slowing her speech, she said, “It’s kind of hard not to overhear when I’m sitting right next to you.”
“Don’t have to be testy about it.”
Why had she turned into a shrieking mountain lion? Admit it. You wanted him for yourself.
Cassandra’s nerves threatened to snap one by one. He bumped her with his arm. She jumped. “What?” This time, she said it in a normal voice.
“Let me guess.” He grinned. “Your name is Susan.”
She grimaced. “No.”
“Becky.”
She rolled her eyes. “Not even close.”
“How about Cassandra?” he whispered.
His warm breath washed over her like a summer breeze, inviting her to kiss him. The man was alluring, tempting.
She found her voice. “You heard Lilly call my name.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
Concentrate.
He put his hand on her thigh and an undeniable need filled her to do more than kiss him, to feel his mouth on her skin. He leaned closer, parting his lips. She wanted this. Something slipped out of her hand. “My pole!” She slumped. “Oh, no. It’s on a black run!”
Eric laughed. “You don’t ski blacks?”
“No, but I’ll get it.” Moguls, deep moguls. Could her day get any worse?
“I can get it for you.”
He would? Luke would have insisted she get her own pole, reiterating she needed to learn how to ski blacks.
“Can you ski with one pole?”
“Yes, I can. Contrary to what you think, I’m not a total idiot.”
“I never said you were.” He patted her thigh. “Meet me at the Excelerator.”
She stammered, “Ah, yes. I will.” She clasped his hand. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
The lifted slowed. Cassandra released his hand and before she could say anything, he skied off. Over his shoulder, he said, “I’ll see you soon.”
Holding her remaining pole in her left hand, Cassandra skied to Copperopolis, a blue run. As she slowed her pace, she edged back on her skis and sucked in her core to keep her balance. How could she be so stupid? He would have kissed her on the lift and she would have discovered if he tasted cinammony.
Her cellular phone rang with its usual beach ring. She stopped.
Great, Lilly.
“Hey,” she answered.
“Hey,” Lilly said. “Wondering how your day’s going. Depressed I’m not up there.”
“Um, it’s okay.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Luke’s here.”
“With Diane?”
“No, I didn’t see her. Just him. Still blames me for him sleeping with her.”
“Yeah, he would. I hate to say this, but he liked you.”
“I know. I wish it could have been different.”
“Yeah, well, you’re never going to be happy as long as you keep hoping for a man who doesn’t exist.”
She wanted to argue, but held her tongue.
“Um, so, how’s the skiing?”
“Great. Except I dropped my pole.”
“God, you always do. On a black run?”
“Of course.”
“Going to ski on your butt again?”
“Uh, no”. She hesitated. “Eric’s getting it.”
“Who’s Eric?”
A skier sped by, sprinkling snow onto her boots. “Remember the guy at breakfast?”
“The one who you said looked like dream guy?”
“Um, yes.”
“Cassandra, he’s not the guy in your dreams. He’s a man.”
“I know, but he seems to be him.”
“Don’t push him away the way you did Luke.”
Pushing him away was the last thing she wanted to do, but he scared her. She had never experienced such intense feelings for a man. “I won’t.”
“Uh, uh.”
“Lilly, I gotta go. He’s waiting for me.” She hung up.
By the time she reached the lift, Eric waited for her. He studied her with expressive eyes and handed her the pole. “Here.”
“Thanks.”
He held it a little longer, his thumb brushing over her hand. “Not a problem, but, you owe me.”
“Owe you?” What was it about him? Luke failed to ignite the powerful feelings swirling inside her. Eric fueled the same arousing feelings like the man in her dreams. Or was he? Was she imagining it? No, it had to be a coincidence.
“Lunch.”
“What? You want me to buy you lunch?”
“No.,” He laughed. “I want to.”
Curiosity getting the best of her, she blurted, “Okay.”
He ran his hand down her arm, the sensation purely erotic. Beer. She needed a beer. “Um, when?”
“After this run. Andy’s Encore all the way to The Village.”
“Sure.”
She whirled and headed for the lift. He skied beside her. She tried to concentrate and managed to get on the lift without falling down or dropping her pole again.
Eric’s thigh brushed against her. “Here, let me.”
His gloved hand wrapped around her left hand gripping her poles. Her breath caught in her throat.
“Give them to me so you don’t drop them.” He took the poles, stroking his hand against hers. He lifted his thigh and scooted her poles underneath.
The slightest flick of his fingers reduced her to a whimpering woman begging for his touch. Her heart danced and her stomach fluttered with excitement. How could she eat? Eric was beautiful, the kind of man who broke women’s hearts, a real bad boy. But she wanted him.
He handed her the poles and they skied off the chair lift, heading for the village. At the bottom of the run, they put away their skis. She followed him into the restaurant. Pizza Carlo, a restaurant with a tiny bar, occupied a corner of the Village building close to the American Eagle lift. A red and white awning hung above the door. Eric opened the door and she sauntered inside, anticipating getting to know him better.
She spotted Luke and Diane sitting at the bar sipping beers and her enthusiasm died. The last time she had seen Diane was when she had discovered them alone in a bedroom. Luke glanced at her and Eric. “Well, I see the Ice Queen has found a new victim.”
Diane threw her head back, her long red curls dangling behind her back, and laughed. Triumph reflecting in her grey eyes, she gripped Luke’s arm. She laughed, her meaning not lost on Cassandra. She and Diane had gone to high school together, been on the same cheerleading squad in both junior high and high school. Diane competed with her on everything, especially boys. She looked at her over her shoulder and smiled. “Hello Cassandra. Thanks for my birthday present.”
5
Eric’s heart beat wild and the dragon fire ignited. Shit, he was losing control. Perspiration dripped down his face and his skin grew hot, his clothes sticking to his flesh.
Cassandra stepped back. He wanted to challenge Kennedy for hurting his mate. He took a step toward him, but Cassandra touched his arm. “No.”
Her soft touch and tight squeeze squelched the fire. He couldn’t deny those pleading green eyes. Kennedy wa
s safe.
Diane, from the ugly scene at the birthday party in the Wraith’s magic mirror. Diane leered at him and Eric glared. She had hurt Cassandra. Eric had wanted to hold Cassandra in his arms and kiss her, whisper into her ear she was desirable and make her forget Luke. If Diane knew who and what he was, she’d lose that sneer and crumble into a pile of snowflakes.
Eric placed his hand on Cassandra’s lower back and guided her to a table far away from Kennedy and Diane. He held out her chair for her and she gave him a small smile. He sat next to her and she turned to him. Green eyes watched him warily, not like last night. Last night in the dream, they had been filled with passion and would soon be again. She was his sweet siren.
Eric wanted to hear it from her. “Who is that?”
“My uh ex.” She bit her lip and blinked back tears. “We just broke up a month ago. At a birthday party.”
He had been glued to the Wraith’s mirror when Cassandra started dating Luke Kennedy. She spent more time with him than she did with any other man. When they kissed, she drove a knife through Eric’s heart and he had screamed with rage. He was losing her. Not caring how much he drained his magic, he visited her every night in her dreams, hoping to drive a wedge between her and Kennedy. He couldn’t lose Cassandra. He’d be half a man without her. She completed him. “I’m sorry,” he lied. He reached and squeezed her hand.
“Yeah, life goes on. At least, it has with him.”
“Meaning?”
“The woman he’s with, he hooked up with her at the party.”
“Ah, I see. He’s an idiot.” How could the man want anyone besides Cassandra? Any man in the bar would want to be with her.
“It wasn’t totally his fault. I was a…preoccupied.”
“With?”
A male waiter came over to their table. “Hello, I’m Sam. Can I take your order?”
“Two Guinnesses.”
“Right away, sir.”
Cassandra slammed her hand onto the silver table. “Excuse me? I don’t get to order what I want to drink?”
“You wanted something else?” He half rose to get her something at the loaded bar.
She scooted her chair away from him and put her gloves and helmet between them. “No, but I order for myself and how did you know I drink Guinness?”
Careful. First mistake and it wouldn’t be the last. He shrugged. “You look like you drink dark beers.”
She scoffed.
Did he blame her? He was a damn stalker. In the demon realm, males were expected to know everything about their soul mates before they met. Not on Earth. Males had to do this dreaded courtship dance. Neither of them had time for this nonsense.
Cassandra put her gloves, goggles and helmet on the chair next to her. Tendrils of blonde hair escaped from her tight ponytail and dangled along her cheeks.
He gripped his fist tight to keep from ripping out her rubber band to allow her hair to cascade down her shoulders. But at the square set of her jaw, he kept his hands to himself. How did human males do this courting? It took too much time. So many damn games. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine.” She twisted the silver ring on her finger. “Just still a little raw.”
Only Cassandra could unleash the power hidden within the ring, but she wasn’t ready. Not yet. Not until they were mated. Over the years, the Wraith’s magic mirror had revealed Cassandra twirling the ring around on her finger when scared or nervous. He went to clasp her hand to reassure her, but she seized a menu and studied it. He laid his hand on the table and tapped the wood with his knuckles, cursing his missed opportunity to provide comfort.
He wasn’t fooled. Luke had crushed her. Her eyes glistened and she sniffed. Did she still have feelings for Kennedy? Did she forgive him for sleeping with another woman? Eric didn’t understand humans. In the Underworld, dragon demons mated for life. His parents had turned feral, but they still kissed each other, held hands and slipped away from court to their private chambers. Infidelity didn’t exist. Why could humans not be faithful to their mates? One reason dragon demons didn’t take human mates. Would Cassandra betray him?
Her stomach growled and he bit back a laugh. “So, what is the human saying? So hungry you could eat a horse?”
She peered over her menu. “Human? What are you from planet Vulcan?”
Damn another slip. “No. I thought you weren’t hungry.”
She lowered her gaze and focused back on the menu. “I don’t know. Maybe. Pizza sounds good.”
The waiter came with their stouts and sat them on the table. “A large thin crust sausage pizza, please,” Eric ordered.
“Yes, of course sir.” The waiter hurried off.
Cassandra slammed down the menu. “Are you deaf?”
“What?”
“You did it again. I can order for myself.”
“You like…”
“Not the point. You’re creeping me out knowing what I like and don’t like especially since I just met you.”
“Well.” He gave her half a smile. “I don’t want to creep you out.” She’d go berserk when tomorrow she woke in the Underworld. So be it. “Tell me about yourself.”
Her slender fingers rubbed the frosted glass of stout. “There’s nothing much to tell. I’ve mostly been a college student. Last May, I graduated from Colorado State University with my BSW and plan to go to the University of Colorado for my master’s in speech next fall.”
“BSW?”
“Bachelor of Social Work.”
“So, you don’t want to be a social worker and now want to be a speech pathologist.” Small talk sucked.
“And you? I don’t know anything about you except you work for the government. What do you do for the government?”
Lying to one’s mate was frowned upon in the Underworld, but they weren’t mated, at least not yet. He had no idea what to say and blurted out what first came into his mind. “I’m an accountant for the state.”
“An accountant? You’re kidding?”
“What? Why?”
“You don’t look like any accountant I’ve ever seen.” She took a sip of her stout and peered past him. Her eyes widened and she placed the glass down.
“What?”
“Luke’s coming over here.”
Just what he needed. Competition. Cassandra shifted in her chair.
Luke came to their table. “Cassandra, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“She’s with me,” Eric said.
Cassandra flashed him an angry look. “Eric.” She watched Luke and Eric’s gut tightened. Shit, she still had feelings for the guy.
“I’ll be right back,” she said and followed Luke to the bar out of hearing distance.
Eric drummed his fingers on the table. The dragon fire within him burned hotter and he trembled. Sweat trickled down his temples and his sweater stuck to his sweltering skin.
Slash. Slash. Slash.
He battled to gain control of his last bit of reasoning, not wanting to give into the desire to rend the human's limbs from his torso. He closed his eyes and meditated on Cassandra’s lingering jasmine scent.
Breathe just breathe.
Her scent doused the flames within. He opened his eyes, struggling to maintain control. He had to convince Cassandra soon or he’d be lost, turned into a monster like his father. She was his only hope.
His hand shaking, he took a long swig of his beer. The cool liquid failed to reduce his rising temperature and only Cassandra’s sweet touch could do this. He wished he was better apt at trying to please her. He had to find a way to win her heart.
Luke said something to her and Cassandra glanced at Luke, her face worried. Twisting her ring, she bit her lip and shook her head. Cassandra had been heartbroken and sobbing, her body shaking as she cried onto Lilly’s shoulder. Eric should have been the one holding her, comforting her, stroking her hair. It was his job to take care of her. He’d never hurt her. She was his, his mate.
Cassandra laid her hand on Luke’s arm.<
br />
Eric’s anger flared again and he pushed it back, but each time, it took away a bit of his sanity. God, the woman was testing him. Luke broke free of her gasp and stormed away, heading out of the restaurant. Cassandra hung her head and brushed something off her face. She returned to the table.
“What happened?” Eric demanded.
She sighed and blinked her eyes. “He came over to apologize.”
“Now?”
“I think you unnerved him. He wanted to know who you were.”
“Ah, I see.”
“I told him I just met you and we decided to have lunch.”
“And he wasn't pleased?”
“I don’t know why. He didn't walk in on you and I—” She grabbed her beer and took a long sip.
Eric smiled. With her rosy cheeks and deep green eyes outlined by dark eyelashes, she was beautiful—a virgin maiden.
The waiter arrived with the sausage pizza, and placed it on the table. He returned with forks, knives, plates and napkins.
Eric picked up the spatula and served Cassandra a large slice of pizza. “Cassandra, do you still care for Luke?”
“I don’t know.” She picked at the pizza with her fork. “He confuses me and after he was with Diane, how can I trust him?”
She was debating. Fucking great. He had to get her to the Underworld before she decided to give Luke another chance. “Humans,” Eric grumbled. “I don’t see how men do this to their mates.”
“Humans? Mates? What is with you?”
Shit, fouled again. “I thought you were hungry.”
“Lost my appetite.”
“Come on, it’s sausage, your favorite. Try it.”
“How do you know it’s my favorite?”
“Lucky guess.” He held his breath, cursing yet another mistake.
Her brow furrowed. She focused on the pizza. Sighing, she picked up her pizza and took a bite. Her eyes filled with contentment.
He loved how her cheeks glowed and a small smile spread across her face, there were other ways to bring her satisfaction and bring a smile to her lips rather than a pizza. What they did in her dream last night for starters. His pants tightened and he shifted in his chair. “So, is the pizza good?”