Warrior

by Rose Wynters

  Not able to hold her feelings in anymore, she quickly turned and wrapped her arms around his waist in a huge hug. He felt so right, and her heart swelled with emotions she was almost too scared to believe in. “Thank you,” she said, simply. “Not just for the wrap but for the whole outfit.”

  Words couldn’t express what he’d done for her. Shayne had saved her life, initiated her into her sexuality, and showed her how it felt to be cared for. She knew there weren’t any guarantees about a future for them. She was just happy to have him for the time she did.

  Raising her chin, he gave her a long and satisfying kiss. Then he quickly swept her up in the air, making her squeal. “Are you ready to see what Las Vegas has to offer?” he asked, grinning.

  “Yes!” she burst out, with a laugh.

  “Your wish is my command.”

  Chapter 9

  SHAYNE’S PREDICTION that Ian wouldn’t show his face for a few days was wrong, but he chose to ride in the car following them instead of the limo. Ian looked awful, with bloodshot eyes and a large bruise. He gave a curt nod to Shayne when he walked outside. It would take a while for them to get over the events of the prior night.

  After depositing Anna into the limo, Shayne gave the sign that he was ready to leave. Ian hopped into the other vehicle with Nate and Luke, two other endurers who had been assigned to guard duty that night.

  Shayne paused for a moment, with one foot in the door. It was dangerous what he was doing, taking her out for a night on the town. He could sense how much she needed it, though. For the first time in her life, Anna needed to see what it meant to be highly desired above all others, and he was just the man for the job.

  Shayne was determined to give something back to her. She appreciated everything about him. She wanted him. Not for his money or good looks, but for him alone. His chest swelled with pride. She needed a real man to take control and show her how it felt to have someone who cared. It was a long time coming, although the selfish part of him was glad another man hadn't seen the light.

  After the night out was over, he was going to make his claim. But first, he was going to show her how it felt when a man placed her needs, wants, and desires above his own. It was that simple. His lips curled up in a self-assured smile. He was going to satisfy her so completely she’d never want to leave him.

  With a tap on the roof, he hopped in and they sped off. The night awaited them, for whatever pleasures they wanted to indulge in.

  THEIR FIRST STOP WAS Alfonso’s. It was an upper-scale restaurant, which only catered to the rich. The lighting was dim, and the food superb. Shayne had requested a private room, as he knew it would be the perfect place to wine and dine her.

  He escorted her through the doors, while the other three endurers discretely trailed behind them. Considering the clientele that frequented the restaurant, bodyguards were not unusual. The headwaiter recognized Shayne immediately, and without any delay, he led them through the restaurant.

  Only Nate and Luke followed them to the table, both men stoic and silent. Ian slipped away, much to Shayne's relief. His presence would have been awkward after the night before, and the last thing he wanted Anna to dwell on was her seduction by another man.

  Just the thought filled his body with anger, something Nate and Luke caught on to. Instantly, they went on alert, scanning the restaurant but unable to locate the source of his tension. Behind Anna's back, Shayne got their attention and shook his head. He would have to watch his reactions. The endurers didn't need his jealousy distracting them from her protection.

  Anna sat down with a wide-eyed expression on her face, as she took in their luxurious surroundings. Shayne knew she was impressed. The private room was tastefully decorated, with gold decor and opulent red velvet curtains. A huge fireplace took up the opposite wall, the flickers of the flames casting a golden glow across her smooth features. The dim lighting from the muted bulbs of the chandelier and candelabras completed the romantic setting.

  “This place is amazing,” Anna whispered, her voice full of awe. “Do you come here a lot?”

  The waiter arrived with Shayne's favorite champagne. Shayne thanked him before pouring a glass for each of them. His eyes met Anna's, and they both laughed. “I guess that answers my question,” she said, with a rueful expression on her face.

  “It's one of my favorite places to eat. I thought you might like it. A beautiful woman like you should be taken out and showed off—often.”

  She blushed at his words. Shayne heard a low snicker behind him. Turning, he shot Luke a dark glare. Luke pretended to ignore him, but Shayne knew where the sound had come from. Nate was quiet, looking past him at the wall. For good measure, though, Shayne went ahead and gave him a dirty look too. It couldn't hurt.

  The waiter returned to take their order. “Do you know what you would like, or would you prefer for me to choose?” Shayne asked Anna.

  She was silent as she glanced at the menu. “Could you, please?” she replied, sweetly. “It all looks delicious, and I can't decide which one to pick.”

  He took in the sight of her and decided nothing could look more delicious than she did. It was amazing how much he wanted her. He was willing to do almost anything to have her, and this was his way of showing her what she could have, should she choose him.

  Shayne swallowed hard, as he casually ran his fingers underneath his suddenly tight collar. Anna watched him with a puzzled expression on her face. Quickly, he gave their order to the waiter before turning his focus back to her and asking, “Would you like to dance?”

  He’d been without the feel of her for long enough. She gave him a nod, and he escorted her to the ballroom. It generally wasn’t open, but Shayne had been able to make special arrangements for its use.

  At her first sight of the ballroom, Anna gasped. He stopped and gave her time to take it all in. The ballroom was beautiful, with high ceilings, murals, and a gleaming floor. Leaning in, he whispered next to her ear, “It doesn't compare to you.”

  Shayne led her out on the floor as music began to play. Grasping her hand, he pulled her close. The musicians had been instructed to only play love songs. Anna and Shayne moved in time to the music, letting the lyrics wash over them. Her face was pressed to his chest, and he loved the feel of her in his arms.

  “This is perfect,” Anna murmured, in a languid voice.

  Shayne's eyes started to close in pleasure, until he saw movement. His eyes popped back open to the sight of Luke and Nate, caging them in. They were standing on each side of them, their arms crossed with scowls on their faces. Idiots! He glared at the two of them. They didn't budge.

  Shayne made a hand motion, behind her back, for them to get lost. “Get the hell out of here,” he mouthed, glancing at Anna, in fear she would notice. He didn't want anything ruining their night.

  Nate shook his head back and forth slowly, a stubborn expression on his face. Shayne shot the endurers a look that promised great retribution, then he tried to block them out.

  They danced to a few more songs. Anna, finally noticing the other two, gave them an odd glance but remained silent. Shayne escorted her back to the table, just as the first course arrived.

  “This smells heavenly,” Anna said, her eyes taking in the food. Shayne knew how much she enjoyed eating. She actually made it erotic.

  He held her chair out and then pushed her up to the table. In his need to impress Anna, he had ordered every appetizer the restaurant offered. Her eyes rested on a platter of crab legs. “I love seafood,” she said, with an impish grin on her face.

  He smiled back at her and grabbed a pair of crab crackers. “Allow me,” he said, his voice strained. He made quick work of the shell before dipping the meat in the hot butter. Leaning forward, he offered it to her with his fingers. Shayne wanted to feel her as she took it into her mouth.

  She opened her plump lips, and his fingers slid right in. It was scorching hot. The tip of her tongue worked against his fingertips as lust speared through him.

&n
bsp; “Mm,” she said in a husky voice, as his fingers slid away. Her eyes slid closed in pleasure. “That was delicious.” She dabbed at her lips with a napkin.

  “Damn,” one of the endurers muttered, from behind Shayne. “I have never seen anyone eat crab like that before.” Shayne's back went ramrod straight, as his face tightened with anger. Did these goons not have any sense?

  At the same time, directly behind Anna, he noticed the glint of lenses. Ian was on the roof next door, with the moonlight illuminating him in the darkness, as he watched their every move with a pair of binoculars. Shayne's face felt uncomfortably flushed. He was surrounded by peeping Toms, and it was all he could do to not turn around and smash a few heads.

  Shayne stood up. He was furious, but somehow he managed to give Anna some semblance of a smile before saying, “I’ll be right back.”

  He gestured for the two endurers to follow him. Once they were out of Anna's hearing range, he turned to face them. “Morons!” he hissed. “What in the hell is wrong with you two? You’re here to patrol and keep her safe, not chaperone her.”

  His cheekbones were red as he realized how hard it was to seduce someone with an audience. “You’re ruining my romantic evening,” he added, in a sullen voice.

  A look passed between Nate and Luke before they burst out laughing. Shayne knew they would never let him live it down. The story of his evening would move through the ranks by morning, and everyone would hear an exaggerated version of his date.

  Shayne glared at them. “Go find Ian and work out a patrol plan. We don’t need the two of you breathing down our necks. And tell Ian to get rid of the binoculars, or I’ll give him another shiner.”

  The two burst out in another round of laughter, holding onto each other to keep from falling down. Wiping the tears away from their eyes, they took off.

  Shayne watched them leave, shaking his head. “Assholes,” he muttered. There was nothing he’d like more than to take them outside and kick their asses.

  Straightening his tuxedo, he took a deep breath and went back to the table. He had something much more important to attend to. His moronic comrades would have to wait.

  The rest of their meal passed pleasantly. After they were done eating, Shayne took Anna to a glitzy, world-famous casino. Walking through the doors, the atmosphere instantly hit her, and she stopped to turn in a complete circle.

  “I've never seen anything like this before,” she said to Shayne, her eyes glittering. “It's dazzling.”

  He pulled her back to him, tilting her face up to his. “The only thing dazzling here is you. What would you like to do first?”

  She looked around and then shrugged. “How about all of them?”

  He laughed. “Your wish is my command.”

  Shayne led her around, letting her try everything. Money was truly no object for him. He was rich enough to gamble every night for a hundred years, if he wanted to.

  After trying the table games, she made her way over to the slot machines. She gave him a saucy grin, as she slid onto a stool in front of the machine. Within minutes, she was quickly engrossed in trying to win.

  Shayne realized it was time to check in with his dimwitted crew. There was no telling what kind of mischief they were up to. Leaning over, he ran a finger down the side of Anna's cheek as his mouth claimed hers in possessive kiss.

  Reluctantly pulling away, he said, “I’ll be back shortly. Can I get you something to drink?” He certainly needed one.

  “Yes, that would be great,” she replied, gratefully. “I'm actually really thirsty.”

  AFTER MAKING HER PROMISE she wouldn't leave the machine, Shayne walked away. Anna couldn’t tear her eyes away from him, and she wasn’t the only one. Several admiring glances were sent his way as he walked by. He was the type of man who would be noticed anywhere. Sighing, Anna turned back to the machine and pulled the handle.

  Suddenly, a cool voice asked from behind her, “Aren’t you Anna Andrews?”

  Her breath hitched at the question. Slowly turning, Anna immediately recognized Suzi Zellers. Her face was frozen as she faced the woman who had made it her mission in life to destroy her.

  Anna was shocked at her appearance. It was hard to believe the woman standing in front of her was the same Suzi she'd once known. The years had not been kind to her, and her skin looked like it belonged on a woman twice her age. Deep grooves framed her eyes and lips, while her forehead and neck were heavily wrinkled. Her hair was thin and brittle and looked white in the lights of the casino.

  But the horror of it all didn't stop there. She looked like a dead woman walking. Suzi's body was slender to the point of being emaciated. She wore a short dress that barely covered her breasts and rear. Her breasts were abnormally large on her sickly frame, and it was obvious to Anna that they had been surgically enhanced. Something or someone had literally sucked the life and vitality out of Suzi, leaving nothing behind.

  Anna finally remembered to nod, trying to hide her revulsion. She couldn’t even muster up a hello. Seeing Suzi's face again brought Anna's past back in a terrible way. The last time Anna had seen her was the night her whole life was ripped apart.

  Anna was worried her repressed emotions would overtake her. Suzi was well acquainted with demons. For all Anna knew, she'd been plotting with them all along to take Anna and destroy her. She’d mocked her nearly daily, with her cutting insults about her size. Then Suzi made the entire town believe Anna was a liar, when she'd taken off with Jesse.

  When it came to Jesse, though, Suzi had done her a major favor.

  “Well? Are you going to talk?” Suzi asked, snapping her bubble gum. Her greedy eyes ran across Anna's dress, taking it all in. “What are you doing here, anyhow? Did you come into a little money?”

  Anna stared back at her coolly, unwilling to go through the pretense of catching up. Instead, she said, “I think it’s best you left, don’t you?” She arched an eyebrow and continued, “It’s not like we ever had anything in common. You made that clear, years ago. So why would we now?” She turned her back to Suzi and resumed her game.

  Part of her hoped Shayne would come and rescue her, but the other part wanted him to stay away. The ghosts of her past were haunting her heavily. Suzi had slept with her boyfriend the entire time he was in town. Shayne was a hundred times better looking than Jesse could have ever hoped to be, and there wasn't anything stopping Suzi from making a play for him too. Anna felt cold and clammy, as she feared the past repeating itself.

  “Always the cool one, aren’t you, Anna? You’d think you would have used some of that money to fix that fat body of yours, though,” Suzi said, in a loud voice. “You’re still as fat and dumpy as ever.”

  The people playing the slot machines next to Anna paused in their games to watch the drama unfolding in front of them. Shame and embarrassment washed over her, as every eye witnessed her public humiliation. When Anna turned back to her, Suzi slyly glanced around and smirked when she saw the attention she was getting. There was nothing she loved more than an audience.

  Suzi leaned closer to mutter, “All alone too, just like always. I’m willing to bet you’re still as pure as you were years ago. Couldn’t even pay anyone to fuck you, now could you?” Suzi let out a laugh of pure malice.

  The years melted away, and Anna became that young, naive woman who had just discovered her boyfriend was using her while screwing the perfect blonde. Hurt washed over her, the feeling as crushing as it had been years before.

  Because of Jesse and Suzi, she'd always felt a lack about herself. Like she was less than, because apparently she was. Anna blinked furiously. She didn’t want to give Suzi the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

  Men didn't want women like her.

  So why did Shayne?

  Suzi wasn’t done yet. She placed her finger on her chin and tapped it, as if deep in thought. “I mean, couldn’t you tell that Jesse was never interested in you? He told me the only reason he even talked to you was to win a bet. We used to laugh over you
r obese body, and how you believed someone like him could ever be interested in a whale like you. After we were done, he’d spending hours making love to me.”

  She gave Anna a look of disdain and gestured towards her own body. “Why would he want you when he could have this? He begged me to leave town with him. You were never in the running.”

  SHAYNE APPROACHED THE two and caught the tail end of their conversation. Rage flooded his body as he realized exactly who the woman was. He could smell the demon essence she was drenched in. The scent of sulfur surrounded her. She was a demon whore, and it showed on her ravaged body.

  Nate and Luke flanked him. They heard and saw the same things Shayne did, and from the expressions on their faces, they weren't too pleased. The ugly blonde-haired woman was cold, cruel, and callous. All three of them knew what they were dealing with, and they were committed to protecting Anna. It wasn’t their first rodeo with evil.

  Stepping up to Anna, Shayne turned her face and kissed her in greeting. In one short glance, he could see everything she was feeling. Her face was pale, and her eyes were filled with tears. She sat perfectly rigid, struggling to keep control over her emotions. His face tightened and his body trembled in anger at the bitch who had caused it.

  He smiled down at Anna, his eyes only for her. “Miss me?” he asked softly, not surprised when she didn't respond. She stared back at him, her eyes unblinking. After a moment, she nodded.

  Suzi eased her lips into a practiced, seductive smile. They had been surgically enhanced to be bigger, and they looked out of place on her weathered face. “I missed you, and I don’t even know you, handsome,” she simpered. “My name's Suzi.” She extended her hand to Shayne, while completely ignoring Anna like she was trash beneath her feet.