Plus, the first time she had visited her sister Gwen at the fortress, Strider had noticed several of the warriors eyeing her as if she were a lollipop. She hadnt seemed to notice or care, and he hadnt wanted to compete for her affections. Hed made the right decision, too.
He still couldnt believe shed slept with Paris.
Paris. Ah, okay. Her need to find Strider was beginning to make a little sense. He was with Paris, so what better way to spend time with the warrior without admitting what she really wanted?
That didnt bother Strider, but damn it all to hell, he didnt like being used. If youre here to win Pariss everlasting love, youve already failed. He now knows beyond any doubt that Sienna is still out there, and hes desperate to reach her. Youre not going to make him jealous by cuddling up to me and youre not
Will you just shut up? Kaia snatched a box of Red Hots and popped open the lid.
He snatched it back before she could eat a single one, and Defeat purred with satisfaction.
Hey!
Mine, he snapped. Enough was enough.
Rather than attack him, she merely anchored her free hand on her perfectly shaped hips. Lookit. I didnt want to kick things off this way, but youre being an asshat. So here it is. Paris was a one-time thing and not just because he cant ever come back for seconds. Yeah, he gave me about a bazillion orgasms, but afterward I didnt like how I felt and I couldnt stop thinkingnever mind. She was scowling as she shook her head. What Im trying to say is that Im not here to see him. I wanted to see
Kaia, darling, William said, nearly leaping over a stand of beef jerky in his haste to reach her.
Strider frowned, but he wasnt sure why.
As William pulled her close for a hug, the bastard grinned with utter delight, as if Kaia was just the thing hed needed to relieve an eternity of boredom. Are you here to fight the strippers who just enjoyed hours of my company? He patted her ass in approval.
Hardly, she said, tossing her glorious mane of hair over her shoulder with a single flip of her wrist. Im here to thank them for keeping you occupied. Please tell me theyre still with you.
William pretended to wipe away a tear. Knife through the heart, my sweet. Knife through the heart.
Gods, they were annoying. William had been trying to get into Kaias pants for months. She, of course, liked to string him along.
Which was another reason Strider would never make a play for her.
Kaia would challenge him more than most, and she wouldnt care if he lost. Hell, she would want him to lose, even though the loss would bring him days of physical agony. Her sense of rivalry was just as highly developed as his own.
Were on vacation, Kaia, Strider grumbled. You werent invited.
She waved away his words as if they were unimportant. Deep down I knew you meant to invite me, so ta-da. Here I am. Youre welcome.
Its scary how well you know us. Here, pay for this, William said, dumping his candy into Striders arms. Well be in the car. Making out.
At first, Kaia remained in place, watching Strider. Whatever she wanted from him, he must not have given to her, because she blew him a kiss and allowed the black-haired warrior to lead her off. Not even trying to hide her actions, she stuffed a Twinkie in the back pocket of her jeans and grabbed a couple magazines before stepping outside.
Striders jaw ached from the grind of his teeth as he strode to the register. For some reason, people moved out of his way as quickly as possible. Even the ones standing in line, waiting their turn.
Uh, I wouldnt bring this up, except I kinda have to and everything, the overweight cashier began nervously, since its on camera and my boss, like, watches the film sometimes, but, uh, the little lady took a
I know. Just add it all up. After he paid, he stomped outside, the bag filled with candy slapping his thigh with every step. The cool night air failed to dampen his sudden black mood. At least youre not thinking about Ex now.
Hardly a silver lining. And one that didnt last. Hed maybe, big maybe, exaggerated his attraction to Ex. If hed really wanted her, he wouldnt have slept with someone else earlier today. He would have fought for her affections now rather than eventually, no matter how foolish fighting your friends over a woman was.
Look at Paris. Guy needed sex to freaking survive, but he hadnt spent quality sheet time with any of those strippers.
That didnt lessen the sting of being rebuffed, though, and maybe thats why hed thought he wanted Ex so damn badly. Because she hadnt wanted him. Because shed been awhat? A challenge. A challenge he claimed he hadnt wanted. And he didnt!
Damn it. No more challenges. He was taking a break if it killed him.
He reached the car, saw that Kaia had stolen his seat in front and practically ripped the back door from its hinges. He climbed inside and settled beside the still sleeping Paris. And what the fuck was that smell? Cinnamon rolls?
He decided to take his irritation out on her. You wearing perfume? he growled, kicking her stolen seat so shed know he was talking to her.
She twisted to peer back at him, a smile clinging to the edges of her Im-not-wearing-any-panties mouth. Hed known she wasnt wearing any, the little teaser, but he hadnt needed that kind of confirmation.
Dude. Its a smile, not a glance up a skirt.
Oh, shut up.
He was talking to himself now. Wasnt that just great? Well?
Nope, no perfume, but I did visit a bakery just before I hunted Lucien down. Why? Do I smell as sweet as sugar?
No, damn it, she smelled like she needed a good licking.
Kaia, in bed. Naked. Splayed. His mind liked the image, and hell, so did his demon. While Strider would rather die than accept another challengefiguratively speaking, of coursehis demon would go insane without them. Beast fed off the high that came with their victories.
But he wasnt going to let himself go there with Kaia. Not today, and not ever. Kaia wouldnt just challenge him more than most; she would challenge him about everything, and he would never have a moment of peace.
Defeat practically rubbed his hands together in glee. Strider frowned. No, no, hell, no. We arent going there. Shes a Harpy. We cant win against her. Well suffer. Constantly.
A growl. A whimper. Anger and fear, wrapped tightly together and sprinkled with Oh, please, gods, no.
That was more like it. Even if some part of Strider liked the idea of constantly sparring with Kaia, cause yeah, matching wits and daggers could be fun and peace was sometimes overrated, he still couldnt allow himself to be with her. Unlike the other warriors, he had never been able to sleep with a woman who had already tasted one of his friends. It was that possessive streak of his. There was simply no way around it.
Althoughfor Ex, Haidee, hed been willing to make an exception. Which meant his competitive nature was stronger than his possessiveness. Kaia, though, wouldnt be extended the same willingness.
Defeat gave another growl, this one laced withdisappointment? No way. Im just tired. Imagining things. His demon only cared about battles, not a specific woman.
Kaia finally gave up on Strider and turned back around. William maneuvered onto the highway, the caddy gobbling up the miles. Of course, he resumed his flirtation with the Harpy.
For a little over an hour, Strider ate his candy and fumed. Yes, vacations sucked. At the next rest stop, he might just ditch his companions and head off on his own. Except, when Kaia giggled at something William said, Strider decided waiting to reach a rest stop was dumb. Hed get out now and hitchhike. That kind of feminine delight was grating to his nerves. Yes, grating. Not enchanting.
He definitely needed distance between him and Kaia. Then hed stop thinking about her. Stop reacting to her. Stop caring about her past. After all, hed just gotten out of a bad relationship and didnt need to endure another. Plus, thats what had happened the last time hed left her. Hed left, and all the torment had stopped. Granted, his reactions hadnt been quite as strong back then, but there was no reason to think this time would be any different.
So where are we going? Kaia asked no one in particular.
Nowhere, Strider replied.
To kill Gillys family, William answered easily.
Strider needed to have a chat with the man. You didnt undermine your friends. It was worse than cock-blocking.
Kaia tossed Strider a shut-your-mouth frown before bouncing in her seat. Do I get to help? Please! Can I? You may not know this, but Im very handy with a blade of any kind, a hacksaw, a whip, a
Hey! Someone went through my bag, William said.
So? Kaia continued, as if William hadnt spoken. Whatever the weapon, Im good with it.
He would not be impressed. We wont be using weapons. Well be smashing jugulars.
Oh, oh! We can play Who Can Smash More!
No, we cant because you cant help, Strider said at the same time William blurted out, Id be disappointed if you didnt help.
Kaia hmphed at him.
Just try not to destroy the entire neighborhood, he snapped. Nobody listened to him anymore.
Slitted eyes returned to him. There was no hint of black in the whites, so he knew her Harpy was under control. Why are you so grouchy?
Im not grouchy. Only women are grouchy.
Youre grouchy, William said.
Youre grouchy, Strider said. Realizing he sounded like a child, he leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees, his face in his upraised hands. What the hell was wrong with him?
William snickered at him. Kaia simply continued to watch him, her expression unreadable.
Well, grouchy or not, Stridey, she said, I have news that will cheer you up.
Leaning forward had been a dumb move. The scent of cinnamon and sugar was stronger now, enveloping him, making his mouth water. Would Kaia taste as delicious as she smelled?
Suddenly she stiffened. You smell like a womans peach-flavored body oil.
Did he? He thought back to the stripper hed had on his lap at Pariss ranch, and yep, he remembered smelling peaches. Kaia must have hated peaches, though, because she was obviously planning to murder the maker of that oil.
I. Will. Destroy. You. And yep, black now bled into the white of her eyes. Her nails had already lengthened and sharpened into claws, and those claws were embedded in the plastic console between the driver and passenger seat. Hello, raging beast.
Mental note: never eat peaches in front of Kaia.
Win? Defeat said on a trembling breath, the question having nothing to do with uncertainty this time, and everything to do with being cowed.
Yeah. Good luck with that, buddy. Shell eat you for lunch and spit out your scales. Ill wash, okay. Strider jerked upright, as far away from her heavenly aroma as he could get. And just so you know, I dont care about your news.
I cannot kill him, she muttered to herself. I cannot kill him. I promised Bianka Id stop at ten bodies a day, and Ive already surpassed my quota for the fifth day in a row. I cannot kill him.
As far as pep talks went, that one kind of blew. But it calmed her, the black in her eyes fading and those claws receding.
Strider peered out the window, willing to count the trees that whizzed by rather than peer at that too-pretty face. Now listen up, buttercup. Stri-Stri is going to take a little nappie-poo. Everyone hush their big, fat mouths. Better to be bored pretending to snooze than accidentally piss Kaia off again.
Fine. Sleep. All kinds of irritation layered her husky voice. She wasnt squawking, though, which was another excellent sign that the danger had passed. Just know that while youre catching up on your much needed beauty rest, youll miss my story about how many Hunters I bagged and tagged this week.
Good. Shed bagged and tagged a few? He tried not to look intrigued, even as he rethought his strategy. Go ahead and start your story. Im sure Ill be so bored Ill nod right off.
No. Youve been a bad boy and dont deserve a reward. Therefore, I wont tell you that theres a certain Hunter on your trail and hes closing in.
Someone always is.
She blew out a frustrated breath. I also wont tell you
He snored as loud as he could, just to be contrary, and almost laughed when she uttered a quiet shriek. Part of him liked this verbal sparring. Liked annoying her and feeling the sparks that nearly sizzled from that petite body.
Thats it! Do you hear me, Strider? Thats it! I challenge you to listen to me. Now.
That he didnt like.
As his demon jumped up and down in his head, now desperate to win, Strider glared at Kaia, pretty face be damned. And he didnt give a shit if he pissed her off, either. I knew youd do this. I knew youd challenge me. Youre just like every other female Ive ever known. No, wait. Youre worse. You know what happens to me when I lose, but you challenge me anyway.
Hurt flashed over her features, there one moment, gone the next. Surely he was mistaken. Harpiesespecially this infuriating Harpydidnt do hurt. Ever. You know you can win this.
So go on, then, he snapped. Talk. Im literally dying to hear what you have to say.
Kaia ran the pink tip of her tongue over her teeth, and his stomach clenched in reaction. She could have refused him and sent him to his knees in gut-wrenching pain. Instead, she finished her little speech. You captured Haidee. Her boyfriend and his followers have been chasing you. There. Done. You listened and won.
He didnt feel like hed won. And neither did his demon. There was no rush of pleasure, only a need for a real challenge. Something hed have to work for. I dont wanna work for anything, remember? Still. Everything inside him froze. His heartbeat, his lungs. The rush of blood in his veins. Theres more. Tell me the rest.
Fine. Here it is. While youve been playing around, Ive been chasing the boyfriend and those followers of his. Theres something odd about each of them, by the way, but the boyfriend most of all. TheyreI dont know, darker than other humans Ive been around. They made me feelicky, which is why I made them hurt real bad before I disposed of them. You should have seen them. After I took my blade and