Give me a chance, he beseeched. Please.
Win? Defeat said.
Go back to your corner.
In the back of his mind, he acknowledged that the music had changed, the tempo harder, faster, but he refused to accelerate the slow grind he had going with Kaia.
Her shoulders sagged, but rather than stomp away in disappointment because he hadnt agreed to stay forever, she flattened her hands on his chest and whispered, Thats not good enough. I wish it were, but
For now, its all I can offer. He cupped her jaw, forcing her attention to remain on his face. I do know that I hate the thought of you with anyone else. I know youre the only woman I desire.
She started nibbling on her bottom lip again, and he almost, almost, replaced her teeth with his own. But not yet. Not until she agreed.
What changed your mind? she asked. I mean, it certainly wasnt my mad street fighting skills since I crashed and burned at Tag.
His stomach churned as an image of her blazed through his mind. Her body limp and covered with blood. Her face swollen, her limbs mangled. Never again, he thought darkly. He would protect her.
Win?
No trying to shove Defeat away. In that regard, yes. He would accept any challenge.
Before he could respond to Kaias question, she looked down and added, I threw a fight for you once. Do you remember? That night with the Hunters? I challenged you to kill more than I did, and I totally could have won, but I gave you my targets.
His chest constricted, a pang of some unknown emotion lancing through him. I remember, baby doll, and I never thanked you. Im sorry for that.
Well, thank-you or not, Im not doing that again. Im not throwing a fight for you. So gently said.
Im glad. Her sense of pride was as intense as his own. She hated losing, and while she didnt experience physical pain when she failed, she did experience a shitload of mental anguish.
Her own people called her Kaia the Disappointment, for gods sake. Because of that, she always strove to prove herself worthy. He realized that now. Knew it was the reason shed challenged him to begin with. Shed wanted to prove she was good enough for him. And the fact that shed purposely lost demonstrated just how deeply she desired him. He realized that, too.
As if she had anything to prove.
Still. How had he repaid her? Hed dumped on her, time and time again. Shame exploded through him, a bomb hed built all by himself. Well, no more dumping. As long as they were together, he would treat her with the care and concern she deserved.
Youre glad? She blinked at him, her warm, sweet breath trekking over his neck. His pulse leapt up to meet every exhalation. But if I beat you at anything, youll hurt.
So youll kiss me and make me better. Right?
Her nails dug past his shirt and into skin. IIdont know what to say.
Say you wont purposely challenge me to something I cant hope to win.
A moment passed in silence as she considered his words. Ill try not to, but I cant promise. Sometimes you bring out the worst in me.
Ha! He brought out the best in her. No ego check necessary. The truth was the truth, no matter how you sliced it. Either way, well work it out.
Yes, well work Slowly her eyes narrowed, her nails sinking deeper into his flesh. Well, well. Finally I meet Mr. Agreeable. Are you buttering me up like a breakfast muffin just so I wont hurt Haidee?
So suspicious, but that was the nature of the beast. They were very similar in that respect. You can hurt her if you still want to hurt her, but then Amun will be pissed and hell attack me. Ill have to hurt him.
Fine, she said on a sigh. I like Amun, so I wont hurt Haidee.
Thank you, he said through gritted teeth. She liked Amun?
She retracted one set of claws and flicked her hair over one shoulder. So what do you like about me? You never said. Feel free to get wildly descriptive and maybe throw in some poetry. Or one of those limericks you mentioned.
Gonna make him work for it, huh? Even though shed already decided to give him what he wanted. All the privileges of a consort, the uncertain future be damned. Oh, she hadnt said so yet, but then, she didnt have to. He knew. She was here, in his arms, demanding he romance her.
Typical Kaia. Never a dull moment, but a ton of fun. More than that, she had very nearly mastered the art of pleasing Defeat, offering little challenges here and there to feed him. Challenges Strider could win, no problem.
Win.
See? Shed done it again; shed challenged him at something easy. But would he take this victory home with poetry? Gods, no. Well, lets see, he began huskily. I like your smart mouth. I like your pouty mouth. I like your potty mouth. I like your whiny mouth. I like your shrieking mouth. I like
My mouth, she said dryly, rolling her eyes. Eyes bright with arousal. She wiggled against his shaft, rubbing him perfectly, just the way he liked. Tell me why.
No. Ill show you why. He moved one of his hands to her nape and urged her the rest of the way forward. Their lips met, opened, and their tongues thrust together. She tasted like mint and cherry, and he decided that was his new favorite flavor.
Her fingers tangled in his hair, her claws digging into his scalp. Desire pumped through his veins, pure, undiluted, blinding him to everything else. To the people around them, the circumstances, the consequences. He held fire in his arms and he desperately wanted to be burned.
And he wanted to burn her. Burn his essence into every part of her, reshaping her into his woman. Everyone who looked at her, neared her, would know who she belonged to.
Mine, shes mine. Damn, she excited him. Their tongues dueled, even that a battle. Such a delicious battle. He dominated, claiming her mouth as his territory. He felt her nipples harden against his chest and wanted to tweak them. Wanted his fingers between her legs, deep inside her, thrusting over and over again.
Strider, she rasped.
Baby doll.
Dont stop.
Won, Defeat said on a sigh, shooting more of that pleasure through him and driving his need even higher.
Strider walked her forward, every jarring step rubbing her more firmly against him. When he reached the nearest table, he leaned down, swiped his arm across the beer bottles littering the surface and distantly heard them shatter on the floor. He pressed Kaia against the wood.
He wanted to do things to her. Bad things. No, good things, he told himself. He had to do good things to her. Had to be her best. But maybe hed push her for a few of those bad things, make her take everything he had to give, make her beg, need him, crave him like a drug.
Woohoo! Yeah, baby, yeah! Anya, the minor goddess of Anarchy, called, her voice dragging him kicking and screaming from the fog of desire. Rip his clothes off, Kaia. Show us what hes got!
Strider straightened with a snarl, his gaze scanning, his mind buzzing. Destroy the crowd, return his mouth to Kaias. As he realized every single person in the bar was watching them, the heat inside him cooled. Some were watching with grins, some with exasperation, somenamely the humanswith lust.
The heat returned, but for an entirely different reason. Fury, so much fury, overshadowed his own lust. He didnt like anyone seeing Kaia like this, lost and needy, eager for him. He couldnt allow it. Wouldnt allow it.
He grabbed her arm and jerked her to her feet, smoothing her dress for her. His motions were stiff, jerky. How could he have forgotten their audience, even for a second? Someone could have attacked him. Defeated him. How could he have forgotten what would happen to him if he failed to be Kaias best? Her best kiss. Her best lay. Hed be ruined, too weak to be effective and no use to her during the coming confrontations.
Althoughhe wasnt on his knees, overcome by pain, so hed clearly been her best kiss. Again. The knowledge puffed his chest with pride. Of course hed been the best, andego check.
He had better things to do than praise his own magnificence. Like let the guys train her for the next battle the way theyd promised to do, and then haul her back to the motel.
Won, won, won, Defeat said on a sigh, more of that pleasure consuming him.
I never doubted it. He scowled at his friends. Enough playing around, he snapped, then returned his attention to Kaia. Get the boys and go out back. Do what I brought you here to do.
Thick red lashes lifted, a curtain rising over a screen of surprise. Youre not coming with me?
No. He gave her a little push. Now go.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
TO STRIDERS CONSTERNATION, they never made it outside.
As his friends downed their drinks in a hurryno drop left behind and all thatthe front doors swung open and a black-haired beauty strutted into the bar. Lavender eyes searched the barand landed on Kaia. Red lips curled into a satisfied grin.
Strider stiffened. Shit. Wasnt that just his luck. Sabins mission was now superfluous, which meant thered be no hunting, no stealing tonight. The Eagleshields had landed.
Kaia cursed under her breath. Just my luck. Juliette the Nag You Until You Kill Yourself Eradicator is here.
The womans consort wasnt far behind. Strider hadnt seen him at Tag, had just assumed the guy was off somewhere guarding the Paring Rod, and now he experienced a beat of surprise as the bastard stepped into the bar, expression smug and superior, as if he owned all he surveyed. There was no sign of the artifact. What did he have? Multiple, heavily armed Harpies flanking him. His guards?
During orientation, the hulking giant had sported chains. Now Strider noticed that he sported tattoos. Links had been etched into the flesh around his neck and wrists. Most likely, if he removed his boots, Strider would see ink around his ankles, too.
The tattoos looked red, swollen and fresh, and Strider would have bet his left nut theyd been added only this morning.
Why keep so dangerous a guy around, huh? Kaia had said Harpies could forgive their consorts for almost anything, but come on. The man had murdered other Harpies. Surely that was worse than, say, stealing a priceless artifact from an enemy.
Within seconds, Striders friends had lined up beside him, forming a wall of menace. They had no idea what was going onexcept, maybe, for Amunbut they knew him well. Knew when he was gearing up to fight. Hell, they knew an enemy when they spotted one.
Win!
No combative words had yet been spoken, but even Defeat had sensed the threat. Consider it done. With pleasure.
The manor whatever he wascaught sight of Kaia. Obsidian eyes swirled hypnotically. He was bare-chested, and his pectorals jumped. Because he was imagining Kaias hands on him? Strider tensed. Mine. And I dont share. Ever.
Lets kidnap Juliettes followers and threaten to release them if she doesnt do what we want, Kaia whispered to him.
Wait. What? Threaten to release them?
Theyre so horrible, getting them back would be the punishment.
He fought a grin.
Now, lets zip this convo up and let momma work. She cleared her throat, straightened her shoulders. Well, well, Kaia said, casual yet loud enough to be heard by one and all this time. Is it my birthday already?
No, Juliette said. Its mine.
Speaking of, When is your birthday? Strider asked Kaia. His friends would assume he wanted to know now of all times simply to irritate the newcomers, to show them just how little they mattered. And that was partly true. But Strider found he really, really wanted to know anyway. For himself.
Wide silver-gold eyes swung to him. You dont know?
No.
Pouting, she twirled a strand of her hair. How can you not know?
Do you know mine? he asked.
Of course I do. Its the day you met me.
As good a day as any. No, its not, because that was a trick question, baby doll. I dont actually have a birthday. I was created fully formed, not born. True story.
You can be such a moron. She threw up her arms, exasperated. Dont argue with me about this kind of thing. Ill always be right. Seriously. You were dead until you met me and we both know it. Which means I brought you to life. So, happy belated birthday.
Amun laughed, which was a shock. The serious warrior never laughed. Anya nodded as if shed never heard a more solid argument and Gideon snickered behind his hand. Scarlet slapped him in the back of the head.
Youre right, Strider said, wanting to laugh himself. So whens yours?
Shut up, Juliette suddenly snarled. I thought we were going to trade insults.
He turned back to her, as if surprised to find she was still there. Fury colored her cheeks a bright pink and even thinned her lips. Excellent. Emotion would make her stupid. The consort, though, looked amused. And impressed, even a little wistful.
Make a play for Kaia, dude. I dare you, Strider projected at him.
As if sensing the new hazard, the man moved his gaze to Strider. For several seconds, they simply glared at each other. There was no way in hell Strider would look away first and the guy must have sensed that, because after flashing his teeth in a show of aggression, he returned his attention to Kaiaand licked his lips.
Oh, you will pay for that. Why Defeat didnt pipe in with a Win, Strider didnt know. Like that would stop him from doing a wee bit of bitch-slapping, though.
So howd you find her? Strider demanded with more force than hed intended.
Please. As if tracking you was hard, Juliette replied, deigning only to speak to Kaia.
Finally, Defeat perked up.
Not a challenge, you bastard. And where were you when I wanted you?
No response. Of course.
Kaia grinned slowly. As if I didnt know you were following me. As if I didnt leave bread crumbs for you to find. And look who ate those crumbs like a mouse and landed herself in a nice little cheese trap.
Score. Juliette shifted uncomfortably from one booted foot to another. Her gaze panned the demon-possessed warriors in front of her and she paled.