Belle Fury: Manhatten Ten, Book 3 (6 page)

“
You’re
getting married?” As soon as I asked, it sounded rude. Why couldn’t she get married? “I mean, congratulations.”

Ivory’s spreading smile was the warmest thing about her. “To my Panther. This Saturday.”

“You must be busy.”
 

“Not at all. It will be a small ceremony. Just the Ten and their guests at the reception.” Ivory’s gaze turned predatory. “And Tank promised I can chase away the paparazzi if they come too close.”

“That sounds…” Like something I didn’t want to be involved in. “Are they a problem?”

“You’ll see once you’ve joined.”
 

“I’m not meant for that.” I danced. Even with my Swan Lake Kung Fu, I wasn’t the type to go after criminals. “Ryan didn’t mention it either.”

“Ruin is too far inside Tank’s shadow to see what’s in front of him. You’d make a fine addition to us.”

I bristled at the slight to Ryan. Where was this Tank guy, if he were so amazing?

“I didn’t mean to offend.” Ivory’s eyes narrowed. “You’re interested in Ruin?”

“That’s—” How was this conversation happening? “I don’t know. He’s been nice to me.”

“I see.” Ivory relaxed. “I think you’d suit each other. This life is much easier when you have the right partner. I wouldn’t leave my Panther for any temptation.”

“I’m not staying here for a man.” Let alone becoming a superhero for one. I had my life to fix, and the 1950s were well gone. A man wasn’t going to make it all better. Not even one as good as Ryan.

“Of course not. You’ll stay for yourself.” Ivory patted my shoulder on her way past. “Join us for yoga tomorrow. Eleven o’clock.”

I stood for a while after Ivory left. What was with her?

Dancers weren’t heroes. We trained insane hours, pushing ourselves to the limit for the starring role. We were selfish at pursing the art.

Ambition was all I knew. In that sense, these new powers were just another hurdle to overcome. My
pointe
shoes and I headed for the stadium.
 

We had work to do.

Red Ruin

I was two seconds from frying the monitor. Shit. I’d fry the building’s power system if I had to. In the time it took me to answer one e-mail, five new ones came in. The FBI wanted us to consult on this case and this case, and where were we with that other one, the one with that guy from five years ago?

The teams on the street checked in constantly. Panther and Ivory were out on a consult with the NYPD, Thunder was in Albany, dealing with some shitty super legislation the state government wanted to sneak through, and the White House had borrowed Annihilator for the Secretary of State’s visit to North Korea. Jet’s solo patrol in the city had already wracked up three arrests today, and I didn’t know why I needed to be posted on pickpockets.

Maybe Tank wanted this much information, but I was done.
 

Done.

I clicked out of e-mail and into the security feeds. Belle was in the stadium.

She’d found a sexy spandex suit and her ballet shoes, but I couldn’t admire her curves. She moved too fast.

It was a spin that didn’t stop. With her left toe pointed, her right leg kicked and kicked and kicked. Ribbons of energy flew until she looked more like a top than a human being.

Finally, she came to a stop in a swirl of power that blurred in the camera. And…nope. Now she twirled on her other leg.

Was she planning on stopping? Ever? She’d drive herself crazy if she didn’t take a break.

My stomach rumbled. I’d only picked at lunch, and I hadn’t left my desk since. We could order out, but both of us needed air. I called down to the stadium phone. It rang about twenty times before Belle noticed.

She stopped her infinity spin and looked around until she found the call box. “Hello?”

“Up for dinner?” I was already turning off my computer. “I thought we could get out of here for a while.”

“Good idea.” Belle stretched her free arm in a slow circle, but the rotation didn’t spark any power. She’d been working hard, and I was impressed she could accomplish so much so soon. I’d accidentally fried things for years after getting my powers. Still did. “Do I have time to shower?”

“Yeah. Just meet in the office when you’re ready.”

“See you then.” Belle hung up. Stretching deeper, she pulled both arms over her head, but she couldn’t hide a sly smile.

Dinner for two was probably a bad idea. If we cooked up any more chemistry between us, something would give.

But Belle needed this. She’d dance herself into a pile of ashes if I didn’t keep an eye on her. Helping her was the only part of this job I didn’t hate right now.

Didn’t hate it at all.

Chapter Six

Belle

I practically ran for the shower. As much as I was hiding from real life, a night out was exactly what I needed. Ryan and a few cocktails would be a dangerous combination, but I could handle it.

With my closet stocked—and I was pretty sure Angel had sent my dresses for dry cleaning—I had plenty of outfits to choose from. One of the plastic-sheeted hangers drew my eye.

I’d planned to wear the dress to the opening night after party. Cream-colored silk peeked through the layer of sheer black lace. Couture. A one-of-a-kind perfectly tailored to me. It was supposed to be my gift to myself for achieving my dream.

So much for that.

When else was I ever going to wear it?

I dug out my nude pumps and makeup kit. With a smoky eye and my hair down in long waves, the whole thing was perfectly sexy. Even off my game I could still shine up.

Though I should’ve asked him where we were going. With my luck, we had reservations at McDonald’s.

On Saturday night, the office was less crowded than Friday, but still buzzing. This time I caught more looks. Maybe well-dressed ladies were rarer around here than barefoot disheveled ones who blew all the light bulbs.

Ryan lay on his couch, feet dangling and hands over his eyes. If I just locked the door behind me…

Instead, I cleared my throat. “Ready.”

“You up for…” Ryan’s face slackened.

“Like it?” I spun and pretended my heart wasn’t fluttering. The motion knocked over his pen jar, but that was an improvement. “Figured I should wear it instead of letting it collect dust.”

He looked me up, down and up again. “Wow.”

With those amazing hazel eyes following my curves, I was ready to mangle the dress to get to him. “If you’re gonna look at me like that, I’m not responsible for what happens.”
 

“Neither am I.” Ryan stalked from the couch and stood just shy of touching. So close I could feel his body heat. He cupped my cheek, tilting my chin upward, and it tingled so hard I would’ve sworn he was using his powers. “You going to throw me through a wall if I kiss you?”

“No promises.” I lifted onto my toes.
 

Ryan moved to meet me. Such soft lips.

He was tender. Maybe hesitant?

“It’s okay.” I gripped his waist and moved my kiss to his jaw line. The only forces at work so far were our hormones. I could actually enjoy this.

I slid over to suck his bottom lip, and Ryan pressed hard against me. His hands roved to my lower back and he pulled me tighter.

His mouth trailed down the curve of my neck like a line of lightning, but he was too tall. He lingered, his hands smoothing over my shoulders and back, dipping low, but not quite low enough.

When he finally caressed below my hips, I let loose a little gasp.

So good
.

The verbal cue was all he needed. Ryan took my lips again, harder. He was a force around me. All I could feel, smell, taste, was Ryan. I wanted more.

I leapt up, wrapping my legs around him.

With the leap, my powers surged.

The force ripped us apart. Ryan crashed into his desk. I kicked out with my powers before I face-planted in the ceiling. Right before I concussed myself on the floor, a crackle of lightning sparked. Ryan’s energy eased me to the ground in a tickling cloud of scarlet electricity.

He sagged against the carpet. “That wasn’t how I planned that.”

“You’re telling me.” My body still hummed from his attention. Maybe we could keep going and pretend that didn’t happen. As I lifted myself out of the couch rubble, my back twinged.
 

Maybe we’d finish it later. After some more practice with my control.

“Damn.” Ryan made it to his hands and knees with a wince. He’d knocked his desk halfway across the room, scattering pens and bits of technology everywhere. He pushed his cracked monitor away. “Maybe I can get Sunday off now?”

The door flew open. “Ruin, are you—”
 

Angel stood backed by half a dozen guys decked with Kevlar and machine guns. Ivory pushed her out of the way and a chill cut through the room.

I shivered. I’d rather face the guns than the warrior goddess with the four-foot ice spear.
 

As soon as she assessed the situation, Ivory’s posture eased. The spear disappeared with a
poof
of ice crystals, and her hunter’s gaze lightened to a smirk. “They were just having fun.”
 

“Right.” I pushed to my feet. “Fun.”

“Only a training exercise,” Ryan called loud enough that the men outside could hear.
 

Angel peeked past the doorframe. “I’ll call maintenance. Next time can you keep the training in the stadium?”

“Sorry.” I smoothed out my dress. It was more rumpled but still had life in it. “Sometimes I just have to…train.”

Ryan laugh-choked.

“
Dios mío
.” Angel threw up her hands and turned away.

“I love your dress. Clearly, Ruin does too.” When Ivory left, the army dispersed.
 

I put my hands to my flaming cheeks. It was only kissing, but did
everyone
have to know about it?

Ryan grinned. “Still up for dinner? I got us a table at Per Se.”

And why should I be surprised? So what if it was the most expensive, exclusive, amazing restaurant in the city? Superheroes must love them some tasting menus. “I
guess
that’ll do.”

“We could always do pizza.” Ryan twirled a set of keys around his finger.

“No way.” Assuming you got a reservation, Per Se was a few hundred dollars before all their fine wine. I’d always wanted to go.

“Then let’s roll.” He put the keys in his pocket and we headed downstairs.

“This is a date, isn’t it?” I hadn’t been thinking of it that way—not really—but that kiss…

I hoped it was a date.

“That okay with you?” Ryan offered me his hand.

“Definitely okay.” We joined hands, and I shivered. I could’ve said it was the power, tingling under his skin, but I was pretty sure it was the energy between us. Or maybe the chemistry? It was as comfortable as it was exciting.
 

I glanced sideways at Ryan and caught him looking at me. We both shared silly smiles.

I was either giddy or insane. If I didn’t have my shit together enough to kiss the guy without blowing him up, I probably shouldn’t be grinning at him at him like an idiot. Maybe that was why, though. I was the storm, and even if I destroyed everything else in my path, Ryan was the mountain I couldn’t break.

He was solid and safe, and he certainly didn’t want me because he could get something out of me. In the end, most guys either put me on a pedestal or saw as me as an accessory. Ryan had seen me at my frosting-licking worst, and a trophy ballerina wouldn’t do anything for his status. He could get trophies on his own.
 

Maybe he just understood me.

As the elevator doors opened, a massive blond stepped in, texting furiously and not at all aware of us.

“Steel.” Ryan thumped the guy’s shoulder. “You mind?”

“Whoa.” He jumped back, blue eyes wide. “Didn’t see you. Sorry.” He let us pass by into the garage. “You’re the ballerina?”

“Belle.”
 

“Cool. I’m Steel.” He offered a hand. I had to let go of Ryan to give him a firm shake, and his hand was like a dead fish—no pressure at all. I’d forgotten what his superpower was if I’d ever known, but I was guessing he was trying not to crush me.

“You done for the night?” Ryan asked.

“With work.” Steel grinned, but he looked more exhausted than excited. “Going clubbing later with Jet and Thunder if you want to join.” The look took us both in. Maybe he was being flirtatious, but even with that pretty face of his, I didn’t go for blonds, and I wasn’t trading Ryan.

“Pass. My girl here would tear up the dance floor.”

I would. Figuratively
and
literally.

“Your girl, huh?” Steel glanced between us. “What—”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ryan said. “Worry about your case. You owe me an update. Tomorrow.”

That backed Steel into the elevator. “I’ve got a photo shoot, boss.”