Charisse
gave a harsh laugh. “It’s much more complicated than that.”
“Shit…”
Nate turned his head, hearing the roar of a fast approaching speedboat.
Destiny’s daytime minions, who had been watching and waiting for just this type
of opportunity, were making their move. “You can explain later, for now
get in the cabin. I’ll deal with these jokers.”
Charisse
shook her head glaring at him. “My rock, my fight. You get in the
cabin.”
“Charisse…”
The
fact that he used her full name, as if she were some child in serious trouble,
flipped her switch from angry to seething rage. Turning towards the
speedboat she began to sing, sending out notes of wanton desire, burning lust
and tantalising promise.
Bettina
twisted their bond in protest, she didn’t want the measly offering of three,
she wanted the long boat lifeguard rowing team she could sense practising a few
miles away. Charisse straightened her spine, as if she were going to
provide a rich tasty snack like that to the controlling mega bitch. No,
it was evil daytime minion dickheads or nothing.
Nate
gripped the crowbar one-handed, glaring at her. Just what the hell was
Cyd hoping to prove by caterwauling like that? Did she think she could
scare off their attackers? If anything the revs of the speedboat grew
louder as it picked up speed. Seems they were just as eager for
confrontation as he was.
They
were close now. Three of them, dressed in dark fatigues. Two on the
bow gripping swords in readiness, the third driving them full tilt at the
rock. Damn they were eager for a fight, good.
He could use a little work out to let off
some steam.
As
they got closer, Nate expected the driver to cut the engine or swerve, instead
the revs got louder, the boat faster. Maat, they were going to ram the
rock. Of all the stupid ass things he’d seen, this would have to take the
prize.
The
boat hit with a high pitched shriek of tearing metal, one of the men standing
on the bow catapulted forward through the air, flying half way across Bettina
to land with a sickening crunch. Nate was already moving forward fast to
meet the threat, crowbar at the ready. If Cyd wanted in on this fight then she
could be on clean up detail and deal with the guy who’d just gone splat.
Ouch,
Charisse studied the guy who’d sailed through the air and landed badly, broken
ribs, left arm shattered with half his face swollen and shredded. The one
eye he could open was fixed on Charisse.
“You’re
so pretty.” He managed to mumble through shallow pants. “You
called…” With his good arm he began to drag himself across the sand and
rock to get closer to her.
Goddess,
okay she knew she was a lightweight. This man had been sent here to hurt
her but she couldn’t bear the sight of him dragging his broken body any
further.
Moving to crouch by his side
she laid a hand on the undamaged skin of his forehead and let Bettina drink her
fill. In less than a minute the man had slipped into blissful unconsciousness,
his last words before he’d gone under were to compliment her on having shapely
knees. She hadn’t heard that one in a while.
Glancing
up she was surprised to see Nate striding towards her, his face set in grim
mode. “That was fast.” She looked behind him for signs of a
struggle.
“The
driver is too hurt to provide us with any useful Intel.”
Charisse
could imagine, hitting the rock at that speed, the driver would have slammed
into the steering wheel at crushing speed. “And the third one?” She
looked around.
Nate
shook his head. “Gone, screamed some abuse at the driver before diving
into the water.”
Charisse
found herself frowning. Someone had heard her sing and chosen to
leave? That was unheard of… unless. “Was it a woman?”
“Yeah.”
Nate ran fingers through his hair. “What about your guy? Anything?”
Whoops,
she hadn’t even thought to interrogate the damaged guy, and now thanks to her
letting Bettina feed he wouldn’t be of any use for two to three days.
“Unconscious.”
Nate
heaved a frustrated sigh. “They were all heavily armed.
The woman is either swimming to get
reinforcements or to report back to Destiny.” Nate eyed the position of
the sun, still plenty of time before sunset. “We’re too exposed here. We
should head back to the Folly. Where are you going?”
“To
put some bathers on. Unlike some people, I’m not in a habit of swimming
in my clothes and shoes. Plus, I need to make a call and get these people
medical help.” Charisse swept past him.
Nate
heaved an impatient sigh as she disappeared into the cabin. Tapping his
boot he eyed the rock beneath his sole. Charisse had been genuinely hurt
when he’d accused her of selling out to this thing… whatever it was. And
he was pretty sure she was telling him the truth when she said the situation
was a lot more complicated than the rock owning her and punishing an unruly
serf.
So
what the hell was the connection between the two? What did the bloody
thing need Cyd for?
He
glanced up; swallowing hard as Cyd emerged from the cabin wearing a raspberry
coloured bikini. Maat, the woman was lethal.
“Some
of the enforcement team will swing by and pick up these two. They also
said they’d look into who the boat is registered to.”
“Great.”
Nate swept his arm out wide. “After you.”
Charisse
eyed him warily for a moment, he was up to something, she was sure of it.
But Bettina was fed and she had no more excuses to stay.
Nate
admired Cyd’s dive off the rock, the girl had style. “So it looks like
it’s just you and me now.” He gave the rock a kick with the heel of his
boot. “Let’s get something straight. If you ever… ever, put
Charisse in a dangerous position like that… or hurt her ever again, I promise I
will find a way to end your existence. And in case you think I’m bluffing.”
Nate gripped the crowbar with both hands and heaved downwards with all his
strength, embedding it a good two feet into the rock where it stuck fast.
Nate nodded at it with approval. “I’m going to leave this behind as a
reminder. Behave, or next time it’s a couple of packets of carefully
placed semtex.”
Chapter
Fifteen
Charisse
unconsciously rubbed her waist as she walked out of the shallows onto the soft
white sands of the small private beach below Kaleidoscope Folly.
Something was different. It was like Bettina had been placed on
mute. “What did you do?”
Of
course Nate had managed to reach the shore before her; the man was a damn
machine.
“I
just laid down some ground rules for the rock and now I’m going to lay down
some for you.”
“Really?”
Charisse stomped past him across the soft sand, headed for the steep path
leading up to the house. The warrior might have Bettina momentarily cowed
but no doubt she’d come roaring back with a vengeance to exact a hefty pound of
flesh out of her own perfect porcelain hide. “And who died and put you in
charge?”
“You
almost did for a start!”
If Cyd thought
she could distract him by twitching her gorgeous rear in his face the entire
trail leading up to the house, she was sadly mistaken. He was mad.
The woman had all these damn secrets and she seemed willing to go to foolish
lengths to keep them. “Those weren’t fake swords those people were
carrying out there just now, and last time I checked, I’m the only thing
keeping a bloodthirsty vampire Queen nursing a grudge from ripping out your
throat.”
“Oh,
don’t give me that crap. I was the one coming to your rescue the other
night and don’t you forget it.” She was huffing by the time she reached
the top of the path, from a combination of exertion and anger. Stomping through
the weeds and scraggly bushes she headed for the house. “And I was
perfectly capable of dealing with those daytime minions out there today.”
“Cyd,
if the motor on the boat hadn’t gone postal; it would have been whole different
story.”
Charisse
flung a disbelieving look over her shoulder, after all he’d seen? He
still hadn’t put it together? Pausing at the side of the house she
noticed the hose twining up a post, perfect, twisting the knob she went and
stood under the stream, ooh, shampoo, even better.
“Cyd,
are you listening to me?”
“Not
really.” She scrubbed the salt water from her hair first before lathering
up with shampoo, turning her back on Nate, ignoring him.
Nate
bent over and began pulling apart his boot laces, another pair of shit kickers
ruined. Thankfully he had dozens. He glanced up to continue trying
to talk some sense into Cyd but she was already wringing out her wet hair and
skipping off into the mudroom, picking up one of the towels there to rub dry
her hair and bathers.
“Cyd,
this conversation isn’t over.” He stepped under the stream of water,
dunking his head. “Cyd?” She’d disappeared from sight. Damn
it.
Dropping
his trousers he picked up the body wash, scrubbing at some stubborn sand.
Why would the woman not listen to reason? Making quick work of the
clean-up he grabbed a towel, where had all his clean clothes gone? No
matter. Wrapping the towel around his waist he headed upstairs. This
conversation was not over.
*
*
*
“You
need to start carrying a weapon.”
Charisse
gasped and whirled. Nate had followed her upstairs to the master
bedroom. By the Goddess, why was he only wearing a towel? Focus
Charisse, what had she been doing? Right, trying to find some clothes to
put on so she could get out of her wet bathers.
“I’m
serious Cyd.”
“Don’t
you get it yet Nate? I am the weapon. That motor boat didn’t just
conveniently crash today, I caused that.”
“By
singing at them?”
“Seriously?”
She turned from her suitcase to look at him, hands coming to rest on her
hips. “You can’t have survived this long and been this obtuse. What
don’t you get Sheriff? You’ve seen for yourself the effect I have on
people. I made that vamp minion walk to his death before your very eyes but
still… still, you question my ability to defend myself.”
“You
bet I question it, you can’t guarantee me that this mumbo jumbo mysterious
magic of yours will work on everyone. Vampira sure as hell shook it off
fast. You need to start carrying a weapon, and you need to know how to
use it.”
“Don’t
be ridiculous. I’ve survived thirty years without carrying one.”
Nate
held up a long thin dagger, seemingly having pulled it out of thin air.
The man was only wearing a towel for Goddess sake. Where had he been
keeping the dagger?
Grrr,
focus Charisse.
“You want me to
carry a knife?”
“Yes.”
Nate nodded, his gaze travelling from her bare toes to her mussed damp
hair. Damn the woman was beautiful. “For protection and because I have
this whole Ursula Andress, you rising from the ocean in a bikini with a knife
strapped to your thigh fantasy.”
Charisse’s
eyes widened in surprise for a split second before she laughed
reluctantly.
“Men.” She rolled her
eyes. “You know I grew up with enforcers. For Goddess sake,
Hadleigh is my best friend and you know what she’s like with sharp
objects. You think I don’t know how to use a knife?”
“Prove
it.” He challenged.
Charisse
gave him one of her best knee melting smiles before sauntering towards him with
an eye catching sway added to her hips. Coming to stand directly in front
of him, she raised a languid hand, letting her fingers graze ever so softly
over the skin at the base of his throat before she trailed them lightly down
over his chest and abs to rest on the towel wrapped around his waist.
“I’ll tell you what Sheriff, I’ll prove two things to you.” She promised
throatily.
Nate
was enjoying the performance way more than he should. “Yeah?”
“I’ll
prove I can use a knife and I’ll prove that I don’t need to use one to protect
myself.”
The
corners of Nate’s lips quirked up. “You’re enslavement powers don’t work
on me, remember?”
“So
cocky.” Charisse tilted her head back, pursing her lips together.
“Tell you what, to make it fair I won’t even touch you.” She removed her
hand from the towel, bringing it back to rest on her hip, idly playing with the
tie at the side of her bikini bottoms.
His
eyes watched her fingers play with the bow. “Okay, but no nudity.
That would give you too much of an advantage.”
Charisse
chuffed a soft throaty laugh. “Give me some credit would you, cheap
stunts like that are for amateurs.” Abruptly she turned and walked back
to her open suitcase.
Nate
caught a glimpse of amusement dancing in those clear green eyes and was
starting to think this was a bet he very well might lose. Maat, give him
strength. “Has the demonstration started yet?” He enquired, admiring her
narrow back and straight spine.
“Most
definitely.” Charisse assured him, bending over from the waist to rummage
through her suitcase.
She heard Nate
give a soft groan but didn’t straighten up until she found what she was looking
for. “Got you.” Grabbing the short summery teal coloured sundress
from the pile she turned to find Nate looking a tad dazed.
She fluttered wide innocent green eyes his
way.
“Problem?” Goddess, if he got
that wound up just staring at her bikini clad rear, the man stood no chance
regarding the rest of her plans.
“I’m
good.” Nate swallowed hard, forcing his eyes upwards. Watching as
Cyd shook out the sundress and then shimmied into it. “Putting more
clothes on… not what I was expecting.”
“No.”
Charisse reached up under the short flippy hem of the dress and pulled off her
damp bikini bottoms, kicking them away casually.
Nate’s
eyes were riveted on the damp ball of raspberry material… Maat.
“You
okay there Sheriff?”
With
some effort he tore his gaze away from her discarded bikini bottoms. Her
clear green eyes, exotic and mysterious, brimmed with mischief. Damn
those gorgeous eyes of hers had his cock hardening more than the idea that she
was semi-naked under that dress. “I’m fine.” He fought the urge not
to clear his throat.
“Oh,
will you look at that.” Charisse glanced down at the now damp front of
her dress. “Don’t want to ruin my dress.” With deft fingers she
undid the bows of her bikini top, pulling it out from under the dress and
dropping it to the floor with careless disregard.
Nate’s
eyes were riveted on her cleavage as the damp material of her dress clung to
her skin, highlighting the condition of her rock hard nipples. This woman
was evil and he was pretty darn sure he was in love with her, secrets, weird
rock and all.
“I
read somewhere that it’s really bad for your health to sit around in a damp
bikini.” She walked up to him slowly, a sensual smile teasing the edges
of her lips.
“You
play dirty Cyd, I can respect that.”
She
halted in front of him, taking a deep slow breath, his eyes naturally flickered
downwards. Honestly, men could be so predictable, it was like shooting
fish in a pedicure tub. “So about that knife of yours?”
He
glanced down past her cleavage, laughing out loud, somehow, Cyd had managed to
remove the knife from his hand and now held the business end of it an inch away
from the skin just below his navel. “Well done Cyd. But can you
keep it?”
She
gasped, looking down to find he had the knife once again and it was under one
of the straps of her sundress, resting flat against her skin. “How did
you do that? Hey…” She protested as with a flick he cut the strap.
“I’m
just considering your health Cyd. It can’t be good for you to be in a damp
dress either.” With lighting fast speed he cut the other strap.
Charisse
made no move to prevent the dress from slipping down to puddle around her feet
in a teal pool. “I’m still angry at you.” She warned him, green
eyes sparking with desire as she reached out to give his towel a rough yank,
dropping it to the floor next to her dress.
“Back
at you Cyd.” He slammed his lips down on hers hard, cradling the back of
her head with one hand, his other wrapping around her waist to pull her against
him roughly.
Charisse
gave a low throaty moan. He was so demanding, from the way his lips
insisted she respond, to the way his hands covered and clutched at her
body. As if he thought she might bolt or be torn away from him at any
moment. It was heady stuff for her, so different from the eager yet all
too gentle lovers in her past, more intent upon pleasuring her than enjoying or
getting lost in the moment themselves.
Goddess
she wanted him. Reaching up she ran her fingers through his overlong
locks, yanking on his damp hair. “I don’t do hate sex.” For some
reason it was important she qualify whatever it was that was happening between
them.
“Maat,
Cyd.” His hand moved from her waist to cup her shapely rear. “I’m angry
at you.” He lifted her up, cradling her easily in one muscular arm,
crushing her soft breasts against his heated flesh. “But the last thing I
feel for you is hate.”
Charisse
tried to catch her breath as his lips swooped, nuzzling down the side of her
throat. “Good. I don’t hate you either.” She gasped again as
her back came up hard against the wall, Nate plastering himself against her.
His
lips trailed down over her incredibly soft skin, placing hot kisses across the
base of her throat and up the other side. “What do you want Cyd?”
She
blinked, dazed, her hands gripping his rugged shoulders, clutching at them in
need. “Don’t be gentle.” She was so tired of being worshipped,
revered and placed on a pedestal. She wanted to feel.
“Want
do you want Cyd?” He asked her again, slipping a hand between them to cup
her right breast, squeezing and releasing it, using his thumb to flick back and
forth across her hardened nipple.
Charisse
dropped her head back against the wall, moaning softly as his sharp teeth bit
down on her earlobe. “I want you Nate. You.” She turned her
head, craving his drugging kisses, grabbing the back of his head to bring his
lips to hers. She refused to be a docile partner in this dance, wrapping
one long leg over his hip, tilting her lower body so that her wet, naked core
rubbed against the length of his hardness. She was ready for him now, had
been from the moment he’d cut the first strap of her dress.
“Maat,
Cyd.” He rocked his lower body against hers, reaching down to pull her
other leg over his hip so they fit together even better.
“Don’t
make me wait Nate.” She dug her nails into his back, clutching him close,
near to shedding tears of frustration, the feel of him gliding back and forth
over her clit threatening to drive her mad.
“No.”
He shook his head in agreement. He was being consumed from the inside out
with need for her. Thank Maat she didn’t want gentle. The way she
made him feel, if he didn’t possess every inch of her right this minute, he was
sure the heat they were generating would engulf and destroy them both.