by Jane Cousins
Riya’s green shot hazel eyes sparkled. “You can’t bring yourself to ask for my help… can you?”
“Are you in, or not?”
“Didn’t think so. You have major control issues, you know that, right? Honestly, it’s not a sign of weakness to ask for someone’s help. It shows maturity. Common sense even. Using the best tool available for the job.”
Marcus just managed to unclench his teeth slightly. “I’m not going to ask you again.”
“I don’t think anyone listening to this conversation would acknowledge that you’ve even asked me a first time.” Seriously, was she beginning to enjoy this? The man was so arrogant, a bit of teasing was good for him.
“I’ve told you what’s going on.”
“Barely.”
“I can’t give you details. The situation is delicate and…” Marcus refused to say the word embarrassing out loud. “… sensitive. Hadleigh believes you can accomplish what six Warriors in the service to the Goddess Maat couldn’t. Yes, or no, are you coming?”
“Nice, using both flattery and guilt. Did you really think that would work on me?”
Marcus was struggling, he usually understood what motivated people within seconds of laying eyes on them, but Riya, he just didn’t get her. She was a mystery wrapped in gorgeous packaging. She laughed when she should be angry. Took offence when he tried to compliment her.
Hadleigh swore this woman could slay the monster terrorising Maat Tower, but Marcus seriously had his doubts. Riya’s magic appeared to be passive. And she personally couldn’t intimidate worth a damn. But still, Hadleigh thought she was the right weapon for the job.
Damn it, Marcus was used to getting results. But there had been no time to gather data on Riya. He hadn’t even known that was who he’d been sent here to fetch. All he had was an address. And he’d been too grateful for an excuse to escape the madness and destruction to ask for further intel. Which just went to prove how distracting and potentially dangerous the monster in their midst was.
“Look, Riya, this is important, a lot is at stake. I don’t want to play the bully card here, but I will if you force me to.”
Riya was intrigued rather than frightened, this was a Warrior of Maat, he had a strict code, he’d never hurt her. “So what are we talking about here, Charming, kidnapping?” She took a step closer to him. “Personal threats?” Another step closer. “Physical coercion?” Another step.
Marcus watched Riya close the distance between them. Seriously, the woman lacked basic street smarts. Hmm, suddenly he was very aware of her personal scent; blood orange, tiare flower and geranium. It fired his senses.
Riya reached up to tap a demanding fingernail against Marcus’s hard chest. “Just how exactly do you intend to make me do anything?”
Marcus’s gut clenched and his cock hardened. Those challenging words. How would he go about making this gorgeous woman do anything? Kiss her. Torment her. Touch and taste her until she couldn’t think straight and would agree to anything and everything he wanted to do to her… no, wait, what?
“Are you really prepared to put your hands on me to get what you want?” Riya fought not to wince, that had come out way too low, sexy and challenging. Thankfully Marcus wouldn’t interpret it that way, except, as she stared into those blue depths she saw heat flare.
Wow, this had gotten awkward fast, Riya’s heart was beating too rapidly, her mouth was dry and places low in her body had suddenly grown furnace hot. Her reaction to Marcus was completely unexpected, and totally unwanted… wasn’t it?
“You seem to be the one having a hard time keeping their hands to themselves.” Marcus looked pointedly down at the finger planted squarely in the middle of his chest still.
Riya whipped her finger away and took several steps back. Just like that, common sense descended like a bucket of cold water. She was just on edge after weeks of creating clothes with no clear Fate assigned to them. She was not attracted to not-so-Charming.
Marcus sucked in a deep breath. His skin still burned in the place where Riya had rested her finger against his chest. He fought the urge to rub at the spot. His mind had stuttered to a stop at her first tap and then gone into standby mode as she kept it there, his body taking over, unexpected raw need pulsing through him.
But he was more than his instincts, and he’d tamped down hard on them. Even so, it had taken more effort than he’d thought possible to talk, to point out to Riya that she was the one touching him.
Damn, he must be under more stress than he’d thought, he was so not attracted to the woman who made clothes of destiny… which sounded more lame every time he heard it. No, no way. Riya was not his sort of woman. He liked them corporate, focused and high-powered. Sexy, no nonsense women who ruled the boardroom, took no prisoners on the battlefield and played hard in the bedroom.
Riya was the antithesis of his dream woman. She was soft and sweet. Well, when she wasn’t being all challenging and sassy when he taunted her. And while obviously she’d done okay for herself, here with her little shop, she clearly didn’t aim to push the boundaries any further than Haven Bay. Plus, she came with a lot of baggage. Not just her large extended magical family but somewhere around here there was a toddler, probably with sticky fingers and a jam smeared mouth in need of wiping.
Nope, his physical reaction to Riya was nothing more than the by-product of over work and lack of sleep. Seven frustrating months had gone by and he had yet to discover a way to destroy the chaos imbued rubies that Rafe and Eli had stolen out from under Sek and Mot’s noses.
Turning up the frustration dial, Marcus and his team still had no lead on the whereabouts of the dynamic dickwad duo. After destroying the Egyptian wing of the Met, and a botched armed robbery at a Museum in Washington, with their faces plastered all over the media and every law enforcement agency on their tail, Sek and Mot had effectively disappeared.
And now, to load on to Marcus’s already overflowing plate, an uncontrollable monster had been unleashed in their midst at Maat Tower. One, it was galling to find out, that they were ill-equipped to defeat.
Yeah, that was it, he was definitely stretched too thin. And trying to convince Riya to step up was obviously a waste of his time. Marcus had tried talking to her. She clearly couldn’t be reasoned with. Worse, she was Hadleigh’s cousin, as much as it pained him, he couldn’t intimidate her. So that was it then. They’d have to come up with some other means of dealing with the creature.
Besides, Marcus had serious doubts that a woman who sewed dresses could defeat the monster tearing apart Maat Tower. This had been nothing but a wasted mission. Riya’s tame skill set was about as passive and low level as you could get. Marcus needed to get back to his hi-tech lair and trawl through the names of specialists he kept on file. Sure he’d been through the list twice already, but there had to be someone on there qualified to take on the beast.
Riya rubbed the tip of her finger absently, the one she’d used to touch Marcus, the damn thing was throbbing. Perhaps she’d sprained it on all that hard muscle. Conceited, arrogant, bull-headed jackass. Marcus stalks into her boutique and tries to bully her. Is sarcastic and rude. Expecting her to just drop everything and rush off to the other side of the world because he issues a demand. No way. Never going to happen.
The gentle chime of the door sounded, Riya’s attention was immediately caught and held by the newcomer. Death had arrived, casting a long shadow, effectively blocking the nearest exit. The Grim Reaper had walked into her boutique in the form of Drum, another of Maat’s Warriors.
Hitting the seven foot mark in height and easily twice as wide as his fellow Warriors, with bulging muscles on his already set of impressively bulging muscles, Drum was an effective tool to bring along, intimidation wise. There was just something about the brutally shorn black pelt of hair that clung to his skull and the way his bottomless black eyes stared at you that made the majority of the population go instinctively into fight or flight more. A large percentage wisely choosing the latter
option.
Riya was not the majority of the population. “Hey, Drum.” She smiled in greeting. Her cousin Nell’s meld mate might look like an agent of death, but the man was honourable, smart and slyly funny. Even if he did occasionally shift into what Nell described as his mono-syllabic He-man mode.
“Please tell me you said yes to coming along and saving our desperate asses?” The big man’s voice was low and gravelly.
“How can I say no, when you ask so nicely.”
“What?” Marcus blinked, staring at Riya in surprise and confusion. Drum does little more than poke his head in the door and Riya was caving?
Riya turned and headed for the large archway that led through to the cavernous dressing room. Reaching in, she grabbed a large black roller bag and pulled it out. Then reached in for a second and then a third. Turning, she looked at Marcus. “Well? Don’t just stand there, the least you can do is help me with my luggage. I’m afraid we’ll have to take the Transportal from the Liaison Building as I haven’t had the opportunity to visit Maat Tower before.”
Drum bolted forward and grabbed the two largest bags, hefting them up as if they weighed no more than pillows. Marcus found himself scowling, striding forward he grabbed the handle of the remaining bag. “You knew we were coming?”
Riya shot him a bland smile. “I knew someone was coming.”
“And you felt the need to make me jump through all those hoops, why?”
Riya shook her head. “You did that all by yourself, Charming. All you had to do was use the word please. If you had just asked politely for my help, we could have avoided all that time wasting.”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed as he glared at her. This woman did not compute. She was completely non-linear. He yanked the suitcase towards the door as Riya moved quickly around the room, turning off the sound system, switching off the lights and scooping up a small green suede handbag.
Marcus frowned as Riya pulled out her keys to lock up. What about the kid? Baby? Toddler? There weren’t any toys in evidence but that might only mean she kept the child out back, in her own private quarters. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Riya blinked slowly, mentally reviewing everything. “Oh, yes, thanks.” Flipping over the open sign, so that it would read closed.
Marcus opened his mouth and then slammed it shut. He would not ask about the kid, he would not get enmeshed in her personal life. All Riya had to do was slay one measly terrifying monster. How long could that take, two minutes? Five? By the end of today she’d be back here, no doubt in plenty of time to collect the kid from day-care or where ever she stashed it while she was at work. And Marcus would be free to concentrate on more important things, like destroying five chaos imbued rubies and tracking down the whereabouts of the dynamic dickheads, Sek and Mot.
And okay, yes, the three large suitcases were a little alarming. But what woman didn’t travel with everything but the kitchen sink, even for a half day excursion.
“Come on, Charming.” Riya held open the door impatiently. “You were the one insisting this was urgent and that we are on the clock.”
Marcus strode out, pulling the suitcase along in his wake. He would not comment. He would not be baited. He would cease verbally jousting with Riya Tong. It was a pointless exercise. Futile. And a waste of his valuable time. “How kind of you to remind me, Your Highness.” Heading off down the covered walkway at a fast clip.
Riya twisted the lock and turned to hurry after Marcus. Was the man implying she was some kind of demanding Princess? Hah, she’d just been trying to teach him a long overdue lesson in good manners. Your Highness? Rude, arrogant jerk.
Although, as Riya increased her pace in an attempt to close the distance, she had to reluctantly admit that the rude, arrogant jerk had a very nice, very tight ass.
Nope, don’t go there. She would not get distracted. This little adventure was obviously Fated, the three large suitcases of clothes finally beginning to make sense. Which meant Riya couldn’t afford to get side-tracked by an annoying judgemental know-it-all. She had a job to do. And if she was smart, she’d ignore the gorgeous, irritating man who made her heart race and her blood heat… because he was so very annoying, not because she enjoyed sparring with him. Not one little bit. She liked her men sweet and sensitive.
So yeah, the plan, head down, avoid not-so-Charming and help fulfil the path of destiny. Easy.
Chapter Three
Given the fast pace her Warrior companions set as they exited the Transportal, it was difficult for Riya to gauge much about Maat Tower. Catching fleeting glimpses of a lovely but clearly vacant apartment, followed by a long wide corridor, painted in muted cream with thick plush carpet.
During a whisper quiet elevator ride, Riya clamped her teeth together. She had questions. A lot of questions. Marcus hadn’t really given her much of an idea of what she would be facing here. But she couldn’t help but be aware of the escalating tension that thickened the air, her Warrior escort had gone into hyper-alert mode. Muscles bunched and ready for action. Eyes constantly searching for lurking danger or an ambush.
The elevator chimed softly as they reached the production exec floor. Not sure what to expect, Riya stepped out onto another stretch of plush carpet. Dash was there, waiting. His gorgeous face transforming from a tense, wary expression, into a welcoming grin as he spied Riya. “You came.”
Riya studied Dash carefully. Noting the fading black eye and the lurking strain that lingered in his gold rimmed hazel eyes. “Of course I came, saying no was never an option.” She shot Marcus a challenging look, daring him to say different.
“Go get something to eat, Dash.” Drum commanded, deep and low. “We’ve got it from here.”
“Luck.” Dash made like his name and headed off at a fast clip, obviously all too eager to get clear of the area.
“This way.” Marcus pointed off to the left, and started walking. Riya followed, with Drum bringing up the rear.
There were no bustling workers hurrying along the corridor and all the office doors remained firmly closed. Even the open, cosy break-room they rushed by was deserted. Half empty cups on the table, a newspaper open but abandoned. It was as if everyone on this floor had made a run for it. Disturbing.
Walking almost the entire length of the corridor, Riya couldn’t help but be aware of the strange expectant hush lingering in the air… abruptly the calm was shattered by the sound of something breaking, followed by a piercing shriek that would have done a Harpy proud. Marcus winced ever so slightly and Drum hissed out an annoyed breath.
Nate, guarding the door at the end of the corridor, looked pale and wary, clear relief in his dark amber eyes as they approached. “Riya.” He leaned forward, planting a kiss on her cheek in greeting.
Riya studied Nate, superflirt and all round fun guy. Today he looked a little worse for wear. There were lines of tension around his eyes and his normally golden skin was dull. “I thought you could manage any female?”
Nate pushed back his sun streaked hair. “Not this one. I’m more than happy to bow to your superior wisdom and skills.”
Riya shot Marcus a glare before smiling at Nate, now this was a man who knew how to talk to women. “Could you tell me exactly what…” Another crash sounded from behind the closed door that Nate guarded, followed by several loud bangs, then a dull thud, the heavy door vibrating in its frame. “… I am dealing with here?”
Nate shook his head. “There can’t be anything left in there to destroy but still…” He glanced over his shoulder as another loud bang sounded through the door. “She won’t let anyone in. Won’t accept food.” He directed Riya’s attention to the smears running down the nearby wall. “I almost took a plate of pasta to the face, it was touch and go there for a moment. At least we know she’s not dehydrated, there’s a full water cooler in there, plus a half bathroom.”
“Have any of you just tried talking to her?”
“Yes.” Drum nodded his head abruptly.
“Tried and faile
d.” Nate elaborated. “At first we attempted the friendly approach. Fell flat. Then we moved on to coaxing, cajoling, and general grovelling. Which only seemed to make things worse. So we sent Drum in, you know, just to put a little scare into her.”
Riya shifted her attention back to Drum, shocked to see a dull red colour seep into the hulking Warrior’s face. “She laughed at me. And threw a pot plant at my head.”
Riya bit back a smile, trying to look serious and sympathetic, reaching over she gave the large man a light reassuring pat on the arm. “And you?” She shifted her attention to Marcus. “What did you do, during all this?”
“I did my research. Here. He produced a slim tablet from somewhere and held it out. “This is everything I could find out about her.”
Riya took the tablet and began scrolling down the screen, and down, and down. Finally Riya’s finger grew tired and she gave up, handing the tablet back to Marcus. “Okay, I’ve got this.” Turning, she went to the larger of the two bags that Drum was hauling around for her and began to get to work.
The three Warriors watched on curiously as Riya pulled out a number of long, silver tubes from a side pocket.
“I don’t think they’ll do much damage.” Nate studied the lightweight lengths.
“I’m not going to hit her with them.” Riya began slotting them together.
“You’re building a weapon?” Drum looked on with sudden interest.
“Kind of. But not the type you lot would you use. Can you move back a little? I need some more room.” Riya snapped the final four pieces into place and then unzipped all three suitcases, considering her options.
“Is that what I think it is?” Marcus choked back on the series of curse words that threatened to erupt.
“Sshh.” Riya shushed him with a wave of her hand. “Trying to get into the zone here to slay this monster of yours.”
“Of all the-” Marcus shut his mouth abruptly as he found himself on the receiving end of two equally dark looks from his fellow Warriors. Seriously, they were really buying into this crazy idea? Grr, fine. He would reserve judgement. And when it all exploded in Riya’s face, Marcus was determined to be the first one in line to tell her – I told you so. Of course he’d find a much more mature and adult way of getting that across.
