“How do you two know each other?” She glared at Kassian and Price. Why the hell hadn’t Horse joined the others at Kek Lok Si?
Kassian chuckled and Price snickered. “Long story.”
What was this, male bonding? A second ago, Kassian had been on her side. She glowered at him, but he shrugged. “Maybe you should hear him out. Ox believes he’s telling the truth.”
“Fine, but you can stick your explanations up your a-ssh—”
Kassian slapped a hand over her mouth. “Be nice, Nat.”
She grumbled compliance and he removed his hand. She scowled at Price. “What are you doing, still hanging out with these demons, anyway?”
At her insult, the two húli jīng—fox spirits—flanking Price hissed, baring their fangs and claws. The taller one wore a leather outfit that more or less qualified as a bathing suit. The shorter one popped the bubble of the gum she chewed and proceeded to blow a new one.
“They’re not demons.”
Yeah, they’d had this argument before. In addition to Price’s free-spirited nature, his cock had a tendency to roam as well.
Okay, they’d been in the “off-again” stage of their relationship, but still. The spark of jealousy ensured Nat’s ego had never recovered. Served her right for dating a Horse. Snake and Horse were a terrible match. She’d chosen to pursue the relationship, despite the Matchmaker’s warning it would end in heartbreak for her.
“Well, they aren’t angels, either.” It cut Nat that he continued to be involved with these sluts. In Mandarin, húli jīng literally meant “whore.”
Price rolled his eyes. “You going to tell me what you’re doing here?”
She smiled sweetly. “Nope.”
“Fine.” He shrugged, but something wicked flashed in his blue eyes. “Before you go, aren’t you going to explain how it is that you’re hosting the Snake? I thought it belonged to Zhao.”
Damn. How did he guess? Horse must have informed him. “Uh-uhn.”
“I might be able to help you. This is my territory. If you’re searching for someone or something, I have resources.”
She bit her lip. Why did he act so…helpful? She didn’t like it. Not one bit. “What I’d like is for you to go on your merry way with your whores.”
Hissing drowned out Price’s response.
“Kassian, it’s time for us to go. It wasn’t nice seeing you again, Price. Stop following us. Next time I see your ass, I won’t miss.” She slid her arm through Kassian’s and dragged him off.
Kassian drew Nat aside the second they rounded the corner. “What the hell are you doing? That was Horse back there, in case you didn’t notice.”
She shrugged out of his grasp and eyed him. “You know him.”
The accusation speared Kassian. “Yeah, apparently you do, too. I know he’s Lotus.” Shouldn’t he be the angry one? The jealous one? He snorted.
“We were teamed up for a mission. Afterward, we dated for a few months. He’s a prick. End of story.”
“He shot you.” His hands fisted tight. He’d liked the male when they’d met a couple of years ago. Had even tried to convince him to join their Kongsi, but Price had insisted on his freedom. Considering his Lotus status, Kassian agreed. Enough burdens weighed on Sheng’s shoulders without adding the worry over one man who was already loyal to their joint leader.
Now, Kassian was torn between Ox’s camaraderie with Horse and his protectiveness of Nat. If Price had been ordered to shoot Nat…
“Exactly why we should avoid him at all costs.” She huffed. “He’s a bastard who can’t be trusted.”
“He’s one of us.”
She lifted a shoulder. “For now.”
The ominous threat hung in the air.
Lucy.
“Removing Horse from Price is a last resort. Stealing the Snake from Zhao cost her. Sheng won’t let her capture another spirit again unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
She lowered her lashes. “Maybe it will be.”
Kassian dragged the backs of his hands across his eyes. He was damned exhausted. Kissing Nat on the subway hurt worse than jamming a knife into his windpipe. Being with her, pretending nothing had happened between them, drained the last ounce of his energy.
He jerked his chin toward the street for her to lead. The prickling on the back of his neck had stopped. Either Price chose not to follow or he already guessed where they were headed.
They passed through several more blocks until she paused at the entrance to a high-rise condominium. She removed a key from her pocket and led them inside. They rode the elevator to the eleventh floor and proceeded down the hall to the flat on the end.
“This is us.” Unlocking the door, she opened it and flicked on the lights. The apartment measured about the same size as Mrs. Chen’s, five hundred square feet or so. One bedroom, a kitchen, living room, and bathroom.
He plunked the duffle on the couch. “You can have the bed. I’ll take the couch.”
“That won’t work.” She drifted through the apartment and leaned against the doorframe leading into the bedroom. Desire sparkled in her gaze as she sized him up. “You have to sleep with me. Uh, well, in the same bed.” Her cheeks flushed. “If anyone found out you slept on the couch, our cover would be blown. Plus, it’s far too short for your big body.”
My big body? Had he imagined the desire in her eyes? He shouldn’t care.
Didn’t stop a grin from tugging at his lips, though.
She cleared her throat. “Won’t be the first time we’ve shared a bed.” She turned into the room and ducked behind the door to the ensuite.
He shook his head. The sooner he slept off this lust, the better. Assuming he’d be able to sleep with Nat in the bed.
Damn. He grabbed the duffle and strode into the bedroom, depositing the bag on the dresser.
Nat padded out of the bathroom, slipping her tank off over her head as she glided past him toward the bed. Her nude back and the slender curve of her spine were so damned sexy. She wriggled out of her black lace panties, baring her lush backside.
His mouth went dry. Nat wasn’t the modest, shy girl he’d known any longer.
The soft curves of her ass swayed as she strolled to the bed and slid under the covers. “I sleep in the nude. I hope you don’t mind.”
Mind? Fuck. His hope for a long, deep sleep was shot. He eyed the couch. Hell, they were both adults. He’d slept with nude women in his bed before.
Multiple nude women.
How bad could just one be?
Of course, he’d fucked the others, but sex wasn’t an option with Nat. He wracked his brain for a way to redeem his broken vow of chastity. He refused to break it again.
Kassian slunk into the ensuite, and after he’d cleaned up, strode toward the bed, prepared for battle. His body tensed and his heart palpated as fast as before any fight. Except, this time, his opponent was himself.
“Good night.” Nat smiled at him and curled up on her side, facing the middle of the bed.
Oh, it would be. He hadn’t a doubt.
Because revenge was always sweet.
***
“Good night,” Kassian replied.
Nat snuggled against the soft sheets. The bed was only a double so it would be a little crowded, especially as she shared it with Kassian’s big body.
Damn. Like the man required an ego boost. Still, things could’ve been more awkward between them. She’d expected them to be, but they’d been able to sail through this evening without any hitches.
Other than that asshole, Price.
She hadn’t been able to hide her arrival from him. The bitch at the tea shoppe had probably alerted him. He must have paid her off, more than Nat had. Next time, she wouldn’t make the same mistake. She yawned then froze as Kassian marched to his side of the bed and shucked his t-shirt, followed by his pants.
Her jaw dropped. Yep, the enormous, hard ridge in his pants from earlier definitely lived up to its promise.
Her attraction
to Price had nothing on Kassian, and she hadn’t even slept with Kassian. Price might be a wild stallion in bed, but Kassian was hung like an ox.
Plus, Kassian wasn’t a jerk. He was a sweet, sensual man who’d protect her with his life. Price was the bastard who’d shot her in callous, cold blood. Sheer luck she hadn’t died. She’d never again trust Price. Any notion of ever having cared for him scraped from her mind. When they’d been together, she’d believed love was what she craved. Love wasn’t in her fate and she was fine with that.
Really.
“Hope you don’t mind. I also sleep nude.” The deep husk of his baritone vibrated through her veins. An ache built inside her core. She licked her lips.
As he settled beside her, his muscles flexed. Everywhere. From sculpted calves to thick thighs she’d love to ride hard, to a ripped torso that should be on the cover of a men’s athletic magazine. He was tall, brawny, and every inch of him called to the femininity in her.
“Can we share the blanket?” He jerked his chin toward the sheet she’d wrapped around herself. She lifted the covers and cool air rushed across her bare skin until he slid inside and the heat of him enveloped her like a sauna.
He linked his hands beneath his head, his bare chest displayed before her like a buffet of masculine decadence.
“Well, have a good sleep.” He didn’t hide the roughness in his voice or the tent in the sheet where his hips rested.
Damn.
How the hell was she supposed to sleep when he was aroused? Naked? And so damned seductive?
“This isn’t going to work.”
“What isn’t?” He cleared his throat and shifted his hips, but nothing was going to conceal that.
“I’m so sorry about making you break your vows.” The ache in her heart eased at being able to apologize. She propped herself on her elbow. He hadn’t been willing to listen earlier. She wasn’t sure if he was now, but she had to try.
“Let’s get one thing straight. You didn’t force me to do anything.”
Her heart stuttered. What did he mean? She held a breath, waiting for him to elaborate.
He didn’t, so she poked him in the ribs. Flinching, he rolled to glare at her. “What the hell, Nat?”
“You can’t end our conversation there.”
He groaned. “You’re a woman. You want to talk, I get it. I’m a grown man and you didn’t force me to do anything. We don’t need to talk about it.” He grunted and shifted to lie on his back.
“Okay, fine. But we should discuss this.” She pointed to his obvious erection. “I can’t sleep with that in the bed.”
“Well, what do you want me to do? It’s kind of attached.” He winked.
She bit her lip. “We should have sex.”
“Whoa.” He twisted away from her and rose, dragging the sheet with him, concealing his nudity, but baring hers.
She froze as his gaze razed her skin, resting on her breasts for a moment, before delving toward the apex between her thighs.
“You can’t say shit like that.”
She shrugged. “It’s an issue and we need to address it.”
“No, the hell we do not. Just because my vows are already broken doesn’t mean I should snap them in half.”
“This little problem of yours isn’t going to go away until we have sex.” She twirled her finger toward his groin. “You’ve already broken your vows, but you’re tempted by what you’re not supposed to have. You need to get me out of your system.” She steadied her voice. “It’s just sex. Like you said, we’re both adults. I’m not a virgin and you aren’t either.”
“Why the fuck would you say sleeping with you would make this any better?” He raked his fingers through his hair, spiking the tips.
“We both know where relationships end up. Look at our parents.”
Dawning flashed in his eyes. “Oh, c’mon. That’s bullcrap.”
“Is it?” She let her challenge hang in the air. Case dismissed.
***
After a minute, Kassian groaned, hunching forward.
“Don’t deny it. You’re a man, and men—”
“I’m not your bloody father.”
“Well, I hope not.” She wrinkled her nose. “You know what I mean. We have sex one time.” She crawled forward on her hands and knees, pausing at the edge of the bed and holding up one finger. Curling her finger, she tugged on the sheet he’d plastered over his raging hard-on like protective armor. “Then I’ll be out of your system and we can focus on—”
“Fuck no.” He jerked backward. No question about it. The men in Nat’s life had done a number on her. His thoughts shot to Price and a seed of jealousy twisted in his gut. He recalled what she’d said about the fox spirits. It must have hurt like hell to be dumped for those evil sluts.
What Nat suggested was bloody madness.
Completely ineffective madness. Sleeping with her wouldn’t solve a damn thing. His desire would grow, not lessen.
Yet he couldn’t tell her so.
“Mind over matter.” He tossed her the sheet and gave her his back, hoping she’d cover up. The sight of her lovely, tanned skin, her full breasts and curvy hips, and the hint of her pink pussy threatened to condemn him. Worse, the sexy confidence as she’d stalked toward him had nearly snapped his resolve. He gritted his teeth and fought back the images. “All I need is time to meditate. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. I’m shit-faced tired and my control over my body—”
The sheet stopped shuffling. “I get it.” Her words had a bite to them. Damn, he’d hurt her.
He scraped his hand down his jaw. How had they gone from him seething beneath her betrayal, to him suffering guilt about hurting her feelings? He collapsed back into bed and, this time, his cock accepted defeat.
***
Kassian awoke to a stream of light cutting across his face. He lifted his hand to swat the brightness away, but ended up slapping his cheek. The jolt jerked him awake. He glanced to his right. Nat was sleeping. Curled on her side, facing him.
His fingers coiled into the sheets. Her long auburn locks fanned out, partly across her face. He fought the urge to brush them back and admire her beauty.
His cock twitched and he stifled a groan. Damn, his problem from last night had returned. His gaze dropped to her full, pink lips. She’d tasted so damn sweet. Like ripe berries bursting on his tongue. Lightly floral. Rich and sugared. He wanted nothing more than to sample her lips again. Precisely why he shouldn’t. If he wasn’t careful, he’d lose himself. His goals. His dreams. His ambitions.
His purpose.
With each spirit animal came gifts. Abilities. Ox’s happened to be the gift of clarity. More specifically, visions of clarity.
Kassian’s choice of celibacy wasn’t entirely for himself. The monks at Kek Lok Si had told him that with a life of purity, the visions would become stronger. He’d had his clearest one a few months ago. Ox had shown him Lucy with Sheng and bingo, it had come true. Other, smaller glimpses of the future poked into his subconscious whenever he meditated. They came to pass, too.
It was an ability he hadn’t told the other Chosen about. Because really, fucking visions? Kassian snorted. He’d get accused of using again long before anyone believed they were more than drug-induced hallucinations. He suspected the Matchmaker was aware, though. That bitch knew everything.
His ability required deep concentration and focus. Would being with Nat screw things up?
It wasn’t fair to sleep with someone he cared about and then dump her to fulfill his life of celibacy. Hell, he wouldn’t let his poor treatment of her be added to her list of grievances against men. That she’d even suggested having sex irked him to the point where Ox was ready to charge.
Preferably, at Price. Bastard. The man had better hope he never ran into Kassian in a deserted alleyway. Even his fox spirit bitches couldn’t protect him then.
He exhaled and inhaled slowly. No, he wasn’t being fair. He had no right to be jealous of Nat’s previous re
lationships—not when he’d fucked hundreds of women in his past. Nor should he pursue a petty argument with another Chosen. Their higher purpose demanded they treat each other with respect.
Yet, he couldn’t help but ponder, had Nat loved Price? Hell, all these years, Kassian hadn’t known what had happened to her. If she were alive. If she’d gotten married and had ten kids. Every scenario had passed through his troubled mind.
Fucking Matchmaker and her bloody Lotus League.
Nat sniffed. A small whimper sounded in her throat. Her leg twitched. Was she having a bad dream? Before his brain interfered, Kassian wrapped his arm around her back and eased her against his chest. With his other hand, he stroked those stray hairs back from her face and murmured in a low, soothing tone.
“Shhh… It’s all right, Natalie. I’ve got you.” She moaned in her sleep as he rubbed circles across her back.
Comforting her brought back memories of their past. He closed his eyes, an image forming of the young girl who’d gazed at the portraits hanging from his mantel. “Don’t let those fool you.” He’d chuckled while she’d stared at him with wide, vulnerable eyes. Inside them, he’d seen something of his younger self—innocence struggling to hold on against a storm of harsh reality.
Four years her senior, he’d been in the world longer and perceived the masks people wore so others would never suspect their real souls.
Nat’s parents hadn’t put on any faces. That was the worst part. Her entire childhood, they’d fought bitter arguments. Right in front of her. Her dad, Xing, had been a right bastard, violent toward her mother, Anne. Little nine-year-old Nat had once called the police on him.
The man had never forgotten or forgiven.
Kassian’s hand paused on the scar on the middle of her back and fury burned through him. To teach her to keep her mouth shut, Xing had struck Nat so hard, she’d flown across the room and landed on the shattered glass plates her mother had chucked at her father.
The cut had been deep and required stitches. Her old man hadn’t dared harm her after that because, unfortunately, he was too smart for that shit. Even he couldn’t pay off the authorities who would have locked him up.
By the Horns Page 10
