Page 20 of Rise of the Melody
His dimples deepened as he smiled. “That wouldn’t be very traditional, would it?”
“Oh, gods,” I muttered. I widened my stance so his big head could fit between my knees, and then felt his neck go up to my crotch. The last thing I saw before I was lifted up was Aunt Lorna’s worried face at the edge of the crowd with CooShee watching intently. Next thing I knew I was upside down with Teague’s hot hands holding the backs of my thighs and for a second I was flailing, trying to get my bearings as my face smashed into his lower back.
“Put your arms around me,” he instructed. The blood rushed to my head as I reached around his waist and hoisted myself up against him, grasping his T-shirt in my fists. I tightened my thighs and Teague patted the backs of my legs. My boobs bounced and hung down toward my collar bones in the tank top. I really hoped the girls stayed in my shirt. Geez. The other women probably had on sports bras.
“Nice grip. Now, hold on tight. I have to let go of your legs to maneuver the obstacles.”
Obstacles. Right. I tightened my legs, arms, and entire core as his arms lowered. I thought of Mayor MacCray and the disdain he’d shown.
“I’ve got this,” I said.
“Good. ‘Cause here we go.”
Seconds later someone was on the intercom counting down, and a pop sounded. My ears filled with deafening cheers, and with Teague’s first jarring steps I nearly slid down his back. I adjusted myself quickly and tried to focus on making myself malleable to his movements. I couldn’t see a thing except a blur of colors. But I felt Teague’s muscles bunched up under me as he climbed over something. I heard his steady breaths. And a grunt or chuckle here and there. I found myself chuckling when he did. This was kind of fun.
Until he ran through some water and my whole head got splashed. I coughed and spit, not expecting that at all. I was pretty sure my mouth had been opened in a scream.
“You okay?” Teague shouted, never stopping. “We’re in the lead!”
“Yes! Go faster!”
He laughed, a hearty sound straight from his belly.
We got to something I couldn’t see and Teague had to hoist a leg high to climb over it. A log? I slid to the side and he had to pull back to right our weight.
“Sorry!” I called out.
“It’s okay.” He barreled us over and I clenched everything. “Ugh, he’s ahead now!”
“Go, go!” I gripped his shirt and hoisted myself higher as he sprinted.
The whole thing was over in a handful of minutes, but it felt like mere seconds. My abs burned. A whistle blew and cheers rose up. Teague squatted and leaned forward to pull my torso upward. For a moment I was dizzy and discombobulated until the world righted and I felt soft grass under my feet.
“Second place,” Teague said to me.
“What? No!” I stuck out my bottom lip but he was smiling. He lifted me in a bear hug, making me laugh with surprise before he set me back down.
“We were so close.” He ran a thumb under my eye and I realized the water had probably made my mascara run. I rubbed under my eyes, too, and was adjusting my shirt when I saw a super fit guy run up and tackle-hug Teague. He wore a red and green kilt with no shirt, showing off a toned chest and stomach. They pulled back and the guy looked me up and down, then licked his bottom lip.
“Leave it to you, T, to lose your partner and find some new baddie to take her place thirty seconds later.” The guy leaned toward me and shook out a hand, pretending to have been burned. “Damn, you got some power.” So did he. But with his dark eyes, lashes, thick eyebrows and amazing black hair, I could tell he didn’t need anyone to stroke his ego.
“This is Letty,” Teague said. “Letty, this is Chrystamos Papachristos.”
My eyes widened, and both the boys laughed.
“My dad is Greek,” he explained. “Call me Chrys. You nix?” I nodded and he went on before I could say anything. “I’m an Egyptian caracal cat shifter, like my mother. And my stepdad is a healer from India.” Whoa. His sideways smile and cocky stance showed me he knew exactly how cool all of that sounded. It took all of my remaining energy to pretend not to be incredibly impressed as I imagined a big cat with those pointy ears tipped with black tufts.
“Nice to meet you,” I said. “And, yeah, nix here.”
His face fell a little when I didn’t fawn over him. I’d met guys like him. I could have a lot of fun with Chrystamos, but mostly from messing with him.
“Chrys’s stepdad is the town’s veterinarian,” Teague explained. I nodded as he went on. “His sister Shani was my backup partner today. You’ve got to meet her. And Clare, our very own local banshee.”
“No way!” I lit up. A freaking banshee?
“Oh, you’ll get excited over a banshee but not a shapeshifter?” Chrystamos asked, throwing out his hands. I had to laugh. But not too hard.
A big arm reached out to shake Teague’s hand and my stomach clenched.
