Page 36 of Warrior's Reign
He inclined his head. “You don’t want to become intoxicated in this place.” His gaze flickered to her seat. “And I believe you’ve already had a few glasses of wine.”
She stilled. “You’ve been watching me?”
“Everyone has been watching you, lovely one.” He lifted a hand, gently wound a curl of her hair around his finger, letting it slip away a moment later. “Are you waiting for someone?”
“. . .no.”
He watched her calculate. Could he be the one she was after? “Then give me one more dance,” he said as the music revved back up.
This time they danced chest to chest and spoke little. He watched her pupils dilate, her lips part subtly as he spanned her waist with his hands, edged her even closer to his body.
What was he doing? This was an op. His Second would have words with him. He would have to silence Evvek before that gossip spread the events of this evening throughout the unit.
“You are so not my type,” he heard her mutter, “and I have work to do.”
“What is your type? What do you crave?” He realized his mistake when her eyes narrowed. She’d spoken far too softly, had not expected he would hear her words.
“I have to go soon,” he said abruptly, reining himself in. “I have work. But I would enjoy a cup of tea with you.”
Finally, she shrugged, stepping away from him carefully. “Sure.”
They made their way back to the bar, and Vykhan ordered two cups, making sure to choose a blend he didn’t normally drink. He had enough presence of mind for that, at least.
In the morning, he would double his meditations.
“So do you come here often?” she asked, blowing the steam off her beverage as she cupped it in her hands.
“This is my first visit to this establishment.”
She glanced at him sideways. “Hmm.”
No,he thought,I am not your fish. “Do you?” He snared her gaze, refusing to let her glance away.
She shook her head. “Nope. First time, too.”
Some spark of his old personality emerged—he decided to play with her a little. “You shouldn’t come to places like this alone.” Vykhan reached out, grazed a fingertip over her cheek. “It’s dangerous. Who is your protector?”
“Touching,” she warned softly. “I assume you like your fingers attached to your hand.” But there was little heat in her voice, at least not the heat of threat. “And I’m the most dangerous thing in here tonight.”
If not for his presence, that might be true. He withdrew slowly. “It would be worth it.”
“I don’t know about that.” She straightened, gaze over his shoulder.
Casually, Vykhan turned, trying to follow her line of sight.
“I’ll be back,” she said abruptly, abandoning her seat.
Vykhan activated a protective shield over her beverage, and waiting a moment, slipped into the crowd after her.
14
Reign triedto look harmless as she stalked the male who had been watching her from his booth all evening. On the dance floor, she’d watched him start to approach before retreating as another stepped up to flirt. She’d controlled her frustration. Just because one man kept eyeballing her didn’t necessarily mean he was the one they were looking for. Maybe he was just shy.
And then Whatever You Like had stepped up.
She shoved him out of her mind. On another night she might have been tempted to follow up on the odd tendril of heat between them; unexpected but nice. Or the invitation in his eyes, a peculiar blend of reserve and desire. As if he didn’t often pick up strange women in a bar, but this time, really wanted to.
Physically, he was average bordering on bland. In fact, if it weren’t for the expression in his eyes, she would have already forgotten his face. But there was something about him. . .
