Page 62 of Warrior's Reign
“Admirable, again,” he said smoothly. “Let us discuss this.”
Was he pursuing her because she was seen as the weakest link on Vykhan’s team? It would have been easy to put himself under Icolo’s nose, then wait for events to unfold. Icolo would be pissed at being manipulated. Loka could be the source of the palace infiltration. . .but who was he working for?
They spent an hour engaged in verbal skirmishes. Reign started on her third glass of wine, making a mental note to inquire about a stay sober upgrade. It was on the requisition wish list, but there was always something else the team needed first.
“Amusing,” Loka murmured after her last brief retelling of a blooper style incident while guarding a vid model. “And yet you willingly indentured yourself to the Imperialists.”
She stiffened, then relaxed. “Youngest Daughter is a friend. I am honored to serve.”
He made a sneer look elegant. “You Haeemahphites are all the same. No wonder Vykhan is so taken.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Please, there’s no reason to prevaricate. Vykhan and I are old friends, after all. I know when Vykhan’ashara is entangled.”
His bright eyes watched her with raptor like intensity, a smile hovering on the corner of his mouth. He lounged with all apparent indolence, but Reign wasn’t fooled. An Aeddannar could move with the speed of a striking snake.
‘Ashara wasn’t a Yadeshi term, not with an Aeddannar sounding suffice. She made a mental note to ask Icolo what it meant.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she said softly.
“Keep your secrets, my dear.” He smiled, smooth and vulpine. “Perhaps you and I shall have such secrets in time.”
The flirting subtly increased over the course of the interview. She’d abandoned pretending this was a job interview instead of an. . .infiltration. There was no benefit in letting him think she was stupid.
If not for her new courtship—so weird—she might have let Loka seduce her. It wouldn't be the first time she’d combined pleasure with information seeking.
Reign ran her hand through her curls, absently flirtatious, then rose, drifting towards the viewing wall. “Secrets with a man like you would be dangerous—for me. I prefer to just be the hired muscle.”
She felt him rise and approach her back as she watched the gyrating dancers. “That would be a waste,” he said. “You’re destined for greater things.”
Despite a faint grimace at the cliché, her core pulsed once, then quieted. It was the voice, the deliberate pitch designed to seduce. “Sex isn’t great.”
Closer now, his chest just brushing her back—hips politely angled away from her buttocks. The consummate gentleman. He would seduce, but he wouldn’t touch her intimately until she asked—and then he’d devour. She wondered how long his lovers lasted, and if he normally chose women stupid enough to fall for that act.
“Obviously you haven’t had proper sex.” Fingertips grazed the line of her shoulder.
She turned and grabbed his wrist, his fingers inches from her jaw. “I don’t fraternize with clients.”
He laughed. “Fraternize. You make it sound like a transaction, my dear.” His voice lowered to a murmur, his lidded gaze an invitation. “Are you not satisfied? Ask, and I shall intervene.”
The hypnotic quality of his eyes meant to ensnare her will. She released his wrist, her hands settling on his shoulders. She angled her head slightly, gaze lowering to his mouth, and leaned forward.
He remained motionless as her lips brushed his. After a moment his mouth opened, the first hint of his taste on her tongue as she slipped inside. Loka’s hands remained at his side as she kissed him, his restraint exquisite, a response tempered to match her hesitance, his offer to go deeper subtle.
Desire flared. Unexpectedly, enough to truly knock her off balance. If her heart was not already entangled. . .
Reign stepped back, dropping her hands and stared at him. “I—that shouldn’t have happened.”
“I won’t hold it against you,” he purred.
She bet he wouldn’t. Reign glanced at his guards, who watched from the shadows. “I suppose I should demur as well,” he said, “but the lie would insult your intelligence.”
“I believe this interview has come to a natural conclusion.” Reign stepped around him and strode to the exit.
He waited until she was at the door. “I’ll be in touch with your liegeman, Reign. I believe you would be an excellent addition to my team.”
She paused. “I might be your muscle, but you wouldn’t hold my leash, Loka.”
