As I watched her, she took a drink from her cup and licked the edge before setting it down. Need nudged my mental wall. She continued eating, unaware of what the small action had done to me.
When she set her plate aside and stood, I went for my own food and returned to my seat before she did so I could watch her more.
She moved with grace, her leggings hugging every curve. My gaze drifted to her backside as she moved to put another slice of pizza on her plate. More need pooled behind the wall. What I wouldn’t give to start chasing her now.
She walked toward the table, oblivious to my attention and sat beside me. When she lifted her fork and her pink tongue darted out to lick the tines, my control broke. A tidal wave of desire tore through my wall. Need pooled in my groin, and I quickly focused on my food. Beside me, Isabelle’s fork clattered to her plate. Something tugged at my need as I struggled to pull everything back behind the wall.
Before I could dwell on it, a bolt of pain and fear shot through my head, and I cursed my lack of control. Quickly, I grabbed the emotions and put everything from the usually dormant link with my sister behind the wall, too. Without thinking, I sent a wave of calm back. Realizing my mistake, I quickly pulled it back. However, the fallout I expected didn’t happen. In a moment, the pain and fear eased.
When we were young and I’d done the same, the pain and fear had always escalated. I had no idea why anything from me had made things worse, and what I could imagine only led to dark thoughts that never helped either of us. I’d long ago stopped sending anything back. Instead, I took whatever emotions she sent to me and locked them up.
I wondered what had changed.
With everything securely behind the wall once more, I calmly continued to chew the bite I’d taken.
Everyone watched Isabelle as she looked around the table. When her gaze settled on Clay, I shifted in my seat, trying to ease my lingering discomfort. Everything about her drove me crazy in a way I never thought possible.
“You okay, Z?” Ethan asked softly.
“Yeah. Fine.”
She wasn’t, though. I could scent her suspicion and the hint of interest. She’d felt my desire, and I suspected even pulled some of it into herself. And, she didn’t want to acknowledge it came from me.
The rest of the meal passed without incident, and after Jim confirmed there was no all-you-can-eat dessert bar, Emmitt paid the bill and we left.
Isabelle and Ethan walked slowly, letting some distance grow between them and the rest of the group.
Looks like too many emotions again, Grey sent me as we followed the pair.
I was fairly certain I’d contributed to them this time. I regretted the slip even though Isabelle’s reaction had been promising.
The boy doesn’t seem too worried though, Grey sent me, interrupting my thoughts.
We entered the hotel and followed them to our room. Isabelle used the bathroom then said she was going to go for a run.
“What helps her more?” I asked the boy after the door closed. “Sparring or running?”
“Sparring. The running works all right, but the sparring defuses the energy faster without straining just her hip and knee joints.”
I grabbed my bag and went into the bathroom to change into the clothes she’d purchased for me. The shirt was small, but the shorts were okay.
When I walked out, the boy grinned at me.
“She’ll probably tell you no.”
He was right. After Michelle’s talk, Isabelle was more cautious around me. However, she did seem to listen to him.
“Then come with me and tell her yes.”
He laughed and stood to follow me.
Play nice, Grey sent me.
“With all the pizza she ate, she won’t run long,” Ethan said as we neared the exercise room. “She’ll be more likely to spar if we let her finish with the treadmill first.”
According to the odometer on the treadmill, she was on her fourth mile when we entered. Ethan stayed back by the door, and I watched her move. The sway of her hips mesmerized me.
She slowed the treadmill to a walk and reached for the towel draped on the handle.
“Want to spar?” I asked.
She yipped and misstepped, which sent her flying backward right into my arms. I caught her and breathed in her scent. The feel of her sweaty skin pressed against my arms nudged my thoughts in a direction they shouldn’t go.
She quickly straightened away, and I reluctantly released her.
“Thanks, but I’m good for now,” she said, pressing the towel to her face.
“Z, you need twenty minutes. Running’s not enough,” Ethan said from behind me.
She glanced back at him with a scowl.
“I’m drained.”
“If that were true, you wouldn’t be scowling at me.” Humor coated his words.
“Fine. Whatever,” she said with a sigh.
Her attitude didn’t offend me. She was using it to hide what she really felt. Her interest in me. I was grateful she didn’t realize her scent gave her away every time.
She tossed the towel aside, faced me, and studied what I wore. The way her eyes lingered on my arms and chest made my pulse quicken. It started to race when her gaze drifted to my legs, and she swallowed hard.
“You make it look like I shopped in the junior’s section,” she said. Her words, meant to be humorous, held a note of awe.
The boy chuckled then straightened away from the door.
“I’ll be in the room watching Bonanza. There’s a marathon.”
He turned and left. Using her distraction, I moved close and inhaled deeply. I gave into the need to touch her and brushed the back of my hand over her exposed sweaty skin. She shivered and started to turn. When her gaze met mine, I was several steps across the room.
Despite everyone warning me to give her time, her scent told me she was ready for more. At least, hints of more.
“Kicking,” she said, giving me a narrow-eyed look.
I nodded and waited for her first move. Unlike the last time we’d sparred, she settled into a pattern. She’d kick high twice then low once. Right to left. I blocked everything with ease and used the first few moments to watch her expressive face. She picked up her speed when she knew I had the pattern, and a grin tugged her lips. She loved sparring. But, she loved it more with me. She knew she could dish out anything, and I would be all right.
Like last time, we started to move as one, a fluid dance of arms and limbs. My hands were ready, waiting to welcome each strike. Desire beat at me harder than her kicks, and I fought to keep the emotion behind the wall where it belonged. However, I couldn’t deny my need to touch her.
On her next kick, I let my fingers trail the skin of her ankle. She bounced back an extra step and scrutinized me.
I waved her forward, needing more. She balanced and kicked twice, then turned and jabbed at my right shoulder. The unexpected combination, plus my focus on needing to touch her again, caught me off guard. I grinned when her jab connected.
After that, she kept things random. I liked random better than a pattern. She did too, based on her grin every time she found an opening. I realized fighting randomly with me tested her skills. She liked being tested.
I put more effort into finding every opening and letting her know it was there with a lingering touch. My fingers traced her shoulders, neck, and cheek. Her scent grew even stronger, calling to me, beckoning for more. When she kicked, I touched her ankles or calves. Smooth, damp skin, teasing the palms of my hands.
When she left her torso open and my fingers trailed the outside curve of her breast, my intentions and focus shifted. A consuming need to possess gripped me. I was no longer sparring to help her. I was sparring to touch every last inch of her. And when I was done marking her, she would be mine.
Suddenly, she stepped back. A growl threatened to escape.
“I’m done,” she said, bracing her hands on her knees.
“Five more minutes,” I said, uncaring that my voice was rough with the need consuming me.
Her panting breaths halted as she jerked her head up to look at me. With her cheeks flushed and lips parted invitingly, I struggled to stay where I was. I needed to finish touching her.
She inhaled slowly and straightened.
“For you or for me?”
Her soft voice caressed me, and I closed my eyes, savoring the feeling. A soft sound of movement opened my eyes. Did she think she could leave?
“Five more minutes,” I repeated.
“Is Grey going to need to put a choke hold on you again?” As she spoke, she eased back a step.
Tension coiled in my gut. She would not leave me until she was mine.
“Come here.”