A Spartan's Kiss (6 page)

She smacked her head with her palm. Hadn’t she just decided she could do this?

“What the hell? No, actually, it is not easy peasy. He…” She stalled out on voicing her biggest concern.

Aeros had done something. There was more here than her unwanted attraction to the big lug. She’d been ready to leave his sexy butt standing in the parking lot. He’d barked out an order, and she’d obeyed. She’d been walking away, leaving him behind, job a no-go, problem solved. Then she’d stopped. A shiver trickled its way up her spine at the memory. But she couldn’t tell her aunt that. What would she say?
‘Uh, well, you see, Aeros told me to stop, I didn’t want to, but I did.’

Oh, and her aunt wouldn’t be all over that.

Tabithia was. Oh yeah, was she all over that. Tabithia had a curse hanging over her head. Literally. An old hag named Sirmila had predicted that an immortal male would someday walk into Tabithia’s life and control her by some sort of talisman or charm. So freakin’ not cool. The curse had been annoying her like a hangnail for years, and now? Now she just might have met the immortal. And oh, man, Hecate help her if Aeros was the man she’d feared all these years, because she might enjoy his orders.

“Tabbie-cat? Tabithia? What’s going on? He? He who? Aeros?”

Trouble sounded worried. Not a good sign.

Tabithia had to get her guts out of her boots where they’d hit bottom. Or felt like it. There really was no other way around this. She would have to do this. It was that or spill her dirty little secret about Aeros and have the posse swarm to the rescue.

That wouldn’t do. She fought her own battles. She nibbled on her cuticles and considered her options.

I can ignore him. Stay away from him. It’s a big jungle after all. Maybe he isn’t the male. Maybe I’ve finally met someone who caught my eye.
All her Wiccan friends said someday she’d meet someone.

None of them know my dark side, though. But I do, so why is the crazy butterfly-in-the-stomach attraction to him continuing?

Bridget save her. She was talking to herself. Freakin’ carrying on a big pity party for crying out loud!

She hung her head, ashamed. She was so screwed up.

“Fine, I’ll do it, but you’d better make as much or more, or I keep the double and we split the original offer.”

“Dayam. You are getting wicked, witchette.”

Tabithia snorted and focused on breathing. “Damn right.”

“Fine, that’s great. Three days, then we’ll see who has more dinero.”

Three days? Was that enough time? Panic had Tabithia tightening her grip on the phone.

Trouble exhaled heavily through the line. That was so not a good sound.

Tabithia managed to ease her grip before she crushed her phone and said, “What else is up? Spill it.”

“Uh, yeah, well, Aeros the Sparkie has been texting like crazy. I’m texting him your number, cutie pie. You deal with the Spartan, I have my own project.”

Now that didn’t sound good. “What’s up? Just what are you doing—?”

“Just text me if there’s a problem, Tabbie-cat.”

Huh. So only the intel on some jobs. That was cool. Trouble was always in trouble. So what was new with that?

“Duh. Three days.”

“May the Three watch over and keep you safe.”

“And may they guide your way,” Tabithia responded automatically. Now to get through this night and three more like it. Easy peasy, right? She would just stay as far away from Sparkie as possible.

“Later, sweet. Behave, ‘kay?” Trouble disconnected with one more laugh.

Tabithia’s heart fluttered. Her mind revolted against her decision to keep Aeros as far as possible from her by imagining Aeros naked. Not just naked, but on top of her, his big arms flexing by her head as he held himself up, his lean hips thrusting between her thighs as she urged him on until he hit the depths of her soul.

Goddess save and protect her, she needed some more alone time. Behave? A whoosh of chills raced along her skin. All of a sudden, she so did not want to behave. Not at all.

Aeros utilised a travel spell he’d bartered off a witch to shift from his friend Dominic’s hidden castle to the Spartans’ mansion in LA. The LA location wasn’t very convenient for his work with the London-based Immortal Council, but Aeros preferred his privacy. And his home in the Italian Alps.

The trip to Dominic’s had been reassuring. The mage had been happy, and Aeros admitted he was glad his old friend had found his bonded, the one woman who completed him. He’d been surprised to feel a surge of jealousy at Torque’s obvious happiness. He’d also felt fear the like of which he’d never experienced before simply through asking Dominic if the Spartans shared this gift of an immortal pairing. The cocky mage had dragged his hand through his shaggy hair and grinned before shrugging.

“Why not? The Spartans are just as likely as a mage like me to find a life bond. If you’ve found someone you can’t resist, my advice? Don’t.”

Dominic’s response had felt like Aeros’ entire existence had shifted. He’d stood there flat-footed for several long seconds before he’d been able to speak. Unfortunately Dominic hadn’t been able to answer any of his questions.

Still, suddenly, the world seemed brighter. A bit unsteady under his boots, but his future didn’t stretch out dark and miserable ahead of him any longer.

Tabithia might in fact be his female. His bonded. He felt like Dominic’s advice had removed a truckload of bricks from his chest. He still had the jitters, something he’d never experienced before, but he knew now he might actually have a chance with her.

The thought caused his gut to clench. Dominic was sappy as hell in love with his bonded, a woman named Beauty. Aeros wondered if that was her name or simply a nickname, similar to Dominic’s nickname, Torque. The warlock was far too informal with names. And too damn secretive. He hadn’t even let Aeros meet the woman. Still, Aeros had to wonder at the speed of his friend’s bond. Did it happen in such a way, this bonding?

He shook his head at the thought. Hell, Tabithia floored him. Less than two seconds in her proximity and his heart had nearly pounded out of his chest. What would it feel like to have her look at him the way Beauty had gazed so adoringly over at Dominic? Did Tabithia have a nickname? If he could call her anything, it would be baby. He allowed himself a faint smile. Yes, the endearment would fit. Not that she was soft or weak, but her eyes, those brilliant green gems, had seemed to him almost child-like. Such a sweet description would fit her.

With a shock, he realised he stood in his hallway, most likely looking as sappy as Dominic had. Rubbing a hand through his short hair, he stalked towards the open living area. None of his men lounged in the living room or large kitchen area. The room typically burst with warriors, either watching the big-screen plasma or cooking something on the six-burner stove. Well, mostly Kiron cooked, while the rest of them devoured every scrap. The dark Sumerian loved to cook. Warriors ate a great deal, even immortal warriors. Kiron’s meals were always good and, more importantly, healthy.

He could hear Stephano’s and Galen’s voices in the back room—most likely they were in the built-in practice ring. The two often trained together. Galen was their scout, an assassin with a voice like gold. The Bard hadn’t sung much over the past century, but Aeros could still remember his rough tenor filling the night hours with ballads.

The two were probably working on some new move Stephano had picked up from mixed martial arts matches. Aeros frowned at the thought. He really needed to discuss Stephano’s participation in human competitions.

Entering the kitchen, Aeros examined the room, seeing it in a new light. Not simply because the colours were almost too bright, but he had to wonder what Tabithia would think of this home he shared with his men. He had another, hidden place, much like Dominic’s, high on a hill and well-fortified by spells, deep in the Alps. But this LA home was where he spent most of his time.

He reached up and paused with his hand on the stainless steel refrigerator. Would he and Tabithia live here? Hell no. He’d put Aaron in charge. As the eldest, Aaron would do well leading the men.

Would Tabithia like this place, though? The kitchen was expansive, completely modern and designed with the latest grey-flecked marble countertops and black cabinets and appliances.

He stared around the place, taking in the lack of comforts. It was spartan. He grinned at the use of such a term. They’d lived amongst expensive luxuries for years, but he and his men rarely splurged on useless items. Everything in the mansion was necessary. Very little, except the plasma or the porn movies his men favoured, was superfluous. One could even argue both items had their uses.

It wasn’t the house that worried him, though. Not really. What if Tabithia didn’t like him? He was a warrior. He was used to battle. He was a simple man. He trained, fought, trained, fought and trained. Late nights, early morns, little sleep, too much action, and all of it spent with men he’d known for centuries.

He opened the damn refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. Had a man ever worried something to death before? He was close to the point of fracturing at the seams with doubts.

“Aeros, there’s a witch at the door.”

Turning, he met Ajax’s grin.

“She has a name, Ajax, use it.”

Ajax scratched his head. He leaned a shoulder against the hallway leading to the bedrooms and lifted a dark eyebrow in amazement. Aeros heard his men filing in from the other end of the expansive mansion behind him. Squaring his shoulders, he nodded for Ajax to move aside.

Aeros’ stomach clenched. He shut off his dismal thoughts and passed Ajax and his men as they all took seats around the square coffee table. Kiron’s damaged leg earned him a whole sofa, while Aaron and Stephano argued over the leather recliner. Aaron won by sheer stubbornness. Stephano shrugged a big shoulder but tossed his empty water bottle at Aaron’s head as he claimed the second most comfortable chair.

“All right, let her in. I’ll just clean off and be right out.”

Aeros walked out before anyone could stop him. Ajax followed him, he noted with a surge of frustration. He wanted a few minutes alone to figure all this out. It seemed he’d not get it. If the witch was here, then she had agreed to come with them. And if she were here, he could test her and discover if she felt any pull towards him. Women had been attracted to him before. Frowning, he studied Ajax. Yes, women sought him out, he remembered that. He could recall many times women had chosen him over Ajax, the younger, lighter and more fun man.

“What’s up? You wait for the witch, text us like a gazillion times she’s on her way and not to let her leave, then you rush off here to do what?” Ajax asked, taking up a spot by the fireplace. He’d let his light brown hair grow out, the straight, long length coming to his unshaven jaw, Aeros noted.

“Don’t call her that. She has a name, just as you do, Ajax.”

Ajax straightened and folded his arms over his chest, but nodded. “Well, if she does, she didn’t say. Why are you worried?”

He didn’t bother answering. What didn’t have him worrying?

“Just remember to be respectful, Ajax.”

He stripped off his T-shirt and grabbed a new one on his way to the bathroom. After a quick wash he dried off quicker than he ever had in his life. Two minutes later he was dressed and out of the door, tugging on the new shirt, his boots clipping on the marble floor announcing his arrival to his guest. For a brief second, he wished he had powers like a demon and could mist in undetected and have his fill of looking at her without her knowledge—if he ever could get his fill.

Ajax muttered something like ‘boxers in a bind’ behind him, but he ignored the man as he got his first real look at Tabithia in the light of day. She stood opposite him, near the other arched entryway to the great room. All his men were gathered, or at least the five who shared the house. There was a good distance between her and any of his men. She also stood with her back to the wall, near the exit to the front door. Did she fear they would harm her?

With her eyebrows drawn and hands on her shapely hips, she didn’t appear too fearful. She looked ready for battle. Her glorious, crimson hair was up in a tight ponytail, leaving the contours of her face clear for him to memorise. Dressed in black again, she astounded him. She was small, but the gods had blessed her with a body that would bring a man to his knees. Her glorious breasts, her stunning curves, and her ass all left his fists clenching to touch her in every possible way as he drove deep inside her wet, tight heat.

Black BDUs, similar to his but one hell of a lot smaller, tucked into tiny black combat boots and a long-sleeved, form-fitting black T-shirt completed her outfit. She could have walked down any street in the world and drawn every eye. Was black her favourite colour?

She turned partway, and those green eyes zeroed in on him. He fought not to go to her, fought not to touch her, pull her close, and feel her softness against his hardness as he drew in a deep, steady breath. His cock flooded with blood, painfully heavy and erect in seconds.

“So, are we getting on with this or what?” She looked him up and down, and dismissed him just as quickly to focus her green stare on his men. He released his pent-up breath on a long, slow exhale. Thank fuck she’d not meant what he wanted with that question. There was one very big thing he wanted her to get on, but not in front of his men.

Each man earned a less than approving glance from Tabithia before she locked gazes with him again. She shook her head, as if already tired of them.

“Well?”

He couldn’t speak. Among the list of reactions he had to her, a smile wanted to tug his lips up at her behaviour. She cocked her head to the side as she watched him.

No one spoke. With his peripheral vision, he could see his men look from her to him and back again.

“Well? Cat got your tongue? Let’s hit it. I have plans, and they don’t include standing around wasting time, Sparkie.”

“Aeros, my name is Aeros. This is Ajax, my second in command. The two men on the couch are Galen—”