Kalindra (GateKeepers) (14 page)

“I’m so sorry.”

His heart soared when he reached out and she didn’t shy away. Not afraid.

But he needed to see how badly he’d cut her. As gently as he could, he pried her fingers away from her arm. Blood still flowed, obscuring the area. Heart in his throat, he replaced her hand with his and covered the wound.

“Come on, baby, let’s go get this cleaned up.”

She followed his lead as if in a daze. “But
you
cut
me
.”

Cameron tilted his head, examining her closely. She didn’t sound upset. She sounded incredulous. As if she couldn’t believe it happened.

“Baby, look at me.” He waited until her eyes met his. “We need to get this bandaged up. Then we’ll deal with the rest.”

“Huh?” She looked down at his arm, then waved away his concern. “Just a scratch. But if you hadn’t pulled your strike…”

Cameron winced when she grabbed his arm. Damn, the woman had one hell of a grip.

“How did you do that?”

“Ouch, Kali, ease up.” The more she talked, the more he realized she was going to be fine. That she was more upset about him getting past her guard than about the cut itself. His panic began to recede.

“How?”

“You’re scaring me a little bit.” The intensity on her face made him uncomfortable.

Throwing her hands up, she paced away and then back.

He crossed his arms and watched her. Such intensity in every movement.

“Don’t you understand? If I have a weakness, I need to know. It could mean life and death.”

There it was. The fury that had disappeared at the sight of her blood came rushing back to the surface.

“Oh, so you finally admit you can get hurt. That you can die?”

“Gods, are you still upset about that damn lock?”

If he opened his mouth, he’d start yelling, so he kept quiet and let her read the truth on his face. As long as he had air in his lungs, he’d argue for the right to fight beside her.

“I’ve always known my job is life or death, Cameron. But
my
life or death. Not yours.”

“That’s not your decision to make.”

Stare down. But this time, he could see her thinking. Finally, something broke through her inflexibility. She sighed.

“I don’t want to lose you,” she whispered.

The agony in her voice pulled at him, but he held his ground. If he gave in to the urge to hold her now, nothing would change. And that was something he couldn’t live with.

“Don’t you think I feel that way every time you go out to defend the gate? But that’s a risk you have to take. Just like this is a risk I have to take.” He could see her weakening. If he blew it now, he’d never get a second chance. “I’m strong, and fast. Let me help you.”

She stared at the wound on her arm. No longer bleeding, but still a vibrant red against her pale skin. Proof that he was ready to fight her kind.

“Fine.” The grudging tone in her voice made him smile. Now, why did that seem to make her frown harder? “But I swear to the gods, if you die, I will kill you.”

Cameron laughed and pulled her against him.

“It’s a deal.”

Chapter 11

Kali tossed the battle-axe onto her kitchen table as she entered the room. The metallic clang moments later told her Cameron’s broadsword followed suit. The axe would make a nice addition to her collection. She’d taken a moment to examine it after she’d taken it from the previous owner. The design on the handle was silver and looked one of a kind.

It wasn’t like the owner was going to need it anymore. He’d been dead before she’d taken it from him. Him and his two companions.

With as much traffic as the gate had been getting, the family of trolls living on the other side must be feasting daily. They had a symbiotic relationship. Kalindra had an easy method to dispose of her attackers’ bodies, and they got dinner out of the deal. Win, win.

She tilted her head to the side, sighing as it cracked three times before tilting it the other way. Then she turned to face Cameron. She had to admit, as nervous as she was about him fighting beside her, he held his own quite well. Had more than proven himself in the past week.

Plus, he was damn sexy all fired up and sweaty from combat. Every time she saw him with the light of battle in his eyes, the urge to jump his bones came over her. Like now. The fierceness in his gaze contrasting with the grin curving his lips. Sexy as all hell.

“The assaults are coming more frequently,” he muttered. Although his tone seemed disgruntled, Kali could tell how much he enjoyed the fights. Understood the craving for violence she saw in him.

Once upon a time, she’d felt it as well. The glory of battle. A craving for the intensity and focus fighting for one’s life brought. The adrenaline rush. She’d lost that natural high many, many years ago, but ever since Cameron had joined her, she’d begun to feel it again. Because now she had something to lose. Something more important than her own life.

“They’ll get bored eventually. Plan their attacks with more than angst and cockiness.” That was when things would get really hairy. Right now, there was no thought in the assaults. They saw something they wanted, they picked up their weapons to go get it, conveniently forgetting the strength of the obstacle in their way: her.

When they began to plan, that would be a whole different story. But she wouldn’t worry about it. She had a secret weapon. She wasn’t alone anymore. Cameron had turned into a true warrior, strong and sure.

He’d been right, damn him. It wasn’t fair for him to take on all the worry. Together, they were stronger than apart. They could take on all of Outremer, and as long as they stuck together, they would win. The two of them were so together, so connected, it was almost as if they could read each other’s minds when they fought. They were a finely-tuned strike force.

Pride filled her as she stared at her warrior. Hers, just as much as she was his.

“It’s nice to have someone watch my back,” she admitted.

The pure sexuality in the answering smile had her melting as liquid heat flooded her. God, she was wet from a smile. But she couldn’t seem to get enough of him. She turned away to get a glass of water.

“I do so enjoy watching your…back.”

Kali glanced over her shoulder in time to see his eyes fixed on her ass. She laughed at the focus in his gaze.

“That’s not what I meant, you goose.” Shaking her head, she turned back to the counter. She couldn’t figure out what she wanted, hot sweaty sex with Cameron, or lunch. Both. Definitely both. But which hunger was stronger?

“Goose, huh?”

Something poked her in the butt, startling her.

“Ooo,” she squealed, jumping and spinning around. His hand was inches from her behind. Slapping his hand away, she asked, “What was that?”

“You told me to goose you. I was only trying to oblige.” And damned if he hadn’t perfected that innocent expression.

“I called you a goose, I didn’t ask to be goosed.”

His finger poked her twice on her left butt cheek before she’d even finished talking.

“Stop that,” she said through a giggle. The man had her giggling now? That was probably the first time she’d giggled. Ever.

“Stop what?” All innocence.

“Poking me.” She pushed away his arm before he could prod her butt again, only to have his other hand get her from the right side. “Cameron!”

She dashed around him, crossing to the middle of the kitchen before turning. Cameron was in hot pursuit, his arms open as he tried to hug her. Another giggle slipped past her lips as she darted away, but he wasn’t giving up. His fingers came out as he tried to poke her while she ran.

She turned and ran down the hallway. He’d never catch her. Not until she wanted to be. She
did
want to be caught. Eventually.

Kali slowed her pace as she neared their bedroom. To be caught or not to be caught? But she didn’t have time to think it over as Cameron’s arms surrounded her, lifting her off the ground and swinging her around.

“Looks like I caught myself a prize.” Another giggle spilled out as his hand skittered over her ribs, tickling her. Her laughter turned into a moan when he cupped her breast. Her nipples pebbled against the heat of his hand. His touch never failed to fire her blood.

His lips were warm and soft as they caressed the juncture between her neck and shoulder. Lust coiled in her belly as those lips traveled up her neck to her ear. Matching her step for step, he walked her to the bathroom, letting go of her only long enough to turn on the shower.

Then he took her back in his arms and his heat enveloped her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and eagerly returned his kiss. She closed her eyes, giving herself over to the sensations. He nibbled on her bottom lip before thrusting his tongue back inside her mouth. The man kissed with such raw passion, it always awakened the sexual beast inside her. Awakened her to new heights of pleasure.

Steam filled the bathroom before they came up for air. Grinning, she dragged him under the spray, and pushed him against the wall.

He tried to spin her around, but she pushed him back. Her turn to play. She ran her hands down his chest, scattering the water drops. Downward until she found her prize, hard and hot in her hands. He groaned when she squeezed him, so she did it again.

His muscles tightened everywhere her lips caressed as she kissed a trail down his chest. A fist tightened in her hair as she trailed her tongue down the line of hair running from his bellybutton to his groin.

She paused, examining the treat before her. A drop of pre-cum dotted the tip, and she licked her lips in anticipation. He groaned, and she grinned up at him.

Teasing him was mean, but so much fun. She couldn’t resist. Using her tongue, she licked the head, but resisted any further contact. She reached down and caressed the sac between his thighs.

His hips bucked, but Kalindra continued to tease, swirling her tongue around the tip. He hissed, the hand in her hair tightening. Oh yeah, she had him right where she wanted him.

Unable to hold back any longer, Kali took him into her mouth. Hard. Thick. Hot. She leaned back, sucking in as she retreated, then plunged back in until he hit the back of her throat. He jerked against the shower wall, but she wasn’t finished.

She breathed in deep through her nose, pulling his scent into her lungs. He filled every sense, consuming her. She wanted to taste him. Wanted his pleasure to coat her tongue and throat. And when it did, she’d know she brought him to such fervor.

Bracing herself, she pulled him deeper, swallowing against him. His cock jerked and his thighs were rock-hard under her hands. Everything about Cameron was hard. Strong.

His hands gripped her shoulders, trying to pull her off, but she wasn’t having any of it. He was close. She wasn’t giving in until she had what she wanted. For now, he was at her mercy.

She leaned back until the tip rested between her lips, then slowly moved back in. Back and forth. In and out. Changing her pace until the salty taste of his seed filled her mouth. She swallowed it all, sucking on him until he softened in her mouth. Leaning away, Kali licked her lips.

“Mmm, tasty.”

His breathing was rough as he pulled her up and turned her away. He pressed her hands onto the wall in front of her, just above the temperature knobs.

“Keep them there,” he said right before he pulled her hips backward, opening her to him.

One hand stroked over her back, and she arched into his touch like a cat. The other hand kept her hips steady. He had her trapped. Payback for the teasing she had put him through.

His hands curled around her body, one seeking her puckered nipple, the other grazing over her clit. She cried out as he pressed one finger inside her. Her inner muscles clenched around him. It wasn’t enough. She needed more.

Pleasure zinged from her nipple to her core as he pinched harder. Then he was cupping her, lifting her breast directly into the spray of the shower head. Kali cried out.

Water pounded against her chest, rivaling the fierceness of the pleasure pulsing through her veins. Another finger joined the others inside her. Kali gasped at the sensations centering on her core. Deliciously full.