The succubus spun around with a gasp, a quick blush creeping over her cheeks. Her eyes were big and round. She peeked behind him as if searching for someone else.
“Don’t worry the Commander isn’t here. You’re lucky I caught you and not him. He
doesn’t allow anyone in his study unless he’s in here and usually then it’s under orders.”
“Yes, well, I was just bored and wanted to take a look around the place.”
“I thought the Commander showed you around earlier today?” He cooled his smile into a flat line, though inside he was laughing. Several emotions flitted over her face as if she was quickly trying to come up with a lie.
“Yes, well, he did take me around but he didn’t really let me stop to enjoy anything. I couldn’t sleep and thought I would explore the castle.”
Henry jerked his head to the hallway. “Come on, out with you. If I leave you here
knowingly it’ll be my arse on the line.”
She stumbled out quickly and he shut the door behind her. She was a pretty one, he
thought looking at her. Her hair was brown with just a hint of copper in it, and her gray eyes sparkled from excitement.
“Okay, I’ll just be going to bed.”
“Be sure you make it there. You’re safe from the Commander and anyone else here
but...” he hesitated over his words then said, “he isn’t the kindest of men.”
Chloe nodded quickly and started away. She turned back, “Wait. Do you know when the next new moon is?”
His face pulled into a frown. “Why?”
“It’s important. It’s a...succubus thing.” She might as well have said it’s a feminine matter. He literally took a step back.
“Two days.”
“How sure are you?”
He thought about it. “Very sure.”
“Okay, thanks a lot. What’s your name?”
“Henry.” She poked out her hand and he shook it.
“Chloe,” she said. “Well goodnight, Henry. Thanks for the info.”
“Stay out of trouble,” he warned and a devilish grin broke out over her face.
Henry waited until the succubus disappeared up the stairs before he went down into the training room. He flicked the fluorescent overhead lights on; the buzz of the lights already soothed an ounce of tension from him. Opting for the punching bag, he went to the corner of the room to tape up his hands. Working out always soothed him. He wrapped the tape carefully around his bare hands for the perfect fit. He flexed his taped hands to make sure the binding was not too tight or loose.
He started slowly, with a one-two rhythm. His muscles warmed in his arms and stomach and bent legs. He faked left and right as he landed a rapid succession of blows to the bag. Soon he hit the bag harder, cutting into it, pounding it with his fists with deeply satisfying strikes that eased the thoughts on his mind while also setting them free.
Yesterday he’d kissed Nanu. His right hook caught the bag and sent it soaring high into the air before it swung back down. Beautiful, golden Nanu. He shouldn’t have. Fuck if he didn’t know that, but some selfish part of him had been desperate to know how she tasted.
Some part had even wondered that maybe if he just got one taste, a sample, then he could move on from her. Stop thinking about her every time he returned from a mission, every time he walked the halls and wondered if he’d run into her, every time he lay his head against his pillow at night.
It hadn’t worked. If anything, it was worse. She was like a drug he’d tasted and now craved with every fiber of his being. He’d thought she’d invaded his thoughts before, now she had moved in, unpacked and was sleeping there. Nanu with her sharp mind, steady hands, and husky voice. Nanu and the way she looked at him with innocence and desire. Nanu, the golden goddess, he couldn’t have.
He shoved all his anger and energy into his punches, felt the distant slick of sweat beating down his face. Each thud pounded, echoed in his ears until all thoughts of her were pushed from his mind and all he saw was the red blur of the bag swinging with each of his hits.
A soft touch at his back, had him spinning around with a growl, his arm pulled back ready to throw. He stopped, shaking with the force to stay his arm from finishing the punch.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he growled, his voice laden with hot anger.
Nanu trembled and looked from him to his fist as he slowly lowered it. When she looked back at him, he saw fear there and wanted to laugh. See, this was why. That look.
“I, I heard noise down here and wanted to see who it was.”
Shaking his head, he sat heavily on the bench and started pulling the tape off his hands.
“Why?”
“I was just curious.” He didn’t look at her, couldn’t. For all he knew she had a fling going on with one of the other warriors. It wouldn’t surprise him in the least. She was gorgeous, smart, gentle. What kind of man could resist? He was on the verge of asking her which warrior it was, but bit his tongue until pain lanced through him.
He finished pulling the tape off and grabbed a towel to wipe up the sweat from his face.
His shirt and shorts were plastered to him but whatever. She’d seen him at worse times. And she was fucking off limits.
“You know you really shouldn’t be exercising so soon. I gave you a four day reprieve from any training.” She sounded concerned. She probably was. There was so much sweetness in her. Things he didn’t know how to deal with.
“I know,” he said gruffly. He snatched a bottle of water from the mini-fridge and downed the whole thing.
“Then why are you here, Henry?” She sounded exasperated.
Well good, let her be pissed. She shouldn’t have kissed him. I shouldn’t have let her.
Gotta get out of here. He made for the door, but she stepped in front of him. It was either brush by her to get around her or push her away. He couldn’t make himself do either.
“I was working out, as you saw. Move out of my way, Nanu.” Her lips were dark, the
color of dark cherry.
“No,” she said with a lift to her chin. “I want to talk about what happened.”
He sighed loudly and peered over at the punching bag. He could probably work the bag for at least another couple of hours. He started towards it, but a soft hand pulled on his arm. He looked down, his eyes narrowing on the stark contract of her bronzed skin to his lighter skin. It made his gut clench.
“There’s nothing to talk about, Nanu.” He watched her jaw tighten. The same way it did when she was working over a warrior, stitching him up. It was her look of pure, raw determination. Her I-will-not-fail look, and it was aimed at him. He was screwed. “Fine, talk fast. I need to get out of here.”
“Why have you been avoiding me? I sent a note that you should check in with me today so I can rewrap the gauze with a clean one.”
“You know why I didn’t come by.” He looked at her, his eyes unflinching in their
honesty. He watched her swallow hard. Her cheeks darken with color. Dammit. He needed to get out of here.
“Because of the kiss,” she said softly. He took an unsteady breath, his tongue rubbing over his lips in remembrance. Her taste no longer lingered, that he’d made sure of with half a tube of toothpaste and a bottle of mouthwash. But none of that could wipe away the memory of how her lips felt pressed softly against his. Like warm satin.
Her eyes softened, the golden specs around her pupils sparkling up at him. “I liked kissing you, Henry.”
Whoosh. All the air in his gut left him, and his dick hardened in his shorts.
“Yeah, well it isn’t going to happen again. In fact this will be the last time we speak of it, ever.” Shit, there was no hiding the thick arousal that filled his voice. He could only hope she wouldn’t pick up on it.