Warriors of Poseidon 01.5 - Wild Hearts in Atlantis

fierce warrior who seeks to protect his people. I respect him, as well," he replied, never breaking his stride. But, as they walked out into the fading sunshine that mocked the darkness of his mission, he realized the truth behind his words. Although he respected Ethan, he would not hesitate to bring him down unless Ethan called off the alliance with the vampires.
     
    Or if he attempts any claim on Kat, a voice in his mind demanded.
     
    That remains to be seen. Okay, my Lord Poseidon, now would be a really great time to take pity on your warrior and share your plans with me.
     
    Unfortunately, as was so often the case with gods, the only response was a faint, mocking laughter that echoed in his mind.
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Chapter Eight
    Kat put the grocery bag on her kitchen table and stared almost blindly at it, as if somewhere in the grain of the brown paper lay the secret to resolving the crises that had smashed into her carefully structured life.
     
    One of the few friends I had left in the world dead—murdered?
     
    Check.
     
    Ethan admitting he formed an alliance with the vampires? Check. Fallon hating my guts and probably going to try to kill me after I saw him humiliate her? Check.
     
    Alone in my house with bags full o f food I don't know how to cook and a huge Atlantean male who seems to want something from me? Something I'm not prepared to give?
     
    Check. And check. And check. "Damn."
     
    "You don't like steak?" His voice was mild, but the sound of it still startled her.
    Something in the tone of it—rough, but gentle sent chills down her spine. Not chills of fear, but just the opposite. Attraction. Desire.
     
    Wanting.
     
    She felt that peculiar sensation again, as if the animal side of her nature were finally waking up from a hibernation that had lasted all of Kat's life. If it hadn't been so impossible, she might even have believed that she was on the verge of shifting.
     
    "Kat?" Bastien's voice cut into her thoughts again, and this time he sounded concerned.
    She needed to pay attention. To make an attempt to form coherent sentences.
     
    Wild Hearts In Atlantis – Warriors of Poseidon 1.5
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    "I'm sorry. It's been a long day. Nicky… I think I need to take a shower and just rest."
    The thought of a shower was so tempting she nearly cried. But she had a guest. He must want to clean up, too. "You should go take the first shower. I'm sure you want to rinse the day off, too."
     
    She turned and tried to smile, but the idea of Bastien naked and wet in the shower spiked her imagination to a dangerous heat. She had to fight herself to keep from jumping on him.
     
    He flashed that incredible smile at her, and for an instant it was there again. That gleam of fire in his eyes. But then it was gone, and his expression was back to his Mr. Liaison cool calm again. "No, but thank you for the kindness," he said, bowing slightly. All courtesy and gallantry, when what she wanted from him was heat and fire. Passion that could make her forget the sight of Nicky's eyes glazing over to lifelessness.
     
    She shook her head to rid it of the image. "I'll just go first, then. We can figure out dinner in a while."
     
    But, having said that, she couldn't force herself to move. A strand of his hair had fallen across his cheek as he bent his head and unpacked the groceries, and she stared at the glossy blackness of it, wanting nothing more than to raise her hand and smooth it back from his face. To step into his arms and, for once in her be strong, be brave, be self-reliant, be independent life—just for one damn timelet someone else be strong.
     
    To let him be strong. Just for a moment.
     
    He looked up and caught her staring at him. Must have read something in her eyes.
    Took a step toward her. "Kat, there's something I need to—"
     
    "No! I mean, no, there's nothing," she heard herself babbling but was powerless to stop.
    "Well, you should just, I'll go. Now. I'll…"
    Wild Hearts In Atlantis – Warriors of Poseidon 1.5
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    He blinked, probably wondering who the crazy woman was and what she'd done with Kat, and the sheer humiliation of it all snapped her weird paralysis, and she ran. Ran again, by way of stumbling down the hall to the bathroom. Ran away from the first man who'd ever made her feel safe.
     
    Bastien pushed open the door and headed outside. He knew he wasn't imagining it.
    There had been a moment. A capital M