The match was hers.
Graydon's hand landed on the small of her back, its warmth burning through the material of her shirt. Kira forced herself not to tremble, her heightened awareness of this man making the moment feel more important than it was.
"I'm looking forward to the favor you claim." Graydon's low voice stirred her hair. "Perhaps it will involve another moonlit swim."
Unbidden, images flashed in Kira's mind. The way Graydon looked with silvery light caressing his skin, his chest bare as beads of water ran down it. The desire when he looked at her. The feel of his lips and skin under hers.
Kira stuffed those images back in their box, forcing herself to seem unaffected as she walked toward the edge of the stage. "I worked hard for this favor. I wouldn't waste it on something like that."
"You never know what the future might bring,” Graydon murmured.
Kira rolled her eyes. Somehow, she thought she’d manage to avoid the temptation of his irresistible self.
"You're awfully presumptuous," Kira told him.
Graydon gave her a look of mock surprise. "You think so? I'm not so sure. There's something between us. You can deny it all you want, but we both know this is happening."
"Now, you've made it a challenge. You know how much I love those."
Graydon's expression didn't waver. "That's all right. I've always enjoyed the pursuit."
"Perhaps that's the problem. Not everybody loves being chased."
Sometimes it just made them want to run and hide. Kira wasn't so good at the second, but she'd always excelled at the first.
Graydon's eyes gentled as he reached up, tucking one errant strand of hair behind her ear. The watching audience seemed to fade around them, unimportant for the moment. "It's good then that I prefer what comes after the catch."
Kira held her breath as his fingers trailed along the outer rim of her ear before ghosting over her jaw in a faint caress.
"Whatever type of pursuit you want, I will adjust to match," he told her.
"Why?" Kira's gaze searched his.
She wanted to believe in him. She really did, but something held her back.
Graydon didn't answer as he considered her, his expression enigmatic. "Because a woman like you deserves it."
Kira looked down. "You won't want me when all the truths have been revealed."
Graydon leaned forward. "Bet me. We both know you rarely lose."
He turned his gaze toward the scoreboard. Kira blinked as the list of Allstars scrolled past, their two scores climbing the ranks. They stopped at the number two and three spots.
Murmurs filled the air as those present read the name in first place. It was the same as the second-place name. Sparrow.
"Well played, lovely Sparrow," Graydon said, stepping off the playing stage.
Kira rolled her lips between her teeth, trying to conceal her smile.
They couldn’t blame her for their assumptions. They sought to take advantage of a kitten only to realize too late she was a full-grown saber tooth tiger.
"A ringer," Lorcan said.
To her surprise, he didn't sound angry. Instead his voice was speculative as if she'd surprised him in an interesting way.
"You cheated," Niland accused.
Kira's gaze swung toward him. "How so? I never said I couldn't play. You made assumptions, and now those assumptions have bitten you on the ass. As an oshota, you should know better."
