twenty-five
“Careful, my love. I’ll think you aren’t happy to see me,” Graydon warned in a soft voice.
“I’d be happier if you’d cut the shit.”
Kira was tired. Graydon wasn’t here because of sentiment. This reunion could have waited until the adva ka was over. For him to be here, breaking tradition, there had to be a reason.
She wanted to know what that reason was.
Graydon regarded her with a contemplative look before he rose, crossing to her side with a few powerful steps.
Kira held carefully still, the sensation of being hunted by a dangerous predator hard to ignore.
He leaned down, planting a hand on either side of her body.
Kira’s breath froze in her lungs at the sight of his face so close to hers. Despite the serious nature of his presence, she couldn’t help the curl of awareness that made her all too conscious of everything about him.
The heat of his body next to hers. The scent wafting off his skin. The dark look in his eyes that made her want to close the little bit of distance between them.
His hand touched her cheek, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. “I’m hurt.”
His gaze lingered on Kira’s lips, leaving her feeling restless.
“And here I was about to impart useful information to you.” His thumb brushed across her lips, the pupils of his eyes dilating at her harsh inhale.
Possessive desire showed on his face, and for a brief second Kira thought he’d forget his purpose here.
The moment lengthened.
“Get on with it then,” Kira said through an act of will, wanting nothing more than to investigate what lay between them.
The need she knew they both felt.
She’d never wanted to give into something as much as she did right now. It had been too long since they’d let themselves seek pleasure in each other.
The wait was killing her.
Despite that, she resisted the urge to submit first. Perhaps it was childish, but she couldn’t shake the hope Graydon would be the first to fall this time.
His gaze deepened in understanding as his lips twisted in a smile that she could only call evil.
“Stubborn,” he whispered.
Kira’s eyes narrowed grumpily. He was one to talk.
Or did he not remember the last time they did this dance?
Graydon rested one hand on the settee by Kira’s head. “We’re quite the pair. Each as headstrong as the other.”
Kira sniffed. “Speak for yourself. I’m perfectly reasonable.”
Amusement touched Graydon’s eyes. “Is that why you let Jin accompany you into the adva ka?”
Kira froze. “You knew.”
Of course, he did. Baran probably informed him the second he noticed something strange.
Kira’s reaction sparked a chuckle in Graydon. “It’s kind of hard not to when you talk to him right in front of my oshota.”
