Page 81 of Cry of the Firebird

"Last time we hung out, I didn't have friends with fancy, expensive cars. Don't worry, there won't be a sidecar. Tell Honaw I'll let him ride in front with me if he's nice."

A deep growl from behind her made her jump with fright. Izrayl's face appeared upside down over her. Katya tried to push him away, but his gold eyes were glowing hot with wolf.Shit. She hadn't even heard him move.

"Are you okay with us crashing with you and these fancy friends?" Chayton asked.

"Of course you can stay with me. Trajan will want you close. He's worried about the Darkness and Anya setting herself on fire," she said, her voice breaking as Izrayl moved slowly around her.

Katya desperately tried to concentrate on what Chayton was saying, but she felt like a rabbit about to be pounced on. The thought shouldn't excite her as much as it did.

"They can be protective, but I want to see Paris. I haven't been there in years, and I'm not going to take a ten-hour flight and see nothing. We are due at least one drinking night, Katya," Honaw argued.

"The last time you boys and I went drinking, I danced on a table, and we all ended up hungover for a week. I don't think we are going to have that level of freedom this time," Katya replied, not taking her eyes off Izrayl.

What is his problem now?He crouched down in front of her, placing his warm hands on her elbows where they rested on her knees.

"Um, Chay? I've got to go," Katya stammered. "Text me your flight details, and I'll be there to get you. I promise."

"Are you okay? You're sounding stressed. What's happening?"

"Nothing, I'm fine. Bye!" Katya hung up and stared, wide-eyed, at the huge man in front of her. "And what do you think you are doing?"

"Proving I'm never, ever, going to be your colleague," he growled.

Izrayl ran his warm hands up to grip her biceps, pulled her closer and kissed her. Hot desire shot through Katya's veins, surprising her with the intensity of it. She whimpered as he deepened the embrace, his stubble rough against her skin.

Katya brushed her tongue against his, savoring his taste of maple syrup and male. He growled against her lips, making her whole body vibrate.What. The. Hell.

"See? I told you," Izrayl said, breaking off this kiss. Katya was too stunned to speak, her brain hazed with lust and chanting his name.

Izrayl had been keeping watch over her since the night she had been attacked, making sure she took her antibiotics and painkillers on time and without alcohol. He had acted more like a fussing nurse than Cerise did.

The wolf had a sweet side that Katya hadn't expected, and it made him harder to ignore. Her lips tingled, and she huffed out a breath. She knew he would be a good kisser butfuck.

You are supposed to kill volk krovi, not kiss them, her father's voice growled in her head. If he could see her in the afterlife, she was sure he would be clenching his big, violent fistsand shaking them at her. He had done everything he could to make her hatevolk krovi, and now she had made out with one.

Well, you always did like to provoke the old bastard.

"It's good you're almost healed," Izrayl commented when she didn't say anything. He tilted his head to look at her ribs. "It must be some of the bonuses of being born in Skazki, right?"

"Yes. It also means I have no fear of busting anything when I do this." Katya shoved his chest hard, and Izrayl rocked backward onto the mat.

"What the hell was that for?" he asked.

"Kissing me without permission," Katya snapped. She got off the weight bench, needing to get some space between them before she did something really stupid. Like rip his clothes off.

"You could've stopped me with a word, and you didn't. You act tough, hunter, but you like me, and you hate it," Izrayl said, prowling toward her. "It unnerved you, and that's why you are fighting me."

Katya snorted. "Don't flatter yourself, you arrogant bastard."

"Just give it up, Katya. This hostile flirting thing you do only turns me on."

Katya reacted before he could get closer, kicking his legs out from underneath him. He fell onto his back with a curse. She stepped smugly over him and made for the stairs.

Izrayl lunged, tackling her so fast she couldn't dodge him. They flew through the air and landed in the pool with a splash.

Katya popped up quickly and pushed the hair from her face, Izrayl breaking the surface beside her and laughing loudly.

"You dick!" she shouted and then looked in the water beneath her. "I lost my shoe."

---