Page 54 of Seduction in Blood
To my surprise, Sergi, Lucas, and Devon were all there, working through a routine.
"Sorry," I wheezed out. "We didn't notice the time. Simone almost flew the car here. I wasn't sure I'd make it back alive."
I stopped talking when I realized Sergi and Lucas had stopped to stare at me.
The only response out of Devon was a quirk of his lips. "Anna was quite upset with the both of you," he said. "You could have at least invited her to take the sting out of it."
I frowned. "I did."
"Ah. I thought she might have made the situation more than it was. That's all right. She'll have you all day tomorrow."
I grimaced and then scowled when I noted his grin before he turned away and waved at Sergi and Lucas to both come at him.
I watched them spar, each taking turns being the single man fighting two vamps. Then the three of them turned, and Devon waved me over. I gulped, knowing I was going to pay for being late and already sorry for stuffing down that last dessert course.
ChapterTwenty-Six
I smiledand positioned my body so the hot jets of the jacuzzi hit my sore spots. I moved every five minutes to make sure other tender areas received the same treatment. After an hour in the training room, Devon had taken pity on me. I'd spent most of the time hitting the mat, usually being tossed over someone's head.
The three vamps had kept at me, never relenting until Devon whistled us to a stop. One of them would always hold out a hand to pull me effortlessly from the floor. After a five-minute break to wipe the sweat from my face and pits, drink some water, and settle my breathing to a normal rate, we were back at it. By the end, I'd felt defeated and whipped.
"Don't frown. This was an intense session and you've held up better than most humans." Sergi had grimaced, or maybe it was meant to be a smile. He didn't do it often enough to be recognizable.
"Right." I had collapsed on the bench, not sure how I was going to make it up the stairs to my room. I thought about dragging myself to the backyard and dropping into a lounger, or maybe just crawling back to the mat.
"Sergi's right. And he rarely gives compliments, so I'd take the one he gave you seriously." Lucas had handed me a bottle of water. "You've really improved this week. Just don't forget that one of your options is to run."
"Yeah. That's what I should have done the first time Devon waved me to the mat."
That got a chuckle out of them. I had somehow found the energy to leave the room, the three of them already circling each other since they hadn't worked up a sweat. Damn vamps.
I'd determined the stairs were too much for my spaghetti legs but managed to make it to the atrium and jacuzzi. I kept a swimsuit in the changing room. This was not my first time easing sore muscles after a workout. After turning my left hip toward a jet, I considered my next big decision between a dry sauna or a nap when Anna entered the room.
I perked up. "Are you joining me?" This would be a great way to make up for ditching her earlier.
Anna seemed surprised by the suggestion and took a moment to stare at the bubbly tub. "No." She paused, and I thought she might change her mind. "No. I only came to deliver a message."
I waited, but she continued to stare at the hot tub.
"I'm sorry." Anna blurted it out so fast I wasn't sure what she'd said.
Then I realized what she meant. I shook my head. "It was my fault. I just couldn't take another minute of which spoon went where and with what event." I gave her my most earnest expression. "I thought putting everything you taught me into practice would help. And it did."
Anna finally met my gaze.
"Really," I insisted. "Simone seemed to be tolerating me, so I wanted to spend some time with her since she's going to be my bodyguard tomorrow night." I shrugged. "I honestly thought you'd come with us."
Her shoulders drooped. "I should have. I took the whole thing the wrong way, and by the time I realized how foolish I'd been, the two of you had already left."
"Maybe we can go after the mission is over. I know I won't be living here anymore, but I can always meet you."
When Anna gave me an odd stare, I shut up. Devon hadn't mentioned what happened after the main event, but I assumed I'd go back to my old life and forget all about this place. Maybe the simplest answer was that she didn't think of me as a friend. Uncomfortable that I said something wrong, I stepped out of the jacuzzi and grabbed a towel.
"Silly thought." I wasn't sure what else to say when she continued to stare. "Was there something else?"
Anna nodded, but she seemed to be somewhere else as she played with the tips of her hair. She suddenly snapped out of wherever she'd been. "Sorry. Devon wants you ready by eight for dinner. Wear something casual." Then she was out the door.
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