Page 43 of Obsessed in Blood
She began to rock.
The scenery changed, and she was sitting under a large sycamore tree, leaning against the thick trunk. Lyra sat next to her, pulling items out of a picnic basket.
“I wish we could have had a tea service, but I suppose it doesn’t work as well at a picnic.” Lyra passed her a blueberry scone.
“Oh, good. Cook remembered.” She picked up the scone and bit off the end. Her eyes closed, and she hummed in delight. “Good god, it’s been too long since I’ve eaten a blueberry scone.”
“I’m glad we had the opportunity to do this,” Lyra continued on as if she hadn’t heard Cressa mention Cook. Cressa didn’t seem to notice it, either. “House business has kept us busy.”
“It’s good to take a break between missions. It clears the mind for the next one.”
“Is that Cressa’s opinion or Pandora’s?”
She snorted. “Pandora would want to race to the next job, but she’s learned the art of patience—” She shook her head. “Wait. You know Pandora?”
Devon circled Cressa. They were in the training room at the manor. The climbing wall was on the far side, a section of mats lay in the middle of the floor with the ropes beyond. Cressa scanned her surroundings then focused on him. The confusion in her eyes cleared, and she began to move. At first, her movements were stiff, as if out of practice, and he kept his distance, waiting for her to loosen up, get comfortable, and remember.
They danced around each other for several minutes, taunting each other with a quick lunge or feint, her movements becoming more fluid. She was remembering her martial arts if nothing else. Then she smiled.
“Bring it on, vamp.”
And he did. They hit, blocked, swept, and danced. Nothing too aggressive, not at first. But it didn’t take long for the intensity to increase as Cressa remembered more moves and went on the offensive rather than waiting to defend herself.
That’s right. Come to me.
On Cressa’s next kick, Devon grabbed her leg and spun her around, temporarily disorienting her, before he leaped for a rope, swinging until he reached a second one, then kicked off a post to circle back to her. She was ready and took the full impact of his body as he released the rope to fall on top of her. They rolled, legs and arms tangling, until they stopped with him on top.
He smiled down at her. “You should have stepped back to let me land and then swept my legs out.”
Her eyes searched his, and something shifted in them. A tiny spark of memory. She grinned. “And maybe I wanted to be caught.”
He ran a hand through her hair. “And maybe I wanted to catch you.” His head dipped, but with a strength he wasn’t ready for, she pushed at his chest, wrapped her legs around his, and heaved until she rolled them over. She shoved away, kneeing him in the groin.
She stood over him, hands on hips, and a wicked smile on her lips as she watched him struggle for breath. “Is that all you got, vamp?”
He made it to his knees and lunged for her. Her laughter floated behind her as she dashed for the climbing wall.
Another garden.Not the one on Lorenzo’s island. Yet, this one was familiar. The stone path led me past vines, arbors, and a variety of lush vegetation. The scent of roses and honeysuckle teased my senses. If I could only remember.
The path urged me on, and I winced as I stepped on a pebble. I was barefoot and the workout clothes from moments ago were gone; I wore nothing but a silk nightgown. The warm night air skimmed my skin like an old lover. The burbling sound of a fountain piqued my interest, but someone waited for me at the end of the path. I ran and pushed giant tropical leaves out of my way until I stopped short at an overgrown grotto.
He sat on a stone bench dressed in shades of silver and gray. His hair was combed back into a ponytail, taming his long, silky hair that had brushed against my cheek on more than one occasion. The heat of a blush grew as his piercing blue eyes watched me.
I wiggled my toes and glanced down at the lush lawn. Soft blades tickled my feet as I flexed them, enjoying the splendor. When I lifted my gaze, my toes still doing their thing, he smiled.
His eyes changed, glowing the icy blue of his beast before they warmed. Like a fish who’d been hooked, I inched my way forward, unable to stop and not wanting to.
I paused a few steps shy of the stone bench.
“Do you recognize me, Cressa?”
I hesitated, remembering the other dreams. “You’re Devon Trelane.”
He stood and moved with a natural grace, and I was keenly aware of the lean muscles under all that cloth. Just like I remembered from the gym. More than that. I’d felt those arms around me, my hands running over his shoulders, pulling him down to me.
I froze where I stood, anticipation sending shivers through me, tightening my belly. When he stepped up to me, the difference between him and Lorenzo was tangible. Where Lorenzo frightened me, even when some invisible force drew me to him, there was a calm that enveloped me when I looked at Devon.
He stared down at me as if he was the one snared. I didn’t stop him when he snaked an arm around my waist and tugged me to him. His lips were soft and warm, his kiss tender, and my senses reeled. I gripped his arms, pulling him closer, not wanting him to stop.
