Page 37 of Warrior
“Why? It was my choice to make.” Daicon shifted, nudging my shoulder with his warmth sliding over my skin like a drizzle of warm honey.
Why?
Because he would make a wonderful mate. He would be loving and attentive, the kind of guy you fantasize about as a teen while rifling through Bride magazine with your daydreams. The kind of man who would make his mate feel safe and treasured every moment of their lives together.
“I just mean that you’re so good with the children." I offered to cover my schoolgirl daydreams, but then the truth of the statement hit me square in the chest. ,"You'd be a great dad.”
Daicon gave a low moan and chuckled. “I have spent little time with younglings before. I did not know it would be so….”
“Rewarding?
His laugh deepened. "I think aggravating might be a better term.”
"Stop it." I nudged him playfully with a poke of my elbow. "You love them.”
Any bit of teasing faded from Daicon's expression. The gold eyes settled on my face, holding pure, clear emotion. "I do care for them…." He swallowed hard. "…for everyone here.”
Everyone.
I was part of everyone.
His eyes centered on my face, and I felt hypnotized by the molten golden glow. I’d read once that just before you’re struck by lightning, static energy fills the air, raising your hair on end and causing a tingling sensation throughout your body. That's what this felt like. Sitting so close to him, noticing how his eyes flickered over my face, lingering for a moment on my lips, was intoxicating.
My shoulder pressed against his chest, and I felt the uptick of his heartbeat. My own heart skittered about in a happy dance. Surely, if I looked down, I could see the thud against my chest. I’m not sure who moved, but suddenly, our faces were closer, his warm, spicy breath fanning over my cheeks.
I wanted to kiss him more than I wanted my next breath.
I leaned closer, the tip of my tongue running along my lower lip. Daicon's eyes centered on my mouth—a deep groan rumbling from his throat.
Kiss me.
The thought screamed through me in a conflagration of need and want.
Daicon licked his lips. His tongue wasn't pink like mine, but a dark tan—long and rough. I knew what it felt like stroking against my own. My body reacted to the memory with a rush of moisture pooling between my thighs. The tips of his ears gave a slight twitch as his nostrils flared, and he leaned closer....
Daicon surged to his feet with such force, a surprised yelp attempted to issue from my lips until the press of his palm silenced me. His finger laid across his lips, the gesture for silence universal. Moving so fast he was hard to follow, Daicon snatchedhis bag of tools in one hand and me in the other. We backed away from the area as he swept his feet behind each step to camouflage any footprints.
I heard them moving closer, low voices ending in raucous laughter. Two guards, maybe three, and if they found us here… crap! We couldn’t get past them. There was only one tunnel leading to this area. I didn’t doubt Daicon’s ability to defeat the guards easily, but how much trouble would more disappearances bring down on our heads.
Daicon carried me toward the far wall. Pressing against the dark gray stone would leave us vulnerable like sitting ducks. Or maybe not. A long, dark shadow concealed a fissure in the rock, an area just large enough for us to wedge inside. Daicon pushed me into the narrow passage, his body close behind.
"Why the fuck are we searching the tunnels?" an aggravated tone asked. My fingertip rubbed along my left temple, conscious of a slight puffiness. This translator thingie was amazing—it translated their speech in real time… even the curse words.
“The major said search, so we search.” The second voice was more indulgent.
"Like anything in these tunnels was as bad a Baelus?" the first voice snorted. "Do they really think those kids and that puny human overpowered him?"
Puny human? I rolled my eyes and glanced at Daicon. His lips quirked upward, finding more amusement in the situation than I did.
While the brunt of his attention was on the two guards standing just a few feet away, I paid more attention to how close we stood. The fissure was maybe three feet wide—if that—and I pressed fully against Daicon, chest to chest.
My hands rested on his biceps, his pelt like warm, crushed velvet. He stood still as a marble statue, and I couldfeel the thrum of my heartbeat against his. I'd worn a thin shift dress over a long-sleeved flannel-like shirt, but even so, Daicon must have sensed my nipples straining against the fabric. Even in the darkness, his eyes glowed down at me, a flicker of his gaze toward the tunnel reminding me we weren’t alone.
"What do you think happened to Baelus?" The friendlier-sounding guard asked. Baelus must be Scarface's name.
“Truthfully,” the other guard grunted. “I think whoever was on that skiff killed him.”
“Baelus?” The shock in the amiable guard’s voice throbbed. “He is our strongest. No one can beat him.”
