Page 34 of Gates of Rapture
His thumb touched her lips.He shook his head.Maybe thebreh-heddenbrought us together, but it can’t be the whole picture.I value who you are, I always have.But hey.Try not to worry so much.
She smiled.Not sure that’s possible right now.
The noise of the crowd died down and a second race started, this time with massive hurdles that would require some levitation skill added to the running.Grace leaned into Leto and for once just tried to relax and enjoy herself.
***
Leto didn’t quite understand what he was feeling, but it was like grabbing at air.He couldn’t pin it down.Happiness?Contentment?A strangling fear that something would happen to Grace?Maybe it was everything: fear, hope, desire, anguish, all combined.
He held Grace against his side, one hand on her bare waist, the long sides of her blouse covering his fingers as he kneaded her skin, thumbing low into her hip then up to rub the underside of her breast.That her meadow scent kept flowing over him in waves sustained the certainty that he was pleasing her as well as forming a most inappropriate erection.He was hard as a rock and was grateful that the light from the torches and the tall, pole bonfires didn’t exactly reach the depths of their grandstand box.
The shadows were covering all sorts of misdeeds.In particular, he was ignoring how Jean-Pierre had been making out off and on with hisbrehfor the last half hour.He and Fiona had been together for over six months, and it was clear the pleasure they took in each other hadn’t dimmed much if at all.He wondered how soon the two of them would take off.
But Leto was enjoying the games, despite the fact that his thoughts were fixed on just how soon he could get Grace back to his house, into his bed, and make love to her again.
Of course, these were unfortunate thoughts because now he was in pain.He gritted his teeth and breathed hard through his nose a couple of times.He pulled his hand out from under her blouse and went back to just offering her his arm.
That she chuckled softly told him she understood.He looked down at her.She looked up.
All I can think about is your bed,she sent.
He sighed.Same here.Soon enough.
He forced himself to look away.It helped that Brynna’s event was up next.The woman had powerful thighs and the log climb was one of her favorite exercises while in training, never mind the contest.But she was also competitive by nature.
He said as much to Grace then sent,She took me under her wing when you left.He shared with her their camaraderie and that he considered Brynna his best friend.
The loudspeakers blared as the introductions were made for all the contestants, including a fiery Aussie from the hidden Brisbane One Colony and a Japanese competitor from the hidden colony outside Kyoto One.
As the warriors took up their places, he realized Grace had grown very still next to him.He looked at her, but her head was bent.She held her hands together on her lap, which was a little awkward since her right arm was still wrapped around his.
What is it, Grace?
She shook her head.This is ridiculous.I feel so… angry, but I shouldn’t.I left you, and she obviously took care of you.
She was upset about his relationship with Brynna?Jealous?He tried not to smile but he couldn’t help it.And damn, wasn’t he a bastard for liking it.
He tried to explain Brynna’s value to him.She made sure that I didn’t hurt anyone when I turned beast.She would come into the basement with me.
At that Grace looked up at him, her eyes wide and her expression hard.The starting pistol fired at the exact same moment that she said aloud, “She didwhat?”The last word held resonance, which brought a sort of yelp from Fiona behind him.
Jean-Pierre leaned around Leto and said, “I am sorry, Grace, but Fiona’s ears are sensitive to resonance.If you would go easy with it?”
Grace nodded.“Of course.Sorry.”
When Jean-Pierre shifted back, Leto stared down at her and again his response was way too male.His eyelids felt heavy as he slid his hands down her arms.“So you’re thinking about the basement, huh?”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
“Oh, I know what you meant.You’re jealous of Brynna, but I love that you’re jealous.I just wish I could get you back there right now, take some of the sting out of the situation.”
When the crowd started shouting, only then did he slide his gaze back to the event, seeking out the nearest screen.Brynna was neck and neck with the Aussie.
He rose from the bench and started cheering her on, punching his fist in the air.Marguerite knew Brynna well, so she joined in.Thorne, too.
***
Grace remained seated and frozen in place.She held her arms tight around her chest.This was ridiculous.She wasn’t this woman, but she could feel her fangs in her mouth and a rumbling in her throat.Her legs shook.She felt a profound need to sink her fangs just about anywhere into Leto, to mark him and to let him know that what he was doing was wrong.
