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people. Took longer to render me unconscious, too.
Who would have thought there would be a bright side
to drug use?
I can do this. I can. I bent down, bringing Ryan with
me and letting his weight fall onto my back.
What are you doing? he bit out.
Using all of my leg strength, I crouched and bucked
up my butt, flinging Ryan over my head. He hit and
rolled, forced to let go of me. I wasn't given any time
to gloat, though.
Good thinking, he said, swiping out his arms and
knocking my ankles together.
I crashed to my butt, hard. But before I even hit, he
was on top of me, his knees at my temples, his, uh,
crotch at my throat. As I gasped and struggled, he
pinned my shoulders to the ground and gave me the
rest of his weight.
What are you going to do now? he asked.
Panting, I stared up at him. Damn it! I had tried, but
he'd still beat me quickly and easily and the
knowledge stung. Pout, I snapped. I'm going to
pout.
He nearly choked on a laugh. Good. It would save
me the trouble of killing him later. No reason to
pout, he said. All you have to do is work one of your
legs between us and kick. Got it?
I nodded, but didn't attempt it. The longer he stayed
where he was, the more I realized I, uh, kind of liked
it.
You did good, Phoenix. Real good.
No, I didn't, I grumbled. You're just trying to make
me feel better.
Is it working?
No. I can do better than this.
Really? What could you have done differently?
I don't know. Jam my palm into your nose, sending
cartilage into your brain. Chop block your throat,
crushing your trachea. Knee your balls, making you
cough them out.
His eyes sparkled with pride. Funny.
True.
But you did none of those things. And you know
why? His lips twitched as he fought a grin. No killer
instinct. Just. Like. I. Told. You.
Anger rocked me to the bone. No killer instinct. Grrr .
I'd show him! You wanna see killer instinct? I'll show
you killer instinct.
He released me and stood. He even motioned me
over. Do it, then. I dare you.
I stood to shaky legs, and we faced off. Sure you're
ready for this?
Come and get me, sweetheart. I'm ready for
whatever you've got to give, sweetheart.
I didn't leap into action, but circled him. As I walked I
lost the heat of my anger. I lost my killer instinct. Not
that I'd ever had one. Not with Ryan. We both knew
I'd been blowing smoke. I just wanted him. Only him. I
wanted him back on top of me, kissing me. Finally.
He watched me, followed my every move with his
heated gaze. That's it? That's all you've got?
Maybe.
His brows winged into his hairline. What are you
waiting for? Attack, he commanded.
I almost grinned. I'm stalking.
He barked out another laugh and threw his arms in
the air. Stalking like this won't scare your enemy.
I might want him, and I might have lost my instinct,
but I didn't hesitate. While he was distracted, I
attacked. I spun, using my speed and momentum to
kick. My foot connected with his stomach. Gasping,
he bent over. I rushed him, slamming my elbow into
the top of his head.
Crack.
He fell to his face. And he didn't move. I'd hit him
harder than I'd meant to. But he should have been
able to handle it. Right? Surely. He had to be
playing. Eyes narrowed, I kicked him in the side.
He didn't make a nosie.
My heart drummed erratically in my chest. Oh God.
Oh no. Ryan?
No response.
Ryan?
Still nothing.
Ohmygod! What had I done? Ryan, I'm sorry. So
sorry. I bent down and gently clasped his shoulder,
meaning to ease him to his back. Before I could
blink, he had a vise grip on my wrist and flipped me
to my back. What the I hit and he rolled on top of
me, squishing the breath from my lungs.
Once again, I was pinned.
Told you, he said, grinning. No killer instinct. And
that's like the oldest trick ever.
You dirty little
Uh, uh, uh. He tsk ed under his tongue. You lost.
Twice. Accept it.
Hell no. You cheated.
Whether you lose by trickery or not, you still lose.
Fighting dirty is more than okay, it's expected.
Haven't I taught you that?
I gnashed my molars together. I was winning.
Was doesn't matter. Only the end matters. His face
inched closer to mine. So close. How do you get out
of this position?
Try to knee you in the balls?
He laughed. No. That would cause me to double
over, closer to you, and I'd still be able to hit you.
You'd work your knees up and kick me in the
stomach, like I told you before.
Maybe later, I whispered. I could feel his breath on
my nose. I could feel him all over, in fact. And I liked
it. I bit my bottom lip. I liked it a lot.
He lost all trace of amusement, and his eyes
darkened hungrily. His breathing became choppy.
He knew what I was thinking because he was
obviously thinking it, too. This is stupid, he said.
Yes.
This is wrong.
Yes. But why did it feel so right?
Do you care?
I didn't hesitate. Not right now.
I'd barely gotten the words out before he was kissing
me. His tongue swept into my open, waiting mouth
and his taste consumed my thoughts. Decadent.
Exquisite. Wonderful. Better than anything I could
have imagined.
His hands tangled in my hair, and he angled my face
for deeper contact. His lips were soft, hungry, and he
fed me pure passion. Something I'd never really
experienced before.
I want you, he panted.
Yes. Yes, yes, yes.
If he stopped kissing me, I'd& I'd& I don't know. I
wound my hands around him, anchoring one at the
base of his neck, one at his waist, holding him
captive. I lifted up and thrust my tongue back into his
mouth.
He moaned. I groaned.
Delicious.
Of course I'd been kissed before, but all those times
faded from my mind. There was only here, now, and
Ryan. He was strength, and he was fire. He was
everything just then. I felt inexperienced. I felt
vulnerable.
Phoenix, he breathed, like a prayer.
Ryan.
Slowly he pulled away from me. If I don't stop now, I
won't be able to. Tension layered his voice.
Then don't stop, I said, staring up at him. Just a
little more.
A little more, he agreed. Leaning down, he kissed
me a second time. This kiss was hotter, more
dangerous. His hands roved the length of my body,
stopping at my breasts and kneading. My nipples
hardened.
He tore away from me yet again. He was panting as
he crouched on his knees. I lay where I was, needy,
achy.
I've never done anything like this before, he said
darkly. I've been an instructor for over a year and I've
never wanted a student. I never even dated another
trainee.
Ryan, I said. Kiss me .
He scrubbed a hand down his face. We'll be
punished for that. Boss will know. He always knows.
Ryan stood. He didn't speak a word as he disabled
the ring and strode away from me.
Ryan, I called.
He stopped at the doorway. I don't know what I
planned to say, but neither of us were given a
chance to find out. An alarm suddenly erupted
throughout the room, its shrill warning sending chills
through my spine.
Ryan spun around and faced me. Shit. Shit .
What's going on? Fear coursed through me. Was
the alarm for us ? For our kiss?
We've been invaded.
15
This is not a drill, the computerized voice said over
the intercom. Repeat, this is not a drill.
I jumped to my feet. Ryan was already racing back to
me. He grabbed my wrist and tugged me forward.
Come on.
Confusion rocked me. I don't understand what's
happening.
We're being attacked, Phoenix. This has only
happened once before, years ago, but half of the
student body was killed. He had to speak loudly to
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