He gave my attire an apparent once over and sighed. “Nothing. Let’s go.” He lunged at me before I could counter his attack.
He grabbed me around my waist and lifted me off the ground. I hated when he did that. He knew I couldn’t get traction from the ground to get out of his hold. He did it just to piss me off. My arms were pinned by my side, but instead of letting him squeeze me to death, or burn me up, the way a Narco would if I’d been fighting one, I wrapped my legs around his midsection and tightened with all my strength. His eyes widened, and I grinned.
He released an exasperated grunt, and his arms loosened. I wiggled one arm free and jabbed him in the ribcage. He dropped me to the ground, and I scrambled to my feet. Before he regained his attack position, I kicked his legs from under him. I immediately went for my Charge Dagger, which wasn’t strapped to my leg, and cursed.
Jace flipped onto his stomach and was almost to his feet by the time I realized I didn’t have my weapon. Without another thought, I jumped onto his back. He was stronger than me. I wouldn’t hold him for long, but it was enough of a blow to knock him down again.
Wrestling his arms behind his back, I told him, “I’m using Charge, by the way. You’d at least be stunned for a minute, don’t you think?”
He let out a breathless laugh. “For a minute, but then I’d do this—” He jerked his arms out of my grip, pushed them under his chest, and rolled over beneath me. I tried to grab his hands, but they latched onto my thighs and he flipped me onto my back. I expected him to go straight for my arms and pin me the way he normally did. But his hands lingered on my thighs as he bit his lip and stared down at me.
For a moment, I was shocked—unable to move. His touch sent shivers rippling over my skin as his eyes held mine. His weight bearing down on me felt intimate. His face hovered above mine, but then he moved in, lowering, and I remembered him marking me. His lips parted as he slowly dipped his head. Panicking, I backhanded him across the face, and he flew off me in a slur of profanity.
Before he could regain composure, I jumped on top of him and pinned his arms above his head. I sank down, burying my head into his neck. My insides tingled as my tongue grazed his skin. He tasted salty and a bit sweet at the same time. Forcing myself to remember what I was doing, I bit down.
“Dammit, Dez. I think you got me,” he shouted, half-laughing.
I sat up and stared down at him. His features held a mix of excitement and awe over my victory. Heat rushed my cheeks as I checked out the imprint of my teeth on his neck. I quickly stood.
Lana ran up to us. “Oh, my God, Jace. She totally kicked your ass!”
“Dude,” Nick said, walking up and extending a hand to Jace. “What was that?”
Jace allowed Nick to help him up. He glared at me for a moment, then turned toward Nick. “Unfair advantage,” he said. “That’s what that was.”
I looked around, perplexed. Anger welled in my chest. He wasn’t going to admit I’d beat him fairly. “What are you talking about? I won, Jace. How was there an unfair advantage?”
He looked me up and down, but then he glanced down at the pine straw. “Terrain. I guess you’re just an outside fighter. I didn’t take into account the slick pine straw.”
I blew my bangs off my forehead. “Whatever. I kicked your butt, and now you’re the one sporting the nice hickey.”
“What hickey?” Jace said. “You bit the hell out of me. At least I was nice enough to…” But he didn’t finish, and his face turned bright red. He was blushing again, and it made me uncomfortable with Nick and Lana there.
I covered for him. His embarrassment was mine, also. “Well, I wasn’t going to suck your neck. That’s not how it’s done at war, is it?”
“Touché.” Jace gave me a side-grin, making my insides squirm. “I’ll remember that next time.”
Glad the awkward moment was over, I headed to where we’d set our water bottles. Now that I’d finally beaten Jace, I could fight Lana or Nick again. I was relieved and a little down about that fact. Jace was the best fighter. Going against him had made me better, and I wanted to be at my best if I ever had to go up against a Narco.
I reached down to grab my bottle and swore as something moved in the brush. I paused, holding as still as I could—not breathing. I waited to see a rabbit or deer move. Nothing. There was nothing there. Maybe just a squirrel or another small animal. But for a moment, I had the strangest feeling that something was watching me.
I took a sip and walked back to the clearing, joining the others. But the eerie feeling stayed with me.
Chapter Five
I FOLLOWED LANA UP the stairs to her room. “I really need to bathe,” I said, sniffing her tank. “I’m pretty ripe.”
Lana glanced over her shoulder as she opened the door. “Yeah, but it’s totally worth it. You got Jace good today.”
I beamed. Even if I had won by an “unfair advantage” according to Jace, I was stoked.
Lana pulled the chain next to her bed, and the gas lamps brightened, slowly revealing her black walls and chrome furniture. She had very eclectic taste. I l
oved her room. I spent more time here than I did in my own house.
I fell against her soft down comforter, burying my face in the cool material. I wanted to enjoy the feel of everything around me as much as I could. In a couple of days, my birthday would be here, and I had no idea how long I’d go through the change. Fear crept over me, tugging at my high mood, but I pushed it away. I reveled in my victory for a moment longer before prying myself from the luxury of her bed, and headed toward the shower.
I turned the dial, and water flowed out in a wide spray from the copper fixture. I quickly tossed Lana’s clothes in the basket beside the claw-foot tub and climbed into the warmth. It was like being under a small waterfall. Another reason why I loved her house. I ran my hands through my hair, un-kinking the tangles as I lathered the liquid soap. My mind drifted, and Reese’s glowing red eyes stared at me from the backs of my lids.