“You were faster this time,” Stygian argued as he ignored the comment regarding his distraction.
“And you’re a hell of a lot slower.” Flint laughed as Dog and Mutt both paused in their sparring. “You’re off your game, my friend.”
Hell if that wasn’t the truth, but even Flint was easing back, the unspoken agreement that the sparring session was over, understood by them all.
The scent of a mate’s need sent a message to any other Breed in the area to keep away, to move beyond the scent if possible and at every opportunity to allow the mated couple a chance to be alone.
Inhaling sharply, he caught her scent again.
Arousal and an addition of something more had his gaze narrowing on her.
The arousal was uppermost, a subtle scent because of the distance, but there all the same. But it was also combined with the scent of envy and a natural aggression that had his animal instincts howling and his lips turning up in a grin of relish.
“Time to shower,” Flint announced, though Stygian’s attention never wavered from Liza. “We’ll secure the room on our way out.”
His attention was focused completely on Liza as she rose from the sofa and moved closer to the main mats. He was only distantly aware of the soft pings indicating full security had been activated on the entrance to the gym.
There would be Breed enforcers stationed at the elevator and then farther along the hall as long as he and Liza were in the room.
Stygian anticipated they would be there for a while.
“Spar with me now.” Her demand should have surprised him.
It didn’t.
He already suspected the part she intended to play in the Navajo Breed Underground Network. He should have suspected it long before he had.
She was a mass of contradictions, deceptions and confusion. One could never take anything about her at face value, until he learned the answers to the questions she presented.
Moving once again, Liza toed off the sandals she’d slipped on before leaving the room. Leaving her feet bare, the pretty painted toenails a subtle candy pink, she stepped onto the mat.
Her arousal was no longer mixed with envy. It was now infused with a hint of feminine, sexual aggression and independence.
The intriguing scent had his dick swelling impossibly harder, throbbing with a demand he had no intention of holding back.
A growl sounded in his throat as his lips curled into a slow, dominant snarl.
“A challenge, mate?” he asked as he knelt and removed the baby-soft leather boots worn by enforcers.
Loosening the ties, his gaze holding hers, Stygian removed them without haste, refusing to allow himself to fumble so much as a string while she watched.
Male pride.
He all but grinned at the thought.
Of course, he couldn’t allow himself to appear less than completely dominant and assured in her presence. God forbid this independent, striking young woman should ever have a moment to doubt his ability to love her.
To protect her.
He’d prove to her he was her fitting mate.
Removing his close-fitting black socks, Stygian straightened and stared down at her silently for long moments.
“You’re my mate,” he finally stated, hearing the primal growl that filled his voice. “I am well able to protect not just your safety, Liza, but your secrets. You’ve only to give them to me for safekeeping.”
Reaching back and gathering her hair, she wound the long strands into a loose braid before securing it with the elastic band around her wrist.
“What if I don’t know the secrets I’m keeping?” She surprised him with the answer.