down phase—five minutes and no dodging this part. It’s as important as the actual training.”
As usual, this group of teens didn’t care about easing off. They bolted for the door like a tornado of human bodies.
Who knew a self-defense class could be this much fun?
Echo picked up her hoodie from the floor and headed for the staff lounge. The room was a white square box, broken up by several bright prints of New York’s skyline. Vivid-colored sofas and two armchairs, in greens and blues, surrounded three low, glass-topped coffee tables. Two small basement windows, at street level, revealed the assortment of feet that ambled, walked, or jogged by. A small kitchenette was set back off the lounge.
She went in and helped herself to a shot of caffeine. The strong aromatic made her mouth water. Drinking her coffee, Echo strolled out of the kitchen, just as the door to the lounge opened. She glanced up with a ready smile, expecting it to be another staff member or her boss, Jimar. And froze. Only her excellent reflexes kept her mug from crashing to the floor.
The man, who persisted in haunting her ever since she’d seen him at the cathedral, stood in the threshold. Every moody inch of him.
Her eyes clung to him, then like treacle they glided slowly over his body. He wore leathers again. God, the man was way too sexy—too hot. He should come with a warning sign for susceptible women like her, because he made breathing impossible.
His striking hair was tied into a queue. The small silver earrings he favored gleamed in his ears. Her eyes collided with his and she found him watching her like some dark, hungry predator.
It took her straight back to when he’d bitten her. She had to restrain herself from touching the spot on her neck. He hadn’t left a mark but the sensation still lingered.
“What are you doing here?” She tried to get her mind to function again.
He strolled in, the door swinging shut behind him. Those mercurial eyes took in everything with one sweep before settling back on her. “It’s a gym—open to all, I believe.”
No way! He couldn’t have. “Did you join?”
“Yes, and you’re my personal trainer.”
She speared him with a glare at his droll comment. Snapped, “Dream on, pal. I may be a trainer but I don’t get personal.”
“Really?” His dark voice told her that if he was of a mind, she’d hand over her best friend to the demoniis for a tumble with him. Oh Lord. She scrambled to find her balance, because truth was, she’d probably giftwrap Kira, too.
“I’m Aethan.”
“And here I thought it was Sarcasm.” She headed for the armchair. Far safer, she decided, than to tackle him to the floor and take a bite of his scrumptious mouth.
“I see your temper hasn’t improved.”
She heard the smile in his voice. Knew he followed her, because every inch of her felt too warm.
“I don’t have a temper.” She sat down and realized too late she was at a horrible disadvantage as he towered over her. “I am— was a calm and rational person until you showed up,” she grumbled.
His gaze brightened in amusement and his brief smile floored her. Oh, why couldn’t her stupid heart settle? Give her time to build up her defenses again.
“If you want to see my boss, you missed his office by a mile. It’s at the front. Can’t miss him. Big, good-looking guy, really buff. Lots of tatts.”
The amusement faded from his eyes, leaving behind gray diamonds. Echo wondered at her stupidity in taunting him. The last time she did, he bit her.
“He means something to you?”
Wariness settled in her at the bite in his tone. “Sure. He’s the guy who pays my salary. If you came to see me, you caught me at the wrong time. I have another session in ten.”
The tension eased out of his big body. His expression relaxed, as much a stone could.
Aethan planted one hand on the armrest of her chair and she drew back, her lungs seizing. A swathe of silky blue hair, escaping its confines,
As usual, this group of teens didn’t care about easing off. They bolted for the door like a tornado of human bodies.
Who knew a self-defense class could be this much fun?
Echo picked up her hoodie from the floor and headed for the staff lounge. The room was a white square box, broken up by several bright prints of New York’s skyline. Vivid-colored sofas and two armchairs, in greens and blues, surrounded three low, glass-topped coffee tables. Two small basement windows, at street level, revealed the assortment of feet that ambled, walked, or jogged by. A small kitchenette was set back off the lounge.
She went in and helped herself to a shot of caffeine. The strong aromatic made her mouth water. Drinking her coffee, Echo strolled out of the kitchen, just as the door to the lounge opened. She glanced up with a ready smile, expecting it to be another staff member or her boss, Jimar. And froze. Only her excellent reflexes kept her mug from crashing to the floor.
The man, who persisted in haunting her ever since she’d seen him at the cathedral, stood in the threshold. Every moody inch of him.
Her eyes clung to him, then like treacle they glided slowly over his body. He wore leathers again. God, the man was way too sexy—too hot. He should come with a warning sign for susceptible women like her, because he made breathing impossible.
His striking hair was tied into a queue. The small silver earrings he favored gleamed in his ears. Her eyes collided with his and she found him watching her like some dark, hungry predator.
It took her straight back to when he’d bitten her. She had to restrain herself from touching the spot on her neck. He hadn’t left a mark but the sensation still lingered.
“What are you doing here?” She tried to get her mind to function again.
He strolled in, the door swinging shut behind him. Those mercurial eyes took in everything with one sweep before settling back on her. “It’s a gym—open to all, I believe.”
No way! He couldn’t have. “Did you join?”
“Yes, and you’re my personal trainer.”
She speared him with a glare at his droll comment. Snapped, “Dream on, pal. I may be a trainer but I don’t get personal.”
“Really?” His dark voice told her that if he was of a mind, she’d hand over her best friend to the demoniis for a tumble with him. Oh Lord. She scrambled to find her balance, because truth was, she’d probably giftwrap Kira, too.
“I’m Aethan.”
“And here I thought it was Sarcasm.” She headed for the armchair. Far safer, she decided, than to tackle him to the floor and take a bite of his scrumptious mouth.
“I see your temper hasn’t improved.”
She heard the smile in his voice. Knew he followed her, because every inch of her felt too warm.
“I don’t have a temper.” She sat down and realized too late she was at a horrible disadvantage as he towered over her. “I am— was a calm and rational person until you showed up,” she grumbled.
His gaze brightened in amusement and his brief smile floored her. Oh, why couldn’t her stupid heart settle? Give her time to build up her defenses again.
“If you want to see my boss, you missed his office by a mile. It’s at the front. Can’t miss him. Big, good-looking guy, really buff. Lots of tatts.”
The amusement faded from his eyes, leaving behind gray diamonds. Echo wondered at her stupidity in taunting him. The last time she did, he bit her.
“He means something to you?”
Wariness settled in her at the bite in his tone. “Sure. He’s the guy who pays my salary. If you came to see me, you caught me at the wrong time. I have another session in ten.”
The tension eased out of his big body. His expression relaxed, as much a stone could.
Aethan planted one hand on the armrest of her chair and she drew back, her lungs seizing. A swathe of silky blue hair, escaping its confines,
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