Wicked Waves: Solsti Prophecy #2 by Sharon Kay

into the sink and clutched the counter for dear life. What the hell?   Her pulse raced, her heart thundered in her chest, and her breath came ragged and choppy. She blinked at the loss of his presence.
    She rubbed her temples. What is wrong with me?   The rudest man she had ever met whispered in her ear, and she turned to mush?   She’d been three seconds away from whirling to face him and hauling his mouth down to hers. His scent lingered in the air and her skin still tingled, craving the touch he didn’t give her. She shook her head to clear it, but her body wouldn’t let go of the sensations. Of Kai.

C HAPTER 4

    B ROOKE WAS SWAMPED WITH PROJECTS for her clients. Located in the trendy River North neighborhood, the graphic design firm where she worked had grown exponentially in the last five years. When she started there, she’d been one of two designers. Now, the company employed six designers and desperately needed a seventh. Until one got hired, Brooke and her colleagues had to work overtime.
    Rhys, ever-talented with technical stuff, had offered to install a computer-aided design program and a large-screen monitor so she could work from Demon Central. Brooke declined his offer as sweetly as she could, knowing she needed some boundaries.
    The clock on her computer read eight pm. Her third twelve-hour day in a row was drawing to an end, thank God, because the exposed bricks and duct work of the office were starting to blur together.   She yawned and stretched her arms above her head, then swiveled her chair around. Her co-workers were still there, turning off their computers and packing up.
    “C’mon, Brooke, time to go,” said Charles. “Boss left half an hour ago.”
    Brooke rubbed her tired eyes and smiled at her friend. “Do you and Jay have plans for tonight?”
    “We’re gonna check out the new steakhouse on Wells. Then it’ll be time for a long soak in the tub.”   Brown eyes twinkled mischievously from his handsome face, and his white teeth gleamed against smooth dark skin. Thick biceps reflected the hours he and his man spent in the gym. If he’d had any interest in women, she definitely would have dated him.
    “I want to hear all about it tomorrow. The restaurant, I mean.”   She powered down her computer.
    “Girl, you planning on a hot date?” he asked.
    Brooke slung her bag across her shoulder and sighed. “No. Maybe Nicole and I will go there for drinks.”
    Charles linked her arm with his as they walked to the elevator that opened directly into their third floor office. “You’re gonna meet a hottie real soon, sugar. Some tall guy with a big personality. Someone who can keep up with Miss Brooke Bonham!”
    “Did your crystal ball tell you that?” she asked as the elevator dinged and they stepped inside.
    “Baby girl, my balls ain’t crystal, but they are F-I-N-E.”
    Brooke snickered and elbowed him in the ribs.
    Charles looked at her seriously. “ You are overdue for someone to treat you like a queen.”
    “You’re sweet. Can you be my queen?”   She sighed and batted her eyes at him, then dissolved in a fit of giggles. “I’m so tired I’m getting slap-happy.”
    Charles burst out laughing as they walked through their lobby and into the autumn night. “Honey, you’re too much.”   He walked her to the Brown Line and waved as he caught his bus to the Gold Coast. “See you tomorrow.”
    Brooke watched his bus merge into the light Wednesday evening traffic. She loved her work, but good co-workers made all the difference.
    The last two nights, she had collapsed exhausted into bed when she got home. Tonight, she needed to let off some steam. Instead of going home when her train reached the busy Fullerton Avenue station, she changed to a Purple Line train and texted Nicole. On my way. Need a workout.
    Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the Central stop, surprised to see Nicole waiting for her. Pulling her into a hug, she said, “You didn’t have to come down here