Wicked Waves: Solsti Prophecy #2 by Sharon Kay Page B

transfixed. Wearing only sweatpants, Kai moved with a swift grace she would never have imagined. Flashes of silver met her eyes as he swung the huge sword with ease. His bare feet skimmed across the blue mats, the muscles in his arms and back rippling with every twist and thrust. She had never seen him in action, except for his skirmish with Brenin. He looked magnificent and lethal, and she couldn’t tear her gaze away.
    He stopped and faced her, his handsome face showing no surprise. Of course, he would have scented her the minute she opened the door. He strode to the sound system against the wall and lowered the volume. “I didn’t know you were coming over, Sprite.”   His tone was pleasant. Not laced with his usual sarcasm.
    She swallowed. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I…I had a rough day at work, and I wanted to take it out on the bags.”
    “Then the place is yours.” He spread his arms and turned toward the weapons area, picking up his T-shirt from the floor.
    “You don’t have to go.”   The words tumbled from her mouth before she could stop them. “This room’s big enough for both of us.”
    He pivoted to look at her, sword in one hand and T-shirt in the other, and a smile twitched across his sensual mouth.
    Her water bottle fell to the floor with a thud. He had never smiled at her before. He’d smirked when he insulted her, sure. But this was genuine, reaching all the way to his twinkling brown eyes, and devastatingly handsome.
    Get a grip , she berated herself as she bent to retrieve her water. She crossed the room, daring to glance at him, and found him still grinning at her. Her stomach flipped.
    “As you wish.” He tossed the T-shirt back into a corner and resumed his practice.
    She set her water down and pulled a pair of boxing gloves off a shelf full of equipment. The guys didn’t need them, but she and Nicole didn’t relish bloody knuckles. After a few minutes of warming up with soft jabs, she let loose with a series of right and left hooks. She moved through all the punches she knew, then kicked the crap out of the bag with her roundhouse. She was in the zone, utterly focused, picturing not a punching bag before her, but random bad guys.
    When she stopped for a drink, Kai’s voice jerked her out of her little world. “Remind me not to be on the business end of your kicks,” he drawled.
    “Good idea. Those guys usually don’t get back up for a while.”
    “You done beating up that bag?”
    “I’m done with the bag, but I’m not done for the night.”
    “Good, because I want to show you something,” he said. “I mean, if you want.”
    Who are you and what have you done with Kai?   No insults, no orders, and even a smile. This was so different from the way he usually acted. Maybe it was that big harvest moon. She suppressed a smile and stretched the muscles she’d abused. Whatever the reason, this wasn’t just a civil conversation, but an enjoyable one. First time ever.
    Turning to him, she asked, “What is it?”
    “I know the broadswords can get heavy—”
    She snorted. “Oh, just a little.”
    “We have some small thin blades. I think you’d like those better.”
    She raised her eyebrows. Curiosity piqued, she followed him to the weapons table.
    “This is patterned after an Italian long sword.”   He picked up a shiny blade that was surprisingly thin. He offered the hilt to her and she grasped it, amazed by its light weight. It looked delicate, the hilt being small enough for her hand but big enough to cause damage if she needed to hit someone on the head.
    “Wow.”   She noted the double-edged blade. “Why couldn’t I start with this one?”
    “Brenin had the right call. You need to know how to handle the heavier swords in case that’s the only thing available. At least know how to block strikes until you can get to a weapon that’s more your size.”
    She lifted the sword, entranced by it, yet unsure of how to handle it. “Show me what to