Born of Fire

That wonderfully wicked smile curved his lips. “Hmm,” he said, dipping his head down until his lips met hers.

Shahara parted her lips, welcoming him inside. The warmth of his breath and heat of his body stirred her near to madness and she wondered if she would ever get enough of him. Something inside told her that even if she had him for two hundred years, she’d always appreciate it.

“Uh, people?” Vik rushed over in his bot form to stand at their feet. “I think I’ll go patrol for something. Definitely. I’m not into voyeur stuff . . . yeah.” He transformed into a bird, then hit the closed window and fell to the floor. “Dammit, Syn. Did you have to do that?”

Syn laughed before he opened the window and helped Vik out. “Don’t come back without warning.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t need my circuitry burning out ’cause I saw you naked.” He flew off.

Syn shut the window, then returned to her side and pulled her back into his arms.

Suddenly, a laugh bubbled up in her throat.

Syn pulled back, staring at her as if she’d insulted him. “What?”

She smiled. “I can’t believe you’re ready for another round. Caillen always says he needs a day’s rest after he has sex.”

He snorted disdainfully. “Caillen’s a wuss.” He took her hand in his and placed it to the bulge at his groin. “I assure you, I’m well up to the challenge.”

Her throat dry, she felt heat creep up her face, to her hairline. Before she could move, he returned to their kiss, leaving her hand trapped between them so that she had no choice but to feel his blood rush through the most intimate part of his anatomy.

Shahara burned with her own need as she shifted her body to fit more snugly with his.

Syn moaned at her surrender. She was spectacular and he couldn’t believe that he wanted to make love to her again. Normally, he’d be like Caillen, too, and need a day to rest.

But not with her. Every waking minute he was with her, all he wanted was to feel the security of her arms, feel her breath tickle his neck while he took possession of her body. He got hard every time he looked at her.

She moved her hand from him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Syn stepped closer, pressing himself against the warmth of her body as he continued to tease her tongue with his own.

“Shouldn’t we be plotting our next move?” Her words were ragged in his ear.

“I already did.”

“When?”

“While I was in my office. I grabbed my IDs and everything else we needed.”

“So you know where the statue is?”

“No. But I’m hoping we can find clues in the office where I stashed it.” He put his finger to her lips. “Trust me, Shahara. I’ll get the chip and get you out of this. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

How she wished she could make the same promise to him . . .

Suddenly, a knock intruded. “Room service,” a voice called from the other side of the door.

Growling low in his throat, Syn stepped back from her. “Can you get it?”

“Me?” Shahara shook her head. “I don’t know how to do this. I’ve never been in a hotel in my life.”

He cleared his throat meaningfully. “C’mon, I can’t answer the door like this. It’s a guy out there.”

Her gaze dipped to the area he indicated and she realized his arousal was more than obvious. Laughing, she crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a playful look of her own. “I think it would make interesting waiter conversation for him and his buddies if you did.”

His look turned murderous. “Just open the door, let him bring the food in, and sign the ledger he hands you.”

“What about the tip?”

“It’s already added to the bill.”

Shahara paused for a minute longer, just to annoy him. “All right,” she said at last. “I guess you’re off the hook.”

Before she could blink, he disappeared through a double set of doors to hide.

“You coward!” she called out, mocking him.

“Don’t give me no lip, wench. It’s all your fault.”

Her smile wide, Shahara pressed the release to open the main doors. A young man brought in a huge tray covered with silver and gold dishes. He placed them on the marble-covered table just to the left of the foyer. “Does madam require anything else?” he asked politely.

Wow, no one had ever called her “madam” before. She actually liked it. “I think we’re fine.”

He handed her a small computer ledger and she started to sign her name an instant before she thought about how stupid that might be. Instead she made up one.

The waiter inclined his head and left her.

“You can come out now,” she called out to Syn. “It’s safe.”

While she waited for him to rejoin her, she starting pulling off lids. Her stomach growled at the wonderful scent of roasted meat and vegetables. Her mouth watering, she took a pinch of the softest roll she’d ever seen before.

It was marvelous.