were a small hand held pair, like something a man might use to
clip stray hairs or trim his mustache.
Easy...easy...
I picked them up, testing to see how smoothly they
pivoted apart. More luck was on my side. They moved quick and easy,
without making more than an almost imperceptible snap.
I chose to start at the top of the artifact's wrapper
and work fast.
Some noise was inevitable. I avoided the worst
crinkling, forming a clean cut along the side, exposing the dark
green surface inside.
The thing sparkled a little bit when the sunlight hit
it, gold slits around the little bears on the side glowing. One of
many reasons I'd found it sitting in an unguarded box in the first
place.
I let myself smile when
the wrapper was off. Come to momma!
I nestled it against my breast, admiring its smooth,
cool shape. This pretty baby promised to bring in some serious dough
and piss off the great big grizzly man behind me like nothing else.
I still had the sphere clutched tight when pure force
slammed into me from behind.
Not tight enough. The artifact jumped in the air and
landed on the dresser with a thud, rolling against the wall, easily
launched by two hundred pounds of masculine fury behind me.
Rolling around, I screamed, feeling for Nick's face. I
didn't stand a chance unless I scratched at his eyes.
The thought of putting out the beautiful fires dancing
there forever saddened me. Made me weak too – painfully weak.
This was combat, damn it, where every second counted big.
Nick caught me first, tugging at my hair. I screamed
again, rolling as he clasped me in the other arm. He turned me all
the way around and we dipped, tumbling to the bed, flattening me on
his messed up covers and mattress.
“ You're not welcome here, female!” He
roared, one hot, menacing threat in my right ear. “Your
persistence is going to fuck you up bad. And I really, really didn't
want to be the man to do it.”
I kicked at his legs. He just snarled, tugging harder at
the ponytail fisted in one hand, growling the whole time.
“ Maybe you wouldn't have to if you were better at
protecting your – what is it? – your precious culture.”
I sneered. “Do it. Release the beast inside you. Finish me!”
The inferno hardening his face weakened. He looked at me
more softly, moving his face so close to mine I could feel each
breath.
Probably wondering why I have a death wish. Why I'm
not afraid of him and his stupid bear power. Not like I should be
afraid, anyway.
“ What the hell is wrong with you?” He
snapped. “What did my people do to make you like this?”
I jerked in his hand, refusing to answer. If he was
going to kill me, I needed to die without a confession to my enemy.
I wanted to die brave like a smuggler. Not like a scared
little girl, breaking down, crying, and begging for her life.
“ That's between me and God,” I said in a
huff. “None of your fucking business.”
He curled his lips, half-smile and half-snarl. Another
jerk at my hair.
Is he enjoying this? Typical brutal bear!
“ You really shouldn't have come to our
reservation, Lyla. That goes double for my home. If the anyone else
finds you, they won't be so forgiving.”
“ Maybe to you,” I said sourly. “That's
really what you're worried about, isn't it? Saving yourself? It must
be a serious crime to do anything with a human girl that doesn't
involve your teeth and claws.”
A low growl thundered out his lips, onto my bare,
vulnerable cheek.
Despite the courage and sass shielding me, I started
shaking. Nobody in their right mind could hear a bear's warning growl
so close and stay firm.
“ Stupid, reckless, beautiful girl...” He
released my hair and cautiously lifted up. “You have no idea.”
Jesus, he was completely naked after all. A very big, swollen erection jutted up
between his muscular thighs, angry as the rest of him.
“ No? You obviously didn't finish the job last
night. You had your chance to kill me and you blew it. Someone's got
to be