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busy gloating, although I’m sure he doesn’t miss the flaming embarrassment painted all over my face.
    “I’m so stabbing you next time!”
    “I’ll consider myself warned,” he snickers, pulling me to my feet. “Besides, I’d expect nothing less from you.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, tilting my head innocently.
    “Just that I know how much you hate to lose.”
    “You know, for a minute there I thought you were trying to compliment me on my resourcefulness,” I tease.
    “Katia, if I were going to compliment you, it would be on those stunningly short shorts,” he purrs.
    Before I can come up with an appropriately indignant response, he’s running his finger along the waistband of my running shorts. Okay, so maybe Nik is faster than me. But I can’t think about that right now. Actually, I can’t think about anything except the heat blazing along my skin. Nik’s finger leaves a delicious trail of fire in its wake. I should push the roving hand away, but deep down I know I don’t want it to end. I want more. A lot more.
    “Nik.”
    “Shh,” he murmurs, closing the gap between us. His lips brush my cheek ever so lightly. My pulse thunders so loudly in my ears that I’m not sure I hear his next words right. “I missed you this summer.”
    “I’m sure you could have found someone to keep you warm at night,” I stammer. I know I should put some more space between us, but I don’t.
    “Sticks and stones,” he replies, pulling back. He looks me dead in the eye and I can hardly breathe. “You don’t mean that.”
    He’s right. I didn’t really mean it. So why did I say it? This always happens. It’s not that I don’t want Nik. I do. I just can’t seem to let my guard down. Or keep my big, fat mouth shut.
    “You didn’t call.” Ugh ! Lame. It’s not like we had a commitment or anything. I probably shouldn’t have said that either. It sounds accusing and possessive. I kind of suck at this.
    “I spent my summer training with the Linkuri. They’re pretty strict with potential inductees,” Nik explains, toying with my braid. For a minute I forget that I’m supposed to be annoyed. All I can think about are those hands and what I want him to do with them. Why does he have to be so freaking hot? “There wasn’t much time for anything outside of the program, but you’re right. I should have called.” He ducks his head and for once I actually think he’s really sorry.
    “You’re here now,” I reply, threading my arms through his and wrapping them around his back.
    “Getting pummeled by you? In those shorts?” He smiles seductively and I start thinking about better uses for those lips. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
    “Enough talking.”
    I grab Nik by the back of the neck and pull his face down to mine before I lose my nerve. Our lips meet and I unleash the full extent of my raw desire, moving my mouth hungrily over Nik’s. He tastes even better than I remembered. Probably because he fed recently. I run my free hand over the taught muscles of his arms before coming up for air.
    “I’ve been waiting three months to do that.”
    “I’d forgotten how unpredictable you can be,” Nik replies stroking my face. “Thanks for the reminder.”
    “How do you feel about an encore performance?”
    He smiles seductively and I go a little weak in the knees.
    “I could do this all day.”
     

 
    Chapter Five
     
    “What exactly are you doing?” Shaye asks eyeing me curiously.
    “Trying to scrub blood out of my shirt,” I respond without looking up. Apparently my busted lip was worse than I thought. There’s a trail of blood down the front of my workout tank. “I’m getting tired of throwing clothes in the trash.”
    “Oh? Do tell!” She tosses her backpack on the unmade bed and flounces across the room. Not bothering to ask permission, she pushes my textbooks aside and makes herself comfortable at my desk. “Have you been training with Nikolai?”
    “Sure,