Eternally Bound: Paranormal Romance Boxed Set (33 page)

But then again, he’d felt Mahpiya’s sharp claws across his ass on more than one occasion. Usually right after he’d done something stupid. Hmm, he might have to rethink this whole spirit guide thing with Adonei in the mix. His female cat could get away with swatting him on the backside, but there was no way in hell he was going to let a fully grown, big-assed male do the same. Not without a fight.

Turning off the shower, he toweled off quickly and strode naked through the living room, heading for the closet in the guestroom suite.

Stifling a chuckle, he asked, “Problem with the Eden asshole, Adonei?”

*
I do not care for the human
.* But he said nothing more.

“Chrys may be stubborn, but she’ll listen to you if she’s in danger. She’d better or I’ll have to paddle her ass. Go join her on her tour, all right? Tell her I said good morning and I’ll catch up with her for dinner.”

With that, the air around the two majestic beasts shimmered and shifted until they faded before his eyes. With their essence still vaguely present in his head, Rahn dressed, grabbed a quick bite then headed to the ship’s bridge to see Captain Laurens.

Chapter Ten

Chrys forced her eyeballs to remain uncrossed as the tour guide’s deep monotone droned on, and on.

“Welcome to Ibiza. Third in size of Spain’s Balearic Islands, Ibiza’s charms include a magnificent bay that rivals that of Naples. There’s also a chain of golden beaches and an ancient and picturesque main town. As much a colony of discerning artists and writers as it is a popular tourist destination, Ibiza still offers many areas of charm, tranquility and stunning natural beauty…”

Blah, blah, blah.

Adonei stalked into her head. About damned time.

‘Adonei, where in the world have you been?’ she scolded.

*
Getting to know your mate. He sends a good morning greeting and looks forward to your company for supper
.*

Immediately, sweet warmth infused her soul and brought a smile to her lips. Her mate had sent her a message, even though she’d snuck out of bed this morning. Her mate—amazing how two simple words could be so soothing, yet conjure the most wicked images in mind, like the fierce loving of the previous night. There’d been such an urgency to be mounted, stroked inside and out, that she’d lost her mind under a barrage of feeling. The depth of hunger sunk so deep, it had sent her emotions reeling. Even now, it was almost too much to fathom.

A tremor snaked through her body. Her temperature soared while her stomach tripped. Ears burning, Chrys wondered how long it’d been since she’d actually blushed from thinking about a man. Rahn. God, he simply had her undone.

“Damn it,” she muttered to herself. Her head had been so wrapped up in the man, she’d missed a step and stubbed the hell out of her toe. Guess sandals weren’t ideal for sightseeing in the old medieval stone pirate towers of the island.

Okay, time to get a handle on herself.

The tour guide’s dull voice intruded once more.

“Ibiza and Formentera have been a popular destination for visitors from overseas for thousands of years, but unfortunately it is only during the last few decades that these frequent visitors have brought money with them on their visits to the islands.”

Hardy har har. Chrys winced at the dry humor.

‘I am bored out of my head. I think I’ll go off on my own,’ Chrys whispered along her link with her lions. Strange how Mahpiya occupied the same space now, yet the feline was separate and apart from her awareness of Adonei. Almost like they had their own special connection without excluding “the guys”.

*
Chrysalyn, it is not wise to venture off alone
,* the lioness said firmly.

Apprehension snaked through the link and Chrys felt compelled to listen to the big cat and do exactly as she suggested. She pushed the strange feelings away.

‘I’ve got two bad-assed African lions with me. What do I possibly have to be afraid of?’

The uneasiness of the previous moment surged into full-blown protective instinct. Mahpiya was concerned for her. But why?

‘May I call you Mah, like Rahn does?’ she asked respectfully.

*
Of course
.*

‘Thank you. Now, Mah, what’s going on? I can feel you’re on full hunter alert. And shouldn’t one of you be with Rahn?’

Neither lion said a word for what felt like eons. Their postures seemed easy enough, but tension wrapped around the bond like a tangible thing. They were hiding something. But if Mahpiya was anything like Adonei, no amount of harping in the world would get her to spill.

Sigh. Well, perhaps she’d try anyway. Even picking away at the patience of a spirit guide had to be less boring than this stupid tour she’d signed up for.

‘Well, since neither of you are telling, I guess I’ll drop it.’ For now. ‘Meanwhile, let’s go into the heart of town and explore. Maybe get some lunch.’ Chrys didn’t wait for them to answer or give permission. With a farewell wave to an older couple she’d met while debarking off the ship, she turned and left the droning tour guide and the group of tourists behind her.

Down the road was a row of modern restaurants and shops, all top-notch according to her research. There was one that specialized in rare gifts. Oooh, and they carried Dominican Republic hand-rolled cigars. Wow. Would Rahn enjoy something like this? He’d never smoked in her presence, but a man of such impeccable taste might appreciate a seasoned mild cigar. For her, there was nothing better than a Tatiana groovy-flavored smoke with an after-dinner dessert. Or the coffee-flavored smoke of a Kahlua cigar mixed with the cool smoothness of a cream-laced beverage. Yum.

With her purchases tucked into her day bag, Chrys walked up a hill, turned down a quiet street and settled for a small mom-and-pop cafe for lunch. Suppressing laughter at Mah and Adonei’s antics, she stepped through the door and was immediately shown to a table out back with a clear view of the sea’s crystal blue waters off in the distance.

The food was fabulous. She’d never been a big fan of Mediterranean food, but this stuff was wonderful. With every kind of cuisine under the sun to choose from, perhaps the French five-star restaurant down the street would get a visit before she headed back to the ship later. After all, Ibiza was no backwater island, but a place where the young and chic came to vacation.

Her companions were quite a pair. The faint image of the two lions grooming each other lovingly as she sipped a cup of espresso produced an inward smile. Then the next instant, Mah swatted at Adonei’s head after he’d said something so totally male even Chrys grimaced. The lioness was quick-witted and even quicker with her claws. And, of course, Chrys had to throw in her two cents, usually on Mah’s side. Soon Adonei was mumbling about catty women who were too smart for their own good, and perhaps he would go and keep Rahn company after all. Chrys bit the inside of her cheek and tried to keep her mirth under wraps—not smart to have the locals thinking she’d gone bonkers by laughing at someone they couldn’t see.

After lunch, she stepped out into the bright afternoon sunshine. The sun was dazzling, shining off the many white stone churches common in every town on the island.

Then the hairs on the back of her neck hit orbit, standing on end as the bottom fell out of her stomach. Someone was watching her.

After waltzing around the island with no set destination, Chrys had no idea how far away or where her nearest shipmates were hanging out. Yep, it was times like this she sure as hell appreciated having a spirit guide. Correction—two spirit guides.

At the first twang of apprehension, both Adonei and Mah bolted up into sitting positions, ears pricked forward. Adonei’s presence faded and she knew he’d gone to investigate what, or rather who, was both ahead and behind her. There was no doubt that in the second she stood in front of the eatery, pretending to explore the beautiful potted plants, Adonei had scoped out each possible route in and out of the area as well as surveyed every person in close proximity.

Meanwhile, Mah’s calm power-infused presence radiated down their newly formed bond. Someone might be tailing her, but she sure as hell wasn’t alone. Far from helpless, Chrys readied herself, reached for and caught the calm focus required to quickly measure and take down an enemy.

The air off to her left rippled in waves just before Adonei’s huge corporeal form shimmered into view. Mahpiya remained out of sight, but clearly visible in her mind’s eye.

*
You are indeed being hunted
.*

Hunted? Who would dare?

*
It is the Eden person. I do not like it
.*

‘Well, that sure as hell makes two of us,’ she hissed back. Why would Eden be tailing her? He’d always appeared to be so nice and gentlemanly. Not to mention damned good-looking. Did he really mean her ill? Perhaps Adonei was simply overreacting. Or, as usual, he’d been correct in his first assessment of the man.

Well, time to find out.

‘Adonei, please lend me your senses.’

Immediately, eyesight and hearing sharpened. Natural ability increased many times over as every cell was infused with the lion’s raw power. Taking her time, Chrys and her two invisible escorts turned down a narrow road and out onto the main boulevard.

Eden was a good enough distance away that a typical person wouldn’t have noticed his presence. The man was awfully good at tailing, which meant only one of three things—she and Adonei were both paranoid, Eden was a bad guy or he was a special ops person like herself. Odds on that first one were highly doubtful and the thought of him being either of the other two sent a chill up her spine.

She kept moving. With her enhanced senses, not only did Chrys catch the musky scent of his body, but she could have heard his soft footsteps a mile away.

Then, as suddenly as she’d sensed Eden behind her, he was gone. Only to be replaced by the presence of another man she hadn’t expected to run into.

Rahn was across the wide boulevard. He stalked—it was the only word she could think of to describe the graceful and dangerous way the gorgeous man moved—down the stairs of what appeared to be the town hall and headed her way.

Two men were at his side. One was a local cop. In her line of work, she could spot a government gofer a mile away, even if he was dressed casually in cargo pants and a button-down shirt. The other man, taller than Rahn, but not nearly as well-built, was none other than the captain of the ship. So what was Rahn doing with these people? His case was supposed to be in Rome, not on Ibiza.

‘What the hell is Rahn up to? I’d recognize that I’m-on-duty look anywhere.’

Not expecting either cat to actually tell on the man, Chrys ducked into the nearest shop and waited for him to pass by.

This direction headed right for a crowded town market her tour group had passed earlier. If she was careful, it would be the perfect place to tail him without being noticed. She hoped. After all, Rahn wasn’t one of the most distinguished undercover specialists in her unit for nothing. But she was damned good at her job too. And at the rate the men were walking they’d passed by now.

Chrys stepped out into the street on silent feet.

And ran right into Rahn’s chest.

“Chrys?”

She watched the expressions on his deeply tanned face morph from surprise to understanding to flat-out pissed off. His jaw tightened and ticced. The lips that had kissed her so wonderfully every day and night now pulled back in a snarl, baring sharp white teeth.

Shit. So much for following him at a discreet distance.

“What the fuck are you doing up here by yourself?” he growled quietly. One look at his face and the men accompanying him gave sympathetic smiles and got the hell out of Dodge. The man looked like a volcano.

“Woman, get your ass back to the ship right fucking now. Better yet, I’ll take you my damned self.” He grabbed her by the hand and practically dragged her down the hill.

What the hell was going on? She didn’t think she’d ever seen Rahn so angry. Not even after the time he’d been shot in the ass by a bad guy while diving for cover in the middle of a shootout.

And who the fuck did he think he was talking to? She was a grown woman who didn’t require nor allow a babysitter.

“Slow the hell down or let go of my damned hand,” she snapped. “I’m wearing sandals, not running shoes.”

His answer was a grumble she couldn’t quite make out. Sounded something like having to get his woman back where she belonged?

*
Well, my mate, shall we leave these two alone for a time?
* Adonei asked Mahpiya. His tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth and Chrys could have sworn he was grinning. With that, his corporeal form vanished and his presence dimmed. Mahpiya disappeared all together.

Damned cats.

* * * * *

Eden bit back an eager grin. His thoughts were fixed on the beautiful prize of a woman walking ahead of him. Chrysalyn’s smooth caramel skin glistened with a light sheen along her shapely calves. His mouth watered at the strong compulsion to taste the crease at the back of her knee to confirm the moisture was a film of sweat mixed with the tangy humidity of the island.

Chrys called to him—mind, body and soul. She was only a short distance away now, barely a block. If he could get to her before she reached the town square, he’d have a chance to, uh, persuade her to spend a bit of quality time with him before it was time to return to the ship to leave port.

Eden wasn’t sure why, but just as he was about to pass the steps of the town hall, he came to a halting stop and stayed put, just out of sight.

Seconds later, the Rahn asshole came down those steps accompanied by a local cop he recognized from his last trip through here, along with the captain of their ship.

His pharaoh hadn’t said anything about peace officers, captains or assholes in her interpretation of the upside-down Empress card. And if both the Rahn person and Chrys were in this very same spot, did that mean they were here in port together? As a couple? No, not possible. According to the cards, Chrys was supposed to have lost interest in Rahn and leaning toward him instead. Hmm. He’d have to have a talk with his lovely tarot reader when he made it back to the ship.