Chosen Thief (25 page)

Sure, just rub it in.

“Maybe you need some sleep if you’re confusing people’s names,” Queen Ruckler stated, her tone troubled. “You were up all night working on
that assignment. And with Leric in the house, you need to be sharp.”

He paused. “I’m not exactly…an old man.”
Oh, give it a fucking rest already.
“I’ve had plenty of all-nighters before and been just fine.”

I stepped subtly on Sin’s foot.

He stated instantly, “If we’re excused, we’re going to find Bindi now.”

“Go ahead,” King Collins directed. “Make sure she looks at her ribs, too.”

I opened
my eyes as Sin took my hand and started leading me from the room, but at the last minute, I retrieved my inner bitch. I was very pissed knowing someone had been listening in on my first time having actual
sex
with a
man
, so I peeked out from under my lashes at King Zeller, seeing he was watching me unobtrusively as the other Rulers spoke, and I let my eyes flash in warning at him. I was letting
him know I could do the same I had to King Collins, to him: I could take any personal memory he had and invade his privacy as he had mine, if he told anyone.

His wide lips curved the tiniest bit in my direction, a forbidding smile that let me know he wasn’t the least bit intimidated. Honestly, I wouldn’t have expected anything else from him, as was the way between powerful beings.

Winded with delight and my eyes sparkling at Sin, I hollered, “Race ya back!”

He laughed, enjoying himself just as much as I was, and nodded, quickly detouring his dirt bike. We had borrowed one each from the garage, with permission, after I had seen Bindi and listened to her spiel on safe sex while she healed me. Since the Rulers were holed up in conference rooms, we decided
we would have a little fun on our own riding in the woods on the grounds. Sin cut another sharp left as I followed closely behind on my own dirt bike. Ducking a low hanging limb, I revved the bike, making dirt and grass spit up from under its tires as I took a right and sped up, heading directly for a small stream. I jumped it beautifully, correcting the bike as it wobbled the barest bit, and turned
to look behind me.

Sin had caught on to my shortcut and was quickly catching up. He grinned at me as he pulled up next me, shouting, “Going for the hill?”

I nodded and laughed, then I zigzagged through a thick set of trees. Sin and I glanced at each other, exhilarated from one of our favorite pastimes — which was really anything to do with bikes — and we revved the bikes, zooming as fast as
we could through the trees, straight at the steep incline. We reached the top in a dead tie, and then we were airborne, flying high. I tilted my head back and pulled on the handles, seeing Sin doing the same, and we flipped ourselves, and our bikes, through the air. Energy and adrenaline pumping through my veins, I laughed as the wheels landed with a small bounce, and jerked the bike straight when
it wanted to go left.

I heard Sin’s laughter ringing with mine as we came to a halt a football field length away from where we could see the Prodigies — and Leric, Roselle, and Reese, having apparently returned — at the enormous swimming pool, some in the pool, some tanning themselves, but all staring in our direction. I turned my head to Sin, lifting my goggles off my dirt-streaked face, seeing
Sin had already done so. He had a slightly browned face from the dirt, except where his goggles had been, and I know I looked the same. I raised my hand, bending a bit in his direction, and he high-fived me. He ran his hand over my cheek, and though he was still grinning sinfully, his question was seriously asked, even if asked quietly so Aria’s ears couldn’t hear, “You have no clue what you’re
doing, do you?”

I chuckled quietly. “Not one clue. I’m in way over my head.”

Sin picked a piece of grass from my forehead, nodding slowly, his green eyes still glimmering in elation under the afternoon sun. “I would have to agree.” He placed his hand on my knee closest to him and leaned with his bike in my direction. “I hope it’s worth it.”

I picked a twig out of his hair, flicking it off to
the side, and ignored Leric and his people headed our way. “I thought it would clear my system being with him. Just a one-off, and that was the plan, but…” I shrugged a shoulder, placing my hand over Sin’s and staring down at it as I played with his dirty fingers. “But he…I don’t know…he just kind of has this effect on me.” Another shrug. “He gets under my skin. That is the only way I can explain
it. I’m not wholly positive I won’t end up back in his bed.”

“He makes you react like a girl, which you hate because you think that makes you weak,” Sin stated softly. “But Caro, you are a girl, and I can tell you from experience girls are not weak. I just can’t believe it’s the scariest mother-fucker I’ve ever met who makes you feel that way.” He paused, staring up at the sky. “I guess I’ll
just have to be extra inventive to make sure he doesn’t hurt you while you have your fun.”

I pulled his chin down to stare him in the eyes. “I love you, Sin.”

“I know,” he chuckled at my earnest expression, bending to place a soft kiss on my lips. “I have no worries about that, love.” He stared me in the eyes with years of sexual knowledge there. “Just be careful.”

I kissed him back just as
caringly and nodded. We tilted our heads in the direction of the spirits about twenty yards away when Roselle shouted, “That was a stupid stunt, Caro! Neither one of you even used your damn powers!”

I stared at the beauty wearing a small white bikini over her shapely curves, her hair pulled back in a high ponytail, and heard Sin whistle quietly under his breath. I glanced at him, whispering,
“Reese is her husband.” Sin’s lips only curved more, so I slapped his hand. “Seriously, no more trouble.”

“All right, I’ll behave,” he muttered quietly, then he turned to Roselle since they were almost on us, stating, “If you’d like to go for a ride, Roselle, I’d be more than happy to have you sit on my lap.” When she blinked, their group coming to a stop in front of us, Sin’s lips curved flirtatiously,
tilting up his ruggedly dirty face to stare her dead in the eyes. He purred softly, “I’ll take the bumps real smooth and slow, unless you want me to go faster, then I’ll show you what this baby can really do.”

Again she blinked, and I swear a small flush graced her cheeks before she cleared her throat and completely ignored him, turning her attention on me. “You could have been injured or killed.”
And…her voice was a tad breathless.

I stared. God, Sin could manage to fluster and affect even the happily married, his skills apparently knowing no bounds. It was really something else to watch. But this was not the time, since Reese wasn’t an idiot. He noticed his wife’s reaction and stepped covertly between her and Sin, wearing only white swim trunks, his arms easy at his sides. He was falsely
relaxed as he glared down at Sin, both men already having a combatant relationship. I gave a quick glance to Sin, gifting him a special look from under my lashes and letting him know that little stunt wasn’t appreciated. Then I peered back to Roselle, stating evenly, “But I wasn’t. We’ve been doing this for years, and the thrill of it is fantastic. If you’d like to try, you’re more than welcome
to use my bike since I’m done, instead of Sin’s gracious offer.”

She sniffed, in control of herself once more, and crossed her arms. “I think not. That bike is utterly vulgar.” She flicked a finger at me. “And a deathtrap for you.”

“I’d like to try,” came a quiet, menacing purr directly in front of me from the one man I hadn’t chanced glancing at yet. I saw a tanned hand with brushed platinum
rings land on the handlebar directly next to my right hand.

With fortitude I peered up at Leric where he bent a bit over the tire and stared down at me. Like Reese, he was also wearing only a pair of white swim trunks that reached a few inches past his knees. All that naked flesh glistening under the sun, half of his hair still pulled back…I pretty much wanted to jump the man right there and
then. But I kept my gaze moderated and stared in his silver eyes, which flicked to Sin then back to me.

“Possibly Sin can give me a lesson since you’re through.” Red lips curved sinuously. “Unless I can ride behind you. I’ll promise to keep a tight grip so no one falls too fast.”

Yeah, pretty much like Roselle a moment ago, a tiny blush stole over my cheeks and I blinked at him, at a complete
loss for words. A very carnal, very naughty imagining of what he spoke of was igniting my thoughts.

Sin drawled beside me, his grip tightening on my leg, “I’d be more than happy to give you a lesson, Leric. Keep you from falling into holes you shouldn’t.” My lips parted and I swallowed hard, trying not to choke on a laugh as I turned my gaze on Sin. One corner of his lips quirked at me, but he
turned his attention back to Leric, a green eyebrow cocking. “Have you ever ridden a bike before?”

Leric’s hand, warm and lingering, brushed the side of mine as he pulled it away, straightening. “Not a dirt bike.” Silver eyes actually sparkled a bit with what appeared to be eagerness as he stared down at the one I sat on. “But that looked like fun.”

Sin’s eyes evaluated his expression, his head
cocking. “An adrenaline junkie?”

Roselle snorted, glancing away quickly when Leric tossed her a glance.

Leric’s lips curved as he peered back at Sin, a feral smile gracing his features, his teeth dazzlingly white against his tan skin. “It’s safe to say I’ve been known to push things to the extreme.”

“I imagine you do,” Sin murmured, eyeing him, then slapped my leg once. “Get up, Caro. I believe
the man is searching for a rush.”

I rolled my eyes at him, but I stood, holding the bike steady as Leric spoke to Roselle and Reese. I leaned down to whisper at Sin’s ear, “Getting him hurt right now is probably not a great idea.”

He kissed my cheek, whispering back, “Pay better attention, Caro. I believe he can take care of himself just fine.”

Yeah, as if Sin wasn’t going to use his powers
to have a little fun with him. “Just don’t do anything too much.”

Large, warm hands landed on my hips, and I stood frozen for a second as Leric rumbled over my head to Sin, “Actually, please do.” He squeezed my hips before giving me a tiny shove forward, moving to take the handlebars and mount the bike. He was shoeless, his nipple rings sparkling in the light as he grinned devilishly at Sin.
“I can’t wait to see what you create.”

Sin chuckled deeply as he stared at him, some type of communication going on silently between them. Sin flicked his eyes to me, stating, “Give him your goggles, Caro. He’s going to need them.”

Leric’s grin only grew before he tipped his head at him, then he turned his attention to me, politely holding his hand out. “Hand them over, Sprite.”

From the corner
of my eye I saw King Collins exiting the back of the house, instantly heading in our direction at a fast clip, his blue hair shining under the sunlight. So, with one last warning glance at Sin, I quickly removed my goggles before the King stopped the action, apparently having been informed something was going on. Handing them over I stated, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I also felt the need
to jerk my head in Sin’s direction, crossing my arms as I stared hard into Leric’s silver eyes. “And no funny business.” I didn’t want him messing with Sin, either.

Leric chuckled quietly, adjusting the goggles before placing them on his forehead. “I’ll try to control myself.” He peered at Sin, tilting his head at the tree line. “I haven’t spoken with King Collins since our return, and I would
rather do this first.”

Sin grinned outright. “Understood.” He and Leric started their bikes, pulling their goggles down. “At the end of the loop, whatever you do, don’t let go of the handlebars, and make sure to hold your breath.”

My eyes widened as Leric nodded with that devilish grin, and I held up a quick stopping hand, knowing where this was going. But they both took off past me, dirt flying
everywhere behind them. I swiftly turned to watch them race as fast as they could across the lawn. King Collins was shouting as he came up behind me, trying to get Sin to stop. He finally came to a halt next to me, Roselle, and Reese. All four of us watched as the ground lifted in thin lines directly in front of each of the bikes, taking them in a curve into the air. Only a small patch of dirt
appeared before their tires, so it probably seemed to them as if they were riding on thin air as they rode in a large circle before descending to the ground. Both of them were shouting deeply in enjoyment, right before they shut up as they neared the ground…which swallowed them whole. They completely disappeared from sight.

“Oh…fuck,” King Collins muttered absently, his jaw having dropped as
he stared at the flat ground where they had once been. An extreme beat of silence passed as we all stared, waiting for them to reappear, before King Collins’s head snapped to me. His brown eyes were penetrating as he asking hurriedly, “Tell me Sin won’t leave him down there.”

I cleared my throat. “Probably not any longer than he can hold his breath.” I pointed vaguely at the tree line where they
had been headed. “I imagine they’ll come out somewhere within the trees.”

“
Probably
,
imagine
,” King Collins growled, his head turning to the thick trees where we wouldn’t be able to see them even if they did come up within them. “Fucking Sin. Goddamn criminal antics bullshit…” He continued grumbling as he turned on his heel and started marching back to the house and where the other Prodigies
were still watching the show from the pool.

After a moment Reese stated, staring after Leric and Sin with an expression of longing, “I might go for a ride when they get back.”

Roselle actually smacked his chest, pushing him back toward the pool. “Not a chance in hell.”

Reese peered down at her as he let her shove him backward, an ornery expression on his face. “I wouldn’t be gone too long.”

Instant. “No.” Another shove.

He grabbed her hips, grinning privately. “Oh, come on.”

Another shove. “No.”