The Falcon Prince (17 page)

Ria still couldn’t believe she was letting her do all this. Never once had Carly wanted to do girly things like makeup. Maybe she was mellowing. Must be from all the times they watched
Beaches
and
Steel Magnolias
.

“Can I look?”

“Not yet.”

Smoky eye shadow, dark brown eyeliner, and then mascara. And the final stroke from the artist’s brush, deep red lipstick. Ria stepped back. “Open your eyes.”

Carly did as she asked.

Ria’s eyes widened. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected but holy cat shit, it wasn’t quite this.

“What?” Carly asked. She turned in her chair until she faced the mirror again. She stared at her reflection in the mirror above the dresser. “Is that me? Really me?”

“Oh, yeah.” Ria nibbled her bottom lip. “Do you like it?”

“Like it? Do you need to even ask? Crap, why didn’t I let you do this years ago?”

“Because you grew up surrounded by brothers who tried to make you think being a girl was silly, and that women who look like you do now couldn’t possibly have a brain.”

“You’re absolutely right. I just never realized how wrong they were.”

Ria handed her the glass of wine.

“Isn’t this yours?”

“Drink it. I’m going to the bathroom to change and then we’ll be ready. I can’t drink and drive.”

“Oh, yeah. I feel like I’m doing all the taking. What are you getting out of all this?”

Ria chuckled. “Don’t you know? Friends enjoy giving. Besides, you’re always doing things for me. I’m not keeping score.”

“Then get changed. I’m ready to party.”

Ria grabbed the bag with her new clothes and hurried to the bathroom to change. She only hoped Carly was ready for what Ria had planned.

“I
feel very mellow,” Carly said. “I shouldn’t have drunk so much wine.” She snorted, then quickly covered her mouth. “Get it? I might get drunk if I drunk too much wine.” She frowned. “No, that isn’t right. Odd, it was funnier when it was still in my head.”

Oh, great, she’d gotten Carly loopy. Deep breath. All was not lost. The first drink or so always made Carly tipsy, but it never lasted for some strange reason. She said it was because her grandfather had been a bootlegger, and a little alcohol ran through her veins.

Ria took the glass of wine away from her. “Just remember, you look hot.” Carly didn’t say anything. Was she losing her confidence? “Say it.”

“What?”

“That you look hot.”

Carly eyed her. “You look hot.”

Ria shook her head. “Not me. You. Say, ‘I look hot.’”

“I look hot.”

“With more conviction.”

Carly stood tall, squared her shoulders, and raised her chin. “I look hot!”

“That’s better.”

A car door slammed.

“Our ride’s here,” Ria said.

“Ride?”

“Don’t hate me.”

“Ria! What did you do?” Carly looked around the room as if she would turn and run, but Ria grabbed her arm.

“Neil is your date. You can do this. You look hot. We’re just going out to dinner. No biggie. I’ll be there with you.” She squeezed her hand for reassurance.

“Ria,” she whimpered.

“Repeat it: I am hot,” Ria frantically whispered.

“I am hot, I am hot, I am hot.”

“Okay, now paste a smile on your face and I’ll open the door and let them in.”

“I can’t do this,” she whispered.

“Look me in the eyes.” When she did, Ria took Carly by the shoulders. “You can do this.”

She nodded, took a deep breath, and repeated, “I can do this.”

Ria breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to open the door. “Kristor, Neil, please, come in.”

Ria held her breath, looking from Carly, then back to Neil.

“Carly?” Neil asked.

Carly’s shoulders slumped. “You got roped into the blind date, too, I see. Hey, it’s okay if you want to bail.”

He shook his head. “Nope, I knew exactly who I was going out with tonight. You just look different. I’ve always thought you were beautiful, but now you’re like—wow.”

Ria grinned. She had a feeling that was the most Neil had ever said to Carly, or any girl for that matter, but it was exactly what Carly needed to hear.

She glanced Kristor’s way. He studied her. “Are we ready to leave?” she asked with false cheerfulness.

They took Neil’s car to the restaurant so that left Ria and Kristor in the back. Her and Kristor’s first real date, and Ria realized she was a little nervous. The last time she’d been with Kristor, he’d given her an ultimatum—and her answer was still no, she wouldn’t leave with him.

Then why did you want to make sure Carly would be taken care of if you weren’t planning on leaving?
Shintara asked.

That is so not the reason. Neil likes Carly and she likes him. Since it would’ve taken them forever to get together, I nudged the relationship a little.

Yeah, right.

Shush!

The only reason she had gotten them together was because they liked each other, and that was the only reason. Shintara was only trying to get her to shift into a hawk. Ria wasn’t ready.

Don’t forget your promise,
Shintara said.

I only promised I would try to overcome my fear.
Her hands began to sweat at the thought of shifting again.

Kristor reached across the seat and squeezed her hand. “Tonight we won’t think about anything except enjoying each other’s company.”

Had he read her mind? Heard her conversation with Shintara? No, of course, he hadn’t.

He lightly rubbed his thumb over the palm of her hand. Her body tingled and she found herself wanting more. The way he looked at her, she kind of thought he might, too. It would be difficult for her when he left. No man had ever made her feel the way Kristor did.

They arrived at the restaurant, and after they went inside, and the waitress seated them, Neil talked the girls into trying an Italian margarita. Kristor chose his usual orange soda, even when the waiter gave him a funny look. Neil had iced sweet tea since he was driving.

“The restaurant is beautiful. I love the Tuscan look,” Carly shyly spoke up.

“Have you ever been to Italy?” Neil asked.

She shook her head. “I’ve never left Texas.”

“You’re a travel agent. I figured you’d traveled all over the place before I moved back.”

“She’d love to, but we’ve never had the time to go,” Ria said. “At least, not at the same time. I’ve been busy starting my business. Then when I could go, she’s had something to do.”

“But it never stopped us from dreaming,” Carly said.

“Maybe we can manage a trip sometime,” Neil suggested. “My hours are a little more flexible, and I would love the chance to travel. I bet you know a lot of places that would be great to visit.”

“Oh, uh, I…” Carly blushed as she looked around the table at everyone.

“Sorry,” Neil quickly spoke up. “I guess I’m moving a little too fast.”

Carly shook her head. “No, it’s just that…” Her posture relaxed and she smiled. “I think I might like that.”

She let out a breath as if it had taken a lot for her to admit that much. This was working out a lot better than Ria could have hoped.

They ate dinner, then saw a new show that was out. A romance with a happily-ever-after kind of ending that was the cherry on top of their evening, and left Ria feeling warm. Neil dropped Kristor off at her parents’ home, then drove Ria to her house.

“I’ll get my things tomorrow,” Carly told Ria.

Ria kept a straight face. She knew Carly didn’t want to end her evening with Neil quite so soon. She nodded and shut the car door. They waited until she had her front door open before driving off.

Ria tossed her keys on the table by the door, then stepped back outside to enjoy the lazy summer breeze that whispered through the pines. She felt good that the evening had gone so well. This was what Carly had needed.

As she leaned against the porch post a hawk landed on the railing. She didn’t move, didn’t breathe, then realized who the hawk was.

“Hello,” she said softly.

Before she could do much more than that, a fog rolled in, wrapping around her. She heard his groan. Before the fog could even clear, Kristor picked her up in his arms and carried her inside.

“I’ve wanted to pull you close to me all evening, but I understand why you needed to take care of your friend, so she would not be so alone when you leave her.”

When she wiggled, he set her on her feet. “That is not why I was doing it. I did it because Neil likes her. She likes him, too, and they were taking forever, and feeling miserable because of it.”

He stood tall, and very naked. Her gaze couldn’t help but drop lower. Her mouth went dry as she remembered how it felt when he sank inside her moist heat.

“Even now you want me.”

Her gaze jerked up. “Just because I want you doesn’t mean I want to travel to your planet.”

Her eyes drifted downward again. She shook her head in an attempt to clear it of her naughty thoughts, and what she’d like to be doing right now.

“Wait here,” she said and hurried to the bathroom. She grabbed the largest towel she had and marched back into the living room, shoving it toward him. “Put this around you.”

“You do not like my naked form?” he asked, but took the towel and knotted it at his waist.

“It’s hard—”

“You make me that way.” He took a step closer.

Ria quickly backed up. “That’s not what I was talking about. It’s hard…I mean, difficult to talk to a naked man.”

Especially when she already wanted to jump his bones. He certainly didn’t make her life easy, but then, she didn’t think that was his intention.

“Then what did you want to speak about?” he asked.

“I won’t be going back with you, and you can’t take me back by force.”

“Yes, I can. My strength is superior. Remember, I am a warrior. You don’t even have any muscles. Your puny strength is no match for me.”

“I have plenty of muscles, thank you very much!”

“Not as many as I do.”

That was easy to see when she was looking at such a broad chest and all those sexy muscles. She quickly cleared her mind and squared her shoulders. Not that she really thought he would be intimidated, but she wanted him to see she wasn’t backing down. Not one little inch.

“I won’t be leaving with you, and I know you won’t force me. It’s just not in you.” She crossed her arms in front of her and smiled smugly.

His forehead wrinkled when his eyebrows drew together. “I am a warrior.”

“So you’ve pointed out more than once. But you would never force a woman to do something against her will.”

His lips clamped together, but just as quickly, he relaxed and sauntered toward her. For a moment, she couldn’t think as her nipples strained against her bra.

She quickly took a step back, holding up her hand in front of her. “No, I won’t let you seduce me into leaving with you, either.”

“You’re very obstinate.” He strode to the front porch.

Ria waited, but when he didn’t return, she walked to the door and looked out. The fog was back. She waited for it to clear. When it did, her towel was on the front porch. She went outside and picked it up.

Her body ached to feel his touch, to feel him buried deep inside her. But she knew the other side of her bed would be cold tonight.

And so would she.

You’re the obstinate one,
Labrinon told Kristor.
Throw the woman over your shoulder and force her to go with you. Be done with this once and for all. I grow weary of Earth and stubborn Earth women.

You know I can’t. I swore an oath to my mother.

She will forgive you.

Have you forgotten the spell she cast on me when I refused to dance with the Princess Quara? It made me impotent for many days…and nights.

A mere inconvenience.

Easy for you to say,
Kristor grumbled.

You’ll have to continue seducing her. It may take longer than I had thought. You’re losing your touch. A few years ago, you could have had her panting to do your bidding.

I am not old. Ria is only very stubborn. I like that about her.

That’s where you are similar—unfortunately.

I will convince her to leave with me.

Some men lose their minds when separated from their lifemates. What will you do if she continues to refuse?

Kristor didn’t voice his thoughts. He’d already begun to think about an alternative plan.

You can’t remain on Earth and give up everything that you care about. You are a warrior! A warrior without a war. That will destroy you just as fast.

Then it would seem I am doomed either way.

“What are you thinking?” Neil asked.

Carly still couldn’t believe that Neil had wanted to go out with her. Maybe it was because she’d had a secret crush on him for so long.

“I’m glad Ria set this up,” she admitted.

“Me, too.”

She nibbled her bottom lip. “I’m worried about her. She told me Kristor wants her to leave with him. She knows nothing about the man. I think their relationship is moving way too fast.”

“Heath is checking him out. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. Ria’s a big girl, and the guy seems nice enough.”

That bothered her, too. Being around Kristor had changed things. She found him likable, and his size wasn’t quite as intimidating as it had been in the beginning.

He also seemed to care a lot about Ria. Maybe she had been too quick to jump to conclusions. Not that what she’d done mattered. It wasn’t like anyone was swooping down on him with arrest warrants.

“You’re right,” she told him.

“I’ll walk you to your door.” He opened his car door and walked around to her side.

Carly’s stomach twisted in knots. What if he wanted to come inside? Or more? She had never had much luck in the sex department, mostly because she was so scared and embarrassed.

She looked up at the stairs, and suddenly there was a hangman’s noose at the top. Each step she took brought her closer to the death of this relationship.

Then she was standing outside her door. She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I had a good time tonight.” When Neil smiled, her heart thudded inside her chest.

“I did too, sexy lady.”

He scraped the back of his hand over her cheek, then leaned in close. His mouth covered hers in a gentle, non-threatening kiss. When he moved back, she sighed.

“I’d like to take you out again. Just me and you,” he said.

“I’d like that.”

“Friday?”

She nodded.

He grinned. “Friday, then.” He turned and went down the stairs.

She touched her lips, feeling the warmth that still lingered. She was smiling when she went inside and closed the door. Butterflies tickled her stomach. Tomorrow she would send Ria a box of chocolate. Life was sweet.