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With a start, Cortana realized his jeering only served the purpose of inciting her into action.
The man played dirty.
Chapter Ten
Hunger curled in his gut as Riaz smirked at Cortana, listening with only half an ear to Benny’s attempts at lessening the shame of his loss.
“I bet she’s far older than me, and it’s totally unfair,” Benny griped. “I bet our alpha could take her.”
“Nobody puts Baby in a corner, Benny,” Riaz quipped, entirely certain the rub would probe her into action once more.
Cortana’s deep laugh sounded, the richness of it banking against him like the finest chocolate. “Big ol’ alpha scared of a little vampire?”
He allowed the wild inside to come out and play.
Though Ava could put him on his butt once every so often, no one else in the den had proved to be a decent sparring companion—even though he coached them every time he brought them to submission. The chance to test his vigor against Cortana proved too enticing to resist.
Riaz had known the instant she’d come into the room, and he’d be lying if he said his wolf didn’t perk up and take notice. The animal had added a bit of panache to his movements, like a dog preening for its master.
A bark of laughter escaped him at the thought of his wolf going belly up for the woman, followed by a pang of desire when that image turned into her fingers carding through his fur.
“Ground rules?” The vampire asked reasonably.
As was typical, her brunette locks were done up in a tight braid, and now, he knew it for what it stood for: hands off. It dangled between the defined ridges of her shoulders, drawing attention to the toned muscle in her back that hinted to hours spent at the gym. A lithe waist rounded into the enticing curve of her hips and well-shaped legs beneath her matching yoga pants.
“No biting, no hairpulling, and definitely no groping.”
“And how about kicks below the belt?”
Riaz gave her a look. “I’d say off the table, but you seem rather giddy about the prospect. Care to enlighten me?”
A sound of exasperation. “Just get your tail over here.”
“As you command, Queen of Shadows,” he said with a mock bow.
By now, the audience had grown to more than a few onlookers. Wolves were social creatures by nature, and the anticipation of a good fight always drew a crowd. Plus, with him being alpha, his packmates loved to see him fight and display his prowess—especially against a new opponent.
Eyes of darkest brown held his as he and Cortana began to circle on the mats, neither attempting the first attack. Combat never ceased to get his blood pumping, inciting the wolf within.
He’d seen enough in her match with Benny to know where her strengths and weaknesses lay. But he wasn’t about to declare victory just yet. Riaz would enjoy the view.
From the sidelines, Gadriel’s cheery voice whispered, “Twenty bucks on alpha.”
“I’ll take that bet,” declared Ava, the traitorous she-wolf.
When he turned his head to chastise his lieutenants, Cortana fell right into his neatly laid trap. She sprung at him, intent on landing a superman punch to his jaw.
He’d already seen it coming and spiraled away from her, a taunting laugh barking out of him. The vampire was undeterred, following up with a kick aimed squarely at his solar plexus. Blocking it with his right arm, he twisted, sweeping a leg under her in a move that should’ve put her on her butt. But he’d miscalculated her speed, and she was leaping away before he made contact.
Twirling away and out of his reach, Cortana shot him a grin just before she used her speed to effectually disappear. While she had a relatively small space to play in, it didn’t stop her from landing a jab to his ribs that had him mockingly snap his teeth at her.
“Sneaky vampire,” he muttered.
Using his keen hearing to listen for her approach, the soft patter of her steps was his only warning before a whoosh of air signaled her proximity. Together they danced, Cortana with her speed and Riaz with his brute physicality, the two of them trading laughs while they attempted to better the other.
And then, Riaz decided their sparring flirtation had reached its logical conclusion: his victory. The little vampire had gotten cocky, thinking he hadn’t been anticipating her approach and wouldn’t be able to grab her. In the end, he proved her wrong.
As Cortana went by him once more, he caught her around the midsection, cinching his arms with enough strength to negate her momentum. Riaz relished her sudden gasp a second before he took her to the mats, shock making her pliant and submissive. By the time he’d pinned her, she was smirking beneath him.
