Jordan (16 page)

Anyone who possessed the Grail had the ultimate defense weapon, an army of immortals, and held the upper hand in the coming
battle between the Tribes and Earth. Stealing back the Grail from the Tribes was imperative. As far as she was concerned,
the Wind Key was of lesser importance, since Jordan wasn’t even certain if he required all the keys to unite the Staff with
the Grail.

She glanced out the porthole. The hurricanes remained at full force. Perhaps if the hurricanes didn’t abate, she could convince
Jordan to return for the Wind Key on Tempest later.

She toggled the intercom. “Jordan, where are you?”

“Engineering.”

That did it. He’d gone to the one place in the
Draco
she wanted to avoid. Damn him.

But she was done hiding her sensual side. Done pretending she didn’t have a flirtatious cell in her body. She had a plan,
and Jordan wasn’t going to stop her.

No man deserves punishment for his thoughts.

—K
ING
A
RTHUR
P
ENDRAGON

W
hy are you avoiding me?” Vivianne asked as she walked into engineering. In the tight quarters, the scent of her soap wafted
to Jordan. Turning over on the hard deck, he looked at her. And his hormones went ballistic. Ponytail bouncing, her shirt
collar open at the V of her neck, she looked more like a college student than a corporate CEO—until he saw her turbulent green
eyes.

He’d removed his shirt and wadded it up under his head. Clearly, she hadn’t expected him to be shirtless. The pulse in her
neck kicked up a notch before she forced her eyes to his face.

He didn’t bother to deny her accusation. Not when he’d spent the night tossing on the hard floor while he tried not to think
about her asleep in their cabin, her chestnut hair fanning the pillow, her skin smooth and silky.

But he’d been determined not to go to her. He’d spent too many centuries on his quest to unite the Grail and the Staff. Now
that he was closing in, the last thing he needed were carnal distractions. Or worse, emotional ones that affected his judgment.

He told himself that if it had been Knox, not Vivianne, slowing them down during that run back to the
Draco,
he would have waited for her, too. But would he have been as frantic?

It was hard to think straight with all his blood going south. Jordan turned onto his side and faced her. “The Staff’s up to
mischief again. Or haven’t you noticed?”

“I noticed.”

“I wish we knew what triggered it.”

She flushed. “I have an idea.”

“Really?” He rolled onto his back, again, lacing his fingers behind his head.

“Instead of that Staff ruling us, it’s time we take control of the situation.”

Leave it to Vivianne to see lust as a control issue. He supposed yielding to desire was scary for her—especially with her
background. She’d lost her parents young and grown up in a system that left many people unable to cope. She’d replaced the
family she’d lost with an empire that spanned the globe. However, now she was once again alone. In a world she didn’t understand.
And Vivianne would abhor being at the mercy of anyone… or anything.

The Ancient Staff’s power over her had to be undermining her independent spirit. He wasn’t thrilled, either. Sure, the sex
was great, but so was the guilt. Guilt that he’d enjoyed what she hadn’t freely offered. Guilt that he knew things about her
that she hadn’t shared. Guilt that the Staff would throw them together again and again when he had nothing of himself to give
Vivianne, not even hope.

His eyes found and held hers. “And how do we take control?”

“We have sex.”

They locked gazes, and the heat that sparked between them could have fused metal. Still, he shook his head. “I don’t get it.
You want to have sex so that we don’t have sex?”

“I want to have sex—so we can choose the time and place. I want to take away the Staff’s hold over us.”

So if she couldn’t have total independence, she was angling for a measure of control. While he appreciated her suggestion—and
how could he not when it was to his benefit?—he knew there would be consequences if he followed through on her idea.

At first her memories had come to him only after their sexual encounters. But the last one had come out of the blue. He feared
that the physical intimacies between them were somehow triggering some kind of mental bond to develop.

All their touching had just made it more difficult to put her out of his mind. Being with her was like playing with fire.
And he couldn’t afford to get burned.

Jordan chose his words with care. “There’s no guarantee that anything we do will alter the Staff’s effect on us. I could make
love to you right now for hours and it still might kick in five minutes after we’re done.”

Hands fisted on her hips, she lifted her chin. “I’m willing to test my theory. Perhaps if we satisfy ourselves, that Staff
won’t be antagonizing us during a crisis.”

The idea of actually taking his time to kiss her, to explore her tenderly and caress her skin, to stroke her where she was
soft—it held undeniable appeal.

A dangerous appeal.

He could stay detached. After all, he’d had centuries to practice cutting off his emotions, but he suspected she would be
more vulnerable. And he had too much respect for her to play her.

He made his voice flat, hard, cold. “I can’t bond emotionally with you.”

“Can’t? Or won’t?” Vivianne sat on the floor beside him and crossed her legs, curiosity in her eyes.

“As long as the Grail’s out there, I’ll search for it. That doesn’t leave me extra time for… you.”

“And?” she prodded.

He owed her the truth. “I’ve already told you that when the Holy Grail and the Ancient Staff unite, the Tribes will fall.
According to the ancient myths, each is half of a whole. When they join, they will form something new.”

“But?” she prodded him again.

“When I connect the Staff and the Grail, the Staff and I lose connection. I will die.”

Horror and fear shadowed her eyes. “But that’s just a legend.”

“It’s my destiny.”

Her eyes softened. “Let me see if I have this right. You don’t have time for me while you complete your mission. And after
you finish, you’ll be dead?”

He nodded. “So if you’re looking for someone to get you through the night, I’m your man. But… I won’t be there for you in
the end.”

Her eyes were filled with shadows. “Thank you for being honest.”

“Yeah, well, you have my permission to be impressed.”

Sadness filled her eyes. “How do you deal with such a hopeless destiny?”

“Alcohol, drugs, and wild women.” He didn’t want her pity.

“Yeah, you’re such a party animal.” She gazed at him, speculation in her eyes. “All right, I consider myself warned. And you
needn’t worry, I’m not going to fall in love with you.” She held out her hand. “So are you coming back to the cabin with me
or not?”

He grinned and took her hand. “That was an invitation.”

“It was.”

He placed his free hand over his heart. “I think I’m developing a sudden coronary.”

She winked. “I hear those pass very quickly.”

He escorted her down the corridor, and for once fate was on his side. They didn’t bump into anyone. No one called him from
the bridge. Nothing was attacking the
Draco,
and nothing was breaking down.

Yet he was set on a course that could only end badly. In his death. He’d warned her. She was an adult. His conscience was
clear.

“What are you thinking?” she asked as they passed the galley.

“About which article of your clothing I’m going to remove first.”

“Oh.”

“I’m going to take my time.”

“But—”

They reached the cabin, and the moment they were inside, he kicked the door shut behind them. She turned around and faced
him, her eyes seductive.

He twisted the lock because he wanted her to hear the finality of its click. “For the next few hours, you’re mine.”

“
Hours?
” she purred.

He stood close enough to breathe in her scent, without touching one luscious inch of her skin. “We want to be thorough.”

She grinned. “Yes. We do.” She placed her hands onto his shoulders, pulled him close, tilting up her face. “Kiss me.”

Ever so slowly, he lowered his head, until their lips were a mere inch apart. She raised onto her tiptoes, combed her fingers
into his hair, and tugged his head until their lips met.

Her lips softened, and her mouth parted with a whisper soft promise of a cascading heat. Heat that put him on a slow burn.

While he yearned to make the sex good for her, to make up for the pain of what was coming, he reined in his own feelings,
locked them down tight.

She began to remove her shirt. He closed his hand over hers. “Allow me the pleasure.” His tone was low and husky. “We’ve already
done fast and furious.”

“Twice.”

He traced the tip of his finger from her temple down her cheekbone to the excited pulse at her neck. “So this time, I was
thinking slow and easy was the way to go.”

Vivianne lifted her eyebrow. “I’m not the patient type.”

“I can be,” he teased, hoping she could read the promise in his tone as he swept the hair off her neck, slowly leaned in to
nip her earlobe, her neck, her collarbone. “You smell like nectar of the gods.” He nuzzled her shirt aside. “You’re an amazing
woman.”

“You’re not just saying that to win brownie points with your boss?” she teased.

“You deserve to be cherished.”

“Fine. But you might want to start cherishing a little more of me before I expire from anticipation.” She cocked her hip at
a saucy angle. “Surely you aren’t waiting for inspiration?”

“Inspiration’s for neophytes.” He’d spent most of last night dreaming of unbuttoning her creamy blouse. But not even his unconscious
could have dreamed up this new side of her. A flirty attitude he hadn’t seen before.

First, he slid the jacket from her shoulders and noted the elegant lines of her neck, her dancer’s posture, and the green
fire in her stunning eyes. “By the Goddess, you are one gorgeous woman.”

She groaned. Leaning into him, she licked his neck and traced a sensuous path to his ear that made the blood roar through
his veins. “You’re moving slower than a glacier, and compliments would work better if we could lose the clothes.”

“Fine.” He tossed her jacket unto a chair. Staring into her eyes, he unbuttoned the top button of her blouse and let his fingertips
feather her flesh at the V of her neck. When the soft material parted, he kissed the exposed morsel before finally moving
on to the next button. Then the next. Each time he took the opportunity to tease, to taunt, until she trembled with anticipation.

And when he finally finished with all the buttons, he didn’t part the blouse. Instead he merely ran a fingertip from her throat
to her bra, over her ribs and taut stomach.

She quivered under his touch, and her eyes blazed. “Are you going to spend all those hours you promised me just taking off
my clothes?”

“Not even I can wait that long,” he teased. Then he slid his hands under her blouse and placed his palms on her bare hips.
“But I like making you wait for the pleasure I will give you.”

She sucked in a breath. Her nipples went hard. She tossed her head. “I didn’t know you were into games.”

“I’m into what turns you on.”

“Really?”

“Really. And you most definitely like my game plan.” Even if she didn’t want to admit it.

“You have a plan? That’s a first.”

He slid his hand up her rib cage to cup her breasts. “My plan’s very detailed. I had all of last night to think it up.” Watching
her eyes, he flicked his fingers over the lace at her nipples.

Her irises dilated.

“You liked that.”

“I’d like even more.”

He flicked her breasts again, then smoothed his hands up to her blouse and peeled the silk over her shoulders. Then, ever
so slowly, he slid the material down her arms.

He relegated the blouse to the chair. “Hmm. What next?”

“You’re giving
me
the choice?”

“I can live dangerously.”

She shot him a wicked smile. “Then by all means, remove my bra.”

“If you insist.” He hadn’t enjoyed himself like this in a very long time. Her banter alone could turn him on. And while he
was playing it cool, inside he was heating. He was so ready to have her right now, but he was willing to undergo a little
discomfort to achieve maximum pleasure. And tough CEO lady was enjoying the role reversal of having nothing to do… but to
think of when and where and how he would touch her next.

He would not disappoint.

Unsnapping her bra, he bared her breasts to his hungry gaze. The pink buds were pointy and hard. Even her areolas had goose
bumps. But when he leaned down and kissed first one breast and then the other and she sucked in her breath, he redoubled his
determination to hold out for as long as he could stand his raging hard-on. Because opportunities and women like Vi came only
once in a thousand years.