Warrior (Relentless #4)(100)

“Sara –”

Panic flared in her eyes. “No way! Forget it! We can make a run for it.”

“There are too many of them. As soon as I get off you, they’ll attack you.”

Her head moved from side to side. “I don’t care. I am not taking off my clothes.”

I sighed heavily. So much for her warming up to me; I’d be lucky if she looked at me for a week after this.

“I’m sorry but this is no time for modesty. It’s just your shirt, and I’ll cover you.”

She bit her lip and looked away from me, reaching for her shirt. I wanted to say something to ease her discomfort, but I knew she wouldn’t want to hear it.

“Stand back, boys. Time for the girls to show you how it’s done,” a girl yelled. “Let her rip, Liv.”

A hard spray of icy water hit my back and moved over us, making Sara sputter and press her face into my chest. It took me a second to realize someone had turned the fire hose on us.

There was no holding back the laughter this time. Christ, life with Sara would never be dull.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” Sara muttered, pushing at me.

I grinned at her. “Immensely.”

Reluctantly, I moved off her and stood. I reached down and lifted her to her feet.

The hall was a disaster. Every surface was covered in karks or kark dung, and there was half an inch of water on the floor.

I looked at the blonde girl holding the fire hose. Jordan smirked and turned the powerful spray on us again before attacking the few karks left in the air.

“Hey!” Sara yelled.

Jordan’s grin was anything but apologetic. “Sorry, had to make sure I didn’t miss any of it. Hey, it worked, didn’t it?”

“I think that’s enough, Jordan,” Tristan said as he and the other warriors returned to the hall and looked around at the mess.

He looked at Sara and me. “Are you two okay?”

We nodded, and he turned to Sahir. “Sahir, what could have caused this?”

I went to the hoodie and yanked it out from under a pile of unconscious karks. “Something on her clothes attracted them. Look at this.”

“Have that garment examined. I want to know exactly what happened here,” Tristan ordered angrily.

I had a pretty damn good idea what had happened, but I didn’t want to voice my suspicions until I knew for sure.

Tristan called for someone to gather up the karks and start cleaning up. He came over to us, his eyes full of concern for Sara.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked her.

She rubbed her arms. “I’m fine.”

Jordan walked up to us, grinning mischievously. “Sara, you look like you just won a wet T-shirt contest.”

“What?” Sara said in a choked voice.

I looked sideways at her to see her tugging on the wet fabric of her yellow T-shirt that was molded to her breasts and tight stomach like a second skin. My breath caught and heat flared in my belly. I had never wanted to touch a woman as much as I did in that moment.

I caught movement out of the corner of my eye, and I looked up to see half the males in the room staring at Sara.

A fierce surge of possessiveness filled me. My Mori growled, and I almost echoed it, as I stepped in front of Sara to shield her from the others’ eyes.

The other warriors wisely averted their gaze when I glared at them. The only one who didn’t turn away was Jordan, who appeared to be having the time of her life.

Sara moved to stand beside me again. Her T-shirt no longer clung to her, and she had her arms folded across her chest.

I started to ask her if she was okay, but Tristan spoke first.

“Nikolas, we need to talk when you have a minute.”

I didn’t need to ask what he wanted to discuss. I hadn’t exactly been subtle when I’d stared everyone down. But I wasn’t going to apologize for protecting Sara’s modesty.

“If you don’t need me, I’d like to get cleaned up,” Sara said wearily.

“Take the rest of the day off,” Tristan told her. “Do you need to see a healer?”

“No, I just need a long shower.”

He smiled warmly at her. “Go on then. You too, Jordan and Olivia. I think you’ve earned an afternoon off.”

Sara mumbled a “thank you” to me then practically ran up the stairs to the north wing. I waited until she was out of sight before I faced Tristan.

“You wanted to talk?”

He nodded then grimaced. “Why don’t we both get cleaned up and meet at my place in thirty minutes?”

“Make that an hour.” I held up Sara’s destroyed hoodie. “I want to get this to the lab so they can start running tests.”

“Good idea. I’ll walk with you.”

He cut to the chase as soon as we were out of earshot of the hall. “You need to rein in your emotions.”

“I’m in control.”

“You were territorial back there, and everyone saw it. If they don’t know about the bond after that, they will soon if you keep it up. Do you want her to hear about it from someone else?”

God, no. That was the last thing I wanted.

“Did I upset her?”

“I think she was embarrassed, but not by you. I’m more concerned about what others might say to her.”