Karis Page 6

  His tiger grumbled in exasperation but didn’t say anything else. Stopping behind the two archers, he knew the exact moment the crowd realized Arya was competing with Ben. There were a lot of restless movements, a lot of angry murmurings. The men here were pissed, but others were trying to calm them down by saying all she was going to do was humiliate herself.

  He couldn’t wait to see the looks on their faces when she beat Ben. Her father said she was better than he was, but Karis wasn’t sure how much of that was truth and how much was fatherly pride. Luckily, Ben was one of the weaker archers in the tribe, so he was pretty sure she could beat him.

  She turned her head to say something to Kelly, and then her laughter floated back to where he was. Joyful and light, with no hint of nerves, it was a beautiful sound. Running his eyes over her again, he followed her hair to where the ends where teasing her waist, and then his gaze fell on her ass.

  Mouth instantly drying, he tried to tear his gaze away, but it was impossible. Her jeans were snug, and he could see its shape better than he ever imagined he would. Not that he ever had, but in this moment, he was wondering why the hell he hadn’t. His palms literally itched with the need to squeeze it tight while he pulled her against him. The urge was nearly overwhelming, and he tried to think of other things, but nothing was capable of drawing his attention away.

  “Is she competing?”

  Except that. It was like ice water was injected in his too hot veins as Mikhail’s voice washed over him. Fuck. Clearing his throat, he looked over to see her father standing next to him, and he had to wonder how long he’d been there. Hopefully not long enough to see where Karis had been looking.

  “She’s just competing against Ben. She’s not in the challenges. But if she’s as good as you say, you have nothing to worry about and she’ll beat him easily.”

  “You’ll see soon enough how good she is,” Mikhail said with a chuckle before going serious again. “I’m not worried about that. I’d have let her compete years ago if the rules allowed it. I’m only worried that it might make things more difficult, if not dangerous, for her.”

  “She’s aware that she’s not going to make any friends by doing this, Mikhail. She’s fine with it. She wants to show by example that things are changing, and that everyone needs to get used it. As for making it more dangerous, I won’t let anything happen to her. You have my word on that.”

  “Arya’s fierce in her own right, so don’t underestimate her ability to help protect herself. And I know you won’t, Karis.” Turning, Mikhail clapped a hand to his shoulder and gripped tightly. “I’ve always thought of you as family. Like a little brother, if not son, despite there being seventeen years between us. You’re a good man, and the best warrior here, and I’m proud of who you became. There’s no one else I’d trust more to guard my daughter’s back. But it’s a father’s prerogative to worry over his kids. I’ll always worry about her. You’ll see for yourself how it is when you have kids of your own.”

  Unease and guilt slithered around in his gut. If Mikhail only knew that moments before, he’d been fantasizing about holding Arya’s ass tightly, he’d be killing Karis instead of telling him he was proud of him.

  The match between Ben and Arya was announced, and he turned his attention forward, thankful he didn’t have to reply. Focusing on Ben, he watched as he aimed for the target and let his arrow fly. He just about hit the inner gold ring, his arrow coming to rest in the red. That was probably the best Ben had ever done, and Karis looked at Arya with concern.

  But she just pulled her bow up, aimed, and let it go. It hit dead center of the bullseye, and his eyebrows rose. Hell yes. The crowd around them went quiet, looking at Ben as he jerkily fitted his bow with a new arrow. This one was way off, in the blue. Arya took her turn, and hers crowded her other for space in the center of the bullseye.

  Each match was done best out of three, so Ben had one more chance to redeem himself. But this arrow landed in the black, and before Arya could even fit a new arrow, Ben was marching off the field, accompanied by the sounds of displeasure from the audience.

  “That wasn’t an accurate test,” Carter said, his voice carrying over the crowd. “Ben’s the worst of all of us.”

  Arya rolled her eyes. “Does that mean all of the bullseyes I hit don’t count? Doesn’t matter who I was up against, my aim was true and would have remained the same.”

  “It matters. There’s no way you’d win if you went up against our better archers.”

  “Then that’s what will happen,” Kian announced. “Arya is officially competing in the archery challenge. That is, if our head warrior and the lady herself agree?”

  She looked at Karis with a hopeful smile, and in that moment, he could deny her nothing. “It’s fine with me.”

  The crowd loudly let their displeasure be known, almost drowning out Arya’s agreement to compete. She ran up to him, smiling brightly. “Thank you so much, Karis.”

  “You’re good,” he said with a nod to the target. “I think you have a good shot at winning this.”

  “I think I do too,” she mock whispered. Smile dying, she searched his eyes. “I know you’re not thrilled about training me. I don’t know quite why that is. I don’t think it’s just because I’m a woman, but regardless, you don’t want to. I was sure you’d say no to me competing when Kian brought it up, and it means the world to me that you didn’t.”

  Before he had a chance to reply, she shocked the hell out of him by darting up and kissing his cheek quickly before going back to her spot on the field. Cheek burning with the imprint of her lips, he slanted a look at Mikhail, expecting to find him glaring at him. But Arya’s father was looking away, chatting with Kian, and Karis exhaled in relief.

  He settled into his spot, not about to leave her unprotected while the competition was going on. But his mind wasn’t on what he was seeing, instead whirring in circles. Things were getting complicated as fuck, and he felt like he was on a runaway train, not able to control his life any longer.

  And it was all because of the little blue-eyed minx getting ready to kick a bunch of archer’s asses while she showed them that a woman could do everything they could do.

  Chapter Six

  Arya walked home after the challenges, feeling like she was on cloud nine. She’d done it. She not only competed in the archery challenge, but she won. Despite knowing she was good, she hadn’t expected to win, and it was a feeling like no other.

  Slanting a look at Karis, she took in his easy walk and relaxed shoulders. The only person who came close to beating her today was him. And yet, it didn’t seem to bother him at all that she won. He was a man, and head warrior at that, yet he’d seemed genuinely happy for her when she came out on top.

  It’d been amazing, though the heckling from the crowd had gotten on her nerves by the end. But what they didn’t understand was none of it bothered her. She just used it to fuel her determination, her focus. She’d kept a tight rein on her gift, because she knew amping them up when they were as upset as they were would be dangerous. But she’d tuned into the laser focus she had, and that, added with her determination to prove to them that women could do what they did, had been in her favor.

  They walked closer up the road to their houses, and she glanced at Karis again, breath catching. The setting sun was casting a golden glow over him, making him look even more gorgeous than normal. How had she gotten lucky enough to get him as a mate? He was incredibly handsome, true, but his main appeal was in his personality, in who he was.

  He supported the changes Kian was making to the tribe. The equality for everyone, the throwing out of labels. Sure, he initially said no when she asked to be trained, but he more than made up for it by not hesitating to give his agreement for today’s competition.

  He was honest, not lying like the majority of War Cats did, and he worked hard for what he wanted, instead of walking over people to get it.

  Yeah. How in the world had she gotten so lucky? Now if only she could get h
im to acknowledge what was between them, everything would be golden.

  “Do you want to come in? I can make dinner. I don’t know how to make much, but I make pretty awesome spaghetti.”

  Hesitating in front of her porch, he debated. “I’d appreciate that. I have an errand to run, but I won’t be gone long. Keep the doors locked once you’re inside, okay? There are bound to be a lot of pissed-off tribe members walking around tonight.”

  She couldn’t help her grin, but whether it was over his acceptance or the reminder of her victory, she wasn’t sure. Maybe a little of both. “Okay. And don’t worry. My dad taught me how to throw knives, too. I’m almost as good a thrower as I am an archer.”

  Shaking his head, he snorted. “Of course he did. Why am I not surprised? I’ll be back soon.”

  She watched him walk away, her eyes dropping to his butt. His jeans weren’t tight, but they hugged it enough for her to see the muscles flexing with his powerful stride. Fanning herself, she turned and unlocked the door, going inside and quickly locking it back behind her.

  Setting her bow down, she went to the kitchen and started getting everything she needed out of the fridge and cabinets. She zoned out as she worked, her thoughts flitting back and forth between Karis and her victory today. Before she knew it, everything was ready. She was setting the table when there was a knock on her back door, and her heart skipped a beat. He was here.

  Peeking out the window to make sure it was him, she opened the door and held it wide. Nodding at her, he came inside, and when his arm brushed hers, she sucked in a breath at the sensations streaking through her. Wow. It felt like a livewire touched her skin, and tingles were racing over her body.

  “It smells great in here,” he said, looking at the table.

  “Thanks.” She gestured him to the table, and he surprised her by holding out a chair for her.

  So, he was all she’d described earlier, and a gentleman, to boot. She was really starting to feel like she won the mate lottery.

  They ate in silence, but she watched him more than she ate. He ate as he did everything, with focus and confidence, expertly twirling the noodles around on his fork. She’d never been able to do that without them sliding back off, so she cut hers before taking a bite. She’d debated the wisdom of spaghetti as a choice while she was cooking, but it was too late to choose something else. Besides, she hadn’t been exaggerating how little she knew how to cook.

  “That was really good,” he said once his plate was clear. “Seriously, maybe the best spaghetti I’ve ever had.”

  “Thanks. Do you want some pie? My mom dropped off a blueberry one yesterday.”

  He smiled, as she knew he would. “Caroline’s blueberry pie? I’ll never turn that down. Can I help you clean up?”

  “I’ll get the dishes later. You could grab the drinks and take them to the living room, though. I’ll be in with pie in a minute.”

  Nodding, he stood up with their glasses, and she got to work slicing the pie. No doubt, he would have been out of the door the moment he was done with dinner if it hadn’t been for her mama’s pie.

  He was sitting on the couch when she walked in, but he stood and took the plates from her when he saw her. They both sat, and he took a bite of the pie, humming low in his throat as he tasted it, and she squirmed a little. Lord Almighty, what that noise did to her.

  “You said you only knew how to make a few dishes. Caroline never taught you?”

  “She offered, many times, but I was never that interested. I wanted to be outside with Dad, watching him work or having him teach me things, far more than I wanted to learn any kind of homemaking stuff. And when I did try, I more often than not burned everything.”

  “Yeah, I can see that.”

  She looked at him indignantly. “What does that mean?”

  “Just that someone who’s as good at archery, and apparently knife throwing, as you are probably spent a lot more time practicing those, rather than cooking.”

  “Oh,” she said with a smile, remembering all the hours she practiced to get where she was now. “Yeah, I spent a lot of time practicing, and even more time begging my dad to teach me more. He was great about it.”

  “You’re lucky. A lot of parents here wouldn’t allow their daughters to learn the things your dad taught you.”

  “Trust me, I know exactly how lucky I am that I was born to them. I’ve always known that I had to follow the rules of the tribe, but they also told me that if there was anything I wanted to learn, they’d do their best to teach me.” She paused, brows twitching as she studied him. “What about your parents? I can’t remember anyone ever mentioning them, but you’re so open minded about things. Surely they taught you that?”

  Karis snorted. “Not likely. Well, that’s not entirely true. My mom was a lot like Caroline. She was gentle, and kind, and taught me I didn’t have to be like the males of the tribe. My dad… well, he was a lot like the old alpha and elders. In fact, he was an elder until he died.”

  She winced, knowing what that meant. An arrogant, asshole dick then. “I’m sorry. I wish there were more men in the tribe like my dad, but sadly there aren’t.”

  “It wasn’t too bad once I went into training. Mikhail became my mentor, and your dad made up for a lot. Gave me an example of what a real man should be. I really look up to him.”

  “He’s easy to look up to,” she replied, setting her plate down.

  “I should probably head home. Head warrior challenges are tomorrow, and I need to be well rested.”

  Disappointment flowed through her, but she tamped it down. At least he came for dinner. She’d thought he’d say no. “So you’re challenging again tomorrow?”

  “What? Think I’m getting too old?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

  “No! Not at all. I didn’t mean—you’re teasing me.”

  He smiled as he stood. “A little. Are you sure you don’t need help with the dishes?”

  Blinking up at him, she sought her voice as she stood. She couldn’t believe he’d just teased her. He hadn’t done that in like a year. Frowning a little, she suddenly wondered what had changed that he stopped joking around with her. All she could remember was one day they were kind of friends, and the next he rarely smiled at her, and left whenever she showed up.

  “Arya?”

  Shaking it off, she smiled at him, deciding she’d think about it later. “Sorry, I was thinking about something. No, no help needed. Thanks for keeping me company tonight. I love having my own place, but it gets quiet in here.”

  “The pleasure was mine. It was a great dinner, and your mom’s pie is the best.”

  He turned at the door, probably to tell her goodnight, at the same time the toe of her boot caught the edge of the rug. She stumbled and he quickly grabbed her arms as she fell into his chest. Shivers wracked her at the feel of his body against hers, and she swallowed hard as she looked into his gray eyes. They were lightening in color even as she watched. So beautiful.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Eyes leaving hers, he looked at her lips, and she couldn’t resist wetting them as she looked at his. He groaned, and she glanced back up, locking gazes with him. They were pale silver now, and she could feel her tiger near the surface, too, knew her eyes were swirling with her cat’s blue.

  “Tell me no,” he said, voice low and hoarse. He didn’t say anything else, but she knew what he meant.

  “I won’t. Not when I want you to.”

  Squeezing his eyes shut, he shook his head once, hard. “Fuck it. I’m not going to argue.”

  Opening them again, he leaned down at the same time she went up on her tiptoes, clutching his shoulders. They each hesitated, drawing the moment out, and then he gently touched his lips to hers. They were barely kissing, but lightning zinged through her body, heating her blood all the way to her toes.

  Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her snugly against him as he angled his head and increased the pressure. Moaning, she parted her lips sli
ghtly, needing more. He did the same, giving her open mouth kisses that made her grateful she was leaning on him. Her knees never would have supported her on her own.

  Winding her arms around his neck, she pressed in even tighter as he swept his tongue across her lips. Opening wider, she let him in, swooning inside as his tongue rubbed against hers. Her body was quickly turning into an inferno as they dueled their tongues together. And when her tiger purred deep inside her, his cat answered with a growl of his own that vibrated her chest as they kissed like their lives depended on it.

  His hands fell, and he cupped her butt, bringing her pelvis closer to the hardness tenting his jeans. Pulling back, he nipped at her bottom lip once, twice, then pressed his forehead to hers. They were breathing heavily, and all these new sensations he inspired in her were overwhelming her, making it hard to think. Or maybe it was just that his kiss made her stupid. She wouldn’t doubt it.

  Clearing his throat, Karis eased back, searching her eyes. “That probably shouldn’t have happened.”

  “I’m glad it did. That was amazing.”

  He smiled briefly but it faded as he stepped back. “It was. But we can’t let it happen again. I should get out of here. I’ll probably see you at some point tomorrow, but I have to be there early, so I can’t walk with you there. Don’t go alone, though.”

  Before she could reply, he turned and left the house, moving fast. Touching fingers to her still tingling lips, she exhaled shakily as she locked the door, turning to lean against it.

  She just had her first kiss, and what a kiss it’d been. She couldn’t imagine anything better, and she was glad she hadn’t kissed Trevor a couple of years ago when he wanted to. It felt incredibly right that Karis had given her her first.

  Sighing dreamily, she pushed away from the door and picked up their plates, so she could wash dishes. She’d always wondered how she’d feel when she found her true mate. Mostly, as much as she wanted one, she also dreaded it, because there were very few men in this tribe she’d want to be tied for life to. And then when her father told her of the changes Kian was going to make, she hadn’t wanted to find hers for years, good guy or not. She wanted to enjoy her newfound freedom and independence before settling down.