Protector:A Scifi Alien Romance(10)

God. Her fingers tightened on the coin. Lore, turn around.

The gladiator crept forward, but at the last second, Lore turned and struck with his sword. Blood bloomed on the Man’u gladiator’s shoulder, and then he and Lore were locked in a vicious fight.

She watched as Lore forced the other gladiator back. There was no ease or charm on Lore’s face now—it was all hard-set lines of concentration.

The Man’u gladiator hit the side of the boat and teetered there. Lore lifted a boot, planted it in the man’s gut, and tipped him overboard. He landed in the water with a splash.

Yes. Madeline raised her voice to cheer with the crowd.

“Addictive, isn’t it?”

She glanced at Rory and gave a small nod. Beside her, Regan’s face was flushed with excitement, her gaze glued to Thorin, who was currently roaring fiercely, and using his axe to chop down the mast of a Man’u boat.

Madeline turned back, her belly alive with flutters that had nothing to do with anxiety or food disagreeing with her. She watched Lore climb up the mast on his boat with a powerful flex of arms and legs. He paused at the top, waving to the crowd, before he touched his belt. A moment later, he threw something into the air.

Fireworks rocketed upward, and burst high above the crowd in a shower of brilliant colors.

As Nero steered the boat, it came close to another of the opponent’s boats. She watched as Lore grabbed a rope tied to the mast. He pushed off and swung across the gap from one boat to the other. The crowd gasped, and so did Madeline.

He landed on the deck of the other boat in a crouch, and then he was up, attacking the nearest Man’u.

Madeline swallowed, excitement flooding her. Lore looked like a dashing pirate. She watched him fight, knocking one gladiator into the water and slashing another one across the chest. For all his charm and showiness, he was a hell of a fighter. It was easy to forget that his lean muscles were honed to precision by all of the fighting, and that he was seriously experienced with his sword.

The minutes raced by, boats cutting across the water, sword striking sword. Lore jerked back suddenly, a line of red appearing on his belly, and she winced, her mouth going dry. But the cut didn’t appear to slow him down. He’s done this a thousand times, Madeline.

Then the crowd erupted with shouts and cries, and she blinked. It was over already? She scanned the boats. All of the House of Man’u gladiators were down and defeated.

The House of Galen gladiators all swung across to one boat, and, standing together, raised their fists into the air. The cheering from their fans was deafening.

As the announcers declared the House of Galen the winners, the crowd made even more noise. Madeline smiled. And then she gave a small start. She couldn’t remember the last time she smiled, or even felt this much excitement coursing through her.

Right at this moment, she wasn’t thinking about herself or her problems.

Suddenly, she saw Lore grab another rope again. He pushed off from the boat, swinging directly toward the House of Galen seats.

Her heart knocked against her chest. He landed on the railing right in front of her.

Regan jumped up and pecked his cheek. “Nice fight.”

Rory leaned over and smacked a hand against his flank. “Good one, Lore.”

But Lore was staring at Madeline. With one hand still holding the rope, he used the other to yank off his helmet. His tawny hair was damp and his eyes were glittering.

He didn’t say a word, but she heard his silent dare louder than if he’d shouted it at her.

She told herself to stay seated, but instead, she stood and took a step toward him.

He used his free arm to sweep her against his chest. He smelled of heat, sweat and blood, and when he bent her over his arm, like some romance hero, excitement flared.

Around them, the crowd’s cheers echoed off the ancient stone of the arena. Then he leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers, and there was only Lore.

His tongue swept into her mouth, hot and hungry. Madeline felt like she’d been hit by an electric shock or a tsunami. She moaned and kissed him back.

But his mouth took complete and utter ownership of hers. He kissed with an untamed power that rocked her, like she was being consumed.

Heat flooded her. It was so hot and shocking, so much feeling coursing through her. She hadn’t realized her life had been so cold and lacking, until she felt the heat of Lore wrap around her.

He pulled back, and all she could do was look up at him, stunned. She felt the blood he’d smeared on her clothes and knew that should horrify her, but it didn’t.

He touched her cheek, that single touch searing, then he smiled and let her go. Before her brain cells even started firing again, he’d gripped the rope and swung back to his friends.