Shadow in the Mountain by KaLyn Cooper

Chapter 10

Ryker wantedto hang out in the hall just to make sure Blade didn’t take his anger out on Xena, but the bodyguard watched him walk all the way to the end and turn toward the foyer.

He waited just around the corner listening for any sounds of female distress. Although he couldn’t hear the words, she sounded angrier than Blade.

When her voice returned to her normal tone, he decided to go to bed.

Fuck it.

She kissed him first.

The second kiss was mutual, and he wasn’t going to apologize for it. If she needed to explain things to her boyfriend, lover, whatever the hell he was, then she had to explain. Not him.

He would, though, be on his guard around Blade, just in case the guy decided to jump him.

Stripping off his clothes on the way to the bed, all he could think about was Xena’s reaction when their lips met. She probably didn’t realize that she’d moaned and melted into him. Their first real kiss—and that’s the way he’d forever think of that kiss because the first was little more than a surprise peck—was hot and wet and left both of them wanting more.

As Ryker crawled between the softest sheets he’d ever slept on, the taste of Xena on his lips, he looked forward to sleeping in. But he couldn’t get comfortable. He stuffed a second pillow under his head and closed his eyes, releasing a deep breath slowly, trying to clear his mind of images of Xena.

He smiled at his first impression of her; somewhere between Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft and Sigourney Weaver ready to fight aliens. But the kick-ass woman looked closer to Princess Diana as she glided down the staircase in that gorgeous gown. Minutes ago, though, in yoga pants and a crop top, she could have been the girl next door.

He chuckled. She was next door, or at least would be soon.

He punched his pillow and doubled it over, casting aside the other one as he rolled to his side. A shadow passed the crack under his door followed by light footsteps. He confirmed it was Xena when the door to the room next to his opened and closed.

Should he go check on her?

No. He hadn’t heard any crying and she seemed to walk normally.

She’s fine.

But what if she isn’t?

He jumped out of the bed and padded naked to the wall they shared. Cupping his ear, he laid it against the cool concrete. He couldn’t hear a damn thing. Fucking thick walls.

Crawling back in bed, he’d almost convinced himself she wasn’t his problem, even if Blade had yelled at her.

But if that sonofabitch had touched her, hurt her in any way, Ryker would kill him.

Throwing off the blankets one more time, he grabbed the sweats he discarded moments ago and pulled them up enough to cover the important things. He slowly opened his door, checking to be sure the hallway was empty. She’d mentioned that her brothers slept in that area and the last thing Ryker wanted was to meet them while sneaking to her room.

In three long strides, he stood in front of her door and quietly knocked. “Xena?” He said just above a whisper.

When he got no answer, he knocked a little harder, called her name a little louder, then checked the hallway to see if he had awakened anyone else.

As he was about to try a third time, the door opened a crack and she peered around the door. He couldn’t see anything but her head.

“What’s the matter, Ryker?” she whispered.

He took a second to check her face for bruising. None. “Are you okay?” He tried to peek around the door to see if she was bleeding or wounded somewhere else.

She scooched forward, hugging the door. “I’m fine. Why do you ask? Are you sick?”

Her question threw him. “No. I’m fine. I was just concerned…Blade didn’t seem happy when…back in the library. Did he hurt you? Is that why you’re hiding behind the door?”

Xena rolled her eyes. “No. Blade did not hurt me. He never would. And I’m hiding behind the door because…” She glanced away.

Ryker hoped she wasn’t looking at Blade in her bed.

“I sleep naked, and I was already in bed when you knocked.” Xena looked embarrassed and a little pissed at the same time.

Ryker’s mind jumped off the deep end. Xena was inches away, completely naked. He’d held that luscious body as they moved slowly side to side while dancing. He’d touched the softest skin on her back. He’d kissed those sweet lips.

His hand was on the door before he realized what he was doing. She hadn’t invited him in. He would never use his strength and greater size to overpower any woman.

“Ryker, is there anything else?”

Fuck, yes. He could think of a dozen things he’d like to do, kiss, lick, nip, and suck. He couldn’t say a thing for fear the wrong words would come out.

“Okay, then. We’re good. Right?” She started to close the door inch by inch.

“Yeah.” The one word was all he could manage to say.

“Good night, then. I’ll see you sometime tomorrow morning.” With that, the door closed in his face.

Ryker didn’t remember walking back into his bedroom or taking the sweats off. Lying in the most comfortable bed he’d ever been in, with visions of a naked Xena a few yards and a damn thick wall away, sleep captured him quickly.

Bacon. Bread. The homey smells of breakfast awoke Ryker. Or maybe it was the single slice of sunlight in his eyes sneaking between the barely parted curtains. He rolled over to glance at his wrist only to discover that it was eight-thirty in the morning. Although he’d only gotten six and a half hours of sleep, It was very late in the day for him.

Deciding food was more important than a shower, he threw on a lightweight pair of cargo pants, a clean T-shirt, and a pair of sandals. Following the delicious scent, he found the kitchen and heard the banter in the dining room.

“Alexander the Great was the greatest conqueror,” a deep male voice claimed. “Thus the name.”

“No fucking way.” The second male voice was a little higher but no less demanding. “Genghis Khan controlled everything from Northeast China to the Caspian Sea. That’s almost the size of Africa.”

“You’re both full of shit. The Roman Empire captured and held more land than either of those two men. History has proved time and time again that you can capture land but if you can’t hold it, it’s as worthless as the ruler.” Xena’s voice was a friendly welcoming. He would have felt weird just showing up for breakfast, but since she was there, everything would be okay.

“We’re debating greatest conquerors, not nations. A single person capturing the most land,” the first man declared.

Ryker stepped into the dining room and automatically checked for other doors before turning his attention to the occupants. Escape route first, threat of danger second. A man who looked about his age with the same wary eyes Ryker saw in his own mirror, sat on one side of the table cutting into a stack of pancakes with the side of his fork. His long dark hair, pulled back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck, was the same color as his neatly trimmed beard. Dangerous, but no immediate threat.

Across the table was an extremely handsome man in his late twenties. His gold polo shirt matched his eyes, and Xena’s. His casual movements were refined in a way that screamed of wealth and privilege yet could be deadly if necessary. Again, dangerous but not an immediate threat. An empty plate sat in front of him as he leaned back in his chair sipping from a coffee mug.

Then there was Xena. Threat level high. He’d seen firsthand what she was capable of in a combat situation. He’d also tasted those pretty red lips that closed around a spoonful of fruit.

The moment he entered, her gaze met his. She smiled. “Ryker, I thought you were going to sleep in.”

“Me too. But my stomach had other ideas.” He took another step into the room.

Pointing to a small table in the corner, Xena said, “Coffee is over there. Zala will be back in a few minutes. She’ll make anything you want for breakfast. They’re used to making American food in our kitchen.

“Clint, Van, this is Ryker, my current mission. Please let him get caffeinated before you start the inquisition.” There was a friendly chastisement in her voice.

“Ryker, I’m Van. I can highly recommend the omelet.” The sandy-haired younger man smiled. He was so clean-cut he could have starred in a kids’ movie.

“You look like the kind of man who needs more calories.” Those knowing dark blue eyes finished assessing Ryker. Like recognizes like. He had SpecOps written all over his ripped body and in eyes that had seen far too much death and destruction. “Zala makes awesome French toast. If you’re headed out today, ask her for the Clint special. You can thank me for it later.”

“And what’s the Clint special?” Ryker sat down in the empty chair next to Xena and sipped the heavenly nectar called coffee. Ethiopians made some of the best in the world.

“Four eggs over easy on top of eight slices of French toast layered with bacon,” she explained before anyone else could. “Enough carbs and protein to keep you going for about twenty-four hours.”

“Somebody ought to make that into an MRE,” Van suggested referring to the military’s Meals Ready to Eat. “It would beat the hell out of any of the shit they offer.”

Holding Xena’s gaze, Ryker asked, “Will we be going for twenty-four hours today without food?”

“I doubt it. Depending on what we hear from our sources, we might do a few hours of recon.” She picked up her glass of pinkish juice and drank it all.

A local woman with gray hair hurried into the room and set the plate in front of Xena. A bowl of shaved meat soaking in juices sat atop thin spongy gray bread surrounded by dallops of sauces and condiments.

When she caught Ryker staring at her plate, Xena asked, “Have you ever had Ethiopian food? It’s some of the healthiest in the world.”

Before he could answer, the older woman was standing next to him, hands politely folded at her waist. He turned to look at her. “I was told we had a house guest, and it will be my pleasure to serve you breakfast. What may I prepare for you?”

Although Xena’s dish looked interesting, he opted for more carbs. “If you still have pancake mix left, that would be wonderful, but I don’t want you to go to any bother making more. Eggs and toast would be just fine, too. Bacon if you have any already cooked and left over.”

“How would you like your eggs? Cooked?” The lack of smile told him she wasn’t kidding.

“Cooked. Over hard please.”

“Four eggs, like my boys?” She smiled at the other two men.

“Yes. Thank you.” Ryker really was hungry.

“It won’t take long.” She was gone as quickly as she had appeared.

The three siblings exchanged a glance and grinned.

“Try this.” Xena ripped off a piece of the bread, spooned some of the meat into the middle, and then dabbed some white stuff on it before rolling it up like a burrito.

Ryker bit into heaven.

“Injera is a superfood.” She tore off another piece of the porous pancake-like bread. “It’s made from teff, an ancient grain first cultivated here in Ethiopia. It’s very high in protein, calcium, and iron and is naturally gluten-free.” She pointed to the meat. “Tibs is small pieces of beef sautéed in butter with onions and garlic, hot pepper, and rosemary. It can be a bit spicy because of the berbere spice they use. It’s made from chili peppers, so I tone it down with sour cream.”

“This is absolutely delicious,” Ryker said as soon as he swallowed. He wanted to ask for more but decided if he was going to be there for breakfast another day, he would definitely be having that.

“So, Ryker, why are you here in Ethiopia?” Van asked after he set his cup of coffee down on the table.

Ryker glanced at Xena, hoping she would tell them whatever she could. Instead, she continued to chew.

“We don’t keep secrets from each other. Classified has no meaning in this family.” Clint shoved his empty plate aside and leaned in.

Okay. Ryker would just go with it. He was dependent on this family to help him rescue his teammates. “My SEAL squad was ambushed three months ago near Dembi. Before our backup team could get there, the rebels captured the other six. My foster brother and I were left for dead and med-evaced out by our backup team when they arrived.”

“Fuck.”

“Oh, Jesus.”

“It gets worse,” Xena chimed in. “The rebels ran into a squad of Eritreans who took two of the SEALs. Stryker located them right away and he’ll be helping Ajax, Ryker’s brother, rescue them.”

“Thank Christ,” Van said under his breath. His gaze lifted to Ryker. “He’s a good man. One of the best in that part of the country.”

Ryker breathed a sigh of relief. At least Ajax would have someone at his side. “Good to know.”

“Where are the other four?” Clint’s dark blue eyes bored into Xena.

“We don’t know.” She reached over and squeezed Ryker’s forearm. “We’re hoping for good news when everyone reports in at noon.”

“Then you’re in luck, princess.” A man with a week-old salt-and-pepper beard and long graying hair past his shoulders strode into the room.

As he bent to kiss Xena on top of her head, Ryker’s stomach almost turned at the smell. Bad alcohol, old sweat, campfire smoke, jet exhaust, and stale cigar wafted his direction. Sure, he himself had smelled worse, especially after living in the jungle for a few weeks, so Ryker decided to cut the older man a break.

Xena jumped up from the chair and hugged the man. “Daddy.”

Ryker gaped. As he ran his gaze the length of her father, taking in the greasy hair, dirty mountain camouflage, and mud-caked boots, he had a hard time believing that this man was married to the elegant Lynette Riggs.

Sometimes opposites attract. Case in point walked around the table and sat next to his son.