Furious by Susan A. Bliler Page B

own. 
    She held her breath as she waited to see if he would emerge from the darkness of his room, luckily he did not.  Looking forward again, she leaned further over the balcony getting as low as she could.  She lightly whistled again, and then listened for the dogs’ approach.  Silence. 
    She whistled again slightly louder, but her low whistle turned into a loud gasp as Draken’s voice cut into her concentration, “Will you please stop doing that!” 
    She pushed herself back from the rail and was thankful that the darkness of the night prevented Draken from seeing the flush that stained her cheeks.  His eyes were barely opened as he stood across from her on his balcony wearing only a pair of thin night pants. 
    As he rubbed his eyes and yawned, Lucia turned her head to the side, but her eyes didn’t follow. 
    “Why are you out her whistling like a blue bird at four in the morning?” 
    She tried to think up a lie but came up with absolutely nothing.  “I was…,” she stammered, “I thought…” 
    Draken dropped his curled fists from his eyes and stared at her in amusement, a slight smile touching his lips.  “Yes?  You were….” he coaxed. 
    Without even blinking, she stated in one breath with more seriousness than she had intended, “I’m afraid of the implications of your threat earlier, so I was plotting my late night escape.” 
    Staring at Draken with her straight face, she was shocked when he erupted into laughter.  His deep laugh was a surprisingly delightful sound to hear and she couldn’t help but smile as she lowered her head to hide her shared amusement at her confession. 
    When he finally stopped laughing, she cleared her throat, hid her own amusement and looked evenly into his eyes.  He smiled as he looked her up and down, “You know just when I think I have you pegged you do something that entirely changes my opinion of you.” 
    Looking down at her bare feet, Lucia wrung her hands as she asked in a tone that failed to sound as nonchalant as she was hoping, “Changes your opinion for better or for worse?”  Again her eyes met his as she heard his laughter before shifting her gaze back down to stare at her own hands.
    “Lucia, sometimes I want to squeeze you so hard, I think I’d probably break you in two.” 
    “I’m not that easily broken,” she blurted out before she had a chance to check her words.  Her head snapped up just in time to see a mischievous glint light Draken’s eyes. “Is that a challenge?”
    Lucia knew his wicked look all too well, and she knew she was playing with fire, but she wanted to let him know that she wasn’t a woman who would be toyed with regardless of what look he gave her.  “I’m simply saying that many men have tried to break me, and all have failed.”  She placed her hands on the rail and squared her shoulders to show him how serious she was. 
    A sinful smile touched Draken’s lips as his eyes danced with an achingly desirable fire.  “Not to brag my sweet, but you’ve never met a man like me.”  Now it was his turn to place both hands on his balcony’s rail and set his broad, muscled shoulders in a challenge. 
    Lucia dropped her hands from the rail, deciding that he had her beat in the intimidation department, but she’d be damned if she’d give up that easily.  Crossing her bare arms in front of her chest, she lifted a defiant chin as she casually tilted her head to one side and replied, “Met one, met ‘em all.”  Even in the dark of night, she could see Draken’s knuckles turn white as his grip threatened to snap the balcony’s railing. 
    He lowered his head like a wolf stalking prey before he threatened in a deep gravely tone, “Lucia…keep this up and I promise I will come over there and prove you wrong.” 
    Suddenly, Lucia had knots in her belly, but she couldn’t help but toss back, “You couldn’t if you tried.”  The smirk of satisfaction slid from her face instantly and she inhaled