Snippet

Lexsi
Kory lay beside me, a lock of wayward, dark hair falling across his forehead as he breathed evenly in his sleep. I knew he'd wake with a start if I touched his face to smooth the hair back, so I didn't. Shoving that urge aside, I slipped out of bed, grabbed a robe and skipped into the kitchen for coffee and food.
No, we hadn't done anything except sleep for twenty hours—we were too exhausted. The whole kiss-and-bite thing still lay between us, after all. I admit that it was nice to have his arms around me when I fell asleep. I felt comforted and safe, at least for a little while.
I drank a third cup of coffee while the remnants of a plate of eggs and bacon lay on the island in front of me.
Anita shuffled into the kitchen. I turned to look at her.
She muffled a scream before hauling me into her arms and dancing around the kitchen, while I swayed in her embrace like a favorite rag doll.

Kordevik
"I'll give you a thousand dollars to take your shirt off."
I hadn't even noticed the woman who'd walked in after I'd been at it for half an hour. Deliberately, I allowed the four-hundred-pound weights I'd been lifting to drop to the floor with a clang as I turned toward her.
"I'll give you two seconds to leave me alone," I snapped at her.
"You don't understand," she said, extending a card held between red-painted fingernails. "I'm a fight promoter. I can get you a high-paying job in less than a week."
"Lady," I frowned at her, "I have a job."
"Something wrong?" Lexsi had gotten off the treadmill to join me.
"It's nothing," I said. "She offered a job. I declined."
"Oh. Are you the girlfriend?" Red nails turned toward Lexsi. "Your boyfriend here could be turning down millions in earnings as a wrestler."
"My boyfriend gets to make up his own mind," Lexsi said, her eyes narrowing as she frowned at red nails. "If he says no, he means it. Find somebody else."
"Is there a problem?" Kell walked in with Jorden. They'd obviously come looking for us—had probably tried calling us in our rooms.
"I want to hire him," red nails jerked her head toward me.
"He has a job," Jorden pulled out his badge. Red nails' eyes widened.
"My apologies," she held up a hand. The four of us watched her walk through the glass doors leading into the facility. I released a pent-up sigh.
"That'll get your blood boiling late at night," Lexsi frowned, still staring at the door.
"Come on, you," I pulled her into the crook of my arm and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Let's get our exercise done, then listen to what Jorden has to say."

Peru
Laurel
"Granger?" I held the phone tighter against my ear to get better reception.
"We have seen him," came through, but it was garbled.
"Who? Kory Wilson?"
"No. We saw germy."
Germy? Who the hell is that?" I demanded.
"No need constipate."
"Constipate?"
"Concern yourself."
"Concern myself about what? What did you mean, constipate?"
"(Crackle) deal with germy."
"If germy makes you constipated, then deal with it," I shouted and ended the call.

Peru
Laurel
"I don't like her." Granted, the swimming pool was a saltwater pool to start with, but now it held—her. "She's half naked, for Christ's sake," I gestured at the mermaid, who was glaring at me from beneath the surface.
"She's half fish. Leave her alone." Hannah, still looking like Granger, was half-dressed, too. At least she could avoid the tan lines from a bikini top, although the bottoms didn't hide much. I'd caught a flash of knob and balls at least once.
The whole thing was disgusting—she hadn't bothered to shave.
"You're just jealous because she has perfect breasts," Hannah went on. "If you're so offended, toss her a top."
"V'ili said we couldn't interfere," I snipped.
"Then shut up," Hannah retorted. "Some of us like peace and quiet while we're tanning. Just look at this body—as pale as a peeled potato."
"Granger's a vampire. The whole sun thing is a bit extreme," I hissed at her.
"He's not a vampire now—well, I'm not a vampire. I just look like a vampire. Him. Granger. Get out of the way, bitch, you're blocking my light."
"You little two-faced trollop." I went after her.
"Stop now."
V'ili's voice halted me just as I was ready to jab my fingernails into Hannah's eyes. "Leave. I wish to enjoy my prize without your, ah, noisy discussion."
"She's a prize?" My voice betrayed the disgust I felt. "She's half of a fucking fish."
"And you, my dear, are half of a fucking moron. Leave. Now." Power invaded his words. "Do not wander far. My men will be convinced to shoot you if you do."
I wanted to gouge out his eyes. Peel off his toenails until he screamed. I couldn't. He smiled at me with the pointed teeth he often displayed. It let me know he wasn't happy with me at the moment.
I reminded myself that it was wiser to play his game. Someday, he wouldn't be looking.
Someday.

Is Laurel immun to Vili's obsession or did I misunderstand something here?
Because even after "Power invaded his words", she is still not as brainwashed as most obsessed people are!
Weird!!