Page 63 of The First Spark

“I’ve never seen her before today. She asked to use my bathroom, right before intimating she planned to feast onyoufor supper.”

Ash shoots me a grin, an amused sparkle in his eyes. “That’s quite the claim. You let her get away with that?”

“What was I supposed to do? Beat her up?”

“Hey, you’re the one who offered to defend my honor.”

“So, you’re not interested in her services?” Of course, my question is dual-sided. This man is a conundrum.

He considers my question, no doubt aware of the scowl crossing my features with every passing second. “It’s an interesting offer,” he mumbles, biting back yet another smile.

Oh, he wants to play it that way. Fine by me.

“One might say it is. Want me to introduce you? Get the show started?” I pull away from Ash and turn in the woman’s direction. Time for a little fun with our resident Romeo.

“Hell no.” Ash grabs me back, pulling me flush against him, my back pressed to his chest. “You are staying right here.”

Another surge of heat courses through me, chasing away any lingering chill. But I refuse to let Ash in on that fact.

“Are you using me as a human shield now?” I tease,aware of the daggers being shot my way by the surrounding women.

Looks likeIneed the damn shield more than he does.

“I think I’d aim for someone slightly bigger for that task.”

“I’m notthatlittle,” I mutter, my bottom lip protruding in a pout.

“Yes, you are, but you’re also tough as nails. Scared the hell out of me for six months. That’s why you’re my new bodyguard.”

I laugh and take another drink of wine. “Nice try, but I don’t think you can afford my services. I don’t come cheap.”

“I’m fighting off an army of men and you won’t even offer your bodyguard skills against one woman? What happened to my tough little warrior?”

“What a load of crap. You’re not fighting anyone over me.” There is a bluntness to my words. I’m not challenging him to disagree. Why would I when I already know his response?

Ash pushes my hair over my shoulder, his fingers gliding across my neck and setting every nerve cell abuzz. “Watch me. That select few you mentioned will be zero before the day is out, because I don’t share.”

Chapter 12

The Cost of Temptation

Ori

How the hell am Inotsupposed to read into that statement? The man is a walking contradiction. He doesn’t want me, but he’ll be damned if anyone else has me.

Make it make sense.

I need space. When I’m this close to Ash, my head gets fuzzy and don’t even get me started on the feelings coursing through the rest of my body.

But when I try to pull away, his grip only tightens, his fingers unyielding as his lips once again dip to my ear. “Where are you running off to, Little One? I’m nowhere near ready to let you go.”

He opens a button on my coat and slips his hand beneath the woolen fabric. My breath hitches as his fingers dip under my sweater to trace slow, deliberate lines across my stomach, sending a wave of warmth that curls low in my core.

I bite back a gasp as my body arches involuntarily intohis touch, craving more even as I struggle to resist his advances. “Ash?—”

“I need this. I need you.” His mouth grazes the sensitive skin beneath my ear, his beard delivering a delicious tickle that shoots another surge of sparks through me. “Back to your bodyguard services. Think I can make alternate payment arrangements?”

“I’m open to negotiations.” My words are a husky whisper, evidence of his effect on me.

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