Page 102 of Ruthless Scoundrel
“But if there are other assassins…” I hiss in frustration.
“Maybe we can work with them.”
“Or maybe you’ll get caught in the crossfire.” I grab her arms and hold her close, looking down into her wide eyes. Anger wells up in the pit of my stomach at the thought of her harmed, or worse. My heart thuds painfully as I think of a future without her in it. I couldn’t bear it.
“Help me get stronger in the week that we have left. Help me push myself.”
I snort. “You push yourself to the brink already.”
She lifts her hand to my face and electricity tingles where she touches my cheek. “Then carry me back every night.”
My arm slides around her back and the worry that had been turning my stomach flips until I’m craving her, craving everything that she is. Gods, she’s perfect, even when she’s throwing shoes at me.
“I can do that,” I whisper as I draw her in closer.
My body is humming for her, my magic coming alive at her touch. It yearns to reach out and envelop her, mark her, and make her mine.
“Jasper.” She says my name like plea.
“What is it, sunshine?”
“Are you going to stick your tongue down my throat?”
I grin, sliding my hand up to her mid-back. “Do you want me to?”
Her parted lips glisten in the light of the moons as she sucks in a wavering gasp. “Yes.”
We hang in a silent contest for an instant before I grip the back of her neck and descend on her with hunger. Our lips meet and she moans, throwing her arms around my shoulders. Gentlenessleaves my vocabulary as I press her into a desperate kiss, one born from weeks of unmet desire.
I’m pushing her back before I know what I’m doing. She hits a tree and her lips part in a groan, giving me the access I require. My tongue slides against hers and she keens. Her nails rake up my scalp and she grabs a fistful of my hair like I might try to escape her.
Never.
I grab her ass and pull her up. She opens her thighs and clamps them tightly around my waist as I rock her against the tree. The electricity between us has the air shimmering with our tangled magic, opal and blue cascading around us like hot ocean waves.
Her hips thrust into mine, and the pressure of her against my cock pulls a deep trill from my chest. Her hands are everywhere, grabbing and tugging like she can’t get enough.
“I want you,” she says as she pulls on the waistband of my pants.
I grab her wrists and realize I’ve half transformed, my hands gone, replaced by tentacles. I wrap one tightly around her arms and push them overhead, then wrap the other around the tree to secure her. She whimpers against my lips, nipping them like it might get her closer, get her more.
“Take my honor. It’s yours,” she begs.
“I want more than your honor,” I growl, forcing my way to her neck.
She moans loudly as I suck on her pulse point. Her blood is thundering through her veins, hot and full of desire. I can almost taste the mating bond.
“What do you want?”
I bite and lick my way up to her ear. “Everything. I want all of you. Your mind, your spirit, your heart.”
The air rushes out of her. “You want my heart?”
I pull back to see her face. She’s flushed and has a curious look in her wide eyes.
“If I’m to be your husband, it will not be in name alone.”
That curiosity transforms to horror in a blink and doubt floods my veins.
