WIN, WIN, WIN.
A challenge. Intentional or not. And this time, he had no trouble interpreting what his demon expected, needed. Strider had to kiss her, and he had to convince her, or he would hurt.
He waited for fury to fill him, but as he stared down at her, breathing her in, all he wanted to do was give her that taste.
He removed her nails from his scalp and flattened her hands over her head, forcing her back to bow, her body to slide against his. Her nipples were hard, just waiting for his mouth.
Dont say another goddamn word, he commanded, and then he finally, finally went in for the kill.
CHAPTER SEVEN
KAIA FELT AS IF SHED BEEN waiting for this moment forever. And in a way, she had. At long last, she lay in her consorts embrace, and he was meeting her needs. Her wildest, most sensual needs. Striders lips pressed against hers, his tongue thrusting inside her mouth, hot, decadent, his taste filling her up, consuming her. Shed never loved cinnamon more. Sweet and tangy with just a little spice.
The weight of his muscled body pinned her to the mattress, and the weapons strapped all over him pressed into bone, probably bruising. As if she cared. What were a few bruises when one of Striders big hands held her head tilted to the side to deepen their connection?
What were a few bruises when her breasts rasped against his chest with her every inhalation, and her aching nipples rubbed at him, sparking the desire inside her to a hotter degree?
She spread her legs, allowing his lower half to fall more firmly against hers. His erectionso big, so long, so perfectly thickhit her just right, and she gasped. Hotter, hotter, sooo much hotter.
Strider, she moaned.
Kaia.
Her name on his lipsheaven and hell, sweet and torturous. A sirens song. More.
How do you like it?
However you give it. Her nails had already lengthened into claws, and she dug them into his back, accidentally cutting past his shirt and into skin. He groaned, and their teeth scraped together. His fingers clenched on her jaw. Sorry, she panted. She squeezed his hips with her knees, just in case he thought to leave her.
Dont be sorry, he growled. Just do it again. He sucked on her bottom lip, hard, causing sizzling goose bumps to sprout from head to toe.
More erotic, freeing words had never been spoken. As a Harpy, she was stronger and more vicious than almost all other immortals. Shed always had to temper her passions and hold back. Even with Paris.
She didnt think shed have to hold back with Striderand wouldnt. Whatever she dished, he could take. Hell, he would revel in. He was too strong, too determined for anything less. And really, he might look like an angel, but he was far wickeder than any other Lord. The best kind of wicked, at that. Devilish. Gentle and easy werent his style.
He found humor in the strangest things. If he discovered one of his friends chained to a females bed (cough Lucien cough), he took pictures and emailed them to every one he knew. How cool was that?
A man like that would never ask her to stop stealing. He might even join her on her obligatory forays, keeping her dark side happy without causing too much damage. More than that, he knew triumph and loss better than any other. He would revel in her every accomplishment, good, bad or ugly. He would be the first to tell her when shed screwed up, but he wouldnt write her off.
Or maybe the man she pictured in her mind was pure fantasy. The one on top of her thought to barter with her, his body in exchange for her cooperation. That pissed her off royallybut not enough to stop this tasting.
He was her drug of choice, she mused, and she was already addicted to him.
Kaia! Pay some fucking attention to whats happening here, he snarled.
Startled back to her senses, she blinked up at him. He was panting, sweatingperhaps more than he shouldhis features tight with strain. He must have been calling for her for quite a while. And damn, shed stopped kissing him to ponder his virtues and follies, she realized. A travesty she would rectify immediately.
Im here. She wrapped her legs around him and locked her ankles, arching up. More contact with his erection, more gasping from her. So delicious. So perfect. So freaking hot.
Good girl. His tongue found its way back inside her mouth, and they dueled, fighting for dominance.
She let him win, submitting, allowing him to take the lead, urging her toward complete satisfaction. Or maybe insanity. Her mind fogged with desire, her blood heated to blistering and her Harpy sang with approval.
This was everything she had been dreaming of, fantasizing about, craving with every fiber of her being. Her man, feasting on her, grinding against her. She would never get enough of him, would always want more. Always need more. Her nerve endings caught fire, the ever-growing blaze nearly too much, the ache between her legs fierce.
She had to lock this deal up tight. Love him within an inch of his life, bind them together, and never, never, allow him to escape her. Never allow any of the other Harpies near him. He was hers. Would always be hers.
You cant think like that. Hes a warrior, used to control. You try to bind him, and hell run. This has to be a partnership, not a Harpytatorship. Yes, okay. She could do that. Work with him. Anything to keep him with her, to kiss him again, to have him, all of him. Questioncould he work with her?
Damn it, Kaia. He removed his hand from her jaw and cupped one of her breasts, squeezing. What the hell is going on in that head of yours?
You, us, together. Yes, she moaned, pressing herself into the touch. Hot, she was so hot, and only growing hotter. More.
Good, okay, yes. Harder?
Harder. Please. She lifted her hips off the mattress, the springs squeaking, and moved herself against him. Steam might even have risen from her pores, surrounding them both, thickening the air. More. All.
Damn, your mouth is a firestorm. Burns. And yeah, baby doll, Ill give you He sucked in another breath, stiffened, cursed. Cursed so violently she was surprised her ears hadnt started bleeding. All right. Yes. Well do this. You and me. Ill give you more, all.
His voice wasodd, she thought distantly. No longer layered with arousal, but as stiff as his body now was, and formal. Almost robotic. Why? What had changed? She mourned the loss.
He fit their lips back together and the kiss continued. She rubbed her core up and down his length, unable to stop herself, never loosening her grip around his waist. He settled against her, his skin slick with sweat. She fell back to the bed, but all the while she fought through the now cooling lust-fog, determined to figure out what was going on with him.
His tongue moved in and out of her mouth, mimicking sex. His hand squeezed her breast every few seconds. He swirled his hips at the same time, brushing against her clitoris. It was a dance, each movement fitting the rhythm of the next. His technique was flawless. Soon he would make her come.
Technique, she thought then. Yes, thats exactly what this was. A technique. He was hard where it counted, yes, but also where it didnt, his muscles petrified into stone. He wasnt moaning in surrender. How could he? Every swish of his tongue was calculated, as if he were thinking about what to do rather than allowing instinct to guide him. As if he had absolute control and wasnt even close to losing it.
Which meant he wasnt enjoying what he was doing. He was simply performing, driving her need higher and higher, manipulating her. Giving her what she wanted, but not taking what he needed.
He had somehow managed to detach himself.
What do you like? he asked. Tell me, and Ill do it.
She could have been anyone, and it wouldnt have mattered to him. And when it was over, he would have taken her, had her, but she would have been one of a thousand others, unimportant and temporary. An easy conquest. A means to an end.
No. No! She would not be Kaia the Disappointment. Not with him. She would not be content with the scraps of his affections and call it good. She would have all or nothing. Settling was for the weak.
She was not weak.
But even knowing what he was doing, even hurting as she wasagainand even as desperate as she was for release, she couldnt bring herself to harm him physically. Not by her hand, and not by using his demon. He had to win this contest of wills without smothering her pride anymore than he already had. Somehow, someway.
She cut off a bitter laugh. Once again she would be throwing a fight. This time, however, the prize was far more important. His bodyand his heart? No, not his heart. That, he would never offer. Not to her. The same determination that had sculpted him into such a fierce warrior and lover had turned him into an emotional recluse. Coolingcooling Strider?
A swipe of his tongue, a squeeze of his hand. Tell me, he said, ignoring her. Your mouth, the heat is gone.
Sorry.
Dont be. Either way, I like it. But why the change?
Enough of this. Besides, she didnt know. Shed never heated up like that before. I dontI dont think you can stop. Gods, saying the words, letting them raze her throat, left her trembling with frustration.
He froze above her, beads of sweat still dripping from him. In fact, his shirt was soaked, sticking to his chest. What did you just say?
I dont think you can stop kissing me, stop touching me.
With more of those black curses ringing from him, he jolted away from her, off the bed and to his feet. He remained at the edge of the mattress, glaring down at her as she eased to a sitting position. She struggled to breathe, her lungs still coolingcooling.
Damn it, Kaia.
She flashed her fangs at him. That isnt my name.
That gave him pause. What? Kaia? I happen to know otherwise.
No. Damn it, Kaia isnt my name.
His eyelids narrowed even as the corners of his lips twitched. Whatever.
Thats all he had to say to her? After everything theyd just done?
Will you steal the Paring Rod for me or not? he asked.
Apparently so.
Did he feel nothing for her? No hint of true passion? She licked her lips, and she was heartened to note his gaze followed the movement. Not. But, she added before his demon could punish him for failing to convince her. And yes, she knew that was one of the reasons he was pushing her so hard for this. At least, she hoped. Made it easier to forgive him, to excuse him, for reducing their electrifying kiss to a bargaining chip. Well compromise.
He shook his head, once, and very stiffly. No.
Yes.
No.
Yes. Compromise doesnt cause you physical pain.
His lashes fused together, shielding the navy of his eyes. It doesnt help me, either.
She lifted her chin. Do you want to hear my proposal or not? If not, theres the door.
Gods almighty, I hate when your chin goes up. He popped his jaw. Fine. Talk.
I will fight in the games. If at any point, she rushed to add, Im disqualified or I think my team cannot bring home the gold, I will risk my life and my future to steal the Rod for you.
Silent, he crossed his arms over his chest.
She knew exactly what he was thinking. Also, you cant do anything to aid a disqualification. Not for me or for any member of my team.
Oh, yes. Thats exactly what hed been thinking. Suddenly fury sizzled and snapped off his skin like tiny flickers of lightning. His eyes lit up, twin red lasers, a skeletal mask flashing over his features. What if, while youre playing your games, someone else manages to steal it?
His demon really was pulling his strings. She sympathized. She hated when her Harpy took over. Not possible. You could call every warrior and god you know, but the lot of you still wouldnt be able to find it, much less grab it. And no, that wasnt a dare. Just a truth. Harpies are a suspicious and possessive race, and we take extreme measures to guard what we consider ours. Believe me, Juliette will let no one near the Rod.
Several minutes passed before he relaxed. He couldnt fight the Harpies on his ownnot successfullyand he had to know it. Very well. We have a deal. She opened her mouth to respond. But you listen to me, little girl, he added darkly.
Little girl. Exactly what Lazarus had called her, all those centuries ago. Shadows shimmered through her line of vision, the only color a crimson bulls-eye on Striders chest. Calm, steady.
Dont interfere, she told her Harpy.
Youve claimed Im your consort, and that consorts are precious. Youve also claimed youll do anything to protect yours.
She snapped her teeth at him. I never said that. Not out loud.
Fine. Maybe Gwen told me. Thing is, its true.
And he planned to use the knowledge against her? Well, look at you, Mr. Smartie Pants. She clapped her hands. Congratulations. You know I cant hurt you. But hey, what does that matter? I can always pay someone else to do my dirty work.
A muscle ticked below his eye. Youre willing to let an artifact that can kill me remain in the hands of your enemy, he said, ignoring her threat. That woman, Juliette, the one with the boyfriend you still havent told me about, isnt going to give you the Rod. Whether you win or not, she hates you and will hardly reward you.
Kaia fisted the comforter, nearly ripping the material. How do you know she hates me? Hed only caught the tail end of the meeting, and Juliette hadnt spoken to her directly after his arrival.
I have eyes, Kaia. Every time she looked at you, she wanted to carve your face with her dagger. Whatd you do to her, anyway? And dont tell me she just hasnt forgiven you for what you did to the clans. Her beef with you is personal. No one else looked at you the way she did.
Floundering, she blinked up at him. He was too observant for his own good. What makes you think I did anything to her?
Come on. You must think Im stupid, answering my question with a question and assuming I wont notice and will let the matter drop.
Well, now that you mention it
Funny. He held out his hand and waved his fingers in her direction. Come here.