He scowled and crossed his arms, expanding the space between them what little he could.
He’d fought monsters, creatures, and warriors of all sorts, some manageable, others so terrifying lesser men fled as fast as their feet—or steeds—would carry them.
It had been a long while since Alobaz had been scared.Centuries, perhaps.But today, this temptress?She could all too easily get to him.She could ruin him and all he cared about.
He’d believed his heart to be fully hardened.He hardened it further, against this woman, this new danger which didn’t yet have a name.
“Aren’t you gonna say something?”Lev said, his voice filtering through Alobaz’s heartbeat, still too loud in his ears, dammit.
“Nothing to say,” Alobaz said.
The temptress’ eyes narrowed ever so slightly, as if she couldn’t believe he wasn’t falling over himself to flirt back with her.
He guessed no man—or woman—had ever denied her.The temptress had the look of someone who got whatever she wanted.Whenever she wanted it.Always.
“Nothing to say?”she said.
“That’s right.”
She took a single step forward, closing the space between them until it felt as if her breasts splayed against his chest, even while they were still tethered—barely—to her bustier, a foot from him.
She hummed.“Well … I have plenty I’d like to say to you.”
Without his approval, he began to harden.His frown deepened as he willed his body to fight its natural responses.Because there was no denying it, no common sense to override it—his body wanted this woman.Badly.
“Let ’er say it, bro,” Lev said, with anhm-mm.
“Not interested,” Alobaz said.
“Huh,” said the temptress.Surprised, exactly as he’d guessed.She wasn’t used to being turned down.
She leaned closer.
Now a mere half foot separated their chests.Her eyes were as clear as if lumoons shone behind them.
“I can’t say I expected that response,” she said.
“Neither did I,” Lev grumbled.
Alobaz couldn’t take his eyes from the temptress to point a silent,Shut up, his way.He focused on calming his body’s reactions.
She inched her mouth so close to his that he imagined her breath mingling with his.
“If you think those other ladies have … satisfied you…” She spoke slowly, drawing out key words with sultry pauses and consonant rolls—ladies,satisfied—as if she hadn’t already unnerved him enough.
“I assure you … none of them will do to you the things I plan on doing … to you.”
She leaned in more.
Her hair slid across her shoulders and brushed against his shirt, where he imagined how the strands would feel against his skin—like the softest silk threads.
“I’ll give you the experience of a lifetime.”
“You think highly of yourself,” Alobaz heard himself say.
She smiled again, so near his face that he felt her one-sided smirk as much as saw it.
“I have good reason to,” she said.“Let me show you.”
