She pressed her trembling lips together, then the smile broke free. “Only because you’re always so put-together, no matter what the time of day or night it is. In my defense,thisoccurrence threw me off a little. It never happened before and wasn’t intentional, Týr. Truly.”
He knew that. Wanting to see what she’d do, he said coolly, “There will be consequences for your actions if you don’t fix it.”
“Why?” she grumbled but continued brushing back the hunk of hair that persisted on falling over his brow. “It wasn’t deliberate.”
He stared. She scrunched her nose and wiggled beneath him as if to escape. He pressed down with a little more of his lower body weight to keep her pinned, too aware of her lush softness beneath him. His dick stirred.
“Suggest a payment fast, ‘cause I quite like the notion of putting you over my knees.”
Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Go ahead, try me.”
He was playing with fire, not that it made a damn difference. He just wanted to have her beneath him like this for a little while longer. Hot, breathless and not fighting him. For a second, she tensed. Then she grabbed his hair with both hands, yanked him down, and kissed him, a light brush of her lips.
His heart kicked up hard. By the Fates! Every time her mouth touched his, he felt as if he were reborn. Alive.
“That’s no reimbursement, barely a cent in fact. Now, this…” His mouth slanted down on hers. And the world as he knew it slipped a little off its axis before resettling and sharpening all his senses, his focus…and it all came back to her. “This is what I want,” he whispered, sucking her lower lip. She inhaled a harsh breath, and he slipped his tongue into her mouth, needing more,somuch more.
He deepened the kiss and tasted sunshine. Her fingers tightened in his hair, and she responded with equal passion. Desire coursed through his blood, his cock going painfully hard.
She suddenly broke free, panted, “Týr, wait—”
“Later.” Before she gave voice to what he knew was coming, he pushed to his feet. He didn’t want to think about everything that stood between them. “C’mon. I want to check something out. Consider it payment for this bad dye job.”
“What?”
He helped her up and summoned two short swords as dark, thick clouds gathered, obscuring the sunlight.
She eyed the blade warily as if he palmed a snake. “Why are you giving me this?”
“I know Echo and you are BFFs. So, she must have taught you some defense techniques with weapons. Show me.”
“Must I?” she groaned. “I really hate fighting.”
Týr ignored her grumbles and held out the sword. “Kira, you are important to me. I have to know.”
She exhaled a huge sigh. “Fine.” She removed a crinkled hair band from her wrist and fastened her mane. Accepting the sword, she did a few practice parries.
One look reassured him. She had a good grip on her weapon, and her stance appeared a little wary but prepared.
He lunged, and she ducked and came up on his other side. He spun around. With both hands, she brought her sword down hard in a deadly swing, forcing him into a hasty step back and block. Damn, had he not defended, that strike could have slashed his unprotected chest.
He grinned. “Someone’s been hiding her skills—”
“Like I’m gonna broadcast to everyone what I can do,” she panted and scowled all at once. “I. Hate. Fighting. But. You. Insist.” She attacked again.
As they parried, flurries started to drift around them, a breeze picking up. Týr held back on his immense strength. Damn. His female could wield the weapon better than most humans. He had to thank Echo when he saw her next.
Soon, the clanging of swords, along with feminine growls and grunts escalated, but the falling snow grew heavier, visibility dimming. Týr raised a hand, calling a halt. “Not too shabby, Fluff.”
Breathing hard, she glowered at him. Yup, she hated the name. She opened her mouth to snap, probably something cutting, but then she smiled. Her hazel eyes glowed an apple-green shade of evil. “Why, thank you,honey pie.”
His eyes narrowed. And she burst out laughing. “At least my names are adorable.”
No, you are,he thought. “C’mon. Let’s grab a bite to eat, then we got to leave.”
She swiped the back of her hand over her damp brow. “Go back to the castle?”
