She grinned, and his pulse rate did a little blip.“That was a compliment.”
“Your hair is beautiful.It’s soft and smells of flowers.”
Scarlett beamed.“Excellent.You understand the compliment process.”
Ransom gaped, nonplussed by this woman.
“Greenlight,” she whispered.“Every quest contains danger.Every great quest has an additional element.”
“What?”
She winked.“Steamy hot sex.”
“It’s almost whitelight.We should—”
Scarlett slapped a hand over his mouth.“I want a great quest.”
Her green eyes glowed with humor and determination, yet still, Ransom hesitated.Once she learned the full truth of why he’d abducted her, she’d hate him.She’d rain fiery curses on his head and threaten to gut him with one of the knives she carried, concealed in a sheath beneath the right leg of her trews.
“Before my brothers catch up with us.They’ll accuse you of seducing me, anyway.I like you.I’m willing, so we should do the deed while we have peace.”Her smile fell away.“Those howling creatures, whatever they are, stand between us and the prince’s resting place.At least, where we presume he lies.Once we get closer, we won’t have the luxury of letting down our guard.Come on.I’ve done a pros and cons list, and everything stacks up.”
A list?Ransom dithered a few seconds longer before giving in and taking everything he wanted but didn’t deserve.
He’d tell her.He’d confess soon.He would.
Grata, he was a bastard for snatching this slice of pleasure.
He stared at the lush lashes framing her green eyes.Determination hid in the swell of her firm lips and the stubborn tilt to her chin.Character traits he admired in a man, yet seldom found in a woman.Most females of his acquaintance eyed his home, listened to his family’s reputation, and craved his status.
Not Scarlett Mitchell.While he waited for objections, she hadn’t once complained during their arduous trek up and down mountains.
Yeah, he was a bastard for even considering her offer.
They’d both gone to sleep wearing their clothes.It made sense if they needed to hurry.Now, Ransom rolled away and stood.Without taking his gaze off her, he yanked his tunic over his head, then went to work on his trews.He tugged them down his legs, taking his foot linings with them.
“You need to eat more food.”
Ransom laughed.Not something he usually heard from a prospective lover.Normally the minute scales on his cock fascinated females.“Why don’t you disrobe too?Then I can decide how much food you need.”
She gave a derisive snort but rose, anyway.“No man tells me what to do with my body,” she said.“I enjoy food.I’ll eat what I please.”
As she spoke, she unfastened the black toggles that held her tunic together.The fabric whispered when it fell.Her trews were more form-fitting than his, and it was easy to come to a decision about her weight distribution before she stood before him naked.
She peeled the trews down her legs and straightened, meeting his gaze with a proud, almost arrogant tilt of her head.
He forced himself to remain still.“You appear to have mastered the correct food balance.”Her curves were distinct and stunning, but she still wore her underwear.“Are you removing more?”
Scarlett laughed, her green eyes flashing.Beautiful green jewels.Had they changed color?He blinked.No, they remained the pretty green that had mesmerized him during their first meeting.She reached behind her back and released the closure of her chest binding.Slowly, she revealed her breasts.Pink-tipped, perfect handfuls.With a wiggle of hips, she worked her panties down long, golden legs.She’d already removed her foot coverings, and now she stood before him, proudly naked in the whitelight.
With a faint smile, she slanted her head.“Do you require hints on what to do next?”
“I have a few ideas.”Ransom closed the distance between them.A sigh escaped him when her firm flesh pressed against his.This was a woman in her prime, and he found he enjoyed her bossiness and outrageous suggestions.In the future, when she learned the truth, she could never accuse him of using force.
This slice of paradise—entirely Scarlett Mitchell.
Their mouths met again in a tender kiss, a precursor for what would come.
Scarlett grasped his shoulders and drew him closer.A tiny swivel of her hips teased his cock and propelled a rush of excitement through him.With their mouths still caressing and tasting, Ransom lifted her and sat on their foil blanket.
