Page 5 of Bond of Passion

Heat flooded his body, burning his skin and turning the world beyond this female to featureless smoke. Need consumed him. Need to possess this female. His job could wait. Technically, he had four months to do it. He’d just wanted to get it off his plate so he could take a vacation.

Vacation could wait too.

In a quick, smooth motion, he hooked his calf around hers, swung her around, and slammed her against the stack of barrels.

“Tell me, then, my little Meerie lover. What is your secret?”

Her chin came up, and she somehow managed to look down her nose at him, even though he was taller by at least six inches. But the longer they stood there, his body holding hers captive, the air between them thickening with lust, the more her seductive, arrogant façade cracked.

“I don’t like pain.” Her voice trembled, but her gaze never wavered. Never stopped challenging him. She was prepared to fight him if he turned this unguarded moment against her. “I don’t like weapons. For once, I want to try sex without the blood. And the screams. They’re always mine,” she whispered.

Her words tugged at him, ripped right into his chest. He didn’t like it. Didn’t like how her vulnerability exposed his.

He didn’t have to care about her. He just had to give her what she wanted. The sex demon in him demanded that much.

His lips met hers in a fierce kiss that made him taste blood. Hers or his, he didn’t know. All he knew was that she tasted like smoky wine and feminine need.

“My tent is nearby.” She panted against his mouth. “No one would dare disturb us.”

Cool. He’d do her, pillow-talk her out of some intel, and then whack the Neethul he was looking for. “Sounds good, uh…what’s your name?”

“I am Gristlen,” she purred. “Gristlen the Unseen, Princess of the Clan Draghoul, House Arcane.”

His knees damn near gave out.

Fuck. Fuckity-fuck-fuck-fuck.

Fuck.

Gristlenwas magnificent. He had to have her. He had to possess her in every way.

And then he’d have to kill her.