She shivered as the heat of his hands seared against her bare skin, her wolf growling in low approval.
Traitor.
“I haven’t given you the job.”
His eyes narrowed. “I’ve heard any number of rumors about you, but none of them mentioned that you were stupid.”
She stiffened. Until this moment she’d never given a damn what people said about her.
Who cared if she was known as an immoral, heartless slut?
Now she scowled at the thought he might be judging her without ever knowing the truth.
“What rumors?” she growled.
“That you’re the Queen of Bitches.”
“True.” No point in trying to deny that. Not that she wanted to. “What else?”
The dark gaze skimmed over her face. “That you’re exquisite.”
“Also true.”
“That you were blessed with four pure-blooded daughters. An amazing gift to our people.”
She lowered her gaze. Although the word of Cassie’s talent of prophecy, as well as her recent disappearance, weren’t state secrets, they hadn’t yet become common knowledge.
The fewer people who knew, the better.
“Yes.”
“And that you’re a survivor,” he continued, ignoring her sudden wariness. “Which was why you were smart enough to seek help when you needed it.”
She lifted her head with a wry smile. “Slick.”
“Skilled,” he corrected, frustration still simmering in his magnificent eyes. “And unfortunately late to the party. Take me back to the beginning.” His brows drew together as she hesitated. “Sophia?”
She ground her teeth. Dammit. He was a wolf on the hunt.
He wasn’t going to let this go.
“I’m not really sure,” she muttered.
“Something spooked you or you wouldn’t have felt the need for a bodyguard.”
“It’s all been so ... childish.”
His hands loosened their grip so he could run his fingers lightly up and down her arm, sending a series of pleasurable quakes through her body.
“Childish?”
She struggled to keep her mind on track. Not easy when her thoughts were being consumed with how quickly she could have him stripped of his clothes and pressed against the wall.
The things she could do to that fantastic body.
Mmmm.
His eyes dilated as the spice of her arousal filled the air, his body tensing with an answering hunger. With a low curse, she wrenched her mind back to the conversation.