Demon Hunting with a Dixie Deb - Lexi George Page 0,49

onto the pier.

Grim forgot the pull of the river current. He forgot his waterlogged boots and his complaining belly.

He damn near drowned because he forgot to move his arms and legs.

He forgot everything but Sassy. Innocence and seduction combined, she stood in the morning sun, her glorious body on full display.

Not for you. Not for you.

Grim’s brain sounded the alarm. The warning was muffled by his thundering heart and a fierce rush of longing.

She turned and waved. The pink patch of cloth highlighted the sweet spot between her thighs. His hot gaze roved over her, his throbbing erection straining against his wet jeans.

She danced to the end of the dock. “What are you waiting for? I thought you were hungry.”

He was ravenous, but not for food. Not trusting himself to dematerialize and reform in one piece. Grim swam to the dock and climbed out, painfully aware that his aroused state was evident. He need not have worried. Sassy knelt at the end of the wooden platform looking out at the water.

That damned wet garment of hers had ridden up, exposing her heart shaped buttocks and the scrap of lace at the cleft.

Grim feared his cock would explode. With an effort, he willed his aching shaft to subside. This was what came of ignoring his sexual needs for so long. He would visit a thrall, and soon.

Today, after he met with Conall.

He had held on to his guilt for years as punishment. He would not do the same with his lust for Sassy. It was too uncomfortable and consuming. More to the point, it would interfere with his ability to protect her. An unemotional warrior was an efficient warrior.

He joined Sassy at the end of the pier. “What are you doing?”

His voice was husky with the effort to speak.

“Saying good-bye to Gilbert.” Sassy sounded forlorn. “Look, there he is.”

A long swell moved toward the dock, and Gilbert poked his snout out of the water.

“Thank you for helping me with my bucket list.” Sassy reached down and patted the river monster’s slimy jowl. “I had a wonderful time.”

Gilbert rolled an eye at Grim. Fry?

“The fry will be safe with me,” Grim promised. “You have my word.”

Gods, Duncan would never stop laughing if he could see Grim now: boots pouring water, shaft straining his breeches, pledging a vow to a fish.

Gilbert swam away with a swish of his powerful tail.

“He’s gone.” Sassy got to her feet, her shoulders sagging. “I’ll probably never see him again.”

Not if Grim had his way. Sassy was damn lucky her “friend” had not been a predator with a hankering for flesh.

Grim opened his mouth to tell her as much, and her light, floral scent filled his head, a perfume that was Sassy’s alone.

Too close, a warning chimed in his head. He backed away, past caring if she noticed the bulge in his breeches. He needed distance to cool the fire in his blood and brain.

“What is a bucket list?” Grim clung to the question like a raft in a storm.

“It’s a list of things you want to do. Mose helped me with mine.”

Grim processed her words with difficulty. He realized she was waiting for a response and cleared his throat.

“Mose?”

“That’s not his real name. I’m not supposed to use his real name except in an emergency.”

“Emergency.”

Grim knew he sounded like a parrot, repeating every word she said. But the blood that was supposed to be in his head had long since traveled south, robbing him of the ability to think.

“Yes. He’s a precious little man, although I don’t suppose he’s really a man at all. More like an imp.”

“Imp.” Grim gave a knowing nod, though he had no notion what she was talking about.

“Mose said I should go for a swim and catch a fish. So I did.” Sassy blushed. “That leaves one thing on the list.”

“List?”

Confound it, what ailed him? He could not seem to string two words together.

“My bucket list.” She stamped her foot. “Grim, aren’t you listening?”

“Of course. A Dalvahni warrior is keen of ear and eye.” Grim willed the blood to flow back to his brain. “You are on a quest of sorts.”

There. That was more like it. He was back in control.

Sassy’s eyes brightened. “A quest! Yes, that’s it exactly. I’m supposed to kiss a handsome prince.”

Grim’s hard-won composure shattered like thin ice. He did not like the thought of Sassy kissing someone else. He did not like it at all.

“Prince? What prince?”

“Mose didn’t say.” She peeked at him through her lashes. “Do