Ivar's Escape (Assassins of Gravas #2) - N.J. Walters Page 0,24

a Dragarian sloth. You’re lucky I promised my sister and her new husband I’d find and get you out of here or I’d drag your sorry ass back to that cell and leave you there.”

Anger and uncertainty warring inside him, he pushed to his feet, grabbing her arm when she started to stalk by. “Don’t you walk away from me.” It was crazy to challenge her when he wasn’t at full strength, and she was armed to the teeth, but that didn’t stop him.

“Why not?” She shoved her hands against his chest, pushing him back a step. “What are you going to do to stop me?”

Sanity fled, and he yanked her against him. “This.” He slammed his mouth down on hers.

Chapter Seven

With anger pumping through her veins, it took her brain a second to catch up with her body. Ivar was kissing her. He’d accused her of working with Balthazar, which had sent her temper flaring. She’d been walking away to hide her upset and to keep from decking him.

Pity she couldn’t do it. He might deserve it, but even in her righteous anger, she didn’t want him hurt any more than he’d already been.

And now his lips were plastered against hers, firm and warm. His tongue teased, sliding along the seam until she parted them. He moaned as he sank into her, exploring her mouth, coaxing a response.

She didn’t want to kiss him back but was helpless against the onslaught of heat that consumed her. Sexual hunger and emotional need clawed at her. It had been so long since she’d had a man’s arms around her.

She’d never trusted one enough to go all the way.

As an assassin, when she’d been allowed out into the world by the woman who’d controlled her life, she’d had a mission. One she’d done as swiftly as possible. The lives of her siblings had always hung in the balance.

She’d never traded on her femininity, preferring to hide it while she was out in the world. Having sex was a big deal. Or it should be. Too many times, it meant little to the people involved—a monetary transaction, a few moments of forgetfulness. She didn’t judge any of them. People did what they needed to in order to get by. She, better than anyone, understood that.

But a quick roll in a bed with a stranger never appealed to her, which was why at the ripe old age of twenty-five she was still a virgin.

Not to mention there was no way of knowing how her protective brother might react. They were both assassins, but he’d worried about her and Sass when they’d been out on a mission. As Zaxe had always pointed out, it was an unfortunate reality that as women they had a hell of a lot more to be concerned about than simply being killed.

She didn’t want to even think about what he might have done if he’d ever discovered she’d been coerced or forced to trade sex for her life.

For the first time, she was tempted to let down her guard. Not because she had to, but because she wanted to.

A low moan escaped, and her stomach clenched as his tongue stroked against hers. She curled her fingers into the rough fabric of his shirt, afraid if she touched his bare skin she might throw caution to the wind.

He’d accused her of working with Balthazar.

Ivar eased back and nipped at her bottom lip, sending lovely ribbons of pleasure cascading through her and raising goosebumps on her skin.

“You… You don’t like me,” she reminded him.

“I like you too much.” He continued to tease her with short, shallow kisses that never went quite deep enough.

Losing the battle to keep herself emotionally distant, she twined her arms around his neck, went up on her toes, and kissed him hard.

His arms came around her. For the first time, a man’s grip wasn’t threatening or confining, but comforting. It was as if every cell in her body sighed and relaxed with the contact.

This man was more dangerous than anyone she’d ever been sent to kill. He’d gotten under her skin, challenged her, aroused her. And he wasn’t anywhere near at full strength.

He could consume me whole.

A chill raced down her spine. She released him and took a step back, chest heaving as she struggled for breath. “That can’t happen again.” Her breath caught when he licked his lips.

“Why not?” When he took a step toward her, she took one back, even though it went against everything in her