Ivar's Escape (Assassins of Gravas #2) - N.J. Walters Page 0,30

wasn’t smart.

Their time together was short. Once help arrived, they’d part ways. She and Zaxe would forge a new life. But that no longer held the appeal it once had. And that was all Ivar’s fault.

“The color of your skin is unique—dark and rich in tone. In all my travels, I’ve never met another woman like you.”

“Not that you remember.” It was as much a reminder to her and it was to him. It would be easy to get lost in the compliments dripping from his silver tongue. “Even if we had sex, I’d still give you to the Gravasians.” Why was she antagonizing him? Why didn’t she simply tell him the truth?

Because she wanted him to like her for her. To want her even if she was going to give him over to people he thought were his foes.

And that made absolutely no sense. Ivar confused her, made her want to pull him closer even as she wanted to push him away.

“I know.” His fingers stroked down the center of her chest. Beneath her vest, her breasts swelled, the peaks hardening. “It doesn’t seem to matter. I still want you.”

“You’d want any woman. You’re grateful to me for rescuing you. Add that with how long you’ve been imprisoned, of course you want sex.”

The sound he made was somewhere between a huff of exasperation and a laugh. “You’re a difficult woman to understand, Delphi, but I’ve always loved puzzles. And it wouldn’t be sex. That’s cheap and easy and can be found almost anywhere.” He touched her chin, lifting it until she was staring into his golden eyes. “While I’m grateful, I wouldn’t want to sleep with any other woman.”

“So you say.” She couldn’t allow herself to believe him.

“So I know.” His certainty made her waver. “And I don’t want sex. I want to strip off your clothes and stroke every inch of your skin. I want to learn the shape of your breasts, to taste the essence between your legs.”

Her core clenched and her breasts ached. She bit her lip to keep from screaming, “Yes!” Instead, all she managed was a hoarse, “Ivar.”

His big body shuddered. “I love it when you say my name. My name. You gave that to me.”

“It’s only gratitude you feel.”

“It’s not, but there’s only one way to prove it.” He gently eased her arms from around her legs and angled his head toward the blanket. “Let me touch you. You can stop at any time.”

That made her laugh, the sound desperate and filled with suppressed longing. “I’m not sure I can.”

He sucked in a breath and nodded. “And I wouldn’t want to. But I will. All you have to do is say the word.”

This was crazy. There was no way she should do this. This was likely nothing more than a ploy to get her weapons from her.

He could have already taken them. She likely wouldn’t have noticed. That was how distracted she was.

Furious with herself and with him, she yanked her daggers from their sheath and tossed them aside. If he wanted them, he’d have to go get them. That would give her time to access the garrote bracelet on her wrist.

She wasn’t helpless or unarmed.

Stretching out on the blanket, she stared up at the ceiling. “Fine.”

****

Not exactly the most gracious acceptance, but he understood her more than she thought. She wasn’t used to being vulnerable.

For a second, he’d wondered if he’d pushed her too far, if she was going to end his torment once and for all and slam the blades home.

She’d tossed them away.

For her, it was a huge step.

Go slowly.

Beneath her bravado, Delphi was skittish as a virgin. That gave him pause before he shook his head. Impossible. She was a vibrant, independent, desirable woman in her mid-twenties or so. She’d likely had many lovers.

A low growl rose from his chest, spilling out before he could stop it.

“What?” she asked.

He shook his head and shoved the possessive feelings aside to deal with later. Best he get on with things before she changed her mind. Ignoring the nagging ache in his ribs and the way his bruises throbbed, he undid the fastenings of her vest and peeled back the sides.

He cursed the lack of light. Oh, there was enough for him to see her, just not in the way he wanted. I’ll make love to her someday on a soft bed with the rays of the sun illuminating her beauty. An image of a room popped into his head and disappeared.