Seduce the Darkness (Alien Huntress #4)(25)
Author: Gena Showalter

"Argh!" She balled her fingers into a fist and pounded at his chest like it was a punching bag. "Can you take nothing seriously?" When she realized she’d moved on her own, she blinked down at her hands, wiggled her fingers.

He barely had time to register the wickedly satisfied gleam in her eyes before she’d slapped him. The force of skin zipping over skin stung, but that didn’t stop his grin from forming.

When she reached up to do it again, Devyn grasped her wrist, preventing the action. Rather than take control of her next movements with his mind, he brought her palm to his mouth and tenderly kissed her hammering pulse. She allowed it. A shiver rocked her, and her core brushed his penis.

"Do you want to continue our conversation or get right to the loving?" he asked, trying to cut back another moan.

There were several beats of silence. He couldn’t guess what thoughts were rolling through her mind. He knew what he wanted her to think, though: she shouldn’t want to want him, but want him she did.

Women loved temptation … forbidden fruit. Devyn was both of those things, and he knew it. He was a blatant womanizer, shameless, unapologetic, and totally lacking in moral fiber. Many had tried to tame him, and every one of them had failed. He simply wasn’t tamable, though he did love for women to try.

"I want to continue the conversation," she finally said, the words like velvet-covered steel. Pity.

She licked her lips, the pink tip of her tongue swiping back and forth and giving him all sorts of ideas. That tongue, circling the head of his cock. That tongue, laving his testicles. That tongue, riding up and down his shaft.

"Do you give yourself to so many women because you’re trying to fill a void?" she asked. "Were your parents mean to you or something?"

"There is no void," he snapped. He was what he was, and there was no more to it than that. That she’d pegged his parents was irrelevant. "Now enough of that." He wouldn’t let her ruin the mood he’d gone to such pains to set. "Are you thirsty? A proper host always sees to the comforts of his guests." He angled his head, giving her a better view of his throbbing pulse.

Again, she paused. Again, she licked her lips. "No, thanks." Trembling, slurred again. Her palms flattened on his chest, her nails digging deep. "I had a lot to drink before I came."

Tendrils of something dark swept through him, and he gripped the arms of his chair to prevent himself from gripping her and shaking her. Who had she drunk from? A man? Had she slept with him, too? Vampires often fed and loved at the same time, each act increasing the pleasure of the other.

The thought of this challenging female sinking those teeth into someone else, the thought of that wet sheath riding a c**k other than his, should not have bothered him. Didn’t bother him, he assured himself. He had not been jealous a day in his life, and he wouldn’t start now. That would have meant he desired more than a few sweet hours with Bride, and he didn’t. He was merely disappointed, for he’d hoped to be the one to feed and sleep with her tonight, and now he’d have to wait.

"Fine, then." The grinding force of his tone surprised him. "We’ll jump right to the questions. Where’s Nolan?"

"You told me you didn’t need to know that anymore. I agreed to continue our conversation because I thought we were going to talk about the vampires."

"We were. I changed my mind. If you want answers of your own, you’ll give me what I seek. Where’s Nolan?"

"My apartment," she gritted out. "Where’s Aleaha?”

“A motel. Where’s your apartment?"

"Not telling. What motel?"

"Not telling."

They stared at each other for a moment.

"Well, that was informative." He sighed, making sure the warmth of his breath trickled down the valley of her br**sts. Whether she allowed much more intimacy this night, she would not leave this room unscathed. His scent would be imprinted on her every cell, and she would think of him every time she breathed.

Goose bumps broke out over her skin. "Let’s back away from the topic of Nolan and Aleaha for a moment. As planned. Tell me about the vampires you’ve met."

With her demand, the way to have her, at least somewhat, presented itself. He almost purred with satisfaction. "And what will you give me in return, hmm? You’ve already proven you won’t give me the answers I seek."

She eyed him warily. "What do you want?”

“A kiss."

"Where?"

"So suspicious." He tsked under his tongue. "I meant my cock, of course." A choking sound bubbled from her. "No way. Hell, no. Never. I’ll die first.”

“Darling, that’s just silly. You can’t possibly know that for sure until you try it. But I can honestly tell you no woman has ever died from giving me a blow job. They’ve come close to dying of pleasure, yes, but in the end they did survive, I assure you." He sighed. "If you’d rather, you can kiss me on the mouth. Though I can’t guarantee you won’t nearly die of pleasure from that, as well."

"You are the most egotistical man I’ve ever met." Even as she spoke, her gaze dropped to his lips, lingering … savoring? "It’s beyond frustrating. I don’t know how to deal with you."

"Should I pretend I’m ugly?"

"No. You should … oh, I don’t know." Her head fell back, her back arching as she peered up at the ceiling, as if imploring the heavens for support. Her core brushed his penis yet again.

Sweet fire. "I’d think my honesty easier to deal with than another’s lies."

She blew out a breath. It trickled over his skin the way his had done to hers, branding him with her scent, orchids and midnight tempests. "Maybe you’re compensating for something." Before he could toss her on the floor and yell at her for even considering such a foolish thing, she added, "Fine, I’ll give you a kiss on the mouth for every question you answer, but you don’t get to touch me while I’m doing it."

Slowly he relaxed. "Very well, I won’t touch you unless you beg." Something he was (almost) confident he could make her do.

"Like that’ll happen." At least her confidence didn’t seem to match the level of his. "Just so you know, you only get to collect when I’m satisfied with your answers. And you can’t lie," she added in a rush.

"Deal. Don’t worry, I’ll be keeping score inside my head, and I’m very good at math. Example: Devyn plus Bride minus clothes plus a hard, flat surface multiplied by roaming hands equals greatest pleasure ever. When shall we begin?"

Her jaw had dropped during his equation, but she quickly collected herself. "Let’s start now." Those inky locks cascaded down her arms, brushing his stomach as she faced him dead on. "Where did you meet the vampires?