There was no doubt in his mind if he attempted to kiss her again, the curvy beauty would try to bash his head in.
No chance of that happening.Not because he was afraid of her striking him, nope.His hearthstone could not injure him.Even if the woman threw ten simultaneously in his direction, they would still end up in his palm.
“No worries, little lure, a slip of judgment on my part.It won’t happen again.”He untangled his hand from her hair and removed the other from her hip.Damn, when did I grip her hip?
He decided to leave the question alone as he stepped back.
“You bet it won’t,” she snarled.
It was in him to tease her, challenge the adamancy in her tone, by reminding her that he hadn’t been the only one lost in the kiss, but reasoned with himself that it was best to let her have her conviction.It wouldn’t happen again, so there was no need to get the woman riled up.
He noticed she was talking with the slightest slur, but her lips looked close to a standard size, even though they still appeared too full.Too beguiling.
Liekki took another step away until his back was against the wall next to the fireplace.A safe distance, he hoped.“Put down your weapon, little lure.Eat.”
Her swollen hand didn’t lower, but her sausage fingers tightened around the rock.Her stomach growled, but she held her position.“I don’t know if I can trust you.”
The firelight flickered gold and red tones on the sheet but turned her puffy skin into a captivating bronze.
He shrugged, solely to torment her.“Makes no difference to me.However, it seems you’ve been without food for a while, and the reaction to the honeybees' attack has you more than a bit lightheaded.I’m sure you’ll pass out soon enough...then I’ll have my wicked way with you.”
“What?No.”Her arm began to tremble, and she wisely chose to lower her hand a fraction.She drew the stone close to her chest as if it were a protection shield to ward him off.
His dragon purred, freakin’ purred, at the sight of the hearthstone resting by her heart.
Liekki crossed his arms over his chest as he shook his head at them both.“Eat,” he demanded.
Tentative, she set the stone in her lap as she eyed him.When he didn’t move, she reached for the spoon and scooped up some of the soup broth.She sipped it, then let out the softest sigh.
Without comment, but the apparent satisfaction at the taste, evidenced in the rapt hunger in her unswollen eye as she dove back in for a heartier scoop, told on her.
Silent, he watched her for a moment and was glad the swelling of her tongue had receded; otherwise, he may have needed to mash and cut up her food for her to get it down her throat.
“If it’s cold, I can heat it.”
“No need.It's perfect.”She darted out her tongue over her bottom lip to clear the bit of thick broth that shined there.
He locked his jaw down tight, and heat danced along his markings at the memory of the feel of her tongue under and over his.
Once she had consumed a handful of bites, slaking her hunger, he figured it was an excellent time to get a few questions answered.“What’s your name, feisty?”
She paused for a second and glanced up at him.Then, she spooned more food and shoved it into her mouth before speaking.“Why ask me something you seem to know already?”
Frowning, he straightened his back from the wall.
The spoon clattered against the side of the bowl before sliding into the food when she dropped it and started for the stone.When he didn’t move any closer, she picked up the utensil again.
“How would I know your name?”
“My government...the scientist?”She shrugged and took another bite but continued talking while chewing.“Aren’t they...the ones that sent that beast...you after me?”
Government?Scientist?
“No.”His brow tightened, and his chest expanded.“My beast nor I follow the commands of the human government or anyone else but the Mckenna.”
“Mc-who?”She reached for her beverage.
“Mckenna.”He waved the question in her gaze away.It was his time to get answers.“Name?”
