The bastard snagged me in midair.
A snarl of anger tore from my lips as he effortlessly hauled me back against him. His pine-and-spice scent filled my nostrils. I struggled against his hold, his grip like an iron vise around my arms.
“I can do this all night,” he taunted, his voice low. “But I’d prefer not to.”
Fueled by anger and panic, I threw my head back without thinking, connecting with his chin. A spike of pain joined the pounding as he grunted in surprise.
“Fuck,” he swore, his grip loosening enough for me to break free. “That was unnecessary.”
I took off.
He caught my arm and spun me to the side. Lifting me, he held me close to him.
Gods, his strength was shocking.
I frantically searched for an escape route as he moved away from the door again. Unfortunately, my efforts were futile as the distance between me and my freedom grew larger and larger. Desperate to break free, I pulled my legs up and swung both ourbodies backward. He slammed into one of the wooden bedposts, causing it to creak loudly. A grunt of pain escaped him as he staggered a foot to the side. Pulling my knees up again, I threw my weight back.
He went down, this time landing on the bed instead of the floor with my back to his chest.
“Let me go!” I thrashed wildly, only managing to make him tighten his hold on me.
“I can’t do that, Poppy,” he said with a hint of regret.
I dug my nails into the arm around my waist and heard him hiss in pain. That gave me a little wiggle room—just enough to create enough space to draw my arm back. I shoved my elbow into his stomach. He cursed, his grip loosening. I twisted and faced him, lifting my arm.
He caught my wrist. “What poor manners you have,” he drawled with a bloody smirk. “Hitting isn’t nice.”
Clamping an arm around my waist, he yanked me down again. Somehow, I ended up straddling him, the softest part of me pressed to the hardest part of him.
My mind went blank for a moment as I thought I picked up the sound of approaching footsteps. I wasn’t sure because I was stunned by the feel of him beneath me.
I liked it.
A lot.
A riot of sensations erupted in me—a confusing mix of desire and fear. Both were unacceptable. I needed to move, but I could feel his heartbeat thudding against my chest in sync with mine. I breathed him in, the intoxicating mix of his scent and blood sending a pleasant warmth coursing through my veins. I wanted it. I wantedhim. A shudder swept through me. It was overwhelming, and for a second, I couldn’t remember why I had been fighting him.
Not safe here.
Instinct kicked in, reminding me of who he was—aliar, athief, amanipulator…amurderer, and amonster. The rush of lust and desire didn’t fade, though.
Gods, there was something very wrong with me.
His chest rose beneath mine as his nostrils flared, his eyes darkening into pools of heated honey. A sharp pulse of desire coiled low in my stomach.
“Princess?” He lifted his head. “I can smell your desire.”
My entire body flushed hot, and my ears burned as the footsteps drew nearer.
Our mouths were so close that his lips brushed mine when he spoke. “I can practically taste your lust. Honeydew,” he murmured. I turned my head slightly, letting my eyes close.
My breath snagged in my chest as a sudden memory rose: a cold night under crimson leaves, his body hot and hard behind mine, his hand between my thighs. A warm, shivery sensation radiated from my core, so intense that it silenced everything, even the throbbing pain in my head. Even the hunger. Iremembered. We’d been in the Blood Forest with others, though I’d known him by a different name then. There were guards. But that hadn’t mattered. Another shudder raced through me.
He had been the first to give me pleasure with his touch.
He’d been my first foreverything.
No.
