Immortals After Dark 12 - Lothaire

Saroya’s clutches.” He sounded like he was just stifling cruel laughter. “Proceed.”
    “You think you know my plan—and you don’t believe I have a shot in hell.”
    “None whatsoever.”
    “But you’re still going to let me try?”
    “I welcome your most inspired endeavor. Though I hardly think it’s fair—since you wouldn’t have been able to practice your seduction skills in prison. Or perhaps you had been able. Who knows what goes on behind bars?”
    His expression was so mocking, stinging her deeply, like a wound. “This is funny to you?”
    “Uproarious.”
    “And what will Saroya think about what we do?”
    “I’ll be sure to recount all your clumsy attempts to supplant her—so she and I can laugh about them together.”
    Ellie narrowed her eyes. Yes, his mocking stung, but he hadn’t cowed her; he’d just waved a red flag in front of a bull. He’s never had a country
girl.
    An earthy, dirty-mouthed girl—whose very life was on the line.
    She could throw him for a loop. She recalled overhearing boys talking about her in high school: “You ever been parking with Ellie Peirce? It’s life-changing.” She decided then that she knew just enough about males to be dangerous. He’d underestimated her at his peril.
    Reminded that everyone had always underestimated her, she put her shoulders back and strode over to join him, noticing his gaze was locked on her braless breasts. His bulging erection almost made her falter, but when she reached him, she straddled his lap, resting above him on her knees.
    “I want to call the shots tonight, Lothaire.”
    “You?”
    “Yeah, I’ll do all the work. You just sit back and relax after your busy day doing evil. Will you keep your hands to yourself?”
    “Unlikely.”
    “You said you might hurt me if you touched me.”
    “Which is why I demanded head, Elizabeth.”
    “Surely you’re not scared of the mortal virgin driving the truck? Of course, I do have some experience that you might like.”
    He pinched her chin again. “Ah, I’m to enjoy your parking skills.”
    She flung her head back out of his grip, but still smiled at him. “When the only tool you own is a hammer . . .”
    “Every problem begins to resemble a nail.”
    Of course he would be familiar with her favorite saying.
    He absently licked a fang. “I can’t wait to see exactly how you’ll . . . drive.”
    Then I’m gonna give you a ride you’ll never forget.

23
    S he mulishly defies me while giving me a mind-scrambling smile.
    What was she thinking ? The idea that Lothaire would choose this ill-bred peasant over the goddess of vampires? Laughable.
    But, oh, he looked forward to Elizabeth’s inexperienced campaign to sway him. “Do show me how you’re superior to a deity. Or are you losing your nerve?”
    He’d quickly get bored with her game, and then he’d rip off that top and fondle those big, pert breasts of hers for the first time. I’ll tongue those nipples straining against the material.
    “Maybe that’s not the only reason I want to be with you,” she said.
    “Explain.”
    “I’m going to die soon. Maybe I don’t want to die a virgin.”
    “But I won’t fuck you. That I save for my Bride alone.”
    She nibbled her pouty bottom lip. “Then I want to be with you because I’ve gone ages without a man’s touch.”
    Her nipples were so hard he could almost believe she truly desired his hands on her. “I’m not a man.”
    “No. You’re not. But you’ll do.” She reached up and unpinned hersilky mane, letting it cascade over her shoulders. Curls bounced over her breasts, tickling the peaks, her tantalizing scent washing over him—
    Wait. I’ll do?
    Then she reached forward to undo the middle button of his shirt, spreading the opening as wide as it would go, baring the center of his
torso.
    With another smile, she eased in and pressed her mouth to his skin. His muscles tensed beneath her lips.
    She gave a lick. He hissed out a curse. Another button opened, another accompanying kiss. Again and again she did this with the lightest kisses. Sweet but sexy.
    By the time she’d drawn his shirt off his chest, she’d kissed from his collarbone to his navel and started upward again.
    When she reached one nipple, she hovered just over it, letting him feel her warm breath before she grazed her lips over it. At the contact, his shaft pulsed in his pants.
    As he gazed down at her, she flicked his nipple with her tongue, making his body go rigid. Then she