Page 33 of Grimoire Omens

I spoke nonchalantly about theft, even as I’d never stolen a damned thing in my life.

“And if things don’t proceed with ease?” he growled.

On tiptoe, I leaned close enough my next words could whisper across his lips. “If shit goes south because of me, then I’ll owe you a blow job.”

Judging by his crossed eyes, he understood what that meant. I would have probably laughed and blown him a kiss, only he then did the most unexpected thing.

Dragged me close and growled right against my mouth, “Here’s to hoping calamity strikes.”

9

Finally, a man had managed to throw me off balance—and soak my panties in the process. I mean talk about hot and holy arousing. The elf prince wanted me to blow him.

Was it romantic? Nope. Was it love? Not even close. Was it all about a dude dying for me to wrap my lips around his dick for a good suck? Totally. But considering the fact I’d assumed he hated me, it felt like a step in the right direction.

What direction you might ask?

Why to my happily ever after, of course. I’d not given up on it. After all, I’d been attempting to summon my true love. Admittedly, the spell I chose might not have been the best choice. However, there remained a chance that either Ulseere, or even Gryvak, could be the one. Although, seeing as how Gryvak wanted to rule over humanity, I really rooted for it to be Ulseere.

For those thinking I settled, I could do worse. The dude personified hotness. Could move like a jaguar stalking in a jungle. Oozed sex. Came from royal?—

“Would you stop staring at my buttocks and thinking so hard?” he growled as we headed down the hall to the stairwell. “It’s distracting.”

“If you didn’t want your ass admired, then you shouldn’t wear such snug pants.” He’d ditched the long duster so I had a nice view of his cheeks flexing.

“We don’t have time for me to bed you and rid ourselves of this ridiculous attraction.”

I blinked and stopped dead. “Wait, are you saying you’re attracted to me?”

“As if it weren’t obvious.”

I quickly skipped to catch up to him. “Obvious how? When you’re insulting me? When you’re telling me I’m only good as bait?”

“If it weren’t for my unwanted arousal for your person, I’d have killed you and destroyed the book by now.”

I stopped dead again. “You’d murder me to stop Gryvak?”

“Eliminating you would prevent Gryvak’s return to Infernal and would provide an adequate resolution for the king’s mission. However, for some damnable reason, I’ve kept you alive,” he grumbled with obvious annoyance. “I blame my unseemly lust for not doing my duty.”

A very begrudging compliment. “For a guy who’s attracted to my ass, you sure haven’t shown it.”

“I thought I just explained how I did.”

“Um, on Earth, guys who like girls usually ask them on dates, or buy them flowers, or try a cheesy pick-up line, like hello, cute witch, I’ve got a broom stick you can ride.”

“Why would I offer you vegetation or a cleaning implement?” he asked in all seriousness as he held open the stairwell door—after he’d stuck his head through to scan it.

Rather than answer, I countered. “How do guys from your world let a woman know they’re interested?”

“We show them.”

“Show them how?”

I had no warning. None at all. One second, I stood in the hall and he held the door open. The next, I’d been dragged against his solid chest and firm lips pressed against mine.

There was nothing gentle about his actions. Everything, including the kiss, was hard, just like him, and yet as he slid those lips over mine, there was also a soft sensuality, a breathtaking awareness, a jolt of desire, a need to?—

Take a cold shower because the embrace stopped as quickly as it started.