Free Ravaged: An Eternal Guardians Novella (1001 Dark Nights) by Elisabeth Naughton Page B

knew she was playing with fire, but she no longer cared. Before Ari could push her away, she pressed her lips to his.
    He tensed against her mouth. Every muscle in his body went rigid. And though she tried to keep it back, doubt rushed in. Doubt that she’d misread the look in his eyes. That he wasn’t attracted to her like she thought. That his being nice to her here was simply that: politeness and not motivated in any way by the same desire she’d been fighting ever since she awoke in this hold and realized the sexy, rugged, wounded Argonaut had saved her life.
    Slowly, she eased back, breaking the kiss. He didn’t speak. Didn’t move. Just stared at her with those mismatched eyes that seemed to flicker just like the firelight. And in the silence her mind tumbled for excuses, for something she could say to ease the sudden awkwardness. She was a nymph, trained in the art of seduction by Sirens. Awkwardness wasn’t supposed to happen to her. But then he wasn’t supposed to happen to her either, and here she was, hoping for something that had absolutely nothing to do with her mission. Wanting—
    “Where do you think you’re going?” His arm snaked around her back and pulled her in close to the heat of his body. “That wasn’t nearly enough.”
    Daphne drew in one quick breath before Ari’s mouth closed over hers, but relief filled her lungs, seeped into her body, and made her more lightheaded than any wine. She opened instinctively, drawing his tongue into her mouth, groaning at the sweet, masculine taste of him filling her senses. His lips were soft, his mouth wet and alluring, and when he leaned closer and kissed her harder, she knew she was lost.
    She let go of the blanket, pressed her hands against his chest, then shifted her weight and straddled his hips. The blanket fell to her waist. He didn’t break the kiss, continued to nip and suck and lick like he couldn’t get enough. Inching forward, she slid her fingers up his pecs then across his soft, scruffy jaw. His hands found her waist, tugging her even closer. His mouth turned greedy beneath hers. Hot. Wild.
    Settling herself on his lap so she could rub against his rock hard erection, she let him take the lead, wanting only to taste him deeper, to feel him everywhere.
    “Daphne.” He pulled his mouth from hers and pressed kisses along her jaw as he swept his rough fingers up her back. “Daphne,” he whispered again before nipping gently at her earlobe.
    Desire enflamed every inch of her skin. She groaned, tipped her head back so he could trail his wicked teeth and tongue down the length of her neck, rocked her hips against the thick line of his cock straining to be set free.
    He flattened his hands against her shoulder blades, trailed his lips down her neck and across her upper chest, then pressed forward with his forehead, forcing her to lean even farther back. “I know I shouldn’t, but, gods, I want you.”
    She lifted her head. Watched as arousal danced across his flushed features. Wanted only that and more. Wanted to see him on the edge of control, like she was now. “Then take me.”
    His mismatched gaze slid back to hers. Held. Didn’t once waver. And the way he watched her, as if she were the only thing he ever wanted, only made her heart beat faster in anticipation. He looked back down at her breasts. “You don’t know what you’re offering.”
    Oh, yes she did. Suddenly, she knew exactly what she was offering. And it had nothing to do with Zeus or the Sirens. It had only to do with him.
    Capturing his face in her hands, she tipped his eyes back up to hers. “I know exactly what I’m offering. You’re not the monster people say you are, and I’m not afraid of you. If I was, I wouldn’t be here now. I wouldn’t be wet just from the thought of you.”
    A growl rumbled from his chest, one filled with lust and hunger and need. Sliding his hand up her back to cradle her head, he pulled her mouth toward his and devoured her. She moaned