Free Fire's Ice by Brynna Curry

and took a seat on the weight bench out of the way. He was beautiful. Raw power in its purest form. And he probably wouldn’t like for her to think of him that way. Her body didn’t agree. Lust for him was a living, breathing beast walking inside her. She loosened the top button of her red blouse. Wanting another taste of him, his touch. “I could disarm you in thirty seconds.”
    Devin turned toward her, his smile dangerous, eyes that were cold and deadly only moments before twinkled with laughter and heated with longing. “Could you really? You’ve trained with a sword, then?”
    “Merely enough to defend myself if necessary, though I am a skilled archer. As long as you know your opponent’s weakness, training is just a bonus.”
    “And you think you know my weakness?” The corded muscles of his arms rippled as he sheathed the sword and crossed his arms over his chest.
    “Definitely.”
    “Well, then. Care to prove your theory?” Devin crooked a finger, inviting her to join him in the center of the room.
    “I’d love to.” Walking to the weapons case on the far wall, she took her time selecting a sword from his collection, a light, thin blade that would break under his. Then, she took a stance a few feet in front of Devin. “You look so fierce. Wild, even. You wouldn’t hurt me, would you?”
    “Of course not. Clock is ticking, a ghra . Ten seconds.”
    She moved closer, raised her sword to strike, and then tossed it aside.
    “Your strategy needs work.” He laughed. “Five seconds and you’ve thrown away your weapon. Kind of hard to disarm me without it.”
    “Mmm. Have I?” As she loosened another two buttons, Devin’s eyes fell to her gaping shirt. His sword hit the mat as his hands reached for hers. She closed the distance between them. “Everything is a weapon, lover.” Claiming his mouth, reveling when he returned her kiss, Ari pulled him down to the mat.
    “Point taken.” His lips moved to her throat. “You unleash something in me that’s safer locked away.”
    “I like that I do.”
    Tinkling music interrupted them. “Cellphone. It may be Jack.”
    “Okay. Make sure Raine is all right.” Reluctantly, she sat up on the mat and waited while he took the call. As he walked back to her, he offered her a hand up. “Everything all right?”
    “Yes, but we have company coming for dinner in about two hours. I invited them over yesterday morning before I came to see you.”
    “Then we had better prepare for the invasion.” Laughing, she gave him a quick kiss and sailed out of the room.
     

 
    Chapter 11
     
    Devin checked the place settings at the end and right-hand seats of the heavy oak table large enough to accommodate all the Corrigans. The great hall had been recreated to look much the same as the room in his childhood home. Stone walls. Huge fireplace, but the floors were a smooth blue grey slate. Tapestries hung on the walls to add softness to the stone, rather than to block out the chill of Scottish winters. It was a mix of old and new and suited him well. Three white tapered candles stood unlit in each of the candelabra set down the table.
    Where was she? He would have to leave soon to help Allie flash the others here. He waited ten minutes more. Finally losing his patience, he started up the open staircase to see just what was taking Arianne so long.
    Dark boots froze in mid-step as he took in the impossibly high heels cupping slender feet, traveling slowly up mile long legs until they reached the hem of Arianne’s flirty red dress just above her knee. He let his eyes travel up the soft, barely there straps holding up the silky material covering her breasts. He only had to brush her shoulder and the dress would slide to the floor, if he dared. Did he? Hell, yes. He groaned out loud before he could stop himself. “You are the devil.”
    “I could say the same, but instead I’ll just enjoy watching you fall into a pool of lust at my feet. Do you like it? I think red is my