Spartan Resistance Read Free Page B

conceded. “Does that scare you?”
    He considered. “Only if you really do want to break my neck. I know I couldn’t stop you.” It took two inhalations to get it out. But he could feel the pressure on his chest starting to ease as the muscles relaxed.
    “Smart, too,” she crooned and her finger slid along his jawline. “For a human, you’re quite intelligent. I like smart people.”
    He stared at her, the flesh along his jaw sizzling at her touch. “Are you…hitting on me?” he asked.
    “I seduce. I don’t hit,” she replied. “Do you want me to seduce you?”
    He cleared his throat. “Not that I don’t find it flattering, that you’re even considering seducing me,” he began, “but part of the problem is that women like you don’t even see guys like me, generally. So…and again, I mean this is the nicest way possible, but I find it hard to believe your offer is genuine. Something in the order of two hundred to one against it. That’s about how often my offer is taken up, against how often I consider offering. And that’s another thing, no offence, but shouldn’t I be the one offering? If I wanted to offer, that is. Because—and I can’t believe I’m going to say this—but you’re sitting on top of me and that has a way of diminishing a guy’s ego, to the point where even if he really was interested enough to offer, he probably couldn’t get the words out because he felt like such an idiot. Speaking hypothetically, of course.” He managed to halt his tongue then. He blew out his breath and looked at her.
    She studied him, her knees not moving. “You’ve never had a woman on top?”
    “Dozens,” he said instantly. “But their knees are not usually where yours are.”
    She smiled and this time it wasn’t a polite, neutral expression like when she had first looked at him. This time, her smile made his breath hitch again. “You have some things to unlearn, young one, like your quaint idea about the man controlling things. A man doesn’t always want control. Many men like to be seduced. They like a woman to take charge, to take control of their pleasure and orchestrate it in time with their obedience. I know, because I have been such a conductor many, many times.” She leaned down, bringing her face closer to his and even closer, to the point where her lips were brushing his cheek. “I could give you such pleasure, little one. Say yes.”
    His chest was back to being locked again, for the pressure of her knees had intensified as she folded over and brought her head toward his. Gawaine instinctively reached for her, to push her off his chest. His hands nearly came together as he grabbed her waist. It was a lot smaller than the wispy semi-transparent fabric had hinted at. And soft. So soft.
    He lifted her for she was, after all, the weight of a snowball even if her vampire status gave her muscle power to spare. Gently, he put her back on her knees on the grass beside him and sat up and brushed at his shirt. “Thanks for the offer, Mavourneen, but I think I’m just an old fashioned guy. Whips and ropes don’t do it for me.”
    She smiled at him. “Call me Neena.”
    “Neena,” he amended.
    Then she swung her fist and caught him on the corner of his jaw. “Do not ever touch my equipment again!” she screamed at him. Then she got to her feet and stalked across the dried out grass, her boot heels digging into the soil with each step. She brushed past Mariana, who was still standing on the verandah, her reading board in her hands.
    She had been watching. Her eyes were very large. That meant news of what he had done would reach Nayara. Gawaine had a healthy respect for the chief of the Agency. He didn’t want her attention drawn too closely to him, for she might pull his visiting privileges. Now, this.
    Gawaine rubbed at his jaw. He could taste copper in his mouth and pushed a finger inside, exploring. He withdrew it and it was covered in blood. “Perfect.” Relationship stuff