The Darkling's Desire Read Free

not be dominated—she found herself intrigued at the feel of
his tongue on her skin.
    “What are you?” The man leaned over, bracing an arm on either
side of her shoulders.
    She had nowhere to run, but she wasn’t the kind of woman to
give in that easily.
    “I’ll answer your question if you answer mine.” A hint of a
smile crossed the vamp’s lips as she spoke and after a moment of consideration
he nodded once in agreement.
    “Some Darklings possess unique powers. I can wrap myself in
shadows, can hide in thin air.”
    Anastasia’s mouth fell open a bit at the admission.
    Yes, she was in way over her
head.
    “I am a Carpathian Amazon. Sworn ally to the Darklings.” It was
her turn…and maybe he truly had no idea who he was messing with. “You’ve just
fucked up my mission from the Karpaty Council. So I guess the question is, who
the hell are you?”
    The man actually chuckled. He actually laughed at her! Angry
now, Anastasia squirmed beneath him, trying to free herself, but only succeeding
in making herself aware of the rock-hard muscles that were hidden beneath his
black-as-night shirt and pants.
    “You think this is funny? That woman is a rogue Darkling, a
creature my people are sworn to hunt.” The man chuckled again, and Anastasia
shoved at his chest.
    Strong as she was, he was stronger.
    She didn’t like it.
    “You are small for an Amazon.” Settling his weight more heavily
on her, as if experimenting with the pressure, she felt the jut of his hipbones
press against the curve of her belly.
    She also felt the ridge of an unmistakeable erection, one that
startled her and at the same time made something hot sizzle through her
blood.
    To distract herself, she dignified his rude comment with a
response.
    “To be an Amazon is a state of being, you rube. It has nothing
to do with size.” The man laughed harder, and Anastasia bucked her body up,
trying to free herself. She must have made herself at least a bit of a nuisance,
because the man placed a hand flat on her chest, in the hollow between her
breasts, and pushed her flat onto her back. He held her there until she stilled,
glaring up at him.
    “I am Jasper Nagorsky. I, too, am here for the Council. I will
let you fulfill your mission, little Amazon. Just as soon as I fill mine.” With
that he lowered his head, letting his lips drift over hers.
    Stunned by the movement, Anastasia let Jasper’s lips brush over
hers softly but not at all gently. In the back of her mind she knew that he was
branding her, claiming her, marking his triumph over her and that the kiss had
nothing to do with attraction. Problem was, something deep in her belly
responded and had her hungering to return the kiss.
    Just before she lost control she remembered who she was. Why
she was there. Bracing her hands again on his chest, she shoved as hard as she
could, putting every ounce of her strength into the movement. She saw surprise
flicker through his eyes quickly at the force behind her shove, then he settled
back on his heels, still straddling her body.
    She wished that that kiss had never happened, because now she
was painfully aware of the press of his muscular thighs on either side of her
hips.
    Trying to look as dangerous as she could while propping herself
up on her elbows, she nearly spat her words at him, all the while thinking
frantically of what she could use as a weapon.
    “You will not let me do anything.”
She had two weapons at hand: her body, which the thick length jutting against
his pants told her he wasn’t immune to, and the metal bobby pins in her hair.
Even though heat from the physical contact with this big, raw male suffused her
body, she envisioned stabbing one of those pins into his chest, pointy end
first.
    Not proud of what she was about to, Anastasia let her torso
fall back, even arching her back the slightest bit, displaying her breasts in
her tight black T-shirt like an offering. This was kill or be killed, after all.
Lesson number