Wickedest Witch Read Free Page B

laughed aloud, her voice husky with derision. “Consider that a no,” she said with a cold smile before sidestepping his prone body and heading for the door. She swept out into the night, puzzled at the fact her pulse raced and her cheeks were flushed with heat. Good thing her glamour hid the signs. She’d hate for word to get around that an animal managed to fluster her. Now if only she could figure out how he’d done it.
    How did that uncouth beast turn me on? Even stranger, why does a part of me wish I’d accepted his offer and gone back to his place to check out the springs in his mattress?

Chapter Three
    Ryker rose from the bar floor and shook himsel f— like a wet dog, wine dropsflyin g— before sitting back on his stool. Taking the towel Barry handed him, he rubbed at his damp hair, still in awe she’d dared to not only put him on his ass, but then dumped her drink on him to boot.
    Fuck me , that woman has spunk. Betcha she’d be wild in bed. But could she handle a man like him? Those bony hips of hers could cause some serious bruises. Maybe if I took her from behind, I could minimize the damage. Then again, I’d first have to convince her to spread her legs far enough to enjoy herself. Somehow, he didn’t think she’d part those thighs too quickly or easily.
    The challenge intrigued him. Shot down or not, he couldn’t help oddly lusting after her. He didn’t come across too many women with her kind of balls.
    Barry clucked his tongue in reprimand. “You just had to antagonize her, didn’t you? Count yourself lucky you are a shifter, or right now I’d probably be mopping up a puddle.”
    “ You’re exaggerating. I bet you she’s a pussy cat underneath all that attitude.
    “A pussy cat?” His friend almost choked. “More like a deadly cougar with sharp claws.”
    “L ucky for her I’ve got a broad back for scratching and super healing powers. I wonder what it takes to get her to purr,” Ryker mused.
    “ You do realize you’re insane. Only a madman would risk his life trying to get close enough to try.”
    A madman or a curious cat. “All women have a soft spot. You just need to find it and stroke it just right.” With a tongue or dick. “Now, given I made her laugh and smile—”
    “Because she dumped your sorry ass on the ground.”
    “The how it occurred isn’t the point. I got her to do it, which means I won, so hand over another beer, bartender, and tell me more about this wicked witch.”
    Ryker found his interest aroused—along with other parts—by her feisty attitude. The deadly tone she’d used when she threatened him had sent shivers—of a good kind—up and down Ryker’s spine. Skinny or not, the female possessed courage, something Ryker rarely saw in women as they tended to find his size and reputation intimidating. Even though I’d never hit a girl. But not all women gave him a chance to prove he was a good guy at heart. Some took one look at him and assumed the worst. A prime example? His ex-fiancée. Was it any wonder he drank himself stupid after the way she humiliated him in front of family and friends?
    He might only admit it to himself, but what a major turn on it was to meet someone with the courage to stand up to him. What a pity, though, that the only available woman he’d found so far with that quality ended up a witch. But damn, I bet she’s wicked in bed.
    Barry handed him a frosty bottle of Coors Light , as in light on the alcohol. Ryker shot him a dirty look, which his friend ignored. Rubbing his chin, Barry mused aloud, “What do I know about the wickedest witch? Not much.”
    “It’s probably more than me. All I know is people say her name like she’s the kiss of death.”
    “She i s— if you cross her. Again, so rumor says. You do know who her granddaddy is, right?”
    “Um, no. Should I?”
    “Rasputin.”
    “Who?”
    “Rasputin as in the Russian sorcerer who had the czar dancing to his tune like a puppet on strings until the attempted