Page 105 of Ice King

For what purpose?

After a couple of minutes of me continuing to rub, he appeared as if asleep, his breathing even. Tormenting him was far too tempting. Leaning over, I blew in his ear, enjoying how he murmured but didn’t wake up.

With a dark chuckle, I raked my nail down his spine while shifting further down his legs. God, his butt was a sculpture created by the gods.

My mouth watered with every inch I moved lower until I reached the tops of his thighs. As well as the thick bulge between them.

I fanned my face as soon as heat crested across my jaw. Was it terrible of me to feel such intense desire when I had no idea where this was going? Um, hell, no. I was a woman after all. I bit back a laugh even as I brushed a fingertip across his scrotum, enjoying the husky moan.

When I repeated the sinful action, I wasn’t bothering to pay attention to his reaction.

Bad move on my part.

There was not a single movement from his hulking body before he tossed me over onto my back, yanking my arms into the air. He had the benefit of my legs being tangled in the sheets, but I kicked out anyway, doing what I could to free myself. He was far too strong and grinned in a way that allowed me to know he had no intention of letting me go.

“Now, what exactly did you think you were doing, little girl?”

I dipped my chin toward my breasts since they remained exposed. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not a little girl, but I was trying to annoy a very bad little boy.”

There was something so playful about him as he pressed his full erect cock against my stomach. “Apparently you need glasses. I’m definitely not a little boy.”

“That’s a matter of opinion.”

His smile covered his entire face, but as our laughter faded, so did his expression of joy. “Do you trust me?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“A straightforward one. You asked me if I trusted you so I’m tossing back the same question. Do you trust me?”

The sudden shift to being serious confused the hell out of me. “Yes, I do. Why?” A prickle of heat slipped down my back. I knew once he heard about what I’d gone through, he’d never let it go. Damn it, I was right.

“Then why didn’t you tell me you’d escaped a life of abuse? Did you honestly think I was going to use that against you?”

Shit. Shit.

Squirming, all I could think about was protecting myself. Not because I thought he’d hurt me, but because once again, it felt as if facing the past would someone destroy the present. “Not telling wasn’t about trusting you, although I’ve begun to question myself. Keeping the story locked away was about protecting me. My heart. My soul. All of me.”

“That’s my job, princess. If you’d let go.”

“Letting go isn’t easy. Besides, I can protect myself.”

He lowered his head, not as if he was going to kiss me, but with a look that screamed he was willing to hunt the man down. Maybe I should let him.

“You’re just a girl. A little bitty girl. I’m a wolf.”

“Uh-huh. Do you want me to smack your butt again?”

“Do and you suffer the consequences.” His warning was almost too good to pass up.

Another playful moment that created a strange sense of urgency. “Since we’re going to break down all these walls, what about the woman you can’t mention? Don’t you trust me enough to talk about what happened somewhere in your past?”

Why was it when he was pushed, he always reacted the same? He shut down completely, his entire body tensing, acting as if he was going to climb off the bed. “The subject is off limits.”

“Oh, no, you don’t. Tit for tat. If you want me to talk to you then you need to share whatever this horrible experience was for you. Maybe I can free the chains wrapped around your neck. Which is really what’s keeping you from chasing your dream.”

“How would you know that’s what’s happening?”

Yanking myself free, I wrapped my arms around his neck, clinging to him. “You mean because I’m not a wolf? Well, excuse me,” I teased, noticing the haunted look appearing in his eyes all over again. “Because I learned a long time ago that my instincts were always spot on. Not that I followed them, but I trust what my gut is telling me. That’s all you’re going to get.”