“Make me.” If he thought he could just intimidate her with a few harsh words, he’d have to do better than that. She wasn’t afraid of him.

“Watch me.”

Amaury ground his cock against her. Damn it—did all vampires constantly have hard-ons, or was this one an anomaly?

“What? That’s your solution to everything, isn’t it? Make the little woman submit.”

He was enormous. Getting angry had obviously aroused him. She wasn’t far behind. The sheer power he had over her made her insides melt. That, and the intoxicating male scent that was purely Amaury, and if bottled would sell for a fortune.

“That’s right.” He inhaled sharply. “And it’s apparently working.”

Did he have to notice that her body was so acutely attuned to him? That all he needed to do was press his taut muscles against her to elicit a purely wanton reaction from her?

He released one of her wrists and dropped his hand to her breast where her nipple had already pebbled at the mere suggestion he was going to touch her.

“I won’t stop what I’m doing. Not for you or anybody else.” Just because her body was crumbling didn’t mean her mind was weak too.

Amaury greeted her defiance with a rakish smile. “I wasn’t expecting anything less from you. But I’m not letting you do it alone anymore. You, chérie, won’t leave my side until this is over.”

“What are you trying to do? Imprison me?” Nina lifted her chin in defiance.

“Sounds like an interesting idea. I could chain you to my bed. As we already know, you’re no stranger to bondage.”

His lewd suggestion sent a twinge of anticipation through her stomach. She felt a trickle of moisture ooze from her core and pool in her panties. He had looked yummy when he’d been all tied up. She licked her dry lips.

“You have to do more than chain me to your bed if you want me to give in.” At least he’d first have to get her to scream with pleasure, before she’d even consider such a thing as surrender.

“Like what?”

I could think of a few positions off hand.

Instead she said, “Make me a promise.”

The spot between his eyebrows twisted into a deep crease.

“I’m not the promise kind of guy, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

Had he truly misunderstood her, or was he yanking her chain?

“Oh, please, don’t even insinuate that I’m interested in you for anything more than a quick fuck,” she said.

Or two, or three.

“I want a promise that you will do anything to clear my brother’s name.”

She looked into his eyes. They were deep blue again, beautiful and sinful.

“Fine. You have my promise. I’ll help you. Under one condition.”

“What condition?” She held her breath. There was something about the smoldering way he looked at her that made her heart skip a beat or two.

“We’ll seal the deal now.”

Eighteen

Amaury looked into Nina’s apprehensive face. She knew what was coming—she was all woman. He wouldn’t disappoint her.

“Every promise needs a token. Here’s mine.” He led her hand to his impatient cock, pressing her open palm against his hard flesh. Even through the fabric of his pants he felt her warmth and softness. Her touch sent his heart racing again.

The woman was driving him insane, and if vampires could have heart attacks, she would surely cause him one. Seeing her in Luther’s hold—no, he had to wipe the image from his mind.

“Is that the only thing you can think of?” Her sweet voice was softer now.

He allowed himself to inhale her feminine scent. Was she using vanilla-scented soap or was this her own unique smell her body produced? Just a whiff catapulted his senses into overdrive.

“Apparently when I’m with you, that’s what’s on my mind.” And that wasn’t even a lie.

“Can’t you wait until we’re back at your place?”

“Evidently not.” His cock strained against her hand as she tortured him by squeezing. Vixen. Minx. Seductress.

When he’d dragged her into this room, he’d planned on having angry sex with her, but now, he didn’t feel that angry anymore. Well, he could always have angry sex with her some other time, since for sure she’d make him mad about something else soon enough. Her compliance never lasted long.

But as long as Nina purred like the sweet kitten which she surely wasn’t, he would take advantage of taking her without fear of her claws injuring him. Not that his pleasure wouldn’t be heightened by a few scratches. Or a few bites.