His words gave me an idea.

I leaned up and sunk teeth into his thigh. Biting.

Just like a cornered squirrel.

He caught my hair and pulled my head back enough I had to look up at him. His pants slightly ripped where I'd shoved my teeth threw.

It was no love bite.

"Is that the best you can do? You've caused me a lot more pain than that." He said through gritted teeth. Blue eyes flashing.

But there was danger written all over him.

"Aren't you the tough one?" I said sarcastically.

He smirked. Dropping my hair and letting his forearm rest on his knee.

I dropped my head back to the ground but knew better than to press him further. Fighting him harder now would only incite him. "It's funny how you're always haunting my steps, Gray. Yet your army can never catch up."

"Told you." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "They can't travel as fast as me."

"Course not." I glared at him. "Day Dog."

"What do you get out of calling me that?" He frowned.

"Merely the vast pleasure of annoying you."

"Hmm." He reached down and flicked my nipple under my dress.

I hissed through my teeth. Feeling my body immediately react to that fierce touch. Already I could feel my body wetting for him. I pressed my thighs together and hoped he'd not find out.

"Oh..." He tilted his head. Blatant interest on his face. "You're watching me to see if I've noticed something. What?"

His gaze slipped over my body, barely hidden by the thin dress. "Do you have a weapon on you, you hope to use?"

"Yes." I said hastily. Meeting his look with all the ferocity I could muster."

"So...That's a no..."

Perceptive bastard.

"How about I search you?" He slid a palm over the top of my dress. Sloping his hand over the swell of one breast. Dragging it excruciatingly slowly over that buttoned nipple. Following the rouching on the dress down to my belly where it indented slightly over the divot of my belly button. Then lower.

I held my breath as his hand slid down my pelvis. His fingers brushing over the slight mound at the crux of my thighs.

"Oh?" He paused.

"You're holding your breath." He whispered conspiratorially. "I must be close."

I felt my cheeks heating furiously.

"What is this?" The hint of eagerness entered his voice as he pressed my skirt in along the start of my crevice. His wrist brushed my hip and I winced.

Apparently when Craven had healed the injuries the goblin had left on me, he hadn't noticed bruising on my hipbones where the thin flesh had been viciously pinched in his urgency.

He stopped, tipping his head.

"You're hurt." There was a nearly accusing note in his voice.

His hand retracted to rest back on his knee, but his gaze pinned me. "Who abused you now?"

I blinked at him. Not wanting mocked or chastised by telling him I'd allowed myself to be cornered by a goblin.

"Woman..." He growled fiercely. Catching my arm and pulling me up to a sitting position. "One of these damn days I'm going to be done playing with you. And I'm going to pitch you over my shoulder and haul you back."

His jaw tightened. "Where no one will touch you but me."

In truth, I was rather surprised he hadn't tried that already.

He was strong enough to do it.

I told myself it was because he knew I'd fight him tooth and nail. And I am rather good at making a scene.

"Oh!" I crooned. Turning my head in feigned seduction. "Wouldn't that be just lovely!"

His mouth tightened and his eyes went hooded at my mocking tone.

I fluttered my fingers near my face as if I tried not to faint. "The great Jackson Gray taking me for his very own! How lucky am I?"

"Keep baiting me, Baby Girl." He warned.

"And one day, I'll sink my teeth right in." He chomped. Blue eyes glittering.

I found myself leaning away. Knowing how dangerous an Eternus' bite could become.

My hand fell and I looked at him flatly. Glancing to the trees beyond him to verify that none of his army hid there.

And looking for a way away from him.

He gave a cold laugh. "Always trying to figure out how to escape me, aren't you?"

He snatched one of my hands and pulled me up to my feet.

Before I could balance myself, he gave another small tug and sent me careening into his solid chest.

My cheek clattered against gold chain male and warm male.

I tried to launch back as though I'd been burned but a flat palm against my shoulder-blades wouldn't let me writhe away.

"Look at you." He said softly. "Throwing yourself at me, yet again."

"Very funny." I snorted. "I've never in my life thrown myself at you."

"Didn't you?" His eyes flashed in a rare glimpse of fury.

Perhaps I had. Once.

Long, long ago.

But that wasn't something I was willing to even think about, now.

He lost that right.

***

"Is there a purpose to this little nap intrusion?"

"Actually, I didn't intrude. I was watching over you."

Truly? I eyed him askance. Highly doubting that.

"From what?"

"Craven." He said blandly. Knowing full well how the incubus hungered for me.

For some reason, the incubus only avoided me when Gray was near.

"I had a protective sect." I pointed at the clumped leaves around the shrub I snuggled beneath.

"No. You didn't." He pointed to a gap in the piled leaves. "There's tracks leading there."

"I'd guess your dress dragged through it." He lifted the hem for my inspection, pointedly. Showing me where mud and twigs clung to it. Before letting it fall.

Without a complete circle of protection, Craven would've easily found me.

Too easily.

He'd have been unable to resist.

"I don't need a body guard." I said more weakly than I'd have liked.

"I beg to differ. You should have a swarm of them." His gaze flicked over my face. "Castrated ones."

"No? What if I want a cock?" I asked snidely. Responding defiantly at his possessive statements. But realizing instantly my mistake. Instead of goading his temper I was walking into a trap.

Shouldn't have said it.

"Then you can have mine. Stuffed in you. Whenever you like." He said gruffly. Smashing more fiercely against him."

"Let me go, Gray."

"Never."

I glowered up at him. Struggling to no avail.

He held me too close for me to get any leverage to put distance between us.

I was stuck smushed against him like a bit of meat in a sandwich.

Where the bread was entirely to warm.

And hard.

Thinking about him hard was getting me damp again.

I shifted my weight.

"You have that look again." He remarked.

I gave him a contrivedly blank expression.

"The one that says your hiding something."

"I'm not."

"Then why are you blushing."

"Because I can feel your cock through your pants."

"Why should that bother you now? You've left it like that on more occasions than I can count."

I gasped in outrage. "That wasn't me! Just because I wouldn't say-"

He lifted a brow and I silenced.

Clamping my mouth shut.

"Say what, Baby Girl? Let's hear it out of those gorgeous lips."

"Go rot!"

"Only if you go with me."

"Does this teasing work with your Eternus women?"

"I don't know."

"The hell you don't."

"I wasn't saying I don't know, as if I've never had one. It just doesn't take any teasing to get them flat on their back in my bed."

I grimaced at that image. My gaze falling to a spot on his chainmail. Hearing him talking about such things sickened me.

"You wouldn't have to be jealous if you were the one in it." He hissed a bit acidly.

"I don't want in your bed." I spat. Tipping my head back to glare at him.

"No?" He snatched both my wrists in large fists, before I could react. Pinning them behind my lower back. With his free hand he caught my skirt at my hip. His gaze never leaving my face as he fisted the material. Sending it crawling over my leg as it lifted bit by bit.

"You know what I'm going to do to you, Baby Girl?"

My chest was heaving and I was staring at a spot to the side of him. Refusing to acknowledge him.

But I knew.

He leaned down to speak so close, his lips brushed mine. "I'm going to touch you. And if you're wet, I'm going to put my finger in you and stroke into your tight little hole until you're riding my hand begging for more. Than I'll leave you wet and wanting more...Again."