Undying Embrace by Jessica Lee Read Free Book Online

lush curves of her ass, and a shirt that couldn’t have been more than a decked-out bra did its best to contain her full breasts. Shiny black leather boots wrapped her legs, highlighting the toned sweep of her calves. And the way her hips swayed with each step in those high heels… There could not be a repeat of tonight. Arran slowly shook his head. He would end up killing someone if she dressed like this again.
    She turned her head to the side, facing him. “I don’t need a babysitter. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.” She shifted and faced him head-on. “You’ve been gone a long time, Arran. Things have changed. I’ve changed.”
    “Maybe so. But you’re not taking on that colony alone. I can’t believe Logan let you come here without him.” Gabrielle turned her back, rearranging her purse on the table. Shit . He recognized that body language. “You didn’t tell him, did you?” Arran closed the distance between them.
    “No. I didn’t need him here.” She looked up, fierce determination written on her face. “I can handle this. Alex needs me. And I’m going to be there for her.” She shifted to face him again, leaning her hip against the table. “I’m smart enough to know if—and when—I need help.”
    Arran closed in, crowding her personal space, wanting a reaction. Aching for it, actually. Gabrielle straightened and took one step back but stopped and lifted her chin, refusing to cower and give him the reaction he itched for. She caught on quick.
    “You think you have it all handled, lass?”
    “Yeah, I do.”
    “You got it all under control?”
    The amber color of her irises had grown molten. He allowed a small smile to pull at the corner of his mouth, loving the way she got all hot and bothered when he pushed her.
    “Yes. I do.” The words had barely left her lips when she attacked, one leg coming out to catch the back of his ankle. Caught off guard, he stumbled.
    Before Arran could regain his balance, Gabrielle had his wrist locked in her grip. Swinging his arm up, she spun underneath, twisted, and wrenched his arm up the middle of his back, then shoved him face-first into the wall.
    Well, damn. Not bad . “You’ve been training,” he mumbled against the Sheetrock.
    “A little.” She sounded quite proud of herself. Gabrielle was good. She’d caught him by surprise. But she was human. A woman. And no match for a mature vampire. Especially more than one.
    With a burst of speed, Arran pushed back, forcing her to release him instead of falling on her rear. He whirled, catching her before she hit the floor. In less than a second, their positions reversed. Except this time, he’d pinned her back against the wall, her hands imprisoned by his, over her head.
    The position pushed her full breasts up, almost spilling them from her top. Nice. He lifted his gaze, prepared for a hard glare. If her eyes were molten earlier, they were near boiling now. Arran couldn’t have stopped the next words that spilled from his lips if he’d tried.
    “I win.”
    “You asshole!” Gabrielle squirmed and bucked against him like a feral cat. Instead of gaining her freedom, though, each maneuver jammed her tighter into his hold. Her every inhale shoved her breasts into his chest. Heat radiated off her body, threatening to scramble his brain. Before he knew he’d even moved, his lips hovered over hers. What made him stop, God only knew. Maybe it was the way she’d suddenly grown still? Or maybe it was the moment she’d parted her lips, releasing warm, peppermint-scented bursts of air that seduced his mind. So damn enticing. All he had to do was lean in one more inch, and he’d—
    Fire shot up his arm. “Son of a…” Releasing her, he jumped back and flung his gaze to the offending limb. Blood.
    A thin line of crimson blossomed along the outside of his bicep. She’d played him. Purposefully distracted him, so she could pull her hand free and reach for a blade that must have been hidden