Undying Embrace by Jessica Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

under her skirt and against her thigh. The little minx.
    Arran swiveled his head back in her direction. Air punched from his lungs. Christ . Blood surged to his cock. The overwhelming urge to stroke the rock-hard length at the sight of her was short-circuiting his brain. Gabrielle stood, one boot in front of the other, palming a short dagger. She was ready to fight.
    He was ready to fuck.
    Rocking from one foot to the other, he searched for the strength not to take what was his. Mentally, he shook his head. No. She’s not yours, asshole . But damn if his cock had the sense to listen.
    “I know you weren’t about to kiss me, warrior. Were you?” Gabrielle raised a delicate brow and tilted her head. “Because last I heard before you walked away, my kiss was ‘forgettable.’”
    Ouch . Arran had a feeling that asinine comment from two years ago would come back to bite him in the ass. It had been a lie. And hurting her had nearly killed him. But wounding Gabrielle had been what he’d had to do. He’d wanted her to hate him, to forget about him—to move on.
    “Give me the blade, Gabrielle.”
    “This?” She twirled the dagger, then palmed the hilt and held it up for display. “You want it?” A devious smile lit her face. With her other hand, she beckoned him with her fingers. “Come and take it.”
    Bad challenge, kitten . A tremor started in his gut and worked its way up, until it was a buzz inside his brain. Every cell in his body wanted to take.
    Mark.
    Claim.
    A gasp of air in her ear was the only indicator that he’d grabbed her. He didn’t remember the trip. Arran lifted her feet from the floor, whirled, and gently laid her on the stairs, pressing his hips, his chest into hers. He had to get his body next to hers. Everywhere. The dagger fell from her hand, rolling and thumping its way down the steps, each tumble a hollow thud.
    The loud percussions bypassed the noise inside his head and brought him to a dead halt. He lay with his hips between her legs, his groin pressed to hers. His mouth suspended above her lips. Arran lowered his gaze. God, how he loved the delicate line of her lips, a perfect bow. So full and pink. Her tongue darted out and moistened the lower one. There was no stifling the groan rolling from the back of his throat.
    He looked up. Passion mixed with doubt and fear stared back at him. “I’m sorry.” The whispered words tumbled from his heart.
    Gabrielle blinked, then swallowed. “Why?”
    “For hurting you.”
    Her eyelids lowered, and her breath hitched. Did she believe him? Was an apology enough for what he’d done? He’d walked away, leaving her to think he’d never wanted her, when the truth was, he’d wanted her more than his next breath. Sorry sounded so insignificant, compared to how much damage he’d done to her heart.
    For years, he’d pushed the slow simmer of desire for her to the back of his mind, but now, having her this close, beneath him, it erupted into a full boil. His skin prickled, and the hairs on his body stood on end. The sound of Gabrielle’s heart was a thundering drumbeat inside his head. She’s yours—take her. Look at her . Gabrielle opened her eyes, her lips parted. She wants you . She just can’t admit she’s forgiven you yet. Arran jammed his eyelids closed, the voice of the beast inside his head chipped away at his control. No! I won’t do that to her. She’s not ready. And never will be.
    His chest hurt. Inside his gut, his stomach torqued into a knot of hunger driven by his lust for blood. Gabrielle’s.
    He had to get out of there. His arms shook as he pushed himself back onto his heels. She came forward into a sitting position and wrapped her palm around his bicep. He clutched one of the spindles of the stair rail as a cold sheen of sweat popped from his pores, sending a shiver racing up his spine.
    Arran grabbed her hand, unable to halt the snarl that followed. He jerked back, stumbling to his feet, and jammed his fangs into his bottom