The Darkest Kiss (Lords of the Underworld #2)(52)

He was silent a moment. "You may steal from me anytime." Sadly, he feared it was he who would soon be stealing from her. More than ever, he did not want to take her life. Like him, she could have become a living nightmare but she strove to be more. Better.

She tossed him a grin. "Thank you."

His chest started aching. The key. Ask about the key. "Have you spent much time in the Arctic?" he found himself asking instead.

"A little. Oh, this is going to be fun! Well, aside from the digging part." She clapped excitedly. "Just the two of us, snuggled up to keep warm, no worries about Hunters. I doubt any human could survive the cold for long. Now, come on. I don't want to walk anymore. It's a waste of time." In the next instant, she disappeared.

He followed with no hesitation -

Arriving in Greece. The island, his rented home. He dropped his bags, not sensing or seeing any of the other warriors. They were probably still gathering supplies.

Anya plopped on the cream-colored leather couch as if she hadn't a care. With a blissful sigh, she removed her stolen gloves, followed by her boots, revealing pretty white leggings. She tossed both aside. Next she removed her coat - revealing a white lace bra.

His eyes nearly popped out of his head. "That is what you have been wearing all day?"

She grinned wickedly. "Yes. Do you like?"

His cock swelled to life. Again. This time thicker, fuller. Harder, hotter. She was sexier now than when she'd worn the maid's uniform - and she'd nearly felled him then. Thank the gods he hadn't known what little she'd worn underneath. He might have killed everyone who looked at her, and then attacked her there in the snow.

He couldn't tear his gaze away from her. Her stomach was flat and the color of cream, her navel a sensual feast to his eyes. Her breasts were full and ripe, the pink nipples hazily visible and oh so hard. The leggings conformed to her body like a second skin.

"Well? Do you like?" she repeated, stretching out. Her feet were bare, the pretty nails glittering in the light. "You could have seen this and more earlier, but you were too busy being stubborn. Don't be stubborn this time."

"You are beautiful, Anya."

"Come over here and kiss me, then," she beseeched huskily.

"I can't," he croaked out.

"Why not?" She ran a fingertip down her stomach, around her navel. "It's not like I'm asking you to screw me. Just kiss and touch me a little. And FYI, you should know this is the last time I'm going to offer myself to you. Your continued rejection is screwing with my confidence."

A roar sounded in his head. Not touch her? Not kiss her? "Why not more than kissing and touching?"

"Because." She crossed her arms over her middle, smashing her breasts together.

Holy gods. "Answer me."

"Why should I? You rarely answer me." Again she ran a fingertip down the planes of her stomach.

His gaze followed the action. He swallowed a sudden lump in his throat. She would give herself to other men, but not him. The realization sunk in, and he ground his teeth together. Him, she would only allow to kiss her. He wasn't good enough for anything else.

He wanted to hate her for that, but he'd done this to himself. He'd purposefully carved himself so that women would not want him. And though she obviously found him lacking, he still sought to save her life. "We need to discuss something, Anya."

"What? The best way to move your tongue?"

"The key. Give me the key Cronus wants, and I'll do anything you want, kiss you however you want me to."

Color leached from her cheeks. "Hell, no. I don't want you that badly."

He'd known that, but hearing her say it cut deeply. "Giving up the key will save your life."

"Without the key, my life isn't worth living. Now, I don't want to talk about it anymore. I want to talk about us."

"There can be no us until you give me that key."

"The key is mine," she shouted, "and I will never give it up. Do you understand? Never! I would rather die."

"You will die if you don't. You are forcing my hand, Anya."

"What, you plan to steal it?"

He didn't answer.

"You'll regret it if you try."

Still no response.

"Forget the key! We were having fun and could be having more fun right now."

"Cronus came to me, threatened those I love. I am out of time, Anya. I am to bring him the key or you. I would rather bring the key."

The pulse in her neck fluttered riotously. "When did he come to you?"

"Before we went shopping," he admitted.

"That's why you went so easily. You thought to sweeten me up so I'd just hand the key over." She laughed bitterly. "Or maybe you thought I'd slip and tell you where it is and you'd steal it. So much for your lofty principles."

"Which is it to be? You or the key?"

"Me." She raised her chin. "I told you. I will not part with the key."

"Anya," he said, hating himself. Hating Cronus. Hating even the woman he was trying to save. She made him feel. Now, more than ever, emotions were his enemy. "This is your last warning."

"Lucien, I can't give it up." Tears filled her eyes. "I can't."