All of his boasts incinerated to ash as he drank in the sight of her nudity.
This female owned a piece of him whether she knew it or not. Her letters over those many months had made him curious about her, but it was the woman who strode into his casino tonight who’d captivated him the way no other had before.
She’d challenged him, confounded him. Defied him and denied him.
And now, if she didn’t let him touch her, taste her—fuck her—in the next few moments, he would be the one reduced to begging.
On a groan, he swung his legs up onto the mattress, sweeping aside the sheet and coverlet to make room for her beside him. He held out his other hand to her. “Come to bed, Asha.”
He didn’t know whether to feel relief or regret when she stepped forward and placed her fingers in his open palm.
~
It should feel strange, standing naked in front of Sorin with nowhere to hide. Nowhere to escape his searing, seductive stare.
It should feel dangerous, seeing this powerful Incubus Master waiting for her on the bed. Immense. Fully aroused. Every hard inch of his tempting body sculpted of inhuman strength and dark, carnal intent.
It should feel wrong, taking his outstretched hand, walking toward him willingly, eagerly. So swamped with desire, her heart was running at a gallop, threatening to burst.
It did feel strange.
God help her, it did feel dangerous too.
But when she looked at Sorin, when she held his hooded, hungry eyes and let him guide her onto the bed with him, nothing about it felt wrong.
And that was the thing that terrified her most.
He’d been right—she did want him. Right now, she couldn’t think of anything she wanted more.
No. Not true. Ashayla mentally shook herself out of the daze of her desire.
There was something she wanted more. Something she needed even more than the pleasure that waited for her in Sorin’s arms.
The pendant.
The peace and happiness it would bring Gran to know that it was finally returned to the family before she passed.
Which meant giving in to the desire Sorin ignited in her was not going to happen.
“So beautiful,” he murmured, cradling the side of her face in one broad palm while his other hand skimmed down the front of her, coaxing her to lie down beside him. His gaze was tender on her, but his grin was pure Incubus. “I’ve held a lot of priceless things, but never anything as lovely as you, Asha.”
His remark hit her like a splash of cold water. A much-needed one.
“No.” The word wrenched out of her on a moan as she bolted upright. It would be so easy to surrender to him, but she couldn’t. She would not fail tonight, no matter how difficult he made it to deny her own feelings. “No, this isn’t happening.”
She scrambled out of his arms and into the center of the big mattress, pulling the edge of the sheet along with her and holding it up to her breast like a shield.
Sorin came up on one elbow, frowning. “What’s the matter? Where are you going?”
“This is the matter,” she said, gesturing to the space between them. “I agreed to spend the night in your bed, Sorin. I even agreed to do it without my clothes on, which, for the record, was a totally Incubus way to bend the rules even further in your favor.”
His grin held no remorse. “You could’ve refused at any point. Don’t pretend you didn’t know what you were getting into when you took me on tonight.”
Oh, she knew. What she hadn’t been prepared for was the way he managed to touch more than just her body or her desire.
She wanted him with a need she could hardly resist, but even worse than that, she realized she genuinely liked him. She wanted to know more about him, more about his family and his life. She wanted to know everything about him.
After just a few hours in his company, she was beginning to care for him deeply.
She couldn’t wait for morning so she could walk out of Ebarron’s treasure room with her prize, yet there was a part of her that knew she was going to remember this night for the rest of her life.
There was a part of her that already regretted everything that could never be between them.
“Come.” He reached out to her. His deep voice was coaxing, but there was unspoken command in his heated gaze. “You can’t sit there all night, Asha.”
“Maybe I will.” She forced a shrug. “Technically, I am still in bed.”
One tawny brow winged up. “Now who’s bending the rules?”
“It’s called compromise, Sorin. Ever hear of it?”
He grunted. “I lead. Others follow. That’s how I prefer it.”
“Arrogant man,” she chided with a roll of her eyes. “It’s good this arrangement is only for one night. Any longer and all you and I would do is lock horns.”
“Oh, I promise that’s not all we’d do.” He leaned back against the headboard, thighs loosely parted, all of his muscles and masculinity on full display.