His Darkest Salvation (Jaguar Warriors 3)

“So deceptive.”

She wanted to rip his hand from her flesh but refused to let him know how affected she was by his touch. Instead, she smiled up at him and let her tongue run along her lips.

“I’m also the best piece of ass you’ll never have again.”

His breathing changed, slowed, and the air around them stilled. Jaden’s heart leapt crazily, and a wave of dizziness circled her brain. She was dancing with the devil, and that was always a dangerous game.

His hand moved up from her neck to grip her jaw. She refused to look away, though the cold glint in his eye left her stomach tight, nauseous. He looked like he wanted to strangle her.

“You do not want to mess with me.” He smiled, a cold slash of white. “I’m not anything like what you remember.”

No shit.

His anger and dislike were meaty, tangible. Jaden kept her face blank, but inside she fought the bleakness that lay there.

His lips thinned as he spoke. “Our meeting three years ago was no accident. You will tell me what your agenda is.”

He leaned close to her, and Jaden closed her eyes as his scent slid over her flesh, caressing her skin. “If I’m satisfied with your answer, I might let you live.”

Her eyes flew open at that, and her flesh burned as a wave of anger hit her hard.

“Take your hands off me,” she said carefully.

His grip tightened as he smiled down at her, a cruel bent to his lips.

“I could snap your neck right now if I so chose.”

She was hot, on the cusp of change.

“You could try.” Jaden’s words were stilted, her mouth dry. “But you won’t.” She sensed his thin control.

He arched an eyebrow and brought her closer to him, so close that she could see the tiny veins of his eyes. Her skin was burning, the animal inside enraged at his blatant show of force.

She wanted to punch him in the face, break his aristocratic nose.

She wanted to feel his lips on hers, taste the warmth and eat the danger that clung to him.

“Don’t be so sure, little cat.” His breath was warm against her flesh, and as it slid across her skin, she ached inside. “You have no idea what I am.” His voice lowered. “What I’ve become.”

“Well, one thing is the same.” She inhaled a cleansing breath. “You’re still an ass of epic proportions.”

Jaden snapped her head back and brought her knee up into the softness between his legs. At the same time, she jabbed him hard, right above his heart, where she knew his skin was tender. Damaged.

His grip loosened, and she was away from him in a flash, a blur of long silky hair.

He didn’t make a sound though his dark eyes stalked her from across the room. His mouth was tight. She knew he was in pain, but she was cool with that.

He totally fucking deserved it.

Yet an image of his raw, ragged flesh flashed in front of her eyes, and she swallowed thickly, hating the small sliver of remorse that slid through her. Her robe was gaping, and she angrily drew the ends tight together, hissing at the sly tilt that tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Underneath her feet, the jet’s engines rumbled.

Suddenly, she felt defeated. Tired of all the bullshit.

“Look, I don’t have time for this crap because seriously, this is way bigger than the two of us.” Jaden ran her fingers through the loose hair that fell around her shoulders, and she shook her head. “I’m tired, Julian, and pretty much fed up.”

“Join the fucking club,” he snarled. He was seriously pissed off.