affections despite his crime?
Perhaps. But he would have to win her the same way he’d won the dragon palace. With cunning, precision and an absolute lack of mercy.
Slowly his lips lifted in a grin. Oh, yes. She would soon find herself on the receiving end of a full-scale attack.
“Take me back to the beach,” she said, tugging against his hold. Her heartbeat drummed erratically against his back, and he could feel the shallow exhalations of her breath against his skin. “Right now. I’m through playing nice. Do you hear me?”
“Everyone hears you, Moon.” He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her body to his. “The answer is no.”
Their bare stomachs pressed together, and she sucked in a breath. His muscles jumped in excited reaction.
She might deny it, but she was aware of him in a very sexual way. A wonderful start!
“You are frightened,” he said, “and I’m sorry for it.”
“Frightened? Ha! I’m so angry I could spit.”
“Spitting is a sign of your anger? Noted.”
For some reason, his response caused her to screech.
At her outburst, several of his men flinched. A few regarded her with weary reluctance.
Hope bloomed. Had he just found the answer to his dilemma?
“Whatever you do,” he said, “do not attack my men as they make their selection.”
Her head lifted, and her eyes glared amber fire at him. “You can’t stop me.”
Do not smile, he thought. Get this over with.
Anticipation thickened the air. A contingent of warriors lined one side of the room while a sweet-smelling cluster of females lined the other.
“I’m not placing myself on the menu of this—this smorgasbord.” She slammed her elbow into his stomach, almost knocking the air from his lungs.
His men watched them with varying expressions of horror. For their benefit, he said, “Be still, woman.”
“Sure. If you’ll do me a favor and die.”
The horror intensified, just as he’d hoped. If he, the most desired of nymphs, failed to entice this woman, his men were destined to fail with her, too. No one wanted to risk failure. Or even a lengthy wooing. Not while sex could be easily had with another.
Valerian forced a frown, feigning disappointment, and tapped her on the backside. Once again, she reacted as he’d hoped.
“Did you just spank me?” she bellowed. Her eyes were dark velvet, rich and warm, absolutely riveting in her pale face. “Tell me you didn’t just spank me, Valerian.”
Ah, he loved hearing his name spill from her soft, pink lips. The rest of the world faded away, as it always seemed to do when he looked at her.
“I told you I would never lie to you,” he said.
“You also told me you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Did my love tap hurt you?”
Her perfect white teeth flashed in a scowl. “Pain isn’t always physical.”
True. “Did I hurt you mentally? Emotionally?” The idea hurt him, physically, mentally and emotionally.
How many others had hurt her throughout her young life?
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I plead the fifth.”
“Fifth. Five. Is that the number of ways you hope I’ll take you?” he asked softly.
Another bellow. “Stop acting as if you adore me,” she grated. “It’s creepy.”
“But I do adore you.”
“You can’t! How many times do I have to tell you? You. Don’t. Know. Me.”
“I know you have a temper.”
“And so do millions of other people.”
“I know you like to be touched, whether you admit it or not.” Many times she’d leaned into him before coming to her senses and stiffening. “I know you like when I compliment you.” Her gaze always softened.
She huffed and puffed. “You’re wrong.”
“Would you rather I say mean things to you?”
“Yes!”
He also knew she meant that and blinked with confusion. “Why?”
“Why don’t you tell me?” she challenged.
Only one reason made any sense, and he thrilled. “When I’m kind, your defenses threaten to crumble.”
She gave an adamant shake of her head.
He only thrilled harder!
“My king,” Broderick prompted. “We’re ready. We have instructed the women to remain in place until they’ve been chosen.”
Valerian blanked his expression. He picked up his woman and carried her to the end of the line. A quick count revealed more men than women.
Many warriors would be going to bed alone tonight. What if someone decided having a chance to woo Moon would be better than having no chance at all?
“Stay quiet,” he told her, suspecting she would do the opposite. “Everyone will want a good look at you without any distractions.”
She lifted her chin. “This T and A pageant sucks balls. I won’t passively stand here—and neither should you,” she shouted at the other women. “We are human beings, and we have rights. Men do not choose us, we choose our men. We say no to these nymphos and their demeaning ceremony. We demand to be returned home. Who’s with me?”
Silence.
“Who’s with me?” Broderick asked.
One female jumped up, her arm extended in the air. “Pick me! Pick me!”
“No. Me!”
Shaye’s shoulders brushed his chest as they rolled in, and several strands of silken hair snagged in his nipple ring.
“If I help you remain unchosen,” he whispered, “will you tell me your name?”
“I—maybe.” Her eyelids slitted, the length of her lashes casting spiky shadows over her cheeks. “Why would you help me?”
Why indeed. The answer should have been obvious to her. “I intend to keep you for myself.” He stated the words as baldly as possible. He needed an extreme reaction from her—something to appall his men further.
“I’m
