“No,” she whispered breathlessly.
Although she had to admit she wouldn’t mind watching him fight again. She’d never thought she’d go for the bad boy type, but there was definitely something captivating about the casual way he used his brute strength.
She swallowed hard and shivered when he lowered his head toward her neck and breathed deep. “What are you doing?”
“You smell good, princess. Like sugar and spice,” he murmured, making her shiver again. “I think you like the idea of me fighting for you. Want me to prove I can keep you?”
His teasing voice was a low rumble of sound that reverberated through his chest and into her own body. His breath felt hot against her ear, making her shiver. She closed her eyes, unsure whether or not she was savoring the sound or simply responding to the fear of potentially getting caught. If this was his way of flirting with her, it was definitely working.
“No need for that. I was just going to use my magic to shield us from view.”
“You still have access to your magic?”
She nodded. “When I arrived at the prison, they gave me magical tattoos on my arms that allow me to bypass the safeguards.”
“Good. Do it. Block the entire doorway if possible.”
It was difficult to concentrate while he was staring at her so intensely. Her pulse fluttered nervously, and she had to force herself to ignore how damn distracting he was. Turning her head, she focused on the opening and called to her magic. First,she used an illusion spell to make the alcove they were standing in disappear from view. The air around them shimmered almost imperceptibly before the magical veil settled into place.
To anyone passing by, the doorway and recess in the wall now ceased to exist.
Unwilling to rely on a single layer of protection, she created another magical barrier to block off the doorway. Once that was done, she exhaled in relief. The illusion would conceal them. The shield would protect them. But there were still too many people headed their way for her to completely relax.
Despite her defensive measures, they could still be in danger.
She glanced up at Mordecai to inform him that the task was complete, but the words got caught in her throat the moment their eyes met again. Due to their close proximity, she had to tilt her head back to look up at him. The movement only made her more aware of how close he was. Of how solid his chest felt pressed against her, and the comforting heat radiating from his body.
Lana had tried to ignore the way his attention had been fixated on her while she had cast her spells. Now, his gaze held hers with an intensity that made her pulse race. As the connection sparked between them, she forgot about the danger surrounding them.
Everything else faded into the background.
Her gaze drifted over his face, tracing the strong lines of his features, then down to settle on the firm curve of his lips. Once there, her attention refused to wander any further. His mouth was perfectly shaped, with a defined upper lip and a fuller lower one that looked as soft as a pillow. She couldn’t help wondering what it would feel like if she closed the distance between them and brushed her lips against his.
The thought sent a wave of heat rushing through her. Embarrassed by the direction of her thoughts, she should havelooked away. Instead, her gaze remained fixed on his mouth. The idea of kissing him was ridiculous. Wildly inappropriate, considering where they were and what was going on around them.
Still, she wanted it.
Wanted him.
Her heart began beating wildly as her imagination betrayed her. She fantasized about what his lips would feel like pressed against hers. She struggled to tear her gaze away, but it was no use. Caught in the magnetic pull of him, she found herself swaying closer toward temptation.
“Fuck it,” he growled.
Then, he closed the remaining distance between them and settled his mouth over hers in a scorching kiss.
Chapter Seven
The kiss hitLana with the force of a lightning strike. Unexpected. Exhilarating. And far more powerful than it had any right to be.
She had assumed it would be good, but the feeling of his lips against hers was absolutely lethal to her senses. It was so much more than she imagined. What she had conjured up in her fantasy was a pale shadow of the real thing. His kiss was intoxicating like the finest wine, equally as dangerous and utterly addictive.
Her eyes fluttered shut as she savored the moment. A rush of emotion swept through her, explosive and vibrant, like fireworks bursting across a midnight sky. Every nerve in her body seemed to awaken at once, responding to his touch with alarming enthusiasm. He was a force of nature, devastatingly alluring and completely overwhelming, and she had no choice but to surrender to the sensations he ignited within her.
A conflagration of need flared between them, fierce and undeniable, and it grew stronger with each passing second. He grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her closer as he deepened the kiss. Wrapping his other arm around her waist, he lifted her until her body was pressed against his.
A startled breath escaped her as he slammed her back against the wall, but the sound was quickly muffled as his tongue delved between her parted lips. He slid a hand behind her head to soften the impact, and his large body pressed against her, holding her in place. Her tongue twined with his in an intimate dance, and she shivered as she felt the hard length of his erection pressing tight against the apex of her heated core.
The thin fabric of his prison clothes wasn’t much of a barrier, but her own uniform was made of sturdier material. The thicker fabric dulled the sensation she desperately wanted, preventingher from truly feeling him against her. She shifted instinctively, rubbing herself against him, and a soft, frustrated moan escaped her when it wasn’t enough.
