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He scrubbed a hand over his face. His shoulders sagged. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you. I’m more sorry for my outburst. You didn’t deserve it. I just... I don’t like how needy you’d made me feel, and I reacted poorly. This is all so new to me. I’m floundering. I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you.”
His honesty about his emotions astonished her. No other boyfriend had ever apologized or copped to feeling needy. Not that Kaysar was her boyfriend. But maybe she should give him another chance as her guide?
Argh! How did he do this to her? One second she wanted to leave ASAP, the next she wanted to glue herself to his side.
“The time for misleading and threats is over,” he said. “I’d like... I think we should be teammates. Real ones.”
“Excuse me?” She sputtered for a moment. “The killer has jokes.”
He pursed his lips. “Jareth is a vile male. He and his family did vile things to me as a child. You can help me hurt them.” Angry, hopeful and hesitant, he ducked his head and lifted his gaze to her. “Will you help me, sweetling?”
Oh, he’s good. There was a hundred percent chance he was toying with her emotions right now. Because there was no way, just no way, a man as powerful as Kaysar could be as vulnerable as he currently appeared.
But what if he’d spoken the truth? What if Jareth and his family had done vile things to young Kaysar?
Could she really let the murderer of an innocent off the hook? Didn’t she owe Lulundria a debt? What better gift could Cookie give the woman than delivering total retribution to her killer?
Kaysar could help her.
Once again, she switched directions. “All right,” she said with a nod. Decision made. “I’ll give you a second chance, and I’ll willingly team up with you. Out of the goodness of my heart, I’ll even help you hurt Jareth. But you better treat me right, Claw Man, or I’ll ditch you at the first opportunity.”
“Yes.” He clasped her by the waist and drew her close for a hug. “I will treat you right. I’ll learn how.”
His earnest expression did strange things to her insides. “There’ll be no sex, of course.” He’d ruined the attraction when he’d sneered. “I’ve forever removed the option from our table.”
A harsh denial burst from him. “Sex is pleasure, and we both need pleasure. But sex is also vengeance. I demand it.”
Hardly. “Hate to break it to you, bud, but your war plan just got tweaked. Jareth is gonna die badly.” For Lulundria.
A deadly, unholy rage descended over Kaysar. “No one kills Jareth. Not even you. Do you understand?”
The malice he projected...yikes. “You want to torture him while we search for the doormaker, fine, let’s torture him instead of killing him. I can aid you without putting out. And don’t tell me I have nothing to offer but my body. In my world, I’m a gamer, and I play a video game set in yours. If the kingdom beyond the waterfall is the one I think it is, I know the terrain’s traps, tricks, and poisons. I’ll ensure Jareth pleads for death.” There were ways...
With her words came a new influx of confidence. With the confidence came clarity and acceptance. She had a marvelous weapon at her disposal, too—the ability to change personalities at will. It wasn’t a burden, after all, but a tool to be utilized.
Utilize it, she would.
Cookie smiled at Kaysar, who watched her warily now. Finally, she knew what she was doing. This was a team sport. Her specialty. Jareth didn’t stand a chance.
Game on.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
WITH HIS MIND a war zone, Kaysar stripped to his skin and dove into the pond. The cool water did little to temper his frenzied emotions. Only short moments ago, he’d been consumed with need as he’d kissed Chantel, feasting on her lips, his every thought attuned to her, and her alone. His past? His vengeance? Forgotten. He’d disregarded everything but the stunning woman in his arms. How sweet she’d tasted. Sweeter than her scent had promised. The softness of her silken skin was a revelation. Her breasts had filled his hands, her hard nipples abrading his palms as he’d kneaded. His control had dissolved.
Her kiss had breathed life into him, his body no longer his but hers. Theirs. What she’d desired, he’d longed to give. He’d felt compelled to give, as if he’d uttered the order to himself.
At the time, he’d thought he’d loved the heady sensations. Now he had doubts. Neglect his vengeance, even for a moment? How could he dare?
He couldn’t get lost in the princess again. But keep his distance from her? When her curvy little body all but wept for his? Impossible. His shaft throbbed unbearably for her. Impaling her topped his agenda for the day. He just had to convince her to put sex back on their table.
