Assassin's Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

trailed their way down to the valley between her breasts. The fanciful sensation made her nipples grow hard as unripe cherries.

    “You’ve been playing with fire for several weeks now, mea mellis ,” he growled. “Exactly what is your game?”

    She’d seriously misjudged her attraction for him. He was far more devastating alone. She swallowed hard and shook her head. “I don’t play games.”

    “Then what is it you want from me, Cassiopeia?” The flicker of emotion in his piercing gaze sent her pulse racing.

    “You. I want you for my lover.” Unspoken emotion charged the air, and she knew better than to elaborate any further.

    He jerked upright with a shake of his head. “You’re a senator’s daughter.”

    “And this figures into the equation how?” she said in an annoyed tone. She’d expected him to scoff at a relationship, not to point out their different social stations.

    “I’m a simple soldier.”

    “Are you saying that in service to the Empire you’ve been injured in some way that prevents you—”

    In a split second, arms solid as oak pulled her into the heat of his body. He felt as good as she had imagined he would. Hard, sinewy, and all male. Her body ached with need as his erection beneath his robe pressed into the apex of her thighs. Desire spiraled through her and she shifted her hips forward, wishing there was nothing between them to prevent him from sliding into her. His mouth plundered hers, and she sighed as his tongue forced its way past her lips in a kiss filled with passion. He was hers. She knew that with even more certainty now. Almost as if he could read her mind, he released her and put several feet between them. His breathing was ragged as he studied her in the low light.

    “You’re playing with fire, mea dulce .”

    “No.” She shook her head and closed the distance between them. She curled her hand around his neck then pulled his head down and brushed her lips against his. “I know what I want. And I want you.”

    He kissed her hard before his mouth trailed a hot path over her jaw and down the side of her neck. Deus , the man’s touch was all she’d imagined. She trembled in his arms in anticipation. The desire building inside her forced her hips forward to brush against his hard length beneath his tunic. Heat pooled between her legs. She drank in the rough, male smell of him. If this was what love felt like, what heights would her desire for him take her to?

    The thought sent a shudder through her. It was still possible to lose him. He desired her, but could she make him love her? What if she failed? She refused to consider the possibility. She would win. She would have this man’s heart. There was no other option for her.

    His hands skimmed up her arms to tug at the fragile material that was her gown. It gave way beneath his rough fingers until the bodice fell to reveal a breast. Ever so slowly, his

    mouth caressed its way from her shoulder to the taut nipple. He suckled her for a delicious moment then eased his lips back up to her throat.

    “Please, Maximus.”

    “There will be no going back, mea dulce .”

    “I have decided. You have no choice,” she whispered.

    She was floating and she realized he was carrying her to one of the couches. By the gods, he was going to make her his right now. Her heart tightened with love and joy. Now he might feel only desire, but love could not be far behind. The soft pillows of the couch pressed against her back. With a gentleness that was at odds with his soldier’s hands, he pulled her gown up to her hips.

    Heat spread its way across her thigh as his fingers undid the cloth concealing her core. A guttural noise rolled out of him as he exposed her to his eyes. His throat bobbed violently as he swallowed. Against her skin, she felt his fingers tremble. Amazement swept through her as her gaze met his. There was something else besides passion glowing there. It reassured her that she’d made the right decision