Gryphon and His Thief Read Online Free PDF Page A

He leaned
down and kissed her, taking her under as he caressed those luscious
lips into submission, but in the end, it was she who demanded
obedience.
    Minx , he thought, but his affection
never waivered. She may not want to admit it yet, but she felt the
connection and he didn't refer to the bolt of electricity they
sparked when they first touched outside. No, she responded to his
touch. Her soul hungered for him as his did for her.
    Now if he could just make her cooperate, he
might be able to save his Callista before the beastie inside
of him took over and made its stand. Above all, it must protect the
items it guarded. Already he could feel the Gryphon threatening to
take over, but he slammed down the urge to shift. The beastie would
not ruin this precious moment.

Chapter Five
    What was wrong with her? This guy wasn't even
human. He could shift into a Gryphon for God's sake. Calli's
subconscious kept prattling on, trying to get her attention.
Annoying! Right now Darrien was every bit the man.
    Her hands gripped Darrien's shirt and drew
him closer, and his hand went to her waist. She could feel the
warmth of his touch through her shirt, and his eyes… Those all so
strange colored eyes gazed upon her as if he would give her the
world, but right now she wanted one of his toe-curling kisses. She
didn't have a long list of lovers, but none of them had ever kissed
her like he had. His lips were like a caress her body craved,
breathing life where she had remained dormant.
    She could almost believe he spoke the truth
that she was indeed his soul mate. His mouth covered hers and she
closed her eyes, and on a sigh gave into the pleasure he offered.
Her heart thumped so loud, she could hear the thumpity-thump in her ears, drowning out the world around her and, for a moment,
she didn't fight it.
    Her hand slid down the length of him as she
contemplated her next move. He may have removed her weapons and
tools, but perhaps he hadn't cleared out the nightstand drawer.
There was one way to find out.
    She nudged him toward the bed and inwardly
sighed with regret at not being able to indulge in this fantasy
they'd started. She had a hunch kissing wasn't all Darrien could do
well.
    Once they were backed up to the bed, she
pushed him onto it and straddled him. She slid her hands over his
arms, guiding them above his head, before leaning down to kiss him
once more. A ploy meant to distract and if his moan of pleasure was
an indication, it was working. With one hand, she carefully slid
open the drawer of the nightstand and reached inside. When her
fingers touched cool metal, she almost smiled and probably would
have if her lips hadn't been occupied. In the next second, she made
her move. Her agile fingers manipulated the cool metal with a click
to his right wrist and a click to the bedpost with the other
half.
    Darrien's eyes widened in alarm as he glanced
at the cuffs then to her. But before he could grab her with his
free hand, she leapt from the bed and out of reach. He yanked on
the cuffs and to her relief they held fast.
    "It's been fun big guy, but party time is
over, and just so you know, I don't like playing second fiddle." He
frowned at her analogy and she shook her head. "You speak the
language. Hell, you might even fit in to society, but you think
like an ancient being, don't you? In that regard, I could almost
believe your claims you've been cursed for centuries, but let me
put it to you simply. I'm not Callista, and I don't like to play
dress up and pretend." She sauntered over to the table where
Darrien had tossed her gear while she'd been unconscious.
    "This isn't about me being a shifter then, am
I right?" he asked, and there was a note of surprise in his voice.
"That part does not trouble you. Yes?"
    She glanced at him sprawled on the bed with
his one arm cuffed and the other propping him up so he could peer
at her. "My father used to tell me stories about beings that walked
among the humans. Said he met a few."
    "He did not