You win.
A smile of pure delight spread across her lips, making him lose his breath all over again.
“Will you let me have you, then?” she murmured.
“Will you stay with me tonight?”
What was she asking? he wondered.
Did she have any idea how her words sparked a conflagration within him? How his manhood hardened with the primitive need to drive into her, and his stones throbbed and ached to fill her to overflowing with his seed?
Her arms tightened slightly around his neck, making his eyes all but roll into the back of his head, when he didn’t immediately answer. The confounded female was trying to strongarm him, quite literally, into acquiescence.
Wolfe didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
This was certainly a dilemma in which he’d never thought to find himself. Even Guinevere never succeeded in cornering or trapping him. He always had a way out. Whether through wits or brawn.
But Rui…she had him pinned well and good without even trying.
Or perhaps Wolfe simply didn’t want to find a way out.
Slowly, he nodded, as much as her hold on him would allow.
“Promise,” she pressed, staring into his eyes.
He blinked in answer.
He would stay the night with her. Perhaps not the way she wanted him to, if she even knew to want such a thing, but he would not leave her side.
Finally satisfied, she loosened her hold, but kept her position on top of him. Her legs locked around his waist, arms around his neck.
Naked against his fully clothed body.
He splayed one hand over her narrow back, covering almost all of it she was so small.
“You’re cold,” he murmured, his thumb idly stroking her silky skin.
She shook her head.
“Not inside, I’m not. I burn for you, my Wolfe.”
Fuck.
The damnable things she said in that guileless, husky voice, with those innocent, wide eyes.
His rampant erection kicked against his trousers.
“It is late,” he said a little desperately. “We should rest and store up strength. ’Tis best to return to camp. I—”
She scowled at him, her legs tightening around his waist.
“You’re trying to break our bargain. You said you’d stay with me. I want to stay here, where we are alone. My over-cloak can be unfolded to use as a blanket. Take off your tunic and pants so we can be skin to skin. It’s much better to share heat that way.”
His mouth dropped open a little in shock.
Was she bamming him? Was she pretending innocence to spice up her seduction? A seasoned lady of the night couldn’t have said it better, but she wouldn’t have used Rui’s matter-of-fact tone.
Had the wits been choked out of him that he found her logical toneextremelyarousing?