"Go now," she told Lanthe. "Be ready to shut the portal
directly behind us. Once I capture him, report my success to Omort. Loudly. In front of all the fools at court." "Will do. Go get 'em, tigress. Rar!"
With Lanthe gone, Sabine devoted her full concen-tration to him. His gaze narrowed as she made the night appear dreamlike. The stars shone brighter for him, the moon seeming heavier in the sky. Brows drawn in con­fusion, he started toward her.
She could see him assessing her, his gaze flickering over her long hair, and over the modest gown that for-tunately had grown damp in the humid night and clung to her br**sts. When he peered hard at the outline of | her jutting ni**les, he ran a hand over his mouth.
Time to get him through the portal. When she began sauntering along the road away from him, he said, "No, wait! Are you all right?"
She turned to him but continued to step backward toward the trap.
"I won't hurt you." The demon hastened after her. "Do you have a car out here?"
"I need your help," she told him, continuing her I damsel-in-distress act.
"Of course. Do you live near here?" Finally, they I neared the portal's edge.
"Need your help," she said once more, ducking I behind what appeared to be a willow by the water's I edge, but was actually an illusion within the dungeon.
He joined her there-and Sabine sensed the portal g closing. The trap had worked, and he'd never felt a thing. I
"I have to get to the city," he said. "But then I can I come back to help you."
Before she caught herself, her gaze flitted over the deep I scar on his face--the first time she'd seen it this close.
He noticed and seemed to be waiting for her to react.
The scar didn't bother her as much as it clearly did him. She could use that against him.
All in all, he wasn't anything like she imagined. He was .. . better. And if she looked at those intense eyes long enough, she could almost forget what he was. When she arched closer to him, he drew back, suspicion in his expression.
She hastily said, "Help me now." Grasping one of his big hands in hers, she kissed it with smiling lips, then placed it over one of her br**sts.
As if he didn't realize what he was doing, he cupped her flesh with a growl.
"This is what I need," she murmured, arching to his rough palm.
"And the gods know that I want to give it to you, right after I've settled-"
"I need it"-she took his other hand and placed it on her inner thigh-"now."
He squeezed her breast and leg too hard, as if he were holding on for dear life. Yet still he seemed on the verge of leaving her. She delved to read his mind, but demons could deflect her probes. She only heard his stray thoughts, and only because they were so strong.
-"Been so long without a woman . . . can't have her . . . responsibilities."-
Exactly how long had he been celibate? And was this brute truly thinking to deny her? For responsibilities! The rejection was intriguing.
She knew that demon males loved to have their horns touched, relished having their females steering them sexually. His had straightened and become duskier with his arousal, so she raised her hands and wrapped her fingers around them.
He shuddered as if in ecstasy.
"Kiss me, demon." She gave a firm tug to lead him down to her, and he finally bowed his head. When their lips met, he groaned from deep in his chest.
-". . . connection with her, maybe the connection."-
Yes, already he sensed what she was to him. Now he'll
come to heel.
He began taking her mouth, twining his tongue against hers slowly. She got the impression that he was endeavoring to be gentle for her. He probably feared he'd scare her off. But when she met his tongue and gave it teasing laps with her own, his hands landed hard on her ass to rock her against his sizable erection.
So the rumors about demon males weren't exaggerated.
When she felt him subtly thrusting that shaft against her, she thought, This is better. Once males got to this state, they ceased to think.
As she relaxed somewhat, she began to find his kiss enjoyable. He tasted good, his lips were firm, and he knew how to use them. More of his delving kisses, more squeezing and exploring her body.
But when heavily aroused, Sabine unwittingly cast illusions of fire. If he saw them, he could guess her iden­tity. Just when she began to worry that her reaction to him might get that intense, he broke away from her.
"I . . . can't do this now. I have to meet someone. Much rides on this."
Was he serious? "Make love to me," she whispered, now sidling closer to him. "Here. Under this tree, in the moonlight. I'm aching for you." And that might actually be true.
"No. I have obligations." His voice was rough, his thoughts in turmoil, blasting past his own blocks.
-". . . she's so lush . . . cock's throbbing for her . . . horns straightening . . . No! The kingdom's needs always come before the king's."-
Yes, Rydstrom was supposed to be patient and wise. Apparently, she could add selfless to that list.
When he backed away, her lips parted in wonder­ment. He's going to deny me. She'd offered up her body, all but begged him to take it, and he'd declined.
How surprising. The only thing Sabine loved as much as a good juicy plot was a surprise. He'd resisted her-his own female. "Then you leave me no choice, Rydstrom."
Just when he frowned, no doubt wondering how she knew his name, she began withdrawing her illusion. The road and the moonlit night gradually disappeared, revealing the sealed and locked cell. As he twisted around, his eyes narrowed with recognition.
"You're Omort and Groot's sister, Sabine, the Queen of Illusions."
"Very good, Rydstrom."
The brows-drawn look of desire from before van­ished'. Now he appeared disgusted with her. "Show me your real form."
"This is." She smoothed her palms over her br**sts and lower. "I'm so pleased by how much it arouses you." But it hadn't enough. . . .
Clearly struggling to control his temper, he asked, "Why have you done this to me, Sabine?"
She motioned toward the bed now revealed in the center of the cell-the one with chains at the head and foot. "Isn't it obvious?"
3
"No, it's not obvious." Rydstrom glanced from the bed back to the sorceress before him.
Thoughts ran riot in his mind-suspicions arose and were dismissed. A bed and chains. She'd failed to seduce him to willingly bed her. Was she now intent on taking what she'd wanted?
When he felt a confusing surge of lust at the idea, he realized she must already be enthralling him. Of course she was. He'd seen the road disappear, had seen the bridge abutment move. She had unthinkable power, and for some reason she'd targeted him.