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With the hand gripping her waist, he rubbed his thumb up and down her torso When heat her navel, he drew a quick, surprised breath against her lips

His shaking hand finally trailed lower

Aching to touch hiers down his broad chest Just as she reached the waist of his jeans, he began working his fingers into her shorts Their kiss greweach other like this, pleasuring each other, she couldn't prevent her hips froertips dipped down, and she brushed the broad, slick head of his erection, he jerked as if in shock at the touch, as if she'd seared hi to decide if he should pull her hand away or press it against hi her hand into the heat of his jeans to grip his thick shaft "So da at the lace edge of her panties

He groaned and reached lower When he cupped the wet flesh between her legs, he shuddered, thrusting himself into her fist

Just when she had no doubt they were about indulge in each other, he stilled Even as his erection throbbed in her grip, and his breaths were ragged, he withdrew his hand from her and shook his head hard "But canna have it"

Suddenly, he snatched her hand fro in her palht Then, as if reusted with her His voice low, he said, "Quit the Hie, witch"

She slowly shook her head "Not on your life, MacRieve" Not after everything she'd done to get here And not when the next Hie wouldn't be for another two hundred and fifty years

His lips were subtly drawing back to bare his lengthening fangs "Vow you'll quit, or I swear I willto distract you - "

"Bullshite!" He shoved aside the sarcophagus cover she was perched on, jarring her His hand rooted down, and he plucked out the headdress - a stunning gold and jade piece "You could alers around it, he cast her asmile They both knew that all he had to do was lift the prize above his heart, and it would travel to Riora, the goddess of the Hie He raised it, and the headdress disappeared; for a second afterward, Mari felt the oddess's forest temple halfway around the world

So easily, Mari had just lost those points - or had had them taken from her

"Do you really think you can defeat me?" he demanded "And if no' me, then the Valkyrie or the vampire?"

"A seer predicted Kaderin will lose the Hie for once This is anyone's game"