Seducing the Demon Huntress Read Online Free
Author: Victoria Davies
hands clenched at his sides. “You are not a child any longer. Whether you admit it or not, you know exactly what I am about. I have not appeared on your doorstep for nine years merely for the fun of it.”
She licked her lips, noting the way his eyes followed the movement. Her head spun. Arawn never gave away this much information. He never looked at her with serious, heated eyes. This year was not like any that had come before it.
“We can’t.” The denial was breathy and weak. She flinched at the longing in her own voice.
“We can,” he replied. “Let me in and I will show you pleasures beyond anything your human men inspire.”
It wouldn’t be hard , she thought with a mental snort. Her lovers had been few and far between. Mortal boyfriends tended to race in the other direction when they learned exactly what she did for a living.
“It’s a cruel game you play this Halloween,” she said, trying to steer the conversation back toward waters she knew. Images of Arawn in her bed were making it hard to concentrate on why she should never take him up on his offer.
“I don’t play games with you,” he replied. “I never have.”
She stepped forward until her hands brushed the gate. Despite the invisible line between them, she had never been so close to Arawn. Close enough to touch...or kiss.
“Maybe you want me,” she whispered. “Or you see how I want you and are using your knowledge to the best advantage.”
His eyes darkened in anger.
“It doesn’t matter,” she told him before he started another argument. “Real or lie, it doesn’t matter. I won’t ever open this gate and you know that. What I’ve lost this year—” She stopped, unable to finish the sentence. Clearing her throat, she lifted her chin and continued. “I’ll never let you in, not even if you come calling for the rest of my no doubt short life. I may not have many choices left, but I won’t give you a chance to kill me.”
She turned to go, knowing there was nothing left to say.
“Trust me.”
The words were said so softly she almost missed them. They hung in the air, freezing her in place. Not once had he ever spoken them before. Since they’d met, she’d always known trust was not for them. Enemies did not trust, not even if their company was secretly enjoyed.
Slowly she turned back toward him, feeling more vulnerable than she ever had before in his presence.
Did he feel it too? she wondered. The way those words changed everything?
For once his dark eyes were not unfathomable. Instead he let her see the honesty of his words. A man stood before her, not a powerful lord. A man who was asking a would-be lover to take a chance.
“I’m worth the risk,” he promised.
She had fought all her life, but this one battle terrified her more than any other. Unlike her other lovers, Arawn had the power to break her heart into a thousand pieces. He could hurt her so much more than physically. And would, no doubt. In what world would a lord of the Netherworld ever be with a hunter in any way that was real?
“No,” she whispered, feeling something rip inside of her.
His gaze shuttered, and he drew back into himself. Silence reigned for a long moment.
She wanted to run but forced herself to stand still and face his disappointment. She owed him that much, at least.
“Your ties to this world are gone,” he said, his voice harsher than she’d ever heard. “Knowing that, I will not hold back tonight.”
She narrowed her eyes, fury curling through her at his high-handed threat. Her rejection had definitely wounded his pride. “Bring it,” she retorted. “Use every one of your considerable skills. I’ll still be on this side of the gate when morning comes. Alone.”
Her unflappable enemy looked truly angry for the first time in her memory. Tight fists hung by his sides and his jaw was clenched so hard it had to hurt. Perhaps no woman had turned him down before. She rather liked the thought.
“You will be mine,
She licked her lips, noting the way his eyes followed the movement. Her head spun. Arawn never gave away this much information. He never looked at her with serious, heated eyes. This year was not like any that had come before it.
“We can’t.” The denial was breathy and weak. She flinched at the longing in her own voice.
“We can,” he replied. “Let me in and I will show you pleasures beyond anything your human men inspire.”
It wouldn’t be hard , she thought with a mental snort. Her lovers had been few and far between. Mortal boyfriends tended to race in the other direction when they learned exactly what she did for a living.
“It’s a cruel game you play this Halloween,” she said, trying to steer the conversation back toward waters she knew. Images of Arawn in her bed were making it hard to concentrate on why she should never take him up on his offer.
“I don’t play games with you,” he replied. “I never have.”
She stepped forward until her hands brushed the gate. Despite the invisible line between them, she had never been so close to Arawn. Close enough to touch...or kiss.
“Maybe you want me,” she whispered. “Or you see how I want you and are using your knowledge to the best advantage.”
His eyes darkened in anger.
“It doesn’t matter,” she told him before he started another argument. “Real or lie, it doesn’t matter. I won’t ever open this gate and you know that. What I’ve lost this year—” She stopped, unable to finish the sentence. Clearing her throat, she lifted her chin and continued. “I’ll never let you in, not even if you come calling for the rest of my no doubt short life. I may not have many choices left, but I won’t give you a chance to kill me.”
She turned to go, knowing there was nothing left to say.
“Trust me.”
The words were said so softly she almost missed them. They hung in the air, freezing her in place. Not once had he ever spoken them before. Since they’d met, she’d always known trust was not for them. Enemies did not trust, not even if their company was secretly enjoyed.
Slowly she turned back toward him, feeling more vulnerable than she ever had before in his presence.
Did he feel it too? she wondered. The way those words changed everything?
For once his dark eyes were not unfathomable. Instead he let her see the honesty of his words. A man stood before her, not a powerful lord. A man who was asking a would-be lover to take a chance.
“I’m worth the risk,” he promised.
She had fought all her life, but this one battle terrified her more than any other. Unlike her other lovers, Arawn had the power to break her heart into a thousand pieces. He could hurt her so much more than physically. And would, no doubt. In what world would a lord of the Netherworld ever be with a hunter in any way that was real?
“No,” she whispered, feeling something rip inside of her.
His gaze shuttered, and he drew back into himself. Silence reigned for a long moment.
She wanted to run but forced herself to stand still and face his disappointment. She owed him that much, at least.
“Your ties to this world are gone,” he said, his voice harsher than she’d ever heard. “Knowing that, I will not hold back tonight.”
She narrowed her eyes, fury curling through her at his high-handed threat. Her rejection had definitely wounded his pride. “Bring it,” she retorted. “Use every one of your considerable skills. I’ll still be on this side of the gate when morning comes. Alone.”
Her unflappable enemy looked truly angry for the first time in her memory. Tight fists hung by his sides and his jaw was clenched so hard it had to hurt. Perhaps no woman had turned him down before. She rather liked the thought.
“You will be mine,