Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Well, well, well. “Forget the murder thing. Deco and I will probably fall madly in love. I mean, why wouldn’t we? My life is basically a romance novel. And you’ve seen him, right? That face. It rivals yours. And those abs. Mmm, mmm, mmm. The claws and wings! Delicious. Talk about masculine perfection. He’s not really a villain, I bet. He’s just misunderstood. A royal with an ooey gooey center hiding inside his clay heart. Unless I’m wrong. But if so, you’ll have to correct me out loud with words.”
Viktor’s finger twitched at my side, and I gasped. Ding, ding, ding. We had a winner. Jealousy. Although…
I licked my lips, an idea percolating. I would probably bite off more than I could chew if I followed through, but I had to try, right? Anything to save my ki—the king and my sister.
Tracing a heart on Viktor’s pec, I purred, “Maybe I’ll fall for you instead. I know I promised not to, but you’re the sublimely sexy king who gets the cutest gold rings in his eyes when he’s miffed. By the way, my turn ons are immortals who wake up from drugged sleeps, rescuing damsels in distress together, and food of any kind. Especially chocolate chip cookies. And carrot cake with double cream cheese frosting. And chi tea lattes with extra chi. Oh, what I wouldn’t give for a dozen cupcakes right now. I went all night without even the tiniest snack.”
Focus. Right. “But I digress. We should go on a date, Tor. No, you know what? I’m calling you pudding pop. Or honey bear. Or Sergeant Fox. The only way to stop me from doing this is to wake up.”
His finger twisted again, harder, and excitement whisked through me. This was working!
“Wake up,” I pleaded, stroking his cheek. “Please, pudding pop. Do it for me, your precious sugar cookie. We should discuss our date.”
Muscles bunched beneath me. His breathing came faster. Faster still.
My excitement doubled. Tripled! Was it truly happening? Was he awakening?
“Come on, come on. Wake up, and I might ask you for that kiss. A guaranteed five-star experience…if you’re using a ten-star scale. But that’s only because I’ve never kissed you. You can teach me how to do better. Wouldn’t you like that? An opportunity to show me what I’m doing wrong. To give me hands-on tutelage in the art of pleasing you.”
His back bowed, and he roared. I jerked upright, unsure whether this was a fit of pain or the moment I’d been fighting for. Please, please, please.
He sagged against the blanket, just as still as before. The images projected on the boulder faded to nothing, and I whimpered. Had I killed him?
Seconds ticked by as I wrung my hands. “Viktor?”
His eyelids popped open. He turned his head and met my gaze dead-on. “Don’t you mean pudding pop?”
Relief flooded me in an instant, drowning my good sense. With tears welling in my eyes, I threw myself upon him, slinging my arms around his powerful body. “You woke up! You’re alive!”
He rolled me to my back, pinning me to the blanket with his weight. Air hitched in my lungs when our gazes locked. Flecks of gold glowed in his green irises.
“You owe me a date and a kiss. Now give me what I’m due.”
Chapter
Eleven
Rise and Roar: Battle-Free Tips for Waking With Your Berserker
–HOW TO TRAIN YOUR BERSERKER
By Elizabeth “Elle” Darcy-Bruce
My heart stopped, or seemed to, only to kick start with fevered anticipation. Viktor smoldered with the most sublime intensity. A true feat, considering white locks fell over his black brows, gracing him with a boyish charm. His gaze remained unwavering, however, and far from boyish.
I licked my lips, adoring the white-hot sear of his skin far too much. “First, I suggested we go on a date and said I might ask you for a kiss. Might.” In an effort to put us on equal footing, I said, “Second, you should probably pin me against a wall while I decide if I’m gonna do it or not. That is your fantasy, yes?”
“Yours, too. I scented your reaction to seeing the images even while I slept.” He brushed the tip of his nose against mine. “You want to kiss me.”
A blush heated my cheeks. “Tell me you crave me, and only me.” Unable to stop the actions, I wound my arms around his shoulders and toyed with the ends of his hair the way he’d done to mine the night of the storm.
His eyelids hooded. “Ask me to kiss you.”
Flutters erupted in my belly, making me feel as if I verged on taking flight. A single thread of common sense kept me grounded. “What about the shifters? I saw them on my walk here.”
“Deco shouldn’t strike for days.” Viktor bent his head and nuzzled his cheek against mine. “He’s giving Bodi time to kill me.”