Yes. Yes! This was exactly what she’d needed. But his hands squeezed her harder, too, and it hurt just a little, and she groaned. A second later it was—

Over?

He pushed her away, clenched and unclenched his fists as he fought for breath. “I’ll say this once, and only once. Nothing is going to happen between us, princess. If you try something like that again, you’ll see a side of me even monsters fear.”

Her knees trembled, threatening to buckle. “Fine. Have it your way.” For now. Not one to give up, she smiled what she hoped was a siren’s smile and removed her dress—while he watched. “I’ll take care of myself.”

His nostrils flared, and he once again stumbled away from her. But his gaze...his gaze remained locked on her, heating...eating her up one tasty bite at a time.

“Get in the water,” he said. “Now.”

“Why? Do you find me repulsive?” Slowly she turned and strutted to the spring. But she didn’t climb into the water. She braced a foot against the rocks and looked back at him, praying there was something about her that he found appealing. Running a hand along her side, she said, “Or do you find me irresistible?”

* * *

FOR THE ETERNITY it took Keeley to submerge under the cover of the water, Torin had to fight his most basic warrior instincts. Touch. Take. Own. Then never let her go.

She would be his, only his.

The woman was so gorgeous his insides were ripped to shreds every time he looked at her. But the attraction went deeper than her appearance. She was open and honest, such a rarity. She was also fearless, the first potential lover to mention the giant demon in the room—did your girlfriends leave you because you couldn’t meet their physical needs—as casually as if they were discussing the weather.

Everyone else had always tiptoed around the issue as if the truth would somehow break him, never realizing he was already broken. But this girl...she didn’t seem to understand he would never be enough for her. That she would soon need more than he could give her.

Hell, why didn’t he understand? His hands still itched for her. Those breasts...that tuft of cobalt between her legs...he could play with her...sink his fingers in nice and deep. He wouldn’t be too aggressive for her, not again. He wouldn’t squeeze her too tightly or thrust too forcefully. He wouldn’t let himself. She would like what he did.

Or not.

Disappointment was his specialty. As he’d just proven.

Keeley leaned over the spring’s edge and dug through his backpack. The tips of her exquisite breasts peeked up over the line of water, her nipples like ripe little blueberries.

Dude. Look away.

She withdrew a bar of soap and held it up like the prize it was, grinning seductively. But then everything about her was seductive, stealing bits and pieces of his sanity.

“I’m about to become the queen of clean, what what,” she sang. Then, voice dipping huskily, gaze sweeping over him, she added, “But I could certainly be convinced to get dirty all over again.”

Had a man ever died from too much desire or would Torin be the first?

What did she want from him?

How had Hades pleased her?

Stupid question. One Torin despised. The guy was at the top of his must-kill list. Enemy one.

Need distance. Now! “I’ll hunt us some dinner and return.”

Keeley jolted, gasping out, “But—”

“You gonna complain about missing me, princess?” He put just the right amount of sneer in his tone, guaranteed to irritate her. “How sweet.”

Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits. “If I’m a princess, then you’re Prince Charming. So you go ahead and take all the time you need, Charming. Right now I’m pretty sure I’ll have more fun on my own anyway.”

Direct hit.

He turned to go.

“Torin,” she called, her sex-me voice no longer giving anything away.

“What?” he snapped.

“It’s due to rain soon. Trust me, we want to be long gone from the realm before that happens.”

“Why?”

“Do you like drowning?”

“Does anyone?”

“That’s why.”

What did a little rainfall have to do with drowning? “I’ll be back when I’m back.” He took off as if his feet were on fire. The rest of him certainly was.

Why was she doing this to him? Acting as if all was forgiven? As if she cared about his well-being...and would die if she didn’t get him in her bed? Or on the ground. Or in the tub.

Punishment? Maybe. But he didn’t think so. The way she’d looked at him before stepping into that bath...as if she could already feel him thrusting inside her...

He had to readjust his pants before his erection burst free.

Was she truly attracted to him? He wasn’t irresistible like his friend Paris, the keeper of Promiscuity, or determined like Strider, the keeper of Defeat, but okay, yeah, he rocked warrior fierce. Since his possession, many women had tried to get a little some-some of his goods and services.

But I can’t even toe the line of dangerous with Keeley. Gloved touches here...there. Can’t live with the consequences if I mess up.

He stalked through the forest for over an hour before finally picking up the trail of...something. A group of four-legged beasts, their origins indeterminate. He tracked the combination of hoof and paw prints until he caught sight of his prey. Ginormous deer-things, facing away from him, clueless that they had just become the main course of his dinner buffet.