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“That compliments are nothing but a way to manipulate and control.” His tongue darted out to lick at the seam of his lips.I want her.“You should speak with the other ladies. You can comment on their large bosoms and darling faces while ignoring the complete lack of thought. They will appreciate such soft words.”

I want to break her.

Geryon wanted to see that sophisticated face fall by his own hands. Women like this, those who held themselves above others, often held the rawest kind of passion.I want to see her claw at me with anger.He thought he could easily get there.

But there was something else he desperately wanted. There was a hidden dark side to women like Cecily – and it was near impossible to obtain.I want to see her explode in mindless, lust-filled abandon.

He had to see it, needed a taste of it before the king got his hands on her.

She will not show me her many secret faces, but there is only one I am determined to witness.He feared he didn’t have enough time before the gala was over to obtain it for his memories.

The possibility of seeing this woman melt from ice into passionate fire was too much temptation. What he thought would be a conversation that would bore him, instead exhilarated him enough that he felt his cock tingling at the prospect of bedding her.

“Are you often so severe on your own sex?” Geryon retorted while he thought about how to get underneath this mysterious woman’s skirts.

I cannot let King Bradwick know.Not because it would reflect badly for him – Bradwick would never do anything to him. No, he couldn’t let anyone find out for her sake. She would be dishonoured in betraying the king when she was here to win his hand.But I will have her.

“That is not what I was insinuating.”

“Ah, is it that you hate men?” He already figured as much. Anytime a nobleman attempted to speak with her, she would escape him.

“Your assumption once more is incorrect. They have their uses and are a requirement in a woman’s life.”

“So, you do not like people in general? I can see you forsaking us, since we can be quite... brazen to the point of stupidity.”

He raised his brow when she didn’t deny it.

I often feel the same, but that is because I think lowly of humans. She is one; she should not have such thoughts.

“Although others are quite bothersome, you should be nice to me. I am rather close with the king, after all. I can give you inside knowledge the other women will lack.”

“I have no care for such games. I will not involve myself in childish play like the other ladies for the king’s hand. I find it juvenile.” She waved her hand dismissively. “That is something for the court to entertain themselves with.”

Geryon pointed his knife at her with a seed on it. It fell onto her shoulder. She watched it, stared at it on her dress, before giving him a bored look.

“I do not think the court will appreciate that you think of them as nothing more than irritating children.”

“That is not what I said,” she answered, making him frown. “Your words make me think you must make an excellent guard.”

Guards are often seen as unintelligent and low born. What is she getting at?His eyes widened.

“You attempt to offend me.” He chuckled while shaking his head. “It is unfortunate for you I am difficult to displease. You are welcome to cast indirect insults as much as your stone heart desires. I will warn you, though: you will not gain the emotions you seek from me by doing so.”

“I find that hard to believe. People are always the same.” It sounded as though she stemmed the desire to roll her eyes... at him!

Done with his fruit and knowing no one was approaching due to his heightened senses, Geryon quickly moved.

He slipped his way from the cabinet onto the sofa bed with her. Straddling her waist, Geryon grabbed her hands when she tried to push him and pinned them against the arm rest with one hand.

Her bones are so dainty.The fact he could easily capture both her wrists in one of his large hands pleased him.

“What are you doing? Unhand me.”

She looked up towards her trapped hands before relaxing her stretched position to look at him. She wasn’t fighting him, didn’t squirm, but the glint in her eyes promised retribution for his actions.

“I told you before: I like things that are difficult.” Then, he bent over to bring them nose to nose, deeply holding her pale green eyes. “Keep being this callous and unfeeling woman. I do find it rather desirous. The colder you are, the more I will want to eat you.” Geryon leaned more forward so he could swipe his tongue up the length of her pale neck to taste a hint of salty sweat. “It helps that you are rather beautiful as well.”

He pulled back so that he could run his thumb over her soft jawline and pointed chin. Her eyes narrowed, but he found her lovelier because of it.