I laugh, feeling lighter than I have in weeks. “Lead the way, big bad wolf.”

CHAPTER 12

ORION

Cora’s body squirms against mine, her laughter vibrating through my chest as she tries to wriggle free. Her fingers dig into my forearm where it’s wrapped around her throat, but her technique is clumsy, half-hearted. She’s not even trying. Again.

I tighten the hold just enough to make her gasp. “Focus, Cora,” I growl, my voice low and rough. “You’re not going to laugh your way out of this.”

“Can’t help it,” she chokes out, still giggling. “Thenaked strangle? Seriously?” She wriggles again, her backside brushing against me in a way that’s far from accidental. “You’re telling me that’s what they call it in martial arts? Sounds like something I’d find in your secret stash of toys.”

Her fingers trail down my forearm, sending a jolt of heat through me even as I keep her pinned. “Cora,” I warn, my voice tight. “This isn’t a game.”

“Isn’t it?” Her hand slips lower, skimming over my hip, and then—damn her—she closes her fingers around me through the thin fabric of my training shorts. I hiss, my grip faltering for just a second as her thumb slides over the growing hardness. “Because it feels likeyou’rethe one playing now.”

My arm tightens again, and I press my lips to her ear, my breath hot against her skin. “You’re supposed to be learning how to escape, not trying to distract me.”

“Who says I’m not escaping?” Her voice is a purr now, all mischief and confidence. She shifts her hips, grinding back into me, and I feel her smirk without even seeing her face. “Seems like it’s working.”

I groan, my resolve cracking under the weight of her audacity. Damn this woman. She’s impossible. Infuriating. Perfect. I release the hold, spinning her around to face me. Her cheeks are flushed, her green eyes gleaming with triumph, and I can’t decide whether to kiss her or throw her back onto the mat.

“You’re cheating,” I accuse, my voice rough with frustration—and something else.

She grins up at me, her hands sliding up my chest. “You’re the one who said I should use every weapon at my disposal. I’m just following orders,Sir.”

I catch her wrists, pinning them above her head as I lean down, our faces inches apart. “If you’re going to play dirty, Ms. Daniels, you’d better be prepared for the consequences.”

Her breath hitches, her body arching into mine. “Promises, promises.”

One second, I’m towering over her, my grip firm on her wrists, and the next—what the hell?Her leg hooks around mine, her body twisting with a fluidity that catches me completely off guard. My balance falters, and before I can react, I’m on my back, the mat slamming into my spine.

Cora straddles me, her knees pinning my arms to the floor. Her chest heaves, her workout top clinging to her skin, and she leans down, shoving her breasts in my face with a smirk that’s equal parts smug and irresistible.

“Now who’s the boss?” she teases, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

I blink up at her, my mind still catching up to the fact that she just took me down with a dragon screw. Adragon screw. I’ve trained soldiers twice her size who couldn’t pull that off. “Where the hell did you learn that?”

Her grin widens. “YouTube. You’re not the only one who can do research,Sir.”

I growl, my body surging with a mix of frustration and something far more primal. In one smooth motion, I twist my hips, flipping her beneath me. Her breath hitches as I pin her wrists above her head, my body pressing hers into the mat.

“Cute trick,” I murmur, my lips brushing against hers. “But you’re still mine.”

I kiss her hard, my tongue claiming her mouth as she arches into me. Her moan vibrates against my lips, and I can’t get enough. I trail kisses down her neck, her collarbone, her chest, until I reach the hem of her top. With a sharp tug, I tear it away, the fabric giving way with a satisfying rip.

Her breasts spill free, and I take one nipple into my mouth, sucking hard as she gasps. My hands slide down her sides, gripping her hips as I move lower, kissing a path down her stomach. Her breath comes in short, shallow bursts, her body trembling beneath me.

When I reach her waistband, I don’t hesitate. I tear her leggings apart, the sound of fabric ripping filling the room. Her pussy is bare, glistening, and I bury my face between her thighs without preamble.

Her taste floods my senses, sweet and intoxicating. I suck her outer lips into my mouth, my tongue flicking over her clit as she cries out. My hands grip her thighs, holding her open as I delve deeper, my tongue sliding inside her.

“Orion,” she gasps, her fingers tangling in my hair. “Please—I need?—”

I don’t let her finish. My tongue finds her G-spot, pressing against it with firm, deliberate strokes. Her hips buck against my face, her moans growing louder, more desperate. I suck her clit into my mouth, my tongue circling it as she writhes beneath me.

“Can I—please, can I—” she begs, her voice breaking.

“Yes,” I growl against her, my breath hot on her skin. “Cum for me, Cora.”