Page 43 of The Demon King's Destiny

“This is fun,” a breath whispered across her right ear. Evelyn screamed and sprang forward. She didn’t even make it a full step when large hands wrapped around her waist from behind, lifting her off the ground.

“Never took you for a screamer,” he chuckled.

Blood filled her head. He was laughing at her. This kissing bandit who had all but knocked her off a boulder trying to attack her mouth was laughing at her?

Not for long. The moron had left her arms free. She was too far above him to use her elbows. Glancing down, she realized her feet were at the perfect height.

She extended one leg and brought her heel back as hard as she could. Jasper shifted his hold and was able to deflect enough so his man parts didn’t take the blow.

Evelyn twisted and grabbed a handful of his hair, yanking his head back and forth like a rabid animal with prey in its mouth. It wasn’t a combat move, but her sisters hated it when she’d tried it on them.

“Ow! Bloody hell, Evie!”

“Let go of me.”

“No.”

Jaspar squeezed her tighter and she grimaced at the severe pressure around her abdomen. Close to panicking, she started kicking back with both heels and pulling harder at his hair. Several small clumps came out by the roots and he yelped. If she could just get a little lower, or turned, she could punch his face or go for his eyes.

In the struggle, his grip slipped enough for her to be lowered a few inches. It was all she needed. Her dominant arm crossed in front of her, winding up to elbow him in the side of the head. She caught his temple and they dropped to the forest floor like a sack of potatoes.

Evelyn turned to her side and pushed herself to a sitting position. Jasper’s big body was next to hers. He wasn’t moving.Uh-oh.

She shifted him to his back and checked his breathing. His chest was rising and falling so she knew he wasn’t dead. Evelyn sagged in relief. She’d only knocked him out.

Lifting to her knees, she leaned overhis trunk, slapping him lightly on the face. “Jasper! Wake up.”

Nothing happened so she did it again. Still, he didn’t wake. Evelyn covered her face. “Damnit. Now I have to go get Flynn to help drag your big body out of this place. Thanks for nothing, moron,” she grumbled.

A big hand knockedEvelynto her back followed by an even bigger body. Jasper had her pinned to the ground, his hands holding down her wrists. Her eyes narrowed on his smiling face and he chuckled again.

“I can’t believe you fell for that,” he gloated.

“That’s not funny, you giant miscreant! I thought I’d hurt you!”

“Nah. I’ll have a bruise but it wasn’t enough to kill me.”

“I’ll be sure to hit you harder next time.”

His head lowered towards hers. His breath blew across her face as his chest pressed against her own. Her body sparked with interest, liking the feel of his weight. She cursed it, knowing her physical response was because she missed Marrok.

“Apologize for calling me a moron.”

“What? No.”

“Do it or I’ll kiss you.”

“Quit joking around, Jasper.”

“I’m not joking, Evie,” his nose grazed hers.

Her eyes grew big. Had he gone mad? She watched in slow motion as Jasper’s mouth descended. By the Goddess, he really was going to do it! She tried to turn her head and he grabbed her by the chin.

“Jasper, don’t—”

His lips cut off her threat. Warm and soft, they pressed into her own. Too stunned to react, she remained still, her traitorous body tingling all over. His tongue tried to breach her mouth and something inside her snapped.

Evelyn bit his lower lip and he grunted, rolling off to the side and freeing her from under him. She popped up to her feet, fueled by her anger towards him for daring to do something so stupid.

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