Jenn took several steps towards him, Darian shifted, reminded of another temptress, one that had succeeded not only in mating with him but betraying him. He almost called off the game, but something in Jenn's dark eyes stopped him. She didn't look away from him. He felt a tingle at the base of his skull, one that warned him she was using some sort of magic on him.
"Your magic won't work on me," he said.
"Maybe not," she replied. "But I won't need it." She stopped in front of him and placed her fingertips in the middle of his chest. "Men are easy to manipulate, as you well know."
"That's a low blow," he said.
Jenn's eyes went to the finger on his chest. She traced it down to his upper abdomen and paused. With a lick of her lips, she flickered her gaze up to his again then down, a smile playing across her face. Her fingers continued, and he felt the heat of her touch like lightning running through his body. He remained stoic, unwilling to let her see that her touch was affecting him.
She leaned forward, her breasts brushing his chest. With her large, warm brown eyes, plumped lips, and fingers stopped just north of his belt, Darian began to believe her about not needing her magic. The beautiful woman in front of him rose on her tiptoes as if to kiss him. In that moment, he couldn't think of a better idea.
When he shifted, Jen leaned away with a coy smile and trailed the finger across his lower abdomen, moving around him. Her breasts brushed his arm, sending lightning and warmth through him. She leaned into him again, this time whispering husky words that would've made him blush years ago. Her lips tickled his ears before she moved away. He turned with her, watching her languid walk. Jenn unbuttoned her jacket one button at a time. Even though she wore a snug shirt beneath it, Darian couldn't help willing her to hurry. She lowered it to the ground, dropping it in a heap. He fidgeted to keep from reaching out to her.
"You're making this too easy," she said.
Jenn sensed his arousal. She had let him bait her. Worse, she'd taken the bait. The furious part of her wanted nothing to do with letting him admit she'd won until he was mewling at her feet. She also sensed his turmoil, a moment of insecurity that made her want to pounce for the win.
He'd saved her life. Rather than feel grateful, she felt shame that she'd caused them all such a problem and hadn't been able to take care of herself. Anger and other emotions grew within her. She focused them on Darian, the man she tried to protect by convincing him she felt nothing for him.