Read Online Circle of Death by Celia Loren, Colleen Masters - Free Book Online Page A

you—”
    His words cut off into a groan as I cock back my knee and drive it into his gut. Finally, his arms loosen, and I tumble from his unwavering grasp. I dance beyond his reach as he straightens up, staring at me with a mixture of intrigue and awe. Plus a little indignation thrown in for good measure.
    “There,” I breathe, straightening my clothes. “You know, if I wanted a bunch of sloppy horseplay, I could have just gone to the frat house. What, don’t you know how to get a girl without literally throwing her over your shoulder?”
    “Little girl, I could land you from a hundred yards off just by looking at you the right way,” he grins, leaning back against a thick tree trunk and crossing his arms. “But, in my vast experience, most girls like getting swept of their feet. Or snatched off their feet, maybe.”
    “Not this girl,” I inform him.
    We’re off a ways from the rollicking party, just me and him. Away from the flickering, demonic flames, he certainly looks more like a real, human man. He’s still the most handsome person I’ve seen up close, that’s for sure. But he’s still mortal, and therefore, in theory, attainable.I watch as he produces a cigarette from the pack in his pocket and lights up. With each drag, his sculpted features are illuminated in the darkness. And each time, I feel a tug of desire in the very center of my gut. How am I supposed to investigate this guy if I can’t stop staring at him?
    “So. Logan,” he says, exhaling a blue cloud of cigarette smoke, “You’re telling me that you brought that sexy little body all the way out here, to an island overrun with criminals and playboys, because you’re not looking for a one night stand with a dangerous, experienced older guy like yours truly?”
    “I wouldn’t say that, exactly,” I reply, amused by his sense of humor, despite myself. “I just don’t think there’s anything particularly sexy about getting dragged back by the hair to some dude’s man cave. I prefer to get to know a guy, first. Or at least trade more than a few grunted phrases before doing the nasty.”
    He raises his scarred eyebrow at me, the corner of his mouth twisting up in a smile. “Well, well. Looks like I was mistaken. You’re not like the girls we usually get out here, are you?” he asks, his voice lusciously low.
    “Nope,” I say softly. “Is that going to be a problem for you?”
    “Fuck no,” he says, taking a long drag on his cigarette. “I’ve been getting a little bored of whiny college girls throwing themselves at me. Too fucking easy. You seem like more of a challenge. And I happen to like a little challenge.”
    “Well, I hate to break it to you,” I laugh, planting my hands on my hips. “But if you’re trying to take on this particular challenge, you’re off to a rocky start.”
    My breath catches in my throat as storm clouds roll through Devlin’s dark eyes. I need to watch myself, make sure I don’t push this guy too far. Sure, he’s handsome and charming, but he also runs a gang of outlaws and criminals. I’m out on this island alone, for all intents and purposes. If something happened to me, no one would notice until it was way too late. Have to remember who I’m dealing with, here.
    “You know I could stroll over to that gaggle of girls who just rolled in and land any one I wanted, right?” he challenges me, crushing the cigarette beneath the heel of his steel-toed boot. “Hell, I could snag three of them at the same time and really have myself a party.”
    “But you’re not interested in the rest of the girls,” I point out, clasping my hands behind my back. “You’re interested in me.”
    “You’re a fuckin’ mind reader, babe,” he grins, closing the space between us.
    I back up against a wide birch trunk, flattening my back against the smooth wood. My heart beats wildly against its cage as Devlin comes closer. Unbidden, the image of him pushing me up against this tree and having his way with me