Read Online Lure of the Jaguar: Hades' Carnival, Book 7 by N.J. Walters - Free Book Online

believe it was all true, but it was either believe the story or check herself into the psychiatric ward at the nearest hospital for evaluation. And she wasn’t willing to do that.
    Stavros straightened, hands on his lean hips, lost in the past. As she watched, he shook off the memories. “Once we were released from our captivity, Hades had twenty-four hours to kill us or convince us to come over to his side.”
    “What did you do?”
    The look he sent her was filled with anger. “I escaped and spent many years in the remote rainforests of the world.”
    “And the woman who freed you?” No, she wasn’t jealous at all, merely curious. At least that’s what she told herself. She ignored the burning in her gut as she waited for him to answer.
    “Hades thought she was dead, but she was saved and lived. I watched over her for many years.”
    “And the others?”
    He waved away her question. “It is enough for you to know we defeated the god and the curse. As a consequence of the bargain Hades made with the Lady, the god cannot harm any of us or the chosen mates of the warriors.”
    Wait, did he say mates? “Some of the warriors have wives?”
    Stavros smiled and she curled her toes. He was lethal to her senses when he was rough and serious. When he smiled, he was irresistible.
    “Yes, the rest of them have mated. Four of them with the women who freed them, and two others with women who played a part in our defeating Hades.”
    Wow. That was a story she’d love to hear someday. But she needed to get back on track. “What does any of this have to do with me?”
    When Stavros came to crouch in front of her once again, she knew she wasn’t going to like his answer. His smile was gone, replaced by a solemn expression that had her shivering once again.
    “Hades is a vengeful god and he feels cheated. He cannot harm any of us or the Lady.”
    “You already told me that,” she reminded him.
    Stavros trailed his fingers over her forehead and down the curve of her cheek. “He will harm anyone who is important to me. That is how he plans to take his revenge. He already tried it with two of the women before they were mated to my fellow warriors.”
    That didn’t sound good, but Toni still didn’t understand. “I get that, but what does it have to do with me?”
    “Ah, Toni.” Stavros leaned in close and nuzzled her neck and her ear. Tingles raced down her arm and her pussy began to throb. She could feel the heat pouring off his big body and smell his unique masculine scent. “Hades knows what you mean to me.”
    “What I mean to you?” She knew she sounded like a parrot, but it was impossible to assimilate everything coming at her so quickly.
    He nipped her earlobe and then laved the small sting. Toni’s breathing increased and she clutched at his shoulders, scoring them with her short fingernails.
    “Ah, Toni. Hades has discovered my biggest weakness. You. There is nothing I won’t do to protect you, to make you mine.”
    Then he kissed her.

Chapter Six
    Stavros knew he should slow down. He’d thrown a lot at Toni, including how he felt about her. But he couldn’t help himself. He needed to kiss her, to touch her, to reassure himself she was still alive and safe. He’d almost lost her tonight.
    At first, she didn’t return his kiss. She was motionless beneath his touch, not responding but not pushing him away either. Just when he decided he needed to pull back and give her time, her lips moved beneath his.
    He caught her soft moan in his mouth and pushed his tongue between her parted teeth. She tasted sweet and warm and welcoming. He was quickly becoming addicted to her kisses.
    He placed his hands on either side of her hips to keep from dragging her down onto the couch and ripping off her clothes. A pounding need to claim her raged inside him. The jaguar part of his nature wanted him to get on with things. But the human part knew he had to take things slow. Toni had been through a lot tonight. It was a