Read Online The Sword Dancer by Jeanne Lin - Free Book Online Page A

tasted of cinnamon and the faint tang of cloves. Though he was positioned over her, his weight pinning her legs, he was the one that felt trapped. This was a ploy, he told himself, while his body greedily strained against her.
    Han lifted his head forcibly. ‘At any moment, you’re going to slit my throat,’ he muttered, his voice deep with desire.
    There was a glint in her eyes that was both predatory and playful. ‘Perhaps.’
    Her hands cradled either side of his face. She stroked his cheek and senselessly their lips were joined once again, breath against heated breath. Her body arched into him. He knew how strong Li Feng was, but right now she was perfectly
pliant, moulding herself to him. All of the blood in his body rushed to his lower half. What little remained in his head told him that if he was about to die, he completely deserved it for being so stupid.
    He ran his hand along her arm and another down her calf. Beneath the slide of silk, he could make out both the sword in her sleeve and a dagger beneath her skirt. As expected. Already, he knew her so well.
    ‘You have a strange way of making love,’ she said.
    ‘We are not—’ It took some effort to breathe. ‘Making love.’
    ‘But, Hao Han—’
    The breathless way she spoke his name stroked like fingers down his spine. He took hold of her wrists as she started to embrace him.
    He pinned her arms on either side of her head. ‘Stop this.’
    He was painfully hard and trying to fight it. Li Feng chuckled, pleased with herself and mocking him. She’d only been teasing apparently, which was—
    ‘Damned stupid,’ he growled. ‘Any other thief-catcher would have taken advantage.’
    ‘But you aren’t any other thief-catcher. What do you think of it, Zheng Hao Han? If I seduce you, will you let me go?’
    She no longer looked playful. She looked serious and it made him even angrier.
    ‘I may find you pretty. I may even desire you, but that only strengthens my conviction that I must bring you in.’
    She rolled her eyes, lips pouted. ‘So honourable.’
    Not so honourable. Despite his lofty speech, his body was fully aroused. Her lips were red and she was wearing that ridiculous robe that clung to her breasts and waist and made her look like a goddess floating in water. The thin layers of silk revealed too much skin and at the same time not enough. It was hardly fair.
    ‘Justice is justice,’ he gritted out.
    ‘Well, then,’ she murmured against his ear before nipping at it. Those long, strong, exquisitely shaped legs were curving around him, urging him into oblivion. ‘Bed me anyway.’
    * * *
    Every muscle in Han’s body tensed above her.
    ‘Li Feng.’ He was hoarse, his tone a warning.
    ‘This bed is so much more comfortable than a prison cell.’
    She wasn’t sure why she said it. Maybe it was just an attempt to torment him further. Thief-catcher Han was so difficult to take off balance. But the jest was her own undoing because suddenly she was considering it.
    Would it be so very bad? A sweet ache took hold of her. She moved her hips in a restless little circle.
    Han’s pupils darkened and suddenly she was crushed beneath him. He dragged her hands over her head and kissed her. Really kissed her, with his tongue stroking deep until her body heated and her limbs turned to liquid beneath him.
    It wouldn’t be bad at all. It would be so very good.
    She knew the dangers of rushing headlong into an affair, but it was hard to heed her own warnings with Han on top of her, anchoring her so perfectly with his mouth caressing hers. For once, she didn’t want to run. She wanted very much to stay.
    What was his relentless pursuit of her, if not some strange courtship? They’d fought, but he had never hurt her. And she had a sense he never would, not willingly. She admired him as a worthy foe. And after seeing him naked in the bath house, so beautifully masculine with his skin gleaming, she might have had a few dreams about how he would kiss.
    He