Page 23 of Possess Me at Midnight

“If using the book makes it traceable, Mathias will find us, and he will kill us all.”

Ice’s logic is sound…and I hate it. “I’ll have to think on it. Perhaps we can devise a way to use the diary that he cannot track?”

“Perhaps. If it exists, I’ll help you find it.”

I’m stunned. He’s willing to help me help Bram, a wizard he despises? “Thank you.”

“I’m not doing it for him, princess.” Ice’s words hang between us, heavy with implication. His jaw tightens as though he’s battling himself. And perhaps he is—torn between his hatred for my brother and defeating Mathias. Or is he hinting that he’s willing to help me because of his surprising but growing protectiveness? The thought sends a dangerous thrill up my spine that I promptly try to smother.

Though I do my best, I can’t stop staring. Everything about him shouts masculinity. He’s solid, like a rock, both in strength and spirit. It would take something massive—something beyond my imaginings—to make him crumble. Probably one reason I feel extraordinarily safe with him. And I’m certain that my sudden, unruly attraction has everything—and yet nothing—to do with his ferocity. From the first, his raw sexuality lured me. That hasn’t changed.

A sudden knock sounds at the door, rattling through the cottage. With the magic we’ve placed around the perimeter, only a human can approach our lodgings.

Dinner has arrived.

“Let me get it.” Ice rises and, with a protective hand, urges me into hiding. “Stay back…just in case.”

He opens the door to a smallish woman, young with very fair skin and nearly black hair. She takes in Ice in the black dressing gown with a single skittish gaze—and flushes beet red.

“I-I’ll set your meal over here, sir.” Her voice shakes as she places a tray on a nearby table, then sneaks another side-eyed ogle of Ice. “R-ring the front house if you need anything else.”

The woman seems harmless enough, and Ice is either terrifying or arousing her. Or both. I emerge from behind the door. “We will. Thank you for bringing the food so promptly.”

The woman bows before Ice all but pushes her toward the door, clearly ready to be rid of her.

She lingers, glancing between us in the inn’s matching robes. “Honeymoon?”

Lacking a better response, I nod before cutting my gaze Ice’s way. Does he know what the human word means?

“You chose well. It’s romantic here. We usually do a little wedding cake for our newlyweds. We knew you were coming. I’m certain we did one for you. I’ll check the kitchen.”

The moment understanding dawns across Ice’s face, I feel myself flushing. I feel tongue-tied.

“Don’t,” Ice barks. “We simply want privacy. We’ll be leaving early.”

The little woman nods nervously, still eyeing him. “Indeed. I’ll leave you to it. Congratulations.”

Backing out the door with a last glance at Ice, the bed-and-breakfast clerk disappears into the blustery night. As Ice slams the door shut, I watch his face, but he gives nothing of his reaction away.

“You let her believe we’re newly mated?”

He’s not asking if I did, but why. Talking to this wizard would be so much easier if I could read his thoughts… I feel myself turn even redder. Is he laughing at the mere idea? Annoyed? Or aroused?

I have no idea. I don’t understand this man…

“Indeed. Not that we would…”

Midsentence, Ice raises that slash of a dark brow in challenge.

Instantly, I stop babbling.

“That we would…what? Fuck, princess?”

His words and the suggestion in their tone blast me with unbearable heat. If he ever touched me, I fear I would combust. I press my lips together to stave off this unruly ache I feel whenever he’s near. Now isn’t the right time. Ice isn’t the right man…no matter how badly my body insists otherwise.

Ice saunters closer, into my personal space where I can feel his heat, inhale his scent. His nearness brushes against my senses like static electricity, raising goose bumps along my skin. How can simple proximity feel so dangerously intimate?

“That we would…mate?” he whispers dangerously low.