Page 22

The fragrance of perfectly aged whiskey and hints of dark, sinful masculinity floated throughout the room. I fought against the desire to devour the man in front of me. It felt as if I’d transformed into a different species. Specifically, one requiring sex as a substitute for sustenance. In short, it felt like I was losing my mind.

Licking my lips, I retreated until the wall was at my back. The moment it connected against the hard surface, I edged sideways as Rhys’ dark head lifted, causing his stomach to tense, exposing his impressive abdominal muscles to my widening stare.

“Are you running away from me, Love?”

Nodding emphatically, I considered using words. Regrettably, I didn’t excel at making coherent thoughts, let alone words, or at least not when he was around. Instead, I repeatedly bobbed my head in answer, watching as he sat upright before leaving the bed in a fluid motion.

“Why are you running away?” His eyes glittered with amusement at my expense. “Pussy cat got that tongue?” His palm planted beside my head, flat on the wall, allowing him to lean closer to me.

I slid my hands behind my back to restrain myself from doing something idiotic, like touching his bare chest. The moment I did, my hold on the sheet released, sending it to the floor. Cool, soft material pooled at my feet, causing my eyes to round in horror at losing what little defense I’d had from him.

“You dropped your sheet, my lady.” Rhys’ lips spread into a disarming smile. His smile left me sputtering as words failed to enter my mind.

“A true gentleman would retrieve the lady’s modesty for her. He wouldn’t point out her mistake.” Rhys’ smile turned wicked before sliding his glittering stare down between our bodies. The warmth simmering in them melted my insides to nothing more than liquefied heat. A soft chuckle escaped from between his lips before those same ravenous depths drove upward, then settled on my face.

“Would he, though? Even if she were the most exquisite creature he’d ever seen before?” His words caused butterflies to take flight in my abdomen. As if they’d broken free of the net, they all erupted into flight without warning.

“I’m positive he’d do so.” Nodding to reinforce what I’d said, I mentally patted my back over the small victory. It was short lived, however, as he slowly lowered before me. Rhys’ heated breath fanned my flesh, creating goosebumps over every inch of my entire body.

Rhys blew against my naked core, then, without warning, flicked my clit with his tongue. It garnered a soft whimper in response. Dark laughter rumbled as he kissed the sensitive flesh of my inner thigh.

Embarrassment slowly crept up my chest to paint my cheeks pink as arousal flooded my core. This wasn’t aiding my need to consume Rhys like he was a snack, and the clock had struck snack time.

Rhys’ fingertips danced along the outside of my legs. The entire time, his eyes held mine, riveted and unable to look away. Issuing a needy mewling sound from my lips, I trembled as he started rising with enticingly slow caresses over my naked legs. The cruel, sadistic prick continued rising until his lips hovered a hairsbreadth from mine.

“Your shield, Love. Though, I did enjoy retrieving it for you.”

Biting my lip, I released it with a soft pop of air. “Mistakes might’ve been made in my earlier argument.” I felt embarrassment creeping up my chest, flushing my cheeks. My overreaction to him, simply breathing over my skin, was beyond absurdity. Sure, he’d flicked my magical bean, but, even if he hadn’t, I’d have responded the same way.

“Is that so?” Rhys planted one hand above my head against the wall, setting alarm bells inside my head. Next, he leaned closer, placing one finger under my chin, then lifted it until his amused, glittering stare held mine. “You smell delectable when you’re fighting the need to be fucked, my precious silver. Fight me all you like, but you’re going to lose this quarrel.”

“I am not going to lose, Rhys.” I was already losing. Losing my ability to think. Losing my ability to form coherent words. Losing the will to deny myself what I knew would be great sex. I was fucked. Plain and simple. Unfortunately, I wasn’t coming violently or liking this version of it.

My chest heaved rapidly with every lungful of air that escaped my swollen lips. Biting my lower lip, I felt something dripping down my inner thigh. Pretending as if I weren’t aware of what was occurring below, I suppressed a whimpered moan as Rhys’ smile turned wolfish.

Rhys’ eyes lowered to my mouth, then rose with a dangerous glint entering his regard. My heartbeat thundered in my chest, pounding violently against my ribcage as if it were trying to escape. As I stood silent, praying he didn’t realize what was currently trickling down my thigh, he released a dark, wicked sound that caused my insides to twist with ravenous need.

“I won’t lose,” I repeated, as if it were my new mantra. “I don’t want to lose,” slipped out on a needy whimper of sound.

“Don’t you?” Rhys lowered his nose to my shoulder and leisurely ran it back, stopping at my throat. In a raspy, sex filled tone, he stated. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m rather positive there’s proof of how much you desire to lose painted in arousal on your inner thighs. Give me a moment to ensure I’m correct, Love.”

I wasn’t sure what I’d expected him to do. It sure hadn’t been for him to drop to his knees before me. Flabbergasted about what was unraveling, I swallowed back a whimper as a heated, feverish breath drifted against my sex deprived, drenched center.

A deep rumble of sound drifted up to my ears as his tongue snaked out, burning my thigh as it trailed upward, following the path back to the source. Instead of sliding through my center, his talented tongue moved to the other thigh, repeating the action. Once he’d ensured both were free of the proof of my arousal, he flicked his tongue out, taunting my clitoris.

Biting down on my lip, I attempted to prevent a wanton moan of pent up lust from escaping. The air left my lungs in quick, uneven, needy pants of air as his tongue drifted down, then glided through my melted core. The moment it pushed against my opening, my knees threatened to give out, leaving me in a heap of awkwardness on the floor.

Rhys’ hold on my legs tightened as though he’d felt and perceived my body weakening from his skillful, naughty attentiveness. The rumble of approval he emitted vibrated against my swollen lips.

It forced heated arousal to my entrance, as if my body pleaded for more from him. The entire time, he held my gaze prisoner. It was impossible to look away from the ravenous stare of approval sparkling as he lapped and caressed my pussy, as if it were a favorite dessert dish.

The moment he pushed his tongue past the opening of my sex, my hands slid from the small of my back, landing on his powerful shoulders. A bevy of colorful curse words crawled up my throat, each one seeking escape from my lungs.

“Jesus, rice and cheese crackers!” Was the only one to make it out, causing Rhys’ eyes to widen as he smothered laughter against my aching, clenching sex. Heat scorched over my chest, then slowly crept higher to burn my cheeks and the tips of my ears.

Rhys’ laughter tickled my need, vibrating against my clit as he flicked it several times before he rose to his towering height. Planting his palm against the wall beside my face, he smirked as he made a show of licking my glistening arousal from his luscious lips.

“I was correct. As I said, you are going to lose this fight. When you do, I’ll enjoy making you scream as I claim you as the spoils of war.” Sucking his full bottom lip between his teeth, he released it as his head tipped to the side. “Jesus, rice and cheese crackers?”

“I’m about to be a mother.” That explanation was all I offered him. I didn’t want Bullet to grow up with the colorful vocabulary words I’d been weaned on.

“You’re fucking adorable,” he whispered in a raspy tenor of sound. The intensity of his penetrating stare forced me to turn away from it. The moment I did, his hand collared my throat. Using his thumb pressed against my chin, he returned my focus to his softening features. “You’re going to be an amazing mother, Remington. I’ve questioned things about you. But I’ve never questioned that. I know you’ll be our child’s staunchest protector and advocate.”

Rhys’ words caused a heaviness to tighten inside my chest. Tears swam in my vision as he leaned in, pressing his lips against mine. His tongue slid over the seam of my mouth, triggering my lips to open, granting permission to deepen the kiss. Rhys’ wicked rumble of laughter caused my eyes to open as he drew back, staring at me as his face darkened.

“Too easy, Love. Do try to offer me at least somewhat of a challenge before conceding in battle.” Stepping back, he watched the bevy of emotions playing out over my face.

How had he gotten past my defenses? Rhys didn’t even try hard before I melted in a puddle of wanton, ravenous need at his feet. My lips opened, then snapped shut as I stepped closer, sensing the thick, enticing scent clinging in the air between us.

“That’s cheating, Van Helsing!” He’d used incubus magic to glide past my defenses. My heartbeat thundered against my ribs as I fought to regain control of my senses.

Rhys’ smile jerked up at the corner of his mouth, spreading over his handsome face. The heat bubbling in azure, blue profundities vowed to overwhelm, then drown me beneath turbulent waves churning within them. Swallowing past the swelling in my throat, I analyzed the way his dark head tilted slightly to the left.

“You didn’t honestly think I’d play fair. Did you?” He studied my face briefly before a boisterous clap of laughter sounded through the narrow hallway. “Bloody hell. You did. Here’s a free lesson in warfare, Love.” Reaching for a wayward curl, he rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger before tucking it behind my ear. The same hand reached up, cupping my cheek tenderly.

“I don’t need lessons from you.”

“Don’t you? You do because you still think I’m your knight in shining fucking armor.” Dropping his hand, he smirked wickedly. “The fact that you’ve placed me on a pedestal like I’m the hero of your tale is erroneous. You know I’m no Prince Charming, Remi. I’m a full-blooded incubus demon, one who plans to devour you until you’re nothing more than a captive to my desire. To have you naked beneath me, I’m willing to fight dirty. Filthy , even. I’ve not eaten since you left. A starving incubus demon does whatever it takes to ensnare its prey in its trap.”

I trembled from head to toe with his admission of not using a feeder to slake his carnal needs. It caused warmth to rush through me, encompassing my heart as hope blossomed inside of me.

How many nights had I lain awake alone on my bed, wondering if he was slaking his needs on another woman? Too many to count. I’d been afraid to sleep after entertaining the thought of him in the arms of another woman. Fear had a way of materializing nightmares of whatever thought filled the mind before dozing off. The few times I’d had night terrors of that unfolding, I’d woken up physically sick.

“Don’t think it had anything to do with you, Love. I assure you, it did not. I merely wanted to dine gluttonously on your pretty, ignored cunt when I captured you. Now, I merely need to disarm, claim, and mark you as mine. Once I have, you’ll do anything to ensure you’re the only sustenance I crave to consume. If you’re a good girl, I may feed you dick often.”

Why did I end up turned on when he was being a total prick? It was obvious to me that I had serious issues. I couldn’t even call them daddy issues since I couldn’t recall anything about my father. He’d told me to remember him, but I couldn’t recall anything other than the day he’d left. It was the only memory my mind recalled of the man who’d sired me.

Rhys’ dark head tipped forward as he studied my face briefly before the chirping of a phone ringing forced his focus to shift. Turning toward the bedroom, he sauntered back through the doorway, leaving me to stare at the spot he’d stood in seconds ago.

“Talk to me,” he ordered from inside the bedroom. Unbidden, I inched closer to the doorway. “That’s good.” I felt my heartbeat growing faster as I eavesdropped on the conversation. “No, post extra knights around the property lines. Call in Ian, Hunter, and Conrad. Inform them of what we’ve discovered and what their goal for Remington is. It should bring them running like stags wanting a cunt to rut in.” The sound of him rummaging through drawers caused my curiosity to arise.

I unwillingly inched toward the entrance of the bedroom, even as my brow furrowed with worry at being caught spying on his conversation.

“She’s awake?” Rhys’ pitch had risen with the question. “Fucking start with that next time, Mikel. For fuck’s sake. No, I’ll be up shortly. Tell Cadmus and Arryn to go grab Xanth, Dagan, and Silas to head out with the letters I handed out to each of you.” Silence filled the air until he spoke once again. “Their destination will be revealed once they’ve placed distance between themselves and our enemies. Talia spelled each piece of vellum to reveal the reason for their travel. It also exposes which ally they’re to bring back, and, once handed to that person, the letter will reveal what I’ve included to ensure they come to the mansion once it’s handed to them.”

The crease in my forehead deepened as I considered what he’d said. It sounded rather complicated, but Talia was rather tangled in riddles. If I were being honest, most witches were rather convoluted in madness or bouts of it. They paid for their magic with their sanity, a price exacted by manipulating powers meant for another realm.

“No, I’ll be up to speak with her. Mikel, keep this between us. Until I discover Illeron’s intentions, I prefer him to believe his plan to sow discord succeeded. Once we’ve ended the more pressing threat, we will deal with him accordingly. Until then, keep him away from this wing of the mansion. I don’t relish the idea of ending his life, but I won’t vacillate if the choice is his life or hers.” I heard his footsteps on the marble floor, compelling me to enter the chamber and listen further.

Inside the bedroom, I moved to the bed, grabbing a blanket to cover up with. As the water turned on, I strained to hear more and inched closer to the bathroom. It wasn’t until I peeked my head through the doorway that I realized I’d been discovered.

I peeked inside, only to be yanked as Rhys planted me firmly between him and the wall. Rhys’ face darkened as cold, lethal hostility wafted from his pores.

“Learn anything from spying on my phone call?” he asked in a tone dripping with disdain.

Licking past my suddenly dry lips, I fought to form words through the panic swelling in my chest. “Is she okay, Rhys?” The whisper of sound trembled as it escaped through anxiety at his angry, threatening demeanor.

“Don’t worry your pretty head over your best friend, Love. Nyx will be fine once she’s fucked Acyn enough to heal from her wounds. Wounds she wouldn’t have received if you’d listened to me.”

Shaking my head, I noted his narrowing eyes as they thinned and tightened the skin around his brow line. “I was asking about Nyota.” I’d figured Nyx was healing under Acyn’s watchful eye. Whatever the pair shared, he genuinely cared about Nyx. “Is Nyota . . . okay?” A flash of regret slid over his face before he concealed all emotion.

“My sister isn’t your concern. I need to leave for a while. Go through the master bathroom and ensure I haven’t missed something you require for your stay here. I hate to see you suffer, as everyone close to you has recently been forced to endure.”

Rhys’ stare shifted to the side, making mine follow the same path. In the bedroom, the light exposed strands of dark, smoke-like tendrils that dissipated like mist the moment I laid my eyes on them.

“Take your hands off of me, Van Helsing,” I whispered as nausea burned against the back of my throat. My entire stomach roiled as he refused to release me.

“Fucking make me—” He didn’t have time to finish his taunt. Instead, horror spread over his face as I leaned forward, tossing my cookies onto his chest. “God damn it, Remington!”

I didn’t respond since I couldn’t. My stomach continually heaved violently. It forced Rhys to steer me toward the toilet, where he pulled my wild hair back as I continued emptying my stomach until I dry heaved.