Page 18 of The Mating Claim

“I think not. I have something to say to you.” Lifting her by the waist, he carried her into the backroom.

“And why are you always manhandling me? Asking nicely would get you further,” she complained as he set her down on her feet in the backroom.

Narrowing his eyes, he studied her. “I may consider it in the future. Would youcooperate?”

“No.” A small smile touched her mouth. “But I may consider it in thefuture.”

Drust wanted to laugh, but he couldn’t let her see his amusement. Instead, he stroked her cheek with a thumb. “I am sorry about killing yourfather.”

Her eyes went bright, anger glittering in her gaze. “And I’m supposed to say, oh, it’s all right. It’s not like I have a spare one lying around, Drust. Do you even understand what you took fromme?”

Guilt and irritation filled him. “I took nothing from you, only removed an inherent danger that could have destroyed you, Lacey. He was quite mad. Surely you noticed the twitches in his hands, the nervousness hedisplayed.”

She fellsilent.

“But I will not debate this with you now. Where is the Book ofShadows?”

“Up yours,” she saidsweetly.

Drust gritted his teeth. “I am sorely tempted to turn you over my knee and spank you for yourinsolence.”

She considered. “Huh. I never knew you were into kink. Might befun.”

This time he did release a grudging laugh, and backed her up against the wall. “Make no mistake about it. This would not befun.”

“You’re such an ancient. I bet you don’t even like sex. Do you even remember how to doit?”

Unruffled by her feeble taunts, Drust gave her a knowing look. “Do not tempt me, young one. I could remove your clothing with a snap of my fingers, and when I was finished bedding you, you would be ruined for another male. No other would ever make you feel as muchpleasure.”

An unladylike snort burst from her, but not before he spotted the spark of intrigue in her clear green eyes, and felt the delicate wave of her interest, smelled the rise of her arousal. “Ah Lacey, you think you could resist me? I thinknot.”

“I would just walk away from you,wizard.”

His smile widened. “After being in my bed, you would have trouble walking, littleone.”

Her breath hitched. Got you. He’d found a chink in her prickly armor. Much as he liked playing with her, and the idea of really playing with her as she lay naked beneath him, he hadduties.

A tingling rushed down his spine. Drust cocked his head, listening to the faraway need for help. He still hadtime.

First though. He removed the bracelet from his pocket and slid it onto Lacey’s wrist. She held up herarm.

“Hey, what gives…ow!”

She stared as the bracelet vanished, leaving a cobalt blue tattoo of itself stamped on herwrist.

“Did that hurt?” Truly, he did not wish to hurther.

“It tingled.” She touched her wrist. “What the hell is this, wizard? If I wanted to get inked, there’s plenty of tattoo shops I couldvisit.”

Closing his eyes, he hummed a little, feeling her energy as if it were his own.Excellent.

“I shall return,” he toldher.

After dematerializing to his castle, he used his powers to see her in his mind’s eye. Lacey remained in the shop, touching her wrist, a confused and yet beguiling expression on herface.

Drust returned to the shop. She scowled at him. “You put a tracking device on me! What am I, aprisoner?”

“Not yet,” hemurmured.