Page 22 of Wolfsbane Hall #1

But perhaps Celestine had always been a toy. Was she always the Specter’s toy, and she just hadn’t realized it?

“Ah, there’s my little angel.” James appeared behind them and wrapped his hands around Celestine, caressing the curve of her waist and pulling her into his solid body. “I’ve been looking all over for you.” His lips grazed her ear, and he whispered, “You look like you need saving.”

Celestine shuddered, and a shiver coursed down her spine.

Lorraine let out a disgusted scoff.

“Auntie, it looks like your target has finally decided to appear.” James nodded his chin at a stumbling Everett, who had a half-empty bottle of bourbon in his hand.

He had left Margot and immediately sought out alcohol.

“Yes,” Lorraine said, rolling her shoulders back. She sent a look of pure disgust at James before she prowled toward her son.

Celestine swallowed. She did not envy the Thrill-Seeking Casanova one bit. It was one of the murder mystery nicknames she gave him, because when he wasn’t the detective, he was simply reckless.

But she didn’t get a chance to ponder or witness his interaction with his mother, because James drew her into an alcove of the ballroom and pulled the scarlet curtains closed behind them seconds before his lips were on hers.

Celestine’s back hit the wall as James devoured her.

He was a starving man, and she was his salvation.

A feast he would savor all night if he could.

His fingers cupped her ass as he pressed deeper.

Oh, he was… “James, we’re in the middle of the show.”

“And?” His lips left hers for only a moment before his tongue invaded her senses.

Shit. Celestine wanted this. She wanted his type of distraction. But they shouldn’t. She’d almost just fucked his cousin in nearly the same way. And his mother and uncle had just done this.

“No.” She pulled away, placing a hand on his chest. “This isn’t appropriate.”

“You need a distraction.” He bit her lip. “You need this, Celestine. Don’t lie to me and say you don’t. I know your body is desperately in need of release after Dean just interrupted you and Everett.”

“You’re not mad about that?”

“No. Why would I be?” He sucked her lip into his mouth. “You’re mine.”

Fuck. His hands stroked up her legs, and he deepened their kiss, and Celestine couldn’t lie to herself. She did need this. He was the best distraction from everything that occurred during the night. She didn’t have to think about poison, mystery shows, or murder when she was with him.

It was just the two of them with an unstoppable passion.

Although the last time they did this during a show, she stabbed him seventeen times in the chest.

A moan escaped Celestine’s lips as James trailed kisses down her neck.

“You are utter perfection,” he said, nipping at her neck like a vampire .

“And you are a nice distraction.”

“Is that all I am to you?”

“Do you want me to be more?”

“No, never.” With one hand, he gave her ass a squeeze, and with the other, he stroked her thigh, fingers leaving indents. “You aren’t for keeping. You are for fun.”

Celestine inhaled sharply. That was never something a girl wanted to hear, even if she knew it to be true.

She didn’t get a chance to respond, because he sucked her lip into his mouth again and slid a hand between her legs.

He chuckled when he found no underwear obscuring his way.

He played with her curls for a moment before plunging two fingers into her core and stroking her walls.

Deep circles. Deep, luxurious, forbidden circles.

Celestine let out a cry, and she came apart under his hand. She really must have been deprived to orgasm that quickly.

“You’re such a good, wet girl.” He silenced her, drowning out her cries of pleasure with his mouth as he continued stroking that spot. She ground into him, her hips bucking as his fingers fucked her so completely. “You’re so ready for me, my love.”

Celestine broke free. “I need all of you filling me.”

James let out a low chuckle. “Of course, you do.”

He pulled his slick fingers out and placed her on the ground before he unbuttoned his pants and unleashed his glorious cock. It was long, hard, and wonderful.

Celestine’s chest rose with want. They’d done this hundreds of times, but it would never grow old because he was so talented with…everything.

James cupped her shoulders and drew the straps of her garments down until he released her breasts to the world.

His tongue circled a nipple, and she gasped.

Her heart beat in her ears. The anticipation of having his cock inside her was far too much.

She needed him now, but he enjoyed torturing her.

He got off on it. He loved to edge her. It was part of his sick games.

His hands caressed her inner thighs and, slowly, his tongue released her breast. He moved so sickly slow, his fingers hovering above her folds but refusing to give her what she wanted.

“Please,” she begged. “I can’t take much more.”

James chuckled and stood back up to his full height. “My wicked little wanton.” He nibbled her earlobe. “You will have all of me soon enough.”

And as if in answer, his cock twitched against her upper thigh.

“Please.” She reached a hand down to guide his length, but he caught her fingers in a firm grip and pinned them to the wall above her head.

“Bad little wanton,” he growled. “I say when you have me. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

“Good girl.”

He kissed her cheek and removed one hand from pinning her to line his cock up with her entrance then plunged in—plundering her wetness with his thick length. Her legs circled him as his cock filled her to the brim. She was so tight for him, and she would never get used to the sheer size of him.

He pounded his cock in, slamming her against the wall, fierce, taking no prisoners and allowing no surrender. He railed her with no restraint.

If the beginning of their lovemaking was slow, this was fast and unrelenting.

Celestine’s arms fell as he released them, and she dug her nails into his shirt, her lips capturing his, biting him. They both could give a little pain with their pleasure .

“Naughty,” he mouthed against her lips before he roared with his satisfaction. He came inside of her, heat filling her.

Celestine let out a moan as she came as well, trembling from her pleasure. Their frenzied sex came to a finish, sweat dripping down their backs, and their breaths were fast and exhausted. They panted into each other, trying to gain composure again.

James set her back on the floor and placed his hands on either side of her face. He rested his tired head on her breasts, and she stroked his sweat-slick hair with light fingers.

They stayed like that for a couple of minutes until James regained his energy.

“You’re always such a good fuck,” James said, patting her head and pulling away.

Celestine tensed, every muscle hardening with shame. She didn’t know why those words affected her so deeply. She knew this was only for physical release. That was all.

James pulled up his pants and buttoned them, not even noticing the change. After all, he’d gotten what he wanted. “We should probably get back to the show.”

“Right,” Celestine said. She dragged up her dress and smoothed out her hair. “It would be foolish to miss the show.”

“For you, it would be.”

He placed a kiss on her forehead before walking through the curtains. She followed him to a table where Vivian played with a wine glass. A clink rang out as Vivian harshly set it down, already two to three drinks deep. This family might have a problem.

“You two have been gallivanting around, I see,” Vivian said. “You smell like sex.”

Celestine’s cheeks heated.

“Don’t be jealous,” James said, sitting beside his sister, and Celestine glided beside him .

“I am only jealous your lover gets to be here. Mine weren’t invited.”

“Be glad of that.”

“Oh, I am.” Vivian examined her nails before pulling a long dagger from a sheath on her thigh.

She began to play with the knife, tossing it back and forth between her hands.

Something she did when bored sometimes. “Tonight is for torture.” Then she turned her head to the ceiling and said, “I am hungry.”

A booming chuckle filled the room. “If you must insist, sister dearest, let’s have a feast. And possibly a murder.” The Phantom’s voice echoed off every surface.

Sister?

Celestine’s eyes latched on to James, who shrugged. Was James the Phantom? Could that be true if he were being so calm about it? But then…did Dean imply earlier that he had multiple brothers? And Margot had as well…

Nothing made sense.

What was real? Was any of it?

Was sister just a title? Like a friend?

In a blink, the tables were filled with food—a feast for royalty. James’s uncle Jon and his father Walter, who sat at a table away, smiled and immediately dug in. Everyone else seemed a little dazed.

A wave of dizziness overcame Celestine, and she had to grip her table for support. She sucked in a breath. The earlier exertion mixed with the poison was too much.

Her heart beat erratically—angrily.

Something hot dripped from her nose, and she used a napkin to clean it up.

Blood.

The damned poison was sinking deeper.

Sooner than expected.