Page 27 of The Witch Queen of Halloween (Immortals After Dark 20)

Withnothing to lose, he bluffed her: “Youdeleted the pic because you stared at it as much asI’vestared at my copy.Youscheduled our makeup date onHalloweennight so you wouldn’t give in to the urge to meet me.”

“Aww.Pooraddled demon.You’redelusional with your advanced age.”

Nota denial.Hegrasped her hand, marveling anew at her soft skin. “Afterwe took that selfie, we turned toward each other for a kiss, like we’d been together for ages.Weboth knew we’d kiss.Weboth knew it’d wreck us.Itwas as inevitable as dawn.Justlike now.”

Herbreath hitched.

Darkgods below, he wanted her. “Yourlast kiss seared me.Lefta mark on me forever.”Hepressed his lips against her wrist and flicked her pulse point with his tongue, like he’d done on their date.

Shewatched him with fascination, murmuring, “Youare all temptation, aren’t you?”

“Iama demon.”

“Andin exchange for your protection you only asked for a mere kiss.”Shewas playing with him, and he was going to let her! “MaybeIcould give you a down payment.”

“Ishould have asked for more.”

“Thenearn a tip.”

“Fuckinghell, witch, you drive me crazy.”Whenuncontrollable smoke rose from his body, her heartbeat quickened, a light drum in his ears. “Ican hear your reaction to me.”

“Icanseeyours.”

Hepalmed her nape and dragged her closer. “Becauseyou make me burn.”Hecovered her lips with his own, savoring her sharp inhalation.Hegave her a moment, expecting her to pull away.

Hegroaned when she didn’t.Cuppingher face and tilting his head, he slanted his mouth over hers, delving for her taste.Shewas confection-sweet, addictive.Heflicked her tongue with his, and she moaned as she met him.Theentire world coalesced into that contact.

Tonguestwining . . . trading moans and groans . . . wrapping his arms around her irresistible body.Thiskiss wasn’t as good as the night of their date.

Better.

Heshould concentrate on the danger, but demonic drives battled inside him: to protect his mate and to pleasure her.Hereached for her hair tie and released it, threading his fingers through those silken locks as he deepened the kiss.

Shedug her nails into his back, meeting him stroke for stroke.Lostin this woman, he cupped her breast, thumbing her stiffened nipple, lightly pinching it.Hergasp made his cock surge in his pants.Hewanted it buried to the hilt inside her, his female claimed.

Possessivenessseethed within him when his lusty witch writhed to get closer, rubbing her curves against him.Thescent of her arousal hit him like a drug.Poppy. . .

Gods, she was ready to mate?—

Atwisting pain zinged him in the side, and he jerked back. “Damn,Red.I’mnot down with pinching.”She’dall but torn his skin, cooling his ardor.

Shefrowned. “Ididn’t pinch you.”Heririses glowed even more.

“Ifyou didn’t . . . ?”

Theirattention dropped to the bottom corner of the mirror; glassy eyes stared up at them.

RöktossedPoppybehind him.

Standingin the hall was a porcelain doll with blond ringlets and a frilly dress.

Apent-up laugh escaped him. “Amirror scare, too!Nextwe’ll meet cave creatures and unearth found footage.”

Shemoved to his side and whispered, “Oh,Hecate, no.Thisisn’t funny.”

Awalking doll? “It’sa little funny.”

“That’sAnnelise.”

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