Page 40 of The Witch Queen of Halloween (Immortals After Dark 20)

Sheglanced around at all the forgotten knickknacks.Atticsoften preserved the past.Wasa wizard’s attic makingPoppyremember hers more clearly?

“Doyou sense the prize?”Rökstudied her expression.

“Magicis thick here, but it feels like . . . memories.Likeif the castle was a person, this would be a storehouse of memories.”

“Nevera dull moment with you.”

Hadhe reached his limit of mystical bullshit?Shehad, and she was a witch! “YouthoughtIcould portal us out of here—to safety and cocktails—and you told me not to.”

“Becausewe’ve still got work to do.”

We.“Forthe record,Idid try to get us out.Thissituation isn’t fair to you.”

“Red, no.Youcame here for a cursebreaker, and we’ll find it.”

“Whatabout the visitors?Istill sense that they’re going to return in a big way.Goinghead-to-head against them isn’t logical.”

“Ican’t believeI’mabout to say this, but if they show, we run.Weevade them while we search.Butyou will be free of this curse.”Hecurled a finger under her chin.Ashe stared down at her, his irises grew gray with feeling, displaying thatRök-type tenderness. “Thevisitors are a danger to you, so we have to defeat them.Woman, understand me:I’lltake on hell for you.”

Oh,Rök.Earlierwhen she’d realized that the visitors would kill everyone she loved, she’d also feared that this ladies’ man might beamong that number.

Heis.Shedid feel love for him.

Involuntary.

Foolish.

Love.

“Poppy, you’re mission critical to me.”Somethinga merc couldn’t live without.

Herbreath caught.Emotiondemanded an outlet.Screwit.Screwself-respect.Shegrabbed his nape and dragged him down to meet her lips.

Hegroaned with readiness, cupping her face with those big, callused palms.Heslanted his head to take her mouth deeper, seeming to breathe in her moan when their tongues met.

Shesensed need seething inside him, but he kissed her languidly, stoking her desire as if they had all the time in the worlds.Hebuilt the tension like a controlled burn—demon-hot and mind-numbing in its intensity.

Yetthen he drew back. “There’sstill danger.”Hisvoice had grown rumbly.Hisscent was embers.

Dazedwith lust, she stared at his lips. “Danger?Oh.Well, you’ve convinced me we can handle it.Let’srelease a little steam.We’llbe able to concentrate on the mission better.”Shegrabbed him once more.Againsthis mouth, she said, “Ihave to experience you.Justonce.”

Hedrew back his head again. “Once?”

“Youdon’t have to worry about my summoning you.I’mstronger than that.”Shewas.Shewas.

“Listen,Ineed to tell you something.”

“No, you don’t.”Howcould a player’s confessions make hermorelikely to sleep with him?I’m100 percent a sure thing.“Ineed you to do things with your mouth, andIdon’t mean talking.”

Helooked intrigued by that, distracted, but then his expression hardened. “Youshould hear whatIhave to say.”Histone was reasonable, even as his horns swelled.

Shewanted to pet them and see if the rumors were true.Wouldhe truly lose his mind if she gripped them?Theprospect excited her even more!Shewent up on her knees to undress. “Quick.Wedon’t have forever.”Asshe removed her clothes, she might’ve been shy about her body or wished parts were different, but after seeing trends come and go for a hundred years, she gave sweet fuck-all about the body image du jour.

Whenshe knelt before him in only her black underwear and demi bra, he appeared staggered. “Ah,Red.”Hernipples budding against tight silk had him riveted. “Ican’t resist even your opening volley.”Histalkingmercwas just icing on the cake.

“I’mwaiting.”Sheunclasped her bra, loving his brows-drawn look as her breasts swayed.

“Darkgods below.”Rökshook his head hard, as if he stared at a mirage.

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