Page 62 of Feral Possession

“My rose bit me.” She held up her injured finger. “See, even the flowers are higher on the food chain than I am.”

“Let me see,” he said, clasping her hand. On her index finger was a single drop of crimson. Heavenly temptation. He remembered how sweet her blood was when he’d claimed her. He’d resisted ever since, not wanting to bind them any deeper, though the demon had no such qualms. Here in the garden, with the moonlight shining on her hair, Marcus’s resolve weakened. One little drop wouldn’t do any harm.

“Shall I?” He peered into her eyes and she stared back, plump lips parted. Her chest still as she held her breath.

“Yes, please,” she said, her tone breathy.

He guided her wounded digit into his mouth, closing his lips around her slim finger. Her tantalizing flavor hit his tongue like a punch to the gut. His eyelids grew heavy, a hoarse groan rolling up his throat. He kept his gaze locked with hers, twirling his tongue.

Her glassy eyes locked on his mouth, and she leaned closer, watching him with bated breath. When he was done toying with her, he slowly drew her finger from his mouth. Clenched her hand, kissed her knuckles.

“All better,” he said in a rasping tone.

“Huh?” Dove continued to stare at his mouth, her eyes glazed.

“Your finger.” He grinned. “It’s all better.”

“Uh-huh.” She stepped closer, pressing her lace-clad chest to his.

He sucked a breath at the contact. Rather than push her away, he held his breath, curious to see what she would do. With her free hand, she cupped his uninjured jaw, brushing her thumb over his bottom lip.

“I like to see you smile,” she said.

Yearning burned in her eyes. Yearning for him? His body tightened. If she were anyone else, he’d believe her interest was feigned, that she desired something from him. Except this was Dove. He reveled in her attraction, savoring the emotion.

His hands had a mind of their own, dipping beneath her robe, circling her silken back. She slid her arms around his shoulders, caressing the side of his neck. That innocent touch had his insides unfurling. He wanted to rub his face into her palm like a contented cat.

She shivered, her nipples pearling against his chest. “You’re so warm. I didn’t realize how cool the night had become.”

Heat blazed through his veins. She stoked a fire inside of him that he was helpless to resist.

Her form was slight and soft in his arms. Feminine. Tempting. Would she reject him if he kissed her? Most found his appearance appalling, himself included. Before he could overthink it, he lowered his head, giving her plenty of time to come to her senses.

Instead of retreating, she tipped her face, meeting him halfway. Their mouths melded, her plump lips pressing against his. His body hardened at the simple contact, his shaft straining against her stomach. She gasped against his mouth and clung to his neck. He increased his assault, teasing her lips with his tongue. She opened eagerly for him and he stroked her tongue as he did her injured finger, her lips just as sweet as her blood.

His hands wandered, hungry for more of her silken skin, and found their way beneath the hem of her short gown. Rather than reject his touch, again, she did the unexpected, curling her leg around his hip. He gripped her backside, running his fingers beneath the edge of her panties. She ground her hips into his straining erection, and the scent of her arousal had his eyes rolling back. This female truly desired him. How was that possible? The male he used to be would have stripped her bare and taken her right there. He wasn’t that male anymore. His stomach sank at the reminder. Sex with Dove would bind them even deeper than taking her blood.

He summoned his last thread of willpower and broke their kiss. Dove tucked her head beneath his chin, panting. Gently, he released her thigh, guiding her quivering leg to the ground. He held her to his chest. Afraid of what he would find, he looked at her face. His ears twitched, his insides withering. Was that a giggle?

Dove snickered, leaning back, smoothing the front of his shirt. “Well, Lord Steele. If I’d known how skilled you were, we’d have done that a long time ago.”

Wait. She wasn’t disgusted now that she’d regained her senses? He dared a glance down. Dove peered up at him, adoration in her eyes. Contented smile on her lips. As usual, everything she was feeling was written on her face. She didn’t hate what just happened between b. His thoughts tumbled. Did he?

As he pondered this, he spotted the shadows swirling around them. He tensed, snapping his arms around her.

“What’s wrong?” Dove glanced over her shoulder, picking up on his alarm.

“Behind you.”

She turned in his embrace, putting her back to his chest, breathing, “Whoa. Look at that. Are you doing that?”

“It’s him,” he growled. It figured when Marcus was distracted, the bastard tried to take advantage.

Dove stretched her arm into the swirling mist.

“Dove, no,” he growled, too late.

Shadows twirled around her wrist and slid up her forearm. Black turned to deep shades of purple and midnight blue as the shadows caressed her skin. The demon was putting on a show for her. Before Marcus could react, jerking her to safety, it slid away. The swirling shadows dissipated, sliding back where they belonged, beneath trees and hedges. To the dank places none dared to tread.

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