Page 76 of Feral Possession

“You’re choosing me over the life you had. One filled with light, laughter, family?”

How could this powerful vampire think so little of himself? “Understand, this isn’t some horrible sacrifice I’m making. When I’m with you, I feel alive, desired, protected.”

He stood before her and lifted his scarred hand to her cheek, saying softly, “Stay and I may never let you go.”

Dove peered up at him and gasped. “Marcus, your face.” Her eyes traveled over every inch of his flawless visage. Gone was the intricate pattern of burns that had once marred his forehead and temple. Gone was the textured skin that tickled her palm when she touched him. Gone was the face she’d come to love.

He offered a self-deprecating smirk. “A gift from your demon friend. He believed he was playing wingman. Don’t get too attached. I suspect it isn’t permanent.”

At her gaping silence, his lips tightened. “You don’t like it.”

“It’s wonderful, just, this isn’t the face of the man I’ve come to know.” The one she feared had snared her heart. “This is the face of the man who once looked at me not as a person but as an object he could possess. It will take some adjustment.”

His eyes darkened, washed with all the emotions he was no longer hiding from her. “Then stay and let me prove to you that ignorant bastard has changed.”

Dove smoothed her fingers along his jaw, then circled her palm around the back of his neck. She leaned up on her tiptoes, bringing her mouth within inches of his, purring, “Show me.”

Marcus’s eyes widened at her challenge before turning molten. He covered her lips with his own. Confident in achieving his goal, he plundered her mouth. Teased the seam of her lips, demanding entry. Their tongues tangled. His teasing making her chase his. Dove’s head swam, and she circled her arms around his shoulders, leaning into him.

When they drew apart again, she clung to him for balance, whispering, “Whoa.”

“Whoa indeed,” Marcus agreed. Dove had asked him to show her, and yet he was the one having his eyes opened. The woman in his arms had nothing to gain by being here and everything to lose. His wealth, his title meant little to her. Still, she chose to remain at his side. Part of him waited to uncover some motive for her actions. Expected her to betray him as others had in the past. Yet every time he challenged her, she remained true.

That honesty was sexy as fuck.

He may not be the same vampire she’d met at the casino opening, but the creature he’d become was just as eager to possess the striking faerie. To him, she was priceless. Flesh and blood and everything he wanted. No. Needed. It made him nervous, his attachment to something so fragile. What she’d given him, he could not purchase, nor—he’d learned—control.

He feared she may discover he’d lied to her. That much of his old self remained. Because, in that moment, he desired nothing more than to possess every delectable inch of her.

She pressed her forehead into his chest, muttering something he failed to understand. “What was that?” he asked.

She cast him a sultry look from beneath her lashes, tugging his shirt tail out of his pants. “I said, that all you got?”

He tensed. She’d seen his scars many times, but not like this. This was… different. Intimate.

Apprehension coursed through him. He was still discovering his limitations with his new form. With this partnership he’d made with his demon. He’d rather not experiment on Dove’s fragile flesh. However, what she offered was too tempting to resist. He wanted this more than anything he’d wanted in a long time.

“Wait.” He grasped her hands, gently set her away from him, and stepped back.

Dove frowned until he reached for the collar of his shirt. With every button he turned, her gaze grew warmer. At last, he shrugged the fabric off his shoulders, flinging it to the floor.

Her forest-green eyes took him in, stroking his body in a languid caress that sent heat straight to his cock. The admiration in her eyes assured him she liked everything he’d revealed. Shadows swirled, his demon rising.

“And why shouldn’t she desire us?” said a familiar voice. “We are strong. Virile.”

“Not now.” A good wingman knew when to make himself scarce.

“Understood.” The demon’s conscience faded, though his power remained.

For once, Marcus was grateful for the entity he carried. Because of the demon, he stood before Dove on two powerful legs.

Whole.

Despite the need burning in his veins, with Dove, he wanted to savor the moment. He raked her form, demanding, “Now you.” It seemed some of the demon’s influence remained because he found he enjoyed the games they played. He’d had so little of them in his youth. Growing up, games were not meant to be entertaining. Instead, any challenge was met with aggression. Losing was not an option.

Dove stared at him puzzled, then, ever so slowly, a seductive smile blossomed on her lips. “Very well. Tit for tat. Though I think it’s only fair to warn you. I’ve studied with an expert.”

Her former benefactor, Vivian, was a world-renowned striptease artist. Unbeknownst to Dove, Marcus was desperate to lose this game.

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