Page 71 of Inflamed By an Incubus

So stopping Archangel and Archer took priority.

Because he needed to protect his mate from their machinations.

When she looked as if she might run, he silently apologised to her and lunged for her, seized her arm in a tight grip and held his other one out behind him. Hartt was quick to grab it and Fenix willed the teleport, one that took a monumental effort with a powerful elf and an even more powerful phoenix shifter in tow. He landed on the long patio of his home in Scotland and released both of them, staggered to the grey stone wall beside the bay window and pressed his hands to it as he breathed hard, fighting to stop himself from collapsing.

“What the hell?” Evelyn barked, her panic hitting him hard.

He sensed Hartt disappear, twisted to face her and sagged into the wall, using it to keep himself upright.

Being alone with her was dangerous.

He felt that right down to his bones as he stared at her, as she twisted left and then right, taking in her surroundings and looking more and more like she was going to go for the gun and nail him with a tranquiliser dart.

It wasn’t fear for his life that made him will Hartt to hurry back with Rosalind and Vail.

It was fear that he might surrender to the urge to charm his mate. Not in the traditional manner an incubus used, since his powers didn’t work on her. He wanted to charm her in the manner a male who was interested, who wanted, a female would behave—being nice to her, schmoozing her a little, slowly breaking down her barriers.

Until she fell in love with him.

He couldn’t let it happen. He needed her to dislike him. Not hate. He didn’t want her to hate him, because then she would fear him, and he couldn’t bear that. He wanted her to remain emotionally distant from him.

He wanted her to not love him.

A strange predicament for a male so madly in love with his female to be in, sure, but one he had to roll with. Keeping her distant from him, giving her no reason to fall for him, was a key part of his plan this time.

Given that she worked for Archangel and had been moulded to despise non-humans, and the fact he had just kidnapped her, it shouldn’t be too difficult.

“Take me back.” She turned on him, her golden eyes flashing brightly.

Her phoenix side was showing.

“I think I’ll just keep propping up this wall.” He couldn’t risk another teleport even if he had been inclined to do as she wanted. He didn’t have the strength, had just blasted through his reserves by teleporting her and Hartt, and hunger was going to hit him at any second.

He willed Hartt to hurry.

Stared at his mate.

Gods, she was beautiful.

Gods, he loved her so damned much. If she asked it of him, he would carve out his heart. If she said she would kiss him, he would do whatever she demanded in exchange, no feat too difficult for him to master if he could claim her lips as his prize.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Her voice trembled, betraying the nerves he could feel in her.

Because he wanted to devour her.

He wanted to pleasure her for hours and feast on the bliss she experienced, on the love she would feel for him.

Because he craved her.

Was sure he would go insane if he went another second without feeling her in his arms, without savouring the warmth of her breath skating over his lips, without that sweet anticipation swirling inside him as he gazed down at her and wondered what she would do.

Kiss him?

Fight him?

He stared at her, sure she had to be aware of how much he needed her, how desperate he was for her, and how deeply he loved her. She had to feel the bond that connected them too, one that relayed her growing desire and that told him she wanted him too.

Dangerous.

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