Page 83 of The Devil's Dilemma

“Will it fade with time? With all due respect, we hardly know each other, and to think we can’t even go to the bathroom without each other. Things could get difficult.”

I glanced over at Austin, who was close to tears. It wasn’t ideal, but we needed to find out if it would get any better.

“Give me a minute. I have a book about it somewhere. Anyway, how come you don’t know any of this?”

“I know death and destruction. That’s what I do. Love and heart stuff is not my thing.”

“Gee, thanks.” Austin stalked towards the door.

Fuck, what had I said? I hadn’t meant it like that.

A searing pain hit me, and seconds later, he was glued to my side, a scowl on his face.

Unless we got this sorted, it was going to get old quickly.

I tapped my fingers on my leg. Mal was taking his time. I dared another glance at Austin. Wait, we were both still stark bollock naked. I sat straighter. Austin raised an eyebrow.

“We are not doing it again.” He folded his arms.

“Why not? It could be fun. Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it.”

“At least get off the phone first.”

“That’s not a no, then.”

He rolled his eyes. At least he wasn’t freaking out, unlike me. I might seem calm on the outside, but inside, I was a mess.

The devil with a mate? Unheard of and I should know.

“Okay, I’m back. It says here that the longer the bond goes on, the more the effects should lessen yet solidify. Contradictory, to say the least. To me, that suggests the effects are strong to begin with, but as time wears on, you shouldn’t feel them so keenly. You’ll still be bonded, but in time, you’ll be able to go about your normal lives without having to be so close to each other. Oh, hang on, there’s more.”

Mal muttered under his breath as he read, but my gaze once again went to Austin and his nakedness. My cock twitched, despite it being less than ten minutes since we’d last fucked.

“Right. The proximity thing has to do with strengthening the bond. You might want to stay close to a bed.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because you likely won’t be able to keep your hands off each other for a while.”

That would explain a lot and my current need to take him back to bed and fuck him all over again.

“What about the ones trying to kill me?” Austin tugged on my arm. “Am I safe now? Ask him.”

“Did you hear that, Mal?”

“I did. The stronger the bond becomes, the less likely that is to happen. As your relationship grows, the angel mark will develop. It’ll change shape, it says here. Has it changed?”

I peered at Austin’s chest. It looked bigger, but I couldn’t say for certain.

“Maybe? It’s not clear.”

“That’s all I’ve got, I’m afraid.”

“So I’m still in danger. Jesus, Dante.” Austin’s eyes flashed.

“Hey, don’t say his name.”

“I don’t know what to suggest,” Mal said. “Have more sex. Grow the angel mark, strengthen the bond until it’s unbreakable. Then you should be safe.”

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