Page 71 of The Female

GRAY

WHERE THE FUCKis Aziel?

The incubi surrounding Silas and Charlie are growing more daring, and I’m starting to get concerned. My arms tighten around Shay as she not so subtly tries to break free from my hold.

She wants to fight my Charlie, but I’m not going to let that happen.

I had no idea she would be here, and I hate myself for not warning Charlie of the possibility. The demon female sends me pictures of herself every day for weeks leading up to the event, each image dirtier than the last so I’m desperate for it by the time the party comes around.

There were no images this year, and I took that to mean she wasn’t coming.

I never wanted to hurt Charlie, and I have no desire to be with Shay, but I knew I had to stick with her once I realized she was here. It would’ve been too suspicious if I didn’t, but I desperately hoped Aziel or Silas would explain to Charlie that it was only an act.

The pain in her eyes tells me they did not.

The sight of Charlie’s tears will haunt me for a long time, and the betrayal that shone in her eyes cuts me to the core.

When all has calmed with Aziel, I’ll assure her she’s the only female for me. I’ll let her know I have no desire to touch any other and I only allowed Shay to sit in my lap. She kissed my neck, but I hated every second of it and tore her mouth away as soon as I could.

Silas twists Charlie out of the way so he can snap the neck of a darting incubus. He looks confident and in charge as he protects Charlie, but I know him well enough to see the underlying signs of stress in the curl of his lip.

I want to help, but my involvement will only draw unwanted attention. The incubi are testing us, making half-assed attempts at grabbing Charlie to see my reaction. And Aziel’s. Wherever the fuck he is.

Shay tries to wiggle out of my arms as I turn in search of the Wrath. I’m going to snap his neck. He had one fucking job.

Charlie moans, her arousal less than ideal.

The incubi purposefully push it out, their scent thick in the air. They have a lawful claim on her the moment she asks for them, and I desperately hope she keeps her mouth shut until Aziel returns from wherever the fuck it is he’s disappeared to.

All this lust will throw her into a frenzy, and I can tell by how she fights Silas that it’s going to happen sooner rather than later. Incubi lust is potent, often acting like a drug for many weaker breeds. The comedown will be agonizing for her, and the more she breathes in, the worse it will be.

Shay tries to spin in my arms just as the scent of her arousal reaches my nose, but I refuse to touch her. My focus is on Charlie only.

I want to take her from Silas and bring her home, but that’ll only exacerbate the situation. It was naive to think the incubi wouldn’t try something tonight. They love chaos way too much.

The room is tense as everybody waits to see what’s going to happen, and I resist the urge to groan when the music cuts off and we’re thrown into an uneasy silence. The non-lust demons gather around and watch in mild interest, always finding the drama that follows me to be a fun source of entertainment.

My anger spikes as one of my brothers lunges for Charlie, his actions quick. They’ll teleport her away the moment they get their hands on her, but Silas is good about keeping her out of their grasp.

I rock back on my heels, my desperation growing.

Humans are fragile, and I don’t like the danger I’ve foolishly put mine in.

“Calm, calm,” Asmod says, his words vibrating through the air as lust pours from him.

Fuck.

Charlie’s body is a thousand times more susceptible than most, and I can’t imagine how much this must be affecting her. Her shivering form is answer enough, though, and Silas shoves his thigh between hers in a sad attempt to keep her sated.

She almost immediately begins to rub against it.

I know she’ll feel shame for this later, but I’d rather have her embarrassed and safe than be passed around as my last female, Nicolette, was. I’d be wrecked if I had to watch another one of my loves be paraded around the den, her soft skin slowly turning purple as they cover her with love bites and fingertip-shaped bruises.

“Just because Gray’s gotten himself another female doesn’t mean we need to act like animals.” Asmod laughs, his eyes darkening as he watches Charlie writhe against Silas.

My pulse races, and it takes everything in me not to respond to his words. He’s trying to make me react. He doesn’t know Charlie is mine, and I intend to keep it that way.

Charlie pants and cries into Silas’s bicep, her noises growing louder as he grabs her hips and pulls her harder against him. It’s good he’s keeping her distracted.

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