Page 7 of Enticing Monsters

Foster shifts to take me in where I am hidden behind V, and the wicked flames sputter, shifting to yellow and orange, rather than white and blue.

“You don’t want to hurt our mate, do you, Foster? You want her safe?” Kian continues in that soft, melodic voice.

It’s not seductive but…calming, like plunging into an icy pool after days in the sun. Even though he isn’t directing his powers at me, the muscles in my shoulders loosen, and some of the tension riding my spine dissipates. The knot in my chest untangles until it feels like I can breathe again.

Foster glances between where Hudson is scurrying back and me, as if he can’t decide what will make me safer. Staring into his eyes…I imagine it’s similar to staring into the pits of hell. Fire writhes and dances in his gaze, and I can’t look away. I don’t want to.

A part of me yearns to tango with the devil.

Dark tendrils of shadow slip under the shield V has up, wrapping Hudson in them and hauling him back at a pace far quicker than the injured male can do on his own. A band covers his mouth, preventing him from speaking—or whining—and interfering in this.

“If you cool more, you can comfort her.” Kian’s words stroke my skin like silk, and a shiver works over me. “Look, Foster. She’s cold.”

Technically, I am far from cold. I am not sure what exactly Kian is doing, but it builds warmth in my stomach and between my thighs, and I have to fight the urge to squirm. I am not going to interrupt him though.

“If you were only a little warm, you could wrap yourself around her. Warm her up. Wouldn’t it be nice to warm your mate? Never hurt her, just a little warmth to take the edge off.”

Slowly, the color fades from Foster’s skin, though a flush works over mine when I realize he is naked. Apparently, his clothing didn’t survive the human torch routine. Whoops. I try to keep my gaze above his neck, though a part of me wants to peek at all of the smooth, pale, exposed skin.

I push past V, heading towards Foster. I thought he’d be weak, shaken, but his hands are strong when he grabs me, yanking me tight against him. And I can feel absolutely everything.

Wow.

I don’t have a moment to say anything before his mouth crushes to mine, his lips still hot, though not enough to burn, just enough to entice. He wraps his arms around me, molding me completely against him, as his tongue sweeps over mine, tasting every inch as he grips me. I melt against him, my hands threading into his hair as he devours my mouth as though starved for me.

He is gasping as he pulls away, leaning his forehead against mine.

“Guess I’m not the only one with a temper,” I tease, my voice husky and breathless from his kiss.

A blush works its way across his cheeks.

He nearly killed a guy for me, but teasing him makes him blush? Why is that so adorable that I want to cuddle him?

“He told people what?!” Gage blasts from behind me, jarring Foster and me out of the bubble we are in to take in the seething, hulking man behind us.

“Calm down, Gage!” Xander snaps, his shadows immediately grabbing Gage.

V is in front of me in a moment as Kian’s eyes begin to glow again.

He is pushing calm,I realize after a moment.That’s what he’s using his incubus gifts for.

Darkness swirls in Gage’s eyes, and Xander ventures a step forward, his gaze hard, his lips compressed into a thin line. Shadows still secure Gage in place.

Something about Gage has even V on edge, his shoulders tense and tight, his wings flexed for balance as he watches the other man warily.

Okay, I am seriously going to start beating them if they don’t tell me why they are all so afraid of my gentle giant.

Gage huffs out a deep breath. “You can let me go. I’m under control,” he growls at Xander. “Not that it’d do much good if I wasn’t.”

The words are a mutter, but I am sure that’s what he said.

Instead of making me scared, it only piques my curiosity.

What? I never claimed I wasn’t a twisted bitch.

“What do we do about that?” Foster asks, breaking the tension as he jerks a thumb over his shoulder to where Hudson is still held.

V shrugs, though he doesn’t move from his position as my shield. “I was going to beat him and then send him on his way. Now though, we have a bit of a mess on our hands.”

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