Page 22 of Basilisk

“How do you know that?”

“Do you realize how often you stare at my lips?”

Red filled Clive’s freckled cheeks. It was so fucking cute Bain had to move closer. He wanted to see that flush on other parts of Clive’s body. Badly.

He’d never been so drawn to any being, human or preternatural. Knowing what he did now only increased that to astronomical levels. That kiss had rocked his world.

He wanted more.

He wanted everything Clive had to give.

“You feel the same fire I do, don’t you?” he murmured as he caged Clive in, propping one hand on the wall next to his head and leaning down.

Clive nodded, then shocked the hell out of Bain when he grabbed two fistfuls of his shirt and pulled him in. Then he smashed his mouth onto Bain’s, moaning as he did. He parted his lips.

Bain quickly overtook the kiss, sending his tongue deep into Clive’s mouth. Fuck, he tasted good. Like he’d been drinking something fruity in his office.

Clive wrapped his arms around Bain’s neck and melted into him. Feeling that tight, small body against his had Bain groaning and he wound his own arms around him. He ran his hands down Clive’s taut back down to cup ass cheeks that overflowed his palms. He lifted, wanting the man even closer, and Clive jumped up to wrap his legs around Bain.

“Oh my god,” Clive panted against his lips. “You feel incredible!”

“So do you.” Bain cupped his ass tighter, grinding into him, loving the way Clive gasped and writhed.

He was losing his mind. The little human was just too delectable. Too desirable. And that connection he’d felt from the very beginning, that strange allure, it just overtook everything. He kissed Clive again, holding him as close as possible, reveling in his taste. His texture. His scent. Everything about Clive appealed to Bain on a deep level that changed his world at its core.

But his senses suddenly sent out an alert and he froze, pulling his mouth back.

They weren’t alone.

“What? Don’t stop,” Clive gasped as he wiggled his hips.

But there was a crash from behind him as something broke down the door. He quickly set Clive down.

“I need you to be very still,” Bain said, a deep warning in his voice. “Stay behind me.” He let go and turned.

A wendigo stalked into the kitchen. One that hadn’t bothered to disguise itself with magic, which meant it hadn’t cared if Clive saw its true form. It was here to kill him. It stood over eight feet, its two-foot-long antlers nearly brushing the ceiling. It had hooves for feet, a long snout, and lethal claws it held out in a horrid display.

“What the hell?” Clive yelled as he got a good look at what stood in his kitchen. grabbed the back of Bain’s shirt. “What is that?”

The wendigo leaped before Bain could answer. Claws swiped fast and hard. Bain dodged fast, wrapping one arm back to take Clive with him.

“Go into your bedroom,” he yelled as he kicked the creature back.

Clive didn’t argue, taking off fast.

Bain ducked and rammed his shoulder into the wendigo, and it staggered back, slamming into the refrigerator. Snarling, it slashed at him again, one of its claws swiping across his shoulder, tearing his shirt and drawing blood. He jumped out of the way of the rest of the claws, spun and kicked one foot hard into the thing’s knee. It howled but didn’t go down, just coming at him again with the claws of both hands.

No matter how much he dodged, those claws kept getting his skin.

It was no use. He couldn’t fight the thing off in this form. His basilisk hide would be too tough for those claws, so he brought that form forth, clothes ripping to shreds as his tail extended to take up half the kitchen. He bared his own claws, a loud hiss vibrating out of his throat. He didn’t bother to speak to the thing. It couldn’t talk back. Wendigos were silent, deadly hunters.

Bain unleashed his speed, swiping the claws of both hands in wide, slashing motions. Blood splattered the walls and cabinets, but Bain didn’t let up.

The wendigo jumped and sank its teeth into Bain’s shoulder. Despite his tough hide, a few of those teeth broke through. Bain yelled, ripped it off, and threw it into the living room. It crashed into one of the bookcases, sending books spilling off the shelves.

While it scrambled to its feet, Bain rushed it. He was tired of this fight. He grabbed the wendigo by the shoulders and glaredinto its eyes. He didn’t bother to mesmerize, too furious that this creature had come after Clive. He used his full power.

That was all it took.

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