Page 42 of The Rowan
Astor glances down, inclines his head, and hands her some money. “Thank you, this works. Send over the server.”
The hostess slides her hand over Astor’s, lingers for a second, then takes the money. She whispers her thanks and slides him a piece of paper.
Rolling my eyes, I pull Meri down on the couch with me. “See what I mean?”
“What? Sorry, I was admiring the…scenery.” With a lick of her lips, she leans back so I can see the table of sexy, tattooed men sitting next to us. “I need to get out more.”
Astor sits on my other side. He follows our eyes to the table next to us. “Mmm…I agree. There’s enough sexual testosterone in that group to dine for days.” He moves restlessly beside me.
“You don’t have to stick this close to me. If you want to visit with them, go. When I want to dance, I’ll let you know,” I tell him, although it takes everything in me to say it. I know he’s an incubus and needs sex for sustenance and power, but a part of me hates the idea.
Deep brown eyes gaze down at me—Astor, but not Astor. “Liar. You don’t want me to go,” he marvels, and a seductive smile slides onto his face.
I huff. “I said…”
He chuckles. “I know what you desire, even when you don’t say it, and you desire us.”
I glance over at Meri, who’s listening. She mouths, “I told you so.” I glare at her and tap the button on the table to call the server. Seconds later, a mouthwatering male wearing black pants and a bow tie with washboard abs comes to our table. My body tingles, and my nipples harden. Breathing deeply, I moan, but the rune at my throat flares in warning.
A deep chuckle from Astor brings me out of my semi-trance. “Do you like what you see, gorgeous?”
“What the hell?” I stand, fists clenched. “What are you trying to pull?”
The server stares at Astor and states, “Not your usual?”
Astor gives him a wry smile. “Not tonight. Sorry, I forgot to warn you. We’ll have a bottle of champagne, please.”
He dips his chin and heads off to get a bottle.
Meri glares at me and Astor. “Well, hell. I’m all hot and bothered now. I’m going to dance. You two stay here and figure this out.” She jumps up and heads downstairs to the dance floor, then several guys from the table beside us follow her.
I take a step to go after her, and Astor stops me.
“She’ll be fine. I’ll keep an eye on her,” Astor assures me. “And I’m sorry. Lucas, our server, is a lust demon. When I’ve brought dates here in the past, he’s amped up the atmosphere, and as a reward, I’ve invited him to join the party.” He looks up, his gaze lingering on my hard nipples, before drifting up to my eyes. “Please sit back down.”
I swallow. “Maybe I should go dance with Meri.” I scan around for her silver hair. The dance floor is packed, but I finally spot her, dancing, sandwiched between two guys. I snort. She’d kill me if I interrupted her now.
Astor stands, pulling my back to his front. “You should let her have some fun. Stay here with me. Please.” His lips trail down my neck to caress the shoulder left bare by my sweater.
A little of his power slips, and I moan, then with a simple turn, my body lines up with every delicious inch of his. I stare at his throat, trying desperately to hold on to my sanity.
Could I do this? Could I let loose?
His fingers grasp my chin, and he pulls it up, waiting until my eyes meet his. This time, his incubus stares back. His normally deep brown eyes are practically black, desire making them gleam like obsidian. A carnal smile graces his firm lips. “Stop thinking and feel. Let the desire fill you up. When you’re on the edge, ready to fly, kiss me,” he instructs, his voice deep while his power slides over me, caressing me, as if it’s alive. “That’s it. Just a kiss.”
I sigh. Astor is temptation and pure sin wrapped up in a luscious package. In over three hundred years, I’d only been with a few males, mostly Fae and mostly strangers, someone to satisfy an itch but not anyone worthy of note. They were rushed affairs lasting a night or, at most, a few weeks. Between the constant isolation and the assassination attempts, the opportunity to let go never presented itself, until tonight. My body strains toward his, demanding he follow through.
One hand remains on my waist, while the other cups my head. To the patrons in the club, we’re locked into a staring match, not moving, but beneath the illusion, his power, a whisper and a shadow, is everywhere. It seeps into my skin, amplifying my desire, seeking those secret places only lovers know. As it flicks and licks, I bite my lip to hold in my moans.
It’s relentless in the pursuit of my pleasure. His power dips down between my legs, and I try to clamp them together, but nothing can prevent it from finding its treasure. With the first lick of my clit, I gasp and grab Astor, my hand fisting in his shirt. With sly little flicks and sucks, it brings me to the edge and then stops, over and over again, until I’m permanently on the edge, standing there waiting to fly. Desperate for relief, I whimper.
What did he say? That’s right—a kiss. Just one kiss.
My mouth latches on to his, pouring my desire into him, wanting him to know the depth of my need, to feel it. It knows no boundaries. All the time I’ve spent alone is a blip in time compared to this moment. Every second of waiting was worth it as I kiss and kiss and kiss. Leaving sanity and air behind, I can’t kiss him deeply enough. I’m fulfilled, wanting nothing more than to kiss him. Until he kisses me back.
At first, his kiss is sensual, savoring my lips, nibbling here and there, before lightly sucking my bottom lip, teasing me, tempting me. I moan, and it’s the song he’s been waiting to hear, driving him to deepen the kiss until he’s devouring me. It’s never-ending. He groans and digs his fingers into my hair, taking what I give him and returning it tenfold. Power and magic swirl around us, in us, magnifying our desire until I soar over the edge. His lips capture my deep moan, keeping it secretly between us.
Breathing heavily, I pull away from his lips, stunned to find myself fully clothed and still standing in the middle of our VIP section, my lips and body thrumming with satiated pleasure. “What…How did you do that?” I ask huskily.
