Doomsday Brethren, Book 04: Entice Me at Twilight (18 page)

Back at her side, he handed her the scrap of paper, hoping that she didn’t see his hands shaking. “Once I speak the Call, you say this in return. Then it’s done.”

She scanned the words, then glanced up, her blue eyes hesitant. “These sound very … permanent.”

“In our world, mating is usually sacred. Despite what you may think, mate-breaking is rare. Unions last hundreds of years, and normally we don’t undertake a bond for mere protection.” He took a risk, grabbed her hand, and squeezed. Damn it, he ached to do much more than comfort her, but he didn’t dare scare her away or test his own restraint. “These aren’t normal circumstances.”

“Of course not. You’re willing to help me, and I’m being a ninny. I’m sorry. I—”

“You’re fine. Ready?”

She hesitated, then nodded.

Again, knowing he shouldn’t, he laced their fingers together. His heart chugged faster as he looked deep into her eyes and swallowed all inflection. If she detected how badly he wanted this, she might run the other way.

“Become a part of me as I become a part of you. And ever after, I promise myself to thee. Each day we share, I shall be honest, good, and true. If this you seek, heed my call. From this moment on, there is no other for me but you.”

The rightness of those words slammed over his senses. The fever that had raged inside him since the moment they met skyrocketed. Need scraped across his skin, making him restless. Making him burn. Reminding himself that he couldn’t act on it, he clenched his jaw and waited as the silence dragged on.

“Felicia?”

“H
ELLO
.” A
BEAUTIFUL WITCH
with light brown curls and matching eyes entered the sophisticated but unfamiliar bedroom and smiled sweetly as Duke shrugged out of his winter coat. “Clothed or naked?”

He nearly choked. “I beg your pardon?”

She hung his coat over the footboard, then waved her hand in front of her chest. Instantly, the buttons of her blouse came free, exposing plump, white breasts barely concealed by delicate white lace.

A week ago, Duke would have been drawn to this witch. Hell, after that display, he would have gotten her naked and horizontal in thirty seconds. Now, he stared resolutely at her face—and not an inch lower.

“This … can be done clothed?”

“Mostly so, yes.” Her smile turned from bright to soft. She studied his magical signature with hazel eyes, trying to hide her curiosity. “You’ve Called to someone?”

It showed. Good. Any alteration on his signature might keep Felicia safe. “Yes.”

His thoughts spun back to her little bedroom in the cave, Felicia’s hand curled in his, their fingers linked. She’d felt warm, vital, small. And trusting. Granted, her trust in him was limited, yes. But a start.

Into the hushed silence, he’d spoken the Call, forcing himself to deliver the momentous words in calm tones. He’d really wanted to back her onto the mattress, sink deep inside her, then howl out the words as they found pleasure together. Bloody impossible.

“Um …” The unfamiliar witch’s eyes narrowed in study,
her face puzzled. “Are you ill?”

His heart stuttered. Did his signature still appear wonky, shiny? In case she knew anything about Untouchables, he didn’t dare ask.

The witch frowned, scanning him. Then she smiled again. “Of course you’re not. You look quite healthy. Silly me.”

He breathed a sigh of relief at her conclusion. “Just fine.”

The witch settled onto the side of the sumptuous bed covered in a sleek black duvet that accented the gray walls. The turquoise of the throw pillows was echoed by modern wall art in the same shade. “The female you Called to spoke the Binding?”

“She did.” Right or wrong, every muscle in Duke’s body celebrated that fact. Those sweet words falling from Felicia’s lips trembled across his memory now, making him ache for her desperately. Obsessively.

He remembered how it had happened with perfect clarity. Felicia had licked her rosy lips nervously, then whispered, “As I become a part of you, you become a part of me. I will be honest, good, and true. I heed your call. ’Tis you I seek …”

Then she’d paused again, her fingers tightening on his. She’d glanced at the paper in her hand, at him once more, clearly seeking reassurance.

“You’re doing the right thing,” he’d whispered, inexorably drawn closer. “One more sentence, and all will be right.”

You will be mine
.

A ragged exhalation. She pressed her lips together and closed her eyes.

With his free hand, Duke put a finger under Felicia’s chin and lifted her face to his. The touch sizzled through his blood. “Look at me, Sunshine. That’s good. You’re almost there. Say those words to me.”

Felicia swallowed. To his surprise, her hand crept up his
arm, latching onto his biceps, seeking support. The pulse pounded at her delicate neck. Her gardenia musk wafted between them, nearly driving him mad.

Thick brown lashes fluttered over her vivid blue eyes before her stare snared his with an electric pull. “From this moment on …”

His gut clenched when she paused again, her fingers biting into his arm. He leaned closer still, until his mouth hovered inches over hers. Memories of the moments he’d kissed her the night before crashed through his head. Soft, plump lips. Her taste … so addicting. Sugary with a hint of sin. Her entire body trembling under his.

Duke moved his finger from her chin, swiping it along her jaw, anchoring his hand at her nape. Pulling her closer. “From this moment on …” he prompted.

Her breathing grew more rapid. The tips of her breasts brushed his chest with her next breath. She bit back a gasp and tried to retreat. Scorched all the way to his toes, Duke didn’t give her an inch of space.

“From this moment on, there is no other for me but you.” She’d looked at him with unguarded blue eyes, spiked with tears. That she’d been moved was a jolt to his chest. She’d
felt
the meaning of the Binding.

Because he meant something to her? Or because she feared she’d betrayed Mason?

Duke gritted his teeth. Whatever. The words were spoken. Victory coursed through him. Every instinct he possessed urged him to use this opportunity to find a way to keep her forever. Cold logic reminded him why he couldn’t.

Then Felicia turned her head, pulled away, darting for the other side of the little room.

Duke knew he shouldn’t touch her. Knew it, but … he
still reached out to grab her arm and pull her flush against his body, where she couldn’t miss his rough breathing or his aching erection. Her eyes widened. He scented a faint trace of her arousal.

Damn
.

It was impossible to resist tasting Felicia again. Everything inside him screamed at him to take in her unique flavor, the one that branded her as his, in any way he could. Reconfirm his intuition, starting with her sweet mouth.

He bent closer to Felicia. Holding his breath, Duke felt the heat of her lips just beneath his. Another fraction and …

“Don’t,” she whispered.

Bugger!
All human brides kissed their grooms at the altar. That would be custom in Felicia’s mind. The fact she’d refused him even a simple meeting of lips told him that she didn’t consider him her husband. Pain sliced through him.

“Am I your first surrogate?” The witch jerked Duke’s attention back to the present.

In a manner. He’d had sex with many in the past. Easy, quick, always understanding a wizard’s needs and never asking for more than a quick exchange of energy.

This was the first time he’d use one in place of a mate, however. He knew the exchange would be different. Because he was mated, he could no longer have intercourse with another female. But he had no idea what to expect.

“Yes.”

That took her aback. “You’ve been mated how long?”

Duke glanced at his watch, grateful for something new on which to focus besides his torturous memories. “Less than an hour.”

“Oh. Right, then.” Still, he heard confusion in her voice as she wondered why he was here so soon after making another his for life. “This is unusual. New mates are usually so
fixated that—”

“My mate is … ill.” He grabbed on to the first excuse that jumped in his head.

Instantly, his words erased the question from her hazel eyes and would explain any lingering anomaly in his signature. It also covered his tracks if Mathias ever questioned this witch.

“Oh.” Pity tinged her expression. “I’m sorry.”

If she only knew how hopeless his situation was. An ill mate might recover. One in love with his brother? He was fucking doomed.

Compassion slid across the witch’s lovely oval face. “Then back to my original question, clothed or naked?”

“Clothed, please.”
Definitely
.

She shrugged. “We’ll try it that way. Doesn’t always work …”

“Why not?” Did clothing act as a barrier to the exchanged energy?

The surrogate sent him a wry smile. “Wizards are still members of the male species who prefer a lot of visual stimulation.”

Remembering that Felicia was his and just how close he’d come to tasting her again … “Arousal won’t be a problem for me.”

“If you change your mind, let me know.” She hesitated, then stuck out her hand. “We started somewhat backward. Sorry. I’m—”

“I don’t want to know, if you don’t mind. Nothing against you.”

She dropped her hand with an understanding smile. “Of course.”

Duke gritted his teeth. Why the hell had he come here, the magical equivalent of a brothel? Of course, magickind looked upon surrogates more like medical practitioners
than prostitutes, which always confused the human side of him. They did provide nourishment and necessary care. He couldn’t argue with that. But the delivery of care was completely sexual.

“Now that you’re mated, do you know what happens next?”

He must look as lost as he felt, damn it. “Not … exactly.”

How
did
one siphon sexual energy from a woman he couldn’t—and didn’t want to—touch?

“Usually, we’ll lie on the bed beside each other. In this case, clothed. The idea is to exchange energy, as before, but without bodily contact.”

“Yes.”
Obviously. But how
?

She must have sensed his confusion. “You pursue your path to gratification while I pursue my own.”

His path to … “I’m supposed to masturbate?”

A small frown pinched her mouth at his word choice. “Self-pleasure. I do the same. The goal is for us to reach peak in unison.”

Lying next to a total stranger when he only wanted Felicia and to feel her sweet body under his, catching her soft moans with his kiss? Maybe arousal would be a problem after all.

Still, he had only two choices: return to Felicia and coax her to his bed or stay here with his nameless surrogate.

Duke had promised not to touch Felicia—then almost immediately broken his promise. If she hadn’t put a stop to the kiss, he’d still be at her mouth now, devouring her as he consumed the rest of her body.

No choice. He had to stay here.

Cursing, he walked to the far side of the bed and sat stiffly. Sighed. He removed his shoes, then forced himself to lie supine, head on the downy pillow.

God, he’d give anything not to be here. Did Bram feel
this anger and aversion every time he had to generate energy without his mysterious Emma?

The surrogate sat on the opposite side of the bed and eyed him. “You’re welcome to get more comfortable, if you like.”

In other words, strip off. “I’m fine.”

She shrugged off her blouse and reached for the hooks at the back of her bra.

He looked away. “Is that necessary?”

At his side, she paused. “You don’t want to be here; I understand. You may remain clothed, but I must achieve a certain level of comfort to do my job properly. We can turn off the lights, if you wish.”

“Please.”

With a snap, the interior went dim, and Duke felt the bed dip as she lowered herself beside him, so close he sensed her body heat and smelled the scent of her skin, something like crisp cotton, summertime, and grass. Not unpleasant.

Just not the scent he longed for.

“What’s her name?” the surrogate asked softly.

“Felicia.” He heard the reverence in his voice and his stomach plummeted to his toes. He was so bloody gone for her.

Rarely had he shared the sheets with the same woman twice. Being a wealthy somebody in the human world and a virtual no one among magickind made for a complicated life. What did he know of commitment or love? But suddenly he felt just that for a woman who had belonged to his brother first. And still did in her heart.

He swallowed. God, he’d known Felicia for two days. He couldn’t
love
her. Admire her, yes. She’d handled the abrupt changes in her life well, all things considered. No hysteria. No screaming or crying. Just acceptance. She’d asked astute
questions and assimilated remarkably well. She hadn’t judged him for being less than human. She had listened to others’ sage advice. And she’d remained amazingly loyal to Mason, even after that kiss Duke had all but forced on her. He didn’t like it, but he admired her for it.

“Lovely name,” the witch said, then wriggled a bit on the bed.

He risked a quick glance at her. In the shadowed room, he discerned her outline enough to see she’d dropped her little black skirt. She tossed a pair of lacy knickers on the bed between them.

Wincing, Duke scooted farther away, his leg gripping the edge of the bed.

She sighed. “Touch the glass jar on the table beside you. Think of your mate’s scent, then light the candle. That’s what you’ll smell during the process.”

Thank God
. He eagerly complied.

Within seconds, Felicia’s scent filled the air and he inhaled deeply, relaxing for the first time since walking through the door.

Perfect
.

Another moment later, the witch at his side whispered, “Um … we can’t proceed yet. You need to, ah … your zip, sir.”

Yes, because this terrible train wreck wouldn’t be complete until he had to wank himself off beside a stranger
.

Biting back a curse, Duke unfastened his trousers, closed his eyes, and reached for his cock. “No offense. Let’s get this over with.”