“I had lots of little projects to do while the rest of the faculty were off greeting you.” He eyes me from head to toe. “And you’re still killing me.”
There are a million things I should worry about. Like what’s the real secret of Hemlock Island and the Wheeler Institute, not to mention how we’re getting our codex back. But right now? The only thing I can focus on is the energy that’s filling the air. I am part lust demon, after all. Heat pools behind my eyes, and my irises flare bright red.
Helloooooo, Lincoln.
Lincoln does one of those chin-nod things that only hot guys can get away with. “Come here.”
I slowly saunter over. With every step, my tail slinks from side to side in a predatory rhythm. Reaching the end of my double bed, I slowly crawl up Lincoln’s prone form. Warmth positively radiates from his body, which in turn heats my torso. I catch his gaze. I know how much my guy likes it when my eyes flare red, so I make sure they’re blazing.
“So, I’m killing you?” This is a bullshit question, of course. I totally know Lincoln is digging me in a little skirt.
His eyes darken. “Yes.” His husky tone sends a jolt right through my core.
Okay, then.
I straddle his waist, brace my arms above his shoulders, and lean in so close we’re almost kissing. “Are you calling your kiss now?”
Some small part of me says that it’s overly competitive to bring up the kiss thing at this point. More of me likes to win, so I just keep going.
Lincoln laces his fingers behind his head. It’s a move that shows off his broad chest and heavy arms, both of which he knows I love.
The bastard is competing, too.
“You mean, the kiss I won when we fought the dyads?”
“That’s the one.”
He grins. “No.”
I can’t believe this. “No?”
“No. You’re going to kiss me, Myla. And it won’t count toward our bet.” He lifts his head until his lips almost-maybe-but-not-quite touch mine. His warm breath cascades over my mouth. My inner lust demon goes berserk. There is nothing in the universe but his mouth and my desire to taste it. Screw the damn bet and Lincoln calling a kiss. I want this.
I lean in ever so slowly and brush my lips against his.
“Yes.” Lincoln grips my hair and draws my mouth onto his, hard. We’re a tangle of tongues and desire. I can’t taste him enough. The straddling position is mighty nice, too. Lincoln’s firm hands can easily slide up my thighs and cup my backside. Any sense of control disappears. My lust demon is absolutely in charge, and it’s awesome.
Finally, I break our kiss. “I’ve made a decision.”
“Go on.” Lincoln kisses my neck, gently nipping my skin with his teeth. Damn, that’s good.
“I want to have kids.”
More kisses, this time behind my ear. “As do I.”
“Then, let’s start trying.” I grind myself against him. “Now.”
Lincoln cups my face with his rough hands. “You can’t imagine how much I want to.”
“Oh, I’ve a pretty good idea.” I wiggle against him a little.
A steely glint comes into his eyes. “We need to put this conversation on hold until we’re married.”
My lust demon roars inside me. Frustration heats my blood. “Why do we have to wait?”
Lincoln’s features are all ironclad control over a well of desire. “Now isn’t the right time.”
“You don’t strike me as the traditional kind of guy.”
A devilish smile rounds the corners of his full mouth. “I’m not. That said, we both know how your igni are. Once we have sex, you will get pregnant.”
“That’s not guaranteed.”
“Need I remind you of what your mother said?”
And that’s a mood killer. How can I forget Mom telling me grow she got pregnant despite the fact that Dad wrapped his junk and cast anti-conception spells? “No need, actually.”
“I want you. You know I do. But I won’t take the risk of starting a family until this whole issue of Acca is behind us, one way or another. By the end of day on Friday, the trial should be over and our family will be safe.”
“Oh, right.” I got so worked up, I forgot about that part. If we don’t find the codex in time, then Lincoln and I might end up in prison for a while. Separately. Being a solo pregnant inmate with a supernatural love-child isn’t my idea of fun. Mood killer part deux.
“This is only temporary, Myla. We’ll be together.” He slides his right hand across the bare skin of my shoulder. I shiver. The tips of his fingers outline the edge of my bra. For the record, I’m feeling pretty pumped that I wore some of the cute new undies that my best friend, Cissy, made me buy.
Lincoln’s fingers trail between my breasts and down my stomach. “There are still ways we can enjoy each other until the time is right.” He brushes a line along the waistband of my skirt.
My eyes flare so brightly I’m surprised they aren’t burning a hole in Lincoln’s head. I want to come up with some snarky reply. It’s all I can do to nod.
Yes. Let’s do that. Yes, yes, yes.
“Good.” Lincoln’s mouth takes mine again as his hand slides lower still. “We’ll have to stay quiet, Myla.”