Doomsday Brethren, Book 04: Entice Me at Twilight

by Shayla Black

  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.”

  “None taken,” she murmured as her hands moved over her body in the dark and she moaned.

  With the scent of Felicia around him, Duke sank into a vision where she dropped every stitch and welcomed him with open arms, her blue eyes fastened on him as she whispered how much she wanted him and surrendered herself to him utterly.

  Getting lost in the fantasy, Duke stroked himself, imagining that he plunged deeply into Felicia’s warm wetness and felt her close around him while his spine all but melted with pleasure. His breaths accelerated. The feminine, keening cries around him fed his vision, his fever. His grip tightened, moving faster now, imagining Felicia raising her hips to him in offering, drawing him deeper into her body like she never wanted him to leave.

  The fever in him rose. Deep down, he felt Felicia’s aching emptiness and confusion. He’d make it better, be a true mate to her in every way, if she’d let him.

  Because he loved her.

  In his mind, he told her so. Her cries of pleasure nearing peak, she whimpered for him, then whispered that she loved him too.

  The ecstasy of those words blew the top of his head off. He shuddered, tensed, screaming through one of the strongest orgasms in memories.

  But when his breathing slowed and he opened his eyes, Duke was still in an unfamiliar bedroom beside an unfamiliar witch, his softening cock in his own hand.

  The buzz kill was instant. He hadn’t quenched his need for Felicia one bit. Instead, he’d only made it stronger.

  Cursing, Duke used the appointed towel to clean up. He zipped up his trousers, donned his overcoat, and was out the door before the surrogate could even turn on the lights.

  Bram stopped pacing and sat beside Felicia on the serviceable brown couch as he viciously pressed the button to end the call on his mobile. “Duke’s still not bloody answering. You mated two hours ago. You’re certain both of you spoke all the words?”

  Felicia didn’t appreciate Bram’s badgering. Truthfully, she was still trying to process the enormity of what Hurstgrove had pledged to her: his long life, his fidelity, his devotion. Sacred words, according to him. She hadn’t expected that. She’d been required to promise the same in return. Nor had she been unmoved by the vow. As soon as she’d spoken the last of the words, Felicia had yearned to throw her arms around him, kiss him. Merge with him. Cement their bond.

  All of that only deepened her desire for him.

  Only thoughts of Mason, the wedding they’d nearly shared—and her own fear of a broken heart—had stopped her from acting on it.

  Hurstgrove’s intensity overwhelmed her. Fighting him felt like trying to stay afloat in a life raft in the midst of a tidal wave. If he ever kissed her again … Felicia had no illusions; her will to resist him would crumble.

  “He spoke a few sentences, like a vow, then had me say this in return.” She uncurled her fist and exposed the ball of paper in her hand.

  Bram laid it flat on the dark wooden table in front of them and cursed. “Then that should be everything. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that you have no magical signature.”

  After explaining the concept to her quickly, her brow furrowed. “Does that mean the mating didn’t take?”

  “Normally, that’s not a possibility. If the words are spoken, the deed is done, but you … are different.” He sighed. “Did you feel anything once the Call was issued and the Binding given?”

  Other than the insane urge to offer him all that she was, body and heart? Those had been frightening, dizzying moments. He’d been so near, his mouth hovering right over hers, gaze delving deep like he wanted her soul. And she’d wanted to give it—and more—to him. That wasn’t magical, she feared, just desire for him asserting itself, as it had since the moment they met.

  “I don’t think so,” she hedged.

  “Did he kiss you afterward? Take you to bed?”

  Felicia drew back. “I get that you’re a right nosy bastard, but that’s none of your affair.”

  He gritted his teeth. “You spoke words, and now he’s absent, possibly out in public where others might see his signature. He must look as if he’s fully bonded and without any residual trace of your imprint. If the words alone didn’t do that, we need to rectify the situation.”

  How? Did Bram think he could order her to sleep with her fiancé’s brother?

  An arrow of heat pierced her at the thought of Hurstgrove peeling away her clothing, caressing his way down her skin, claiming her lips with an onslaught of the carnal need she’d seen in his eyes. Of her touching every inch of his hard, male form in return.

  Felicia cleared her throat, but it did nothing to dispel the heat swirling in her body.

  “Did he even try to seduce you?”

  Not for anything would Felicia tell Bram that she had rebuffed Hurstgrove moments after they’d exchanged vows. The last thing she needed from the wizard was a tirade.

  “Don’t badger her,” Olivia chastised as she stepped into the room. “I may not have the magical ability to read minds, at least not yet, but I don’t need it to know you’re making her uncomfortable. Of course Duke wanted to seduce her. Duh! But you don’t know a damn thing about being human. She can’t be pledged to one brother, then joined to another without some … transition. She needs time.” She sighed. “Have you seen Sabelle?”

  Felicia blinked, then smothered a smile. Olivia had certainly put Bram in his place. Even he looked surprised.

  “Sabelle is likely with Ice.” He sent Felicia a pointed stare. “And time is one thing we don’t have if we want to keep everyone alive.”

  “I’m aware of that,” Felicia snapped. “I’ve done everyth
ing you’ve asked.”

  “Translation: back off,” Olivia supplied.

  Felicia didn’t make new friends easily. Trust was difficult, and she’d always felt different because she cared little for shopping, watching the soaps like Coronation Street, or hopping from club to club. She’d always been something of a loner. But Olivia she could like.

  Thank you, she mouthed to the other woman.

  Olivia winked, then turned back to Bram. “Sabelle isn’t with Ice. Most of the warriors have reconvened to run down the details of Tynan’s rescue. Any word from Shock? Do you know where to find Mathias or if he’s taken the bait?”

  “No. If the warriors have reconvened, any chance Duke joined them?”

  “Nope, and I don’t know where he is.” The other woman shrugged. “Not my department. If you all want a hot meal before you go, then I’ve got to get to the kitchen.”

  With that, Olivia slid out of the room.

  “Cheeky wench,” Bram muttered. “If she wasn’t destined to be a powerful witch someday, I’d toss her out on her ear.”

  No, he wouldn’t. Felicia heard his fondness for the other woman. The grousing was simply his bad mood talking.

  Bram raked his hand through his mussed golden hair. “Where the hell did Duke go?”

  So, he was back to that? “I told you, he left without a word shortly after the words were spoken.”

  Bram turned a prying blue gaze on her. “It doesn’t fucking make sense. If he tried to seduce you, what happened?”

  Felicia stiffened. “No one said sleeping with him would be required. As Olivia pointed out, I’m still engaged to his brother.”

  The wizard clutched the arm of the couch, looking as if he’d rather be clutching her neck. “A promise to make a vow to someone isn’t more important than the vow you have made. You promised from that moment on there was no other for you but Duke.”

  “Temporarily! It’s not as if I’ve spent my evening having sex with Mason. I haven’t broken the vow. But I’ll be damned if you’re going to force me to disregard the promise I chose to make in favor of the one Fate forced me to.”

  “Listen up, little girl,” Bram growled. “You’d better—”

  “Leave her alone.”

  The deadly command sliced across the room, and Felicia looked up. Hurstgrove.

  Her chest tightened at the mere sight of him. Fresh snow dusted the shoulders of his dark coat and hair. He needed a shave, but that somehow added to his appeal. He vibrated with strength and looked beyond brassed off.

  Bram stood. His gaze traced Hurstgrove, then he exploded. “Where the fuck have you been?”

  Anger on his behalf flooded her. “Don’t yell at him!”

  “This is at least half your fault for refusing to lie with your mate. Don’t butt in unless you’re prepared to be helpful.”

  Deadly calm settled over Hurstgrove’s features. “You’ll treat her with respect. Or I will take your head off.”

  “You mated then left? You might have asked someone if speaking the words had changed your signature before you trotted outside where Mathias or any of his goons could see you.”

  Hurstgrove paused. “Did it?”

  “Little has changed.”

  Gritting his teeth, Hurstgrove cursed. “It must have worked. I felt something. There is some bond.”

  “It’s barely discernable,” Bram grated out. “You should have checked with one of us before leaving.”

  “After I Called to Felicia and she said the Binding, I searched for you and the others to check my signature. You were closeted with your surrogate. All those with mates were behind locked doors. Lucan had gone.” He shrugged off his coat, then shot her a guarded stare. “I thought it best to … clear up unfinished business before we go after Tynan.”

  He wasn’t lying, but Felicia frowned at his terminology. What wasn’t he saying?

  “With your signature skewed, I can’t tell your energy level.”

  Hurstgrove’s expression closed up. “I’m fine.”

  Felicia’s breathing skidded to a stop. His energy level … attained through sex. Had he acquired it before he’d abducted her or—? She didn’t finish her question. But it didn’t matter. The notion that he might have touched someone else tonight plunged a knife straight into her heart.

  Felicia couldn’t conceal her gasp of betrayal. “You’ve had sex with another woman?”

  “No.” His clenched fists and a light acrid scent stung around the edges of his words.

  He wasn’t lying … but he wasn’t telling the complete truth.

  “You went to a surrogate.” Bram sounded exasperated. “Bloody hell! We needed to ensure this mating was solid, and instead, you deferred to Felicia’s fucking delicate sensibilities and found a substitute for the real thing.”

  Felicia felt her chest cave in under the pressure of debilitating pain. On the magical equivalent of their wedding night, he’d spent it with another woman? Her ability to breathe ceased for long moments, and she was stunned.

  Hurstgrove shouldn’t mean a thing to her. But faced with this, she knew better. Why did he affect her so deeply? The man who had sacrificed his standing with his family, tainted his image, given her the magical equivalent of his name, and agreed to fight the most evil of enemies to protect her meant more to her than she’d realized. More than was wise.

  “How could you?” The words fell from her lips. A whisper. An accusation.

  To reproach him wasn’t fair, and she knew it. Yes, they were mated—or mostly so—but he needed energy. She’d refused to provide it, all but made him promise not to touch her. Felicia knew she shouldn’t be shocked that he’d turned to another, but the strength of her pain nearly undid her. She wanted him so badly, and could not act on it unless she wanted to betray Mason and risk her heart.

  Her feelings weren’t logical, she knew. She’d given Hurstgrove few choices. What the hell did she expect?

  Hurstgrove glared at Bram. “Are you fucking happy now?”

  “Are you?” Bram returned. “Take her. She’s yours now. You need to—”

  “You don’t know a damn thing,” Hurstgrove growled. “You trampled all over her feelings with absolutely no thought for how much it could hurt her.”

  “No,” Felicia’s voice trembled. “You did that when you got naked with another woman.”

  “Those in a mate bond are unable to have sex with anyone else while mated. I did not have intercourse with her.” He crossed the room and took her shoulders in his grip, tightening on her when she tried to pull away. “I would ten times have rather made love to you. If you’d like to now, I’m more than ready.”

  Felicia paused. The unvarnished truth. Really, what had she expected him to do?

  Not this, something in her whimpered. She had no right to be upset … and yet she couldn’t turn off the anger and feeling of betrayal.

  “Get the deed done,” Bram demanded. “It’s the only hope we have of changing her imprint. Both of us together couldn’t hurt her as badly as Mathias will if he finds her through you. I realize you don’t want to betray your brother. But if you want Felicia alive—”

  “Stop playing the same trump card. It’s bloody annoying me.”

  “You tiptoeing around her feelings is doing the same to me.”

  “Leave us,” Felicia demanded. Bram opened his mouth to object, and she plowed ahead. “Stop whatever you’re going to say. We know what you want. This is a matter for us to sort out.”

  Bram glared at her, then scoured Hurstgrove with a scowl. “Fine. The rest of us will see if we can draw Mathias out and save Tynan. Duke, you’re staying here. As long as you’re carrying her imprint, you can’t be seen. We’ll be back in a few hours.”

  With that, Bram slammed out the door. One sort of tension drained away, but Felicia felt another cramp her stomach, this one sexual.

  “So the mating didn’t work?” She wanted to clarify that point before they said another word.

  “Something happened. My
signature hasn’t altered enough, but you’re certain that Shock didn’t lie. Assuming his knowledge is accurate …”

  “Can we assume that? Do we have any other sources that might corroborate him?”

  “Not unless Sabelle finds something in Merlin’s books.”

  “I’ll help her look.”

  “Regardless of what you find, those words we spoke changed me.” His fingers tightened on her shoulders, and his dark eyes drilled into her, earnest and demanding at once. “Like all wizards, I have no interest in any female except my mate.”

  He wasn’t lying. He had engaged in some sexual act with the other woman because his kind required energy she had refused to give him. She’d left him no choice, but the fact he’d gone to another without talking to her hurt. An odd mixture of fury, guilt, pain, and desire flooded her chest. Tears stung her eyes like acid. She swallowed them back.

  “I’ve put you in a terrible position.” Her voice trembled, and she hated that she couldn’t control it. “I’m sorry. I’ve ruined your life and—”

  “Stop.” Hurstgrove pulled her closer. “I’m exactly where I want to be. I wouldn’t wish away any of this except Mathias painting a target on your back. I know you love Mason …”

  But she didn’t. Felicia bit her lip. Telling Hurstgrove the truth might absolve him of some of the guilt he’d experienced in doing all he had to save her.

  “He … loves me,” she whispered.

  Hurstgrove dropped his hand and stepped back. “I know.”

  She reached up, snagged his sleeve. Even that small touch sent staggering heat blasting through her. Her need for him grew every hour, and Felicia wondered how much longer she could fight it.

  “He’s my best friend,” she whispered.

  He stared hard, scanning her face, delving deep into her eyes. “Are you in love with him?”

  Hurstgrove moved closer, and she shivered.

  Love was too painful when someone left. Deirdre had shown her the despair a broken heart could inflict. She’d been transformed from a vibrant woman to a hollow shell, gouged by need and torment, her confidence shattered, her sanity tested. Her will to live had been ultimately stolen. Felicia didn’t want to care about Hurstgrove. But she feared it was too late.