around her waist and prevented her from hopping off his lap. "Damn it, Kimi, why is any male attracted to any female? What makes one beautiful woman uninteresting and another unforgettable? Just because demons know their mates on sight doesn't mean we have no choices. I could have kept my distance and nothing would have happened."
"But I took that option away from you."
"I'd already made the decision to find you when you were older and finished with college. You merely moved up the time frame." Nic shrugged. "I'm glad you did. I want to be at your side the next time Augustin attacks."
"Bull! You tried to avoid me," Kimi accused. "You even ducked out of your mother's wedding dinner when I showed up—after complaining to Mika about how I was chasing you."
For a minute he looked blank, then he gave her that infernal smirk. "It was only a complaint because I couldn't have you. I'd promised Mika that I'd keep my distance until you were older, and until I'd learned how to temper my strength enough not to hurt you. But from the start, Kimi, I wanted you. Never doubt that."
Kimi thought about things for a minute. She could sit here and pout that Nic was interested solely because of some stupid demon bond, or she could believe him about only avoiding her because of a promise to Mika and that he would have chosen to come to her in a few years. Demons lied—she knew that—but she believed Nic was being honest with her.
But it was Augustin they needed to stay focused on. He was dangerous and he was after her. The idea of him stealing her powers and using them to further his own agenda was intolerable to her. No matter what, she couldn't let him succeed. Kimi made a decision, one she wished she didn't have to consider.
"Nic," she said, clutching his biceps, "if it looks like we can't defeat Augustin, I want you to take my magic. I'd rather you have it than him."
Nic scowled so ferociously Kimi straightened. "I will not take you by force," he snarled.
"It wouldn't be with force. I'd want you to do it."
He looked at her funny. "It has to be rape. No one can steal your powers any other way. Something about the act of violence opens a hole in your psyche, and that's what allows a demon male to use an incantation to steal your talent."
"Wait a second," she said, gripping him more firmly, "are you saying that if I willingly make love with you, I'll still have my magic afterward?"
"Yes." Nic's confusion cleared and he grinned. "Why, is that what you're thinking of doing? Have at me, tes."
"You're not lying, are you?" she asked.
"No, I'm telling you the truth. You have my word on it, and demons never break an oath."
Kimi thought for a moment. The demon male she'd wanted for eight months wanted her back, and she could have sex with him and still have her powers. Besides, if Augustin showed up they could both die, and she wanted to experience everything with Nic. "I was in charge last time," she said. "This time
you
have at
me.
"
Chapter Six
With a low growl, Nic moved, putting Kimi on the bed and covering her with his body. She gasped, but he suspected that was because of his preternatural speed rather than any alarm over his actions. When he raised his head to check, she smiled at him and threw her arms around his neck.
Smoothing her hair out of her eyes, Nic took a moment to gaze at her: his vishtau mate. "You're gorgeous—
special,
" he told her, wanting Kimi to understand that, even without this connection between them, he'd want her still.
Slowly he lowered his head to hers, kissing her softly. Her generous lips had sparked fantasies since they'd first met, and if he was lucky, Kimi would be willing to do some of those things he'd imagined. He nipped her bottom lip lightly and then soothed it with the tip of his tongue.
Her hands tightened around him, but he wasn't going to be rushed. He kissed one corner of her mouth, then the other. She turned her head, trying to get more of him.
Nic moved down, bit her chin and
"But I took that option away from you."
"I'd already made the decision to find you when you were older and finished with college. You merely moved up the time frame." Nic shrugged. "I'm glad you did. I want to be at your side the next time Augustin attacks."
"Bull! You tried to avoid me," Kimi accused. "You even ducked out of your mother's wedding dinner when I showed up—after complaining to Mika about how I was chasing you."
For a minute he looked blank, then he gave her that infernal smirk. "It was only a complaint because I couldn't have you. I'd promised Mika that I'd keep my distance until you were older, and until I'd learned how to temper my strength enough not to hurt you. But from the start, Kimi, I wanted you. Never doubt that."
Kimi thought about things for a minute. She could sit here and pout that Nic was interested solely because of some stupid demon bond, or she could believe him about only avoiding her because of a promise to Mika and that he would have chosen to come to her in a few years. Demons lied—she knew that—but she believed Nic was being honest with her.
But it was Augustin they needed to stay focused on. He was dangerous and he was after her. The idea of him stealing her powers and using them to further his own agenda was intolerable to her. No matter what, she couldn't let him succeed. Kimi made a decision, one she wished she didn't have to consider.
"Nic," she said, clutching his biceps, "if it looks like we can't defeat Augustin, I want you to take my magic. I'd rather you have it than him."
Nic scowled so ferociously Kimi straightened. "I will not take you by force," he snarled.
"It wouldn't be with force. I'd want you to do it."
He looked at her funny. "It has to be rape. No one can steal your powers any other way. Something about the act of violence opens a hole in your psyche, and that's what allows a demon male to use an incantation to steal your talent."
"Wait a second," she said, gripping him more firmly, "are you saying that if I willingly make love with you, I'll still have my magic afterward?"
"Yes." Nic's confusion cleared and he grinned. "Why, is that what you're thinking of doing? Have at me, tes."
"You're not lying, are you?" she asked.
"No, I'm telling you the truth. You have my word on it, and demons never break an oath."
Kimi thought for a moment. The demon male she'd wanted for eight months wanted her back, and she could have sex with him and still have her powers. Besides, if Augustin showed up they could both die, and she wanted to experience everything with Nic. "I was in charge last time," she said. "This time
you
have at
me.
"
Chapter Six
With a low growl, Nic moved, putting Kimi on the bed and covering her with his body. She gasped, but he suspected that was because of his preternatural speed rather than any alarm over his actions. When he raised his head to check, she smiled at him and threw her arms around his neck.
Smoothing her hair out of her eyes, Nic took a moment to gaze at her: his vishtau mate. "You're gorgeous—
special,
" he told her, wanting Kimi to understand that, even without this connection between them, he'd want her still.
Slowly he lowered his head to hers, kissing her softly. Her generous lips had sparked fantasies since they'd first met, and if he was lucky, Kimi would be willing to do some of those things he'd imagined. He nipped her bottom lip lightly and then soothed it with the tip of his tongue.
Her hands tightened around him, but he wasn't going to be rushed. He kissed one corner of her mouth, then the other. She turned her head, trying to get more of him.
Nic moved down, bit her chin and
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