Page 12 of Kiss of Smoke

Taking a deep breath, I stated the obvious. “You’re angry I claimed Chloe.”

His eyes in the mirror were hard. “Aye.”

“Not all humans are the same. This prejudice of yours is—”

“Beside the point. If she’s ours, I’ll accept it. But we agreed to wait to claim her. It’s important to be certain.”

His clipped tone was familiar. It was the same one he used whenever I tried to get to the bottom of his dislike for humans. He was reasonable about most everything in life, but human beings were his sore spot. Worse, he refused to discuss his animosity, let alone try to overcome it. Over the years, I’d learned not to push him on it.

Except now I didn’t have a choice.

“It’s not a binding claim, Lach. You know it takes both of us to make her ours for good. And she was so sad after that cocksucker fiancé of hers dumped her in front of the whole concourse.”

Suspicion shaded his eyes in the mirror. “You didn’t have anything to do with that, did you?”

For a moment, I was speechless. Then my own anger kindled. “Christ, man, of course not. I’m glad he broke things off. It needed to happen if we’re to keep her safe. But I’m not that much of an arse to set her up for public humiliation.” I frowned at him. “How could you even think it?”

He faced me, his expression contrite. “Sorry. I know you wouldn’t hurt her that way. But you charmed her on the plane. I could feel it.”

“I lowered her inhibitions.”

“You did a fair bit more than that. I’ve never seen your gift so strong.”

He had a point. Chloe had been incredibly receptive when I charmed her—an ability I inherited from my mother. A cousin of hypnotism, charming allowed the wielder to delve deep into a subject’s mind, seize a thought or fantasy, and encourage them to act on it. It was best used sparingly, as suggestion could easily slide into coercion.

Judging from Lachlan’s furrowed brow, he worried my influence over Chloe tipped toward the latter.

“I was careful,” I said. “And I couldn’t let her stay in New York. She’s been vulnerable since the day she met us. Our enemies—of which there are many, in case you’ve forgotten—would love to get their claws on her.”

“I’m aware,” he said, his voice disgruntled.

“More importantly, this trip was supposed to give you a chance to finally realize what’s been obvious for three months.” When he didn’t say anything, I added, “She’s our mate. That’s the obvious part.”

He was quiet a moment. Then he crossed his arms, his earlier displeasure resurfacing. “You shouldn’t have charmed her. Now we’ll never know if she wanted us on her own or because you put the idea in her head.”

“Are you serious?” I let out a huff of laughter as I tried to ignore how his muscles bunched with his arms folded. “I might have given her a push, but she acted on it because she wanted to. You know she saw us together that night in the office. She hasn’t stopped thinking about it.” I held back a smile. Chloe Drexel might have the face of an angel, but her mind was devilishly naughty.

Lachlan’s golden eyes flashed, his inner beast peeking out. “I could scent her desire even as we waited in the terminal.”

“Aye, that’s right,” I said, seizing on his admission. “She wanted us, Lach. I’ve never felt a wetter pussy in my life.”

“Well, you certainly enjoyed yourself with it.”

The irritation in his voice gave me pause—then amusement drifted through me. “Is that what you’re upset about? You didn’t get to stick your cock in something?”

“Very mature, Alec.”

I stepped into him, our chests nearly touching. “It is, isn’t it?”

“It’s no—” He sucked in a breath as I found the slit in the towel and grasped his cock. Immediately, it hardened in my hand.

“Liar,” I murmured, stroking him, my own cock hardening at the feel of his thick shaft in my palm. It was like holding a steel pipe covered in silk. Needing more of him, I undid the towel and let it drop to the ground.

He leaned against the dresser, bracing himself on the heels of his palms. “Stop trying to distract me,” he muttered, but he made no move to end my ministrations.

Totally nude Lachlan was a sight to behold, and for a moment I let my eyes rove freely over the bounty in front of me. Six feet, four inches of warm, muscled male. Broad shoulders. Smooth chest. Thick thighs and swollen cock. I leaned in and kissed the underside of his jaw, licking at the scruff there. He moaned and tipped his head back, giving me better access.

“Mmm,” I murmured against his hot skin, “I like when you skip shaving for a day or two. I might fancy a bit of beard rash on my arse if you’ve a mind to put that tongue of yours to good use later. But right now, I want to taste your cock.”

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