Page 5 of Delectable Soul

“You read my work?” I don’t mean to sound surprised, but most men write off romance as a genre. But if he’s read paranormal why choose, he’s probably not put off by male/female books.

“Yes. I read more mysteries and paranormal, but I’ve been getting into romantic suspense, romance mysteries, and paranormal romance. They’re quickly becoming my favorite genres,” he replies, his face heated with a blush. “And some of the spicy scenes inUnder the Alder Tree… they weresomething. That plot twist toward the end was insane. I can’t believe I didn’t connect the dots and see it coming.”

We end up sitting on some arm chairs in the corner of the shop and talking about our shared love of books. We like a lot of the same authors, and he’s even read my favorite contemporary why choose series,The Apocalypse Societyby Aly Beck. He has a huge crush on Kaycee, the female main character, and I can’t blame him, because I sorta have a crush on her too. Although if I’m being honest, it’s all about the West twins for me—Zeppelin and Seger for life.

Turns out he lives close to me, and grew up on the outskirts of town, a little deeper into the woods. He walked the same woodland paths that I did, but we just never crossed paths. The more I look at him and stare into those perfect green orbs, the more I start to like him. He’s handsome, funny, and smart, but not in a cringy know-it-all kind of way. It starts to rain outside, and before I know it, I hear Granda’s voice boom through the shop.

“Fiadh, it’s been almost two hours. What are you up to, child?” he slyly asks as he eyes Hunter and I from across the space. “Who is this young man?”

Before I can jump in, Hunter stands up and shakes his hand. “I’m Hunter, sir. I met Fiadh when we bumped into each other in the paranormal aisle.”

Granda eyes him up. “I’m her grandfather, Seamus. It’s time she gets home for dinner, but feel free to talk to her some other time.”

“Could I get your number, Fiadh?” Hunter asks. He seems so nervous compared to a few minutes ago.

“Yeah, sure.” I program my number into his phone and call myself, so I have his number too. “It was so nice meeting you, Hunter. I’ll make sure to let you know what I think aboutIn Death We Part. And when I’m finished, I’ll start theAlastair Stone Chronicles.”

I follow Granda out of the store, thinking of how lucky I was to meet an attractive man who reads the same books as me. It’s like something out of a romance novel. Even if we just stay friends, it would be nice to know someone in the area. I’ll be here for a while.

Right as I reach the door, I look over and see him smiling at me.

The Hunt

I watch Fiadh glance over her shoulder as she walks away, and I give her my softest smile. What a naive girl. She actually thinks I’m a human man. A handsome, kind man who just wanders book stores and reads romance novels.Her perfect match.All I had to do was read her soul and I knew everything about her. What she’s passionate about reading, what she finds attractive. Her greatest fear. She fell right into my trap, and now I can play with her during the daytime while I torture her at night.

As soon as she’s out the door and running through the rain with her Granda, I duck into an alley and shift into a raven again to track them home. I perch outside of a window, watching them eat dinner and read their books. Clad in flannel pajamas, Fiadh looks so relaxed as she snuggles into her arm chair, nose deep in the book I picked for her at the store. She reads until the stars twinkle in the night sky. When she finally makes the trip to bed, she continues reading by the light of her bedside table lamp. I shift into my human form and sit on a thick bough lower in the tree, right outside her window, and decide to play with her more before I terrorize her.

Hey, how are you enjoying the book?

Her phone pings. She puts her book down and sits up, blushing like a schoolgirl. Shifting in her bed, she stares at the phone for a few moments before replying.

Fiadh: It’s great so far. I love how Diana is so strong and confident. And the way these guys just come in and stir things up. They’re seriously psychos.

Have you gotten to the dream scene in Chapter Five…

Her face is beet red, and she rolls onto her stomach. I see the curve of her ample arse in her pajama pants, but it’s not enough to slake the need I have. I want to see more. I want to see all of her porcelain skin flush red. Her cheeks, the tip of her nose, her neck, all the way down her stomach to her pussy. Just because I plan on eating her soul, doesn’t mean I can’t have fun with her first.

Fiadh: Yeah, it was steamy. Only an incubus could pull off something like that. And the way Bonnet wrote the scene *hot face emoji*. The banter was hot too.

Only an incubus, huh?She’ll learn. I’m going to enjoy playing with my new toy.

I love how descriptive that scene is…how Diana is taken right to the edge, over and over again. How Sebastian makes her deepest, darkest desires come true. Made me think of what my hidden desires are…

I can see her throat work as she swallows. She seems so flustered. The dots in the messenger app appear and disappear a few times, and minutes pass before she finally responds to me.

Fiadh: The way he completely owns her in that moment is truly beautiful. And the bite mark and what it signifies. The dominance, the control. Knowing he wants her bad enough to claim her for himself no matter the consequences. Maybe I’m messed up for thinking this, but I find that very romantic.

So she wants to be controlled. That works for me. I want to own her, dominate her as I feed from her fear and feel her lust wash over me. It seems this girl may enjoy kinkier activities in the bedroom.And lucky for her, the soul is always awake, even when its keeper is sleeping.

Yeah, it was cool to read about things I practice in real life. I love how the indie romance author community explores these themes in a nonjudgemental way. Hey, do you know the big oak tree in the woods, the one surrounded by all the primroses and bluebells?

Fiadh: Yeah, I love that spot. So beautiful. I used to read there all the time when I was a kid.

Do you want to meet there tomorrow and read together? I’m rereading In Death We Part so we can talk about it, and I’d love to get to know you better.

She frowns, laying down and pulling the covers over herself. Her eyes are glued to the ceiling, no doubt thinking of how to respond. Little tendrils of despair waft from her, but they’re so potent I can taste them from outside. So delicious, with a rich, dark flavor. It runsdeep. I’m sure she feels conflicted about spending time with another man so soon.

Fiadh: Sure. How does three in the afternoon work? I can pack some snacks and drinks?

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