Page 71 of Edge of Darkness

“His lieutenants are definitely badass,” Connie said.

Torres wiggled his eyebrows. “And hot.”

“Nope. No way. You don’t want to mess with those two, my guy,” Nelson said. “One wrong step and you could find yourself stranded in an ocean somewhere.”

Torres shuddered. “Yeah, there is that. I hate traveling by the shadows.”

“Try having a best friend who is a shadow demon, then talk to me,” Hudson joked.

Connie smirked.

“Oh, shut up, Connie.” Hudson bumped Connie with his shoulder. “Come on, you, time to get to work.”

Laughing, Connie followed Hudson out of the dining area.

“WELL, I think that went well.” Connie collapsed in one of the overstuffed chairs in Hudson’s office. He was smiling from ear to ear. “So, you’re claiming both Kitandme? No asking, just telling me, huh?”

Hudson locked the door behind him and stalked toward Connie. “Got a problem with that?”

Connie grinned playfully. “Fuck no.”

Hudson stopped in front of Connie, resting his hands on the chair arms, and leaned into him. He let his eyes change color. “Fuck no is right. You know I care deeply for you. Very deeply. No dragon has touched my heart like you have. Only you.”

The playfulness slipped from Connie’s face. “I know. I care for you deeply also. Shit, Hudson. What I feel surpasses that. I’ve never been in love before, but I think—”

Hudson quickly placed his finger on Connie’s lips. “Don’t say anything until you’re sure. We’re in no rush here, sweetheart. We also have Kit to consider now. You and I had been circling each other for a while before we gave in. Kit needs to have a chance to catch up.”

Connie nipped Hudson’s finger. “Fine. I won’t say the words until I’m sure.”

“Good.”

Connie grabbed Hudson’s tie and pulled him closer. “But the same goes for you then.”

“Of course.” Hudson took Connie’s mouth in a kiss that quickly turned filthy. He didn’t stop until Connie groaned into his mouth. After he ended the kiss, he leaned back, staring into Connie’s reddish-gold eyes. “So beautiful. So mine.”

Connie shuddered. “You have no idea how much those words affect me. For a while there, you shut me out. I was scared I was going to lose you, Hudson.”

“I know, sweetheart. That was stupid of me, and I hurt both of us. But I was scared too. I was scared something like this would happen—that one of us would find our mate. I never dreamed that both of us would have a soul bond to the same person.”

“Or that he’d be human.”

“There is that.” Hudson straightened and moved to the chair next to Connie, collapsing into it. “And we will claim him. He’s already interested in us. I picked up the scent of his arousal last night. I know you did too.”

“I did, yes. It smells so sweet. Reminds me of a magnolia. It’s kinda floral and lemony.”

Hudson’s eyes fluttered closed for a second before he opened them again. “Yes. Exactly. That’s the perfect description.”

“I also think he’s insecure about his interest in us. Even with all the attention we paid him at breakfast, I don’t think he understands that we’re pursuing him,” Connie muttered.

Hudson frowned at the table in front of him. “That’s not really surprising, I guess. He doesn’t know either of us, so he doesn’t know it wasn’t just harmless flirting.”

“Which neither of us would do. And gods, what if thinks he has to choose between us?”

“I didn’t think of that. But that leads me back to what I said just a second ago—he doesn’t know either of us. But we’re going to change that, Connie.”

“I’m all for it. While we’re on the subject of Kit, there’s something else I think we need to address. Should we let him know that you and I are already in an established relationship? Do you think that’ll intimidate him or make him feel like a third wheel?”

“My gut says that we don’t hide it from Kit. Besides, I have a problem hiding what I feel for you anyway. If Kit was a dragon, he’d know why we were pursuing him.”

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