Page 81 of Insidious Monsters
“I can’t.” He brushed the shell of my ear with the tip of his nose. “A primus can only feed from his nova prima. It’s meant to strengthen the bond and give them a chance of discovering whether they are truly compatible.”
“Tick tock,” Barathos said. “What will it be?”
“August, if we do this, it changes everything.” His grip on my shoulders tightened and desire rushed through me, settling at my core and throbbing there. My body was ready for Lothos. It knew him. It craved him, but my heart ached for what I truly wanted.
Telarion.
Lothos brushed his lips against my cheek and a fresh surge of need washed over me. “We should go,” he said. “I promised to protect you, and I will.”
“Not with your life you won’t.” I turned my head and captured his mouth, letting go of my qualms and summoning Telarion’s face to mind. I kissed Lothos with every aching ounce of need I had for my aberrant, all the desperation and the love because yes…Yes, I fucking loved him. I loved Telarion.
Lothos groaned into my mouth and drew me against his body, hands sliding down my back to cup my buttocks and haul me against his arousal.
A collective sigh filled the room.
I blocked it out, surrendering to the need racing through my blood, more than Lothos’s incubus mojo. This was my hunger too. My need to feed.
Lothos tore his mouth from mine and whispered against my ear, “Later. I’ll feed you later. Right now, we have to put on a show.”
His breathless words, his expert hands, his rock-hard cock all testified that this was very real.
He wanted me, and forgive me, but in that moment, with his lust mojo coursing through my veins, I wanted him too. A part of me fought, urging me not to go under, not to submit to the desire, but I shut her down. This had to be done for Lothos to survive. Best to get it over with.
Lothos cupped my breast. When had he pulled down my bodice? Oh, God, his hands were delicious fire, squeezing, pinching my nipples before he took one in his mouth. I was wet, aching, making sounds that would have made my cheeks heat.
“Touch her.” Barathos’s voice cut through the haze.
“I want to taste her wet heat on the air. Fuck her. Do it now.”
Lothos cried out and fell to the ground, taking me with him.
I cracked an eye open to find us surrounded by the fae, the wet slap of flesh, the jerky motion of arms as they pleasured themselves and each other.
Lothos cupped my face and filled my vison. “Don’t look at them, look at me. Feel me.” His eyes were bright with desire but there was a sadness in them too, grief for what we were about to lose.
A lump rose in my throat. “I love you, Lothos. You’re one of my best friends.”
“I love you too, August. I’m so very sorry.” He gathered my skirts, pushing them up around my waist.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, feeling the tremors rocking his body. He was holding back a tide of need. Protecting me even now. My vision blurred.
His fingers caressed the inside of my thigh, edging closer to my heat. I wanted to be touched there. The need was a twisted, desperate thing inside my chest. Guilt, sorrow, and hunger warred with each other; the urge to take control, to grip his chin and devour his life force, was a monster sitting inside my chest, clawing at my ribs.
I held back, like he was holding back. The bastard prince wouldn’t get all of us.
“August…” Lothos looked deep into my eyes, asking permission even as my body gave it to him, my hips bucking, begging for his attention.
“Do it.” I closed my eyes.
“What are you waiting for?” Barathos demanded. “She’s your nova prima, is she not?”
A roar shook the room and Lothos was torn from me. Shadows covered me and hauled me to my feet. Emerald eyes blazed, filling my vision with fury.
Telarion gripped my biceps and shook me, dislodging my tears. “Mine,” he roared.
He spun me and pulled me to him, pinning me against him, my back to his chest. I gasped as his hand pressed to my throat.
“No one takes what is mine.” His voice vibrated against me. “No one feeds on August but me!” He forced my head to the side with a push of his thumb to my jaw and sank his fangs into my jugular.
