Page 26 of The Mating Fire
Harper thought of the lonely nights she’d spent, even at the age of seven, when the house grew dark and the only food for dinner was whatever she could make for herself.
Indulging in self-pity was a waste of time. Still, she couldn’t help but tell him.
“I learned to make ramen noodles for dinner before I learned to ride a bike.”
“Little Harper, all alone. No one to care. Must have been quite lonely.”
Gone was the sarcasm in his voice. Instead, he sounded almost gentle. The eggs on her plate suddenly held all her interest. Oh, she could hold off the self-pity, but someone else expressing sympathy made her crumble inside. Die a little.
The sarcasm from him was better than pity.
She shrugged to hide her emotions. “It’s how I grew interested in science. I asked my teacher the boiling point of water and he explained about molecules and heat. I became eager to learn more. Science was something…”
“You could control,” he finished.
Glancing up, she nodded, a little surprised by his insight. Jared pushed his plate away. “If you’re quite finished…”
She stood, wondering at his abrupt change of tone. “Yes, thanks for the meal. Now please, can I leave this place?”
“No.”
“You’re really not letting me leave? You intend to keep me a prisoner?”
A slow, dangerous smile from him. A sinful smile filled with sensual promise. “I prefer to think of it as a guest I intend to keep here for a while.”
“A while! How long…”
“As long as I please.”
Sweat pooled on her back and trickled slowly down into the jeans. “You can’t keep me here.”
“I can. Until I finish with you.” His dark smile widened. “But you can find a way out for yourself. Use those powers you do not believe in.”
“I was brought up to believe there’s no such thing as magick. There’s science and facts and logic. That exists.” Her hands flexed. “This has to be a dream and I’ll wake up soon.”
His smile hinted of long nights tangled in passion. “I can give you a dream such as you will never wish to awaken from, Harper. Much as the visions I gave you at the bar, the pleasure you experienced, but more intense and real. Once you shared my bed, you will never wish to leave.”
This was worse than she’d expected. Harper drew in a breath. “You invaded my mind? You’re a bastard.”
A cynical smile touched his firm mouth. “How did you know? Have you been talking to my mother? Ha. Yes, I am.”
He pushed back from the table and stood. Goodness, she forgot how tall he was…something she’d seen at the bar and forgotten.
“I am an incubus demon and that is my nature. I cannot change it, any more than you can change the fact you have magick powers. Discover what you are, Harper, or you remain in danger from those who would use you for your magick.”
“Like you?” she snapped.
Jared gave her a level look. “I have no desire to exploit your magick, Harper. In fact, I may be your best chance of survival until you acknowledge your powers and hone them against potential enemies.”
Suddenly exhausted, her shoulders slumped. She buried her head in her hands. “What am I? Why is this happening to me? Am I being punished for something I did in the past?”
Suddenly a warm palm tipped up her chin. The electric shock of his touch sent desire surging through her. She found herself staring into Jared’s dark, compassionate gaze.
“You are not being punished. You are coming into yourself, your true self. It is not an easy adjustment, but you are not alone.”
A shiver of awareness raced down her spine as he stroked a line across her bottom lip. She didn’t know what he wanted from her, but for now she was trapped here.
Jared’s expression became inscrutable. He dropped his hand and turned from her, as if trying to break their connection.
