Page 27 of The Mating Fire
“I have duties that require my attention. You’re free to roam about the castle, except for the room at the very top of the northwest turret. That is off limits.”
Never tell a curious person something is off limits. “What’s up there?”
“My bedroom.” He gave her a long, sensual smile. “Eventually, if you please me, I may invite you up there.”
“Over my dead body.”
He considered. “I think not. Not into that. Not my style. Not anymore.”
At his wink, she rolled her eyes. “Are you ever serious?”
“I can be quite serious. I’m quite devoted to my craft of lovemaking.”
“Sure. I bet you’re king of the midnight hour. You probably seduce a different woman every night.”
To her surprise, his expression tightened. “I do not have several women and late night is not my favorite time.”
An incubus demon who didn’t flit from woman to woman and didn’t like the night? Interesting. She wondered what that was about.
“I thought an incubus demon thrived on what happens behind closed doors when the sun goes down. Like a sex vampire.”
He turned away as if the topic pained him. “I have arranged to bring your clothing here. You will find it in the dresser, neatlyarranged. Have a good morning. Lunch will be served on the terrace downstairs. If you get hungry, the kitchen is two floors below.”
Harper considered her options. Exploring the castle could be her ticket out of here, an exit strategy. But first, to distract this handsome devil who insisted on keeping her prisoner. And not by having sex with him. If he managed to coax her into his bed, Harper feared he was right. She would never wish to leave.
“What do you do for fun around here?”
At his blank look, she added, “You know, fun? Hobbies, things you enjoy doing. Other than sex.”
For a moment, something flickered on his face. Jared frowned. “I enjoy torching stray demons who hurt kittens and children.”
Not exactly her choice of pleasant activities. “Seriously? I’m talking about things like playing tennis, or video games, something I do with you. Or something you can teach me.”
She batted her eyelashes in a hint of seduction.
He stared. “Do you have something wrong with your eyes? You keep blinking.”
Oh for goodness sake… Harper sighed. “Hobbies. Anything you like to do around here other than kidnapping women?”
“I do not kidnap women. Only you, and I was saving you from inherent danger.” His gaze flicked over to the window. “I do have a few hobbies. One is archery. In the second courtyard.”
“Good. You can teach me. Tell me where and when.”
The activity would give her a chance to explore exits and a way to escape.
Drawing closer, Jared down at her. For a moment, she felt an unwanted tug of pure sexual need. He was all male, with his dark hair cut short, toned musculature beneath the clothing, and his air of pure confidence. Domineering, the kind of guy who knewwhat he wanted and pursued it. A sexy predator. Why he wanted her, she had no idea.
Yet beneath his air of sexuality, she sensed a deep loneliness he tried to mask. The kind of isolation and vulnerability she felt at times, and always hid from the world because the world wasn’t kind to brittle people. Such frailty made one weak, and your enemies could smash you to bits if they knew how to get past your defenses.
Instinctively she knew Jared had powerful enemies, maybe this demon he’d mentioned. He would never show any weakness, or wish anyone to know he was nothing less than powerful.
Jared bent over, put a hand under her chin. Awareness shot through her at his touch. His hand was warm, slightly calloused and hinting of a man who knew labor, which sharply contrasted with his urbane manner of dress. He lifted her chin to meet his penetrating gaze.
“There are many things I wish to teach you. Many things…I think you will come to enjoy.”
He stroked his thumb across her lower lip, and her body flared to life, desire becoming a hot, living thing. Harper bit her lip, struggling to control her emotions and her needs.
Think science.
