Poison's Kiss (Deadly Beauties 2)

"I mean, are we... I don't know... You know what I mean."

He laughs a little, making me feel like a fool for my stammering attempt to acquire clarification.

"We're two fey creatures enjoying each other's company. Or at least I'm enjoying it. How about you?"

I smile, but it feels weighted. "I'm enjoying it, but I'd like to know what exactly I'm enjoying."

He sighs, his playfulness gone. "I don't like labels. It puts too much pressure on the couple involved. Let's just let it evolve naturally. We'll see how it goes, and maybe our defining term will be revealed when we're ready."

That's something I would have expected from Kane, Zee, or even Thad. I never expected that answer from Gage. Are all men this way?

Kane was quick to define us, but he had ulterior motives. Do all men act so skittish about relationships?

"Yeah," I finally murmur, a dryness to my tone.

"We can talk about this later. I have to get back to work. I'll call you later tonight, okay?"

"Yeah."

I hang up, not giving him the chance to say more. I really regret asking now.

I turn around, and a squeal slips through my lips when I see the incubus standing directly in front of me, his hands behind his back and seriousness etched in his face.

"Sheesh. Personal space, please," I say nervously while taking two steps back.

"I didn't force you to kiss the night stalker," he says, seeming more random than I just sounded with Gage.

"Huh?"

"Earlier, when I used my magic, I wasn't forcing you into the arms of another. I was drawing you to me. I wouldn't have actually done anything, but you shouldn't have gone to him. It's been bugging the piss out of me since then. How did you do it? It's like you channeled my power and guided it to one you trusted instead of me. I've never seen that done before."

I'm a little taken aback by his close proximity and grilling demeanor. After distancing myself to present an even more feasible gap between us, I try not to laugh.

"I don't trust Kane. He's a night stalker. I'm a witch."

"You trust him. I can see it, feel it, and almost taste it. It's sort of my thing. You might not want to admit it, but you trust him more than any person here. All I want to know is how you channeled my power. I've been around for a long, long time, so very few things surprise me."

I shrug, not sure what answer he wants. "I didn't do anything. I thought you did that. When I attended a party hosted by an incubus and succubus, there were apparently a lot of people channeling, because they were all over each other."

He lets a laugh slip free and shakes his head. "They would have been projecting, not drawing. There's a difference. We feed off sexual energy by exerting our own, and then we soak in what you put back off and fuel ourselves with it. It doesn't

cause harm, just hormonal overdrive. When we draw you in, you want us, not someone else."

This is awkward, and I'm ready to go. I'm almost excited when Zee comes to interrupt us.

"Let's go. Kane said you could ride with him again. I'll be driving Stud over here."

"I'd rather ride the pretty blond," Dice says, his eyes dancing with menace.

"You better mean ride with. Kane is pissed enough as it is," Zee growls. "Sierra's a bitch for guilt-tripping him like that. She knows how devoted he is to this coven. She had no right."

I pat his arm. He's more protective of Kane than I realized.

"So you're with the night stalker? Yet you try to claim you don't trust him?" Dice asks, his head tilting to emphasize his confusion.

"I'm not with him, I'm with-"

I stop, instantly remembering I can't let someone working for Drackus know I'm... enjoying Gage's company. I can't believe I can't refer to him as anything. I suppose I'm not omitting any facts, since there aren't any to omit.