Omens (Dark in You 6)

“I highly recommend trying it. Though results may vary.”

He gently tugged the tie out of her hair, letting the thick strands flow over her back. He bunched his hand in it, looking as intrigued as a cat with a ball of yarn. “Love your hair.”

“Why, thank you. I grow it myself.” She let her eyes fall shut as he massaged her head with just the right amount of pressure. The feel of his fingertips digging, kneading, and gliding along her scalp felt heavenly. She could easily drift off to sleep like this, but she had an important question to ask first.

She met his gaze. “Now that you’re a lot calmer, are you going to tell me what the bear shifter said?”

He sighed. “He says that no shifter healer will be able to help you. They can heal wounds, but not sicknesses. But that doesn’t mean we need to give up, Khloé. Just because shifters can’t help doesn’t mean other preternatural breeds can’t.”

Although disappointment flooded her, she said, “I know that, and I have no intention of admitting defeat.”

He dropped a kiss on her hair. “Good.”

Hearing her phone beep, she grabbed it from the nightstand and read the text. A smile tugged at her mouth.

“Who is it?” asked Keenan.

“God, you’re nosy. It’s Teague. He’s checking to see how I’m doing, and he’s invited me to the racetrack on Saturday to watch his demon compete.” She loved the tracks.

“He won’t like that I’ve claimed you.”

No, he wouldn’t … which reminded her that she’d need to tell him herself so that he didn’t find out from others. “Neither will Thea.”

“The difference is, I couldn’t give a fuck what she thinks about anything. Teague matters to you.”

Khloé bit her lip. “Are you sure she doesn’t mean anything to you anymore? She talked as if you guys were fated. Kept saying you’d had ‘something special.’ She’s convinced you can get it back.”

“I cared about her at one time, but those feelings just … died. She killed them. I look at her, and I feel nothing. My demon has no time or patience for her. The fucked-up thing about me is that I can shut people out so easily if they betray or hurt me. It’s like a switch gets flipped, and it numbs whatever I’m feeling.”

It sounded like a self-protective measure to her. The thought that he’d subconsciously developed one just about broke her heart. Wanting to lighten the mood, she asked, “I didn’t flip that switch even once, despite my best efforts to rile you?”

The corner of his mouth hitched up. “You push plenty of my buttons, but never that one. You managed to work your way under my skin—it didn’t matter how hard I fought it; you made a place for yourself there without even trying. I was determined to find a way under yours.”

“You found it,” she admitted in a whisper.

His eyes flared, and then he smiled. “I know. It’s a good thing, because it makes us even.” He smoothed his hand down her belly, over her navel, and cupped her pussy. “All mine.” He thrust a finger inside her and groaned. “I can feel my come in you.”

She licked her lips as he began to fuck her with his finger. “You’re gonna get me all hot and bothered if you keep that up.”

“Good. I want you again.”

“I’ve got to get ready for work.”

“I won’t let you be late.” Nipping and kissing her neck, he kept on pumping his finger inside her, building the tension, dragging her into a realm of pure sensation where she lost all sense of time and—

Her phone rang, snapping her out of the moment. It had slipped out of her hand and was resting on the covers.

Stilling his talented finger, Keenan picked up the cell and said, “It’s Teague; you should answer it. He’ll be worried if you don’t.” He swiped his thumb across the screen and then handed her the phone.

She took it and said—well, croaked, “Hello?”

“Why didn’t you text me back?” Teague demanded.

“I wasn’t ignoring you; I just needed a minute.”

“You took more than a minute. I panicked, thinking something might have happened to you.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I’m just kind of in the middle of something.” She widened her eyes at Keenan when he began pumping his finger inside her again. Stop, she mouthed, but he didn’t.

“What are you doing that’s more important than replying to your anchor’s message?” sniped Teague.

“Um … you don’t really want to know.” She glared at Keenan and mouthed, Seriously, stop.

Keenan withdrew his finger ever so slowly, but then he rolled her onto her back and slid down her body. Oh, fuck.

“Why wouldn’t I want to know?” asked Teague.

She almost gasped as Keenan’s swiped his tongue through her folds. She gripped his hair and tugged, but he didn’t move away. He lavished attention on her clit and folds with that blessed tongue.