Under a Blood Moon (Beaux Rêve Coven 2)

And then they all began to grin and Miren lifted a hand, giving them the finger behind Renner’s back. Laughter rang out but was quickly subdued as more of Ethan’s and Renner’s men descended upon the women.

Renner jostled her in his arms and then squeezed her. “There are alligators all along the bank. They could have mistaken all that splashing for fish in distress.”

“I cast a warding spell.”

“You think you have a spell for everything, don’t you?”

He sounded so surly she grew worried. Renner rarely displayed irritation, and never anger. Most often, his sly humor was all that was evident. Something that irked the living hell out of her because she suspected his humor was a deflection to keep hidden what was really there inside him.

She should have known that with a troll for a best friend, he’d be an ogre under his blond good looks. “We didn’t escape just to piss you off. We’re restless. Freaking bored.”

“And you think we aren’t restless, aren’t fucking frustrated as hell?” His footsteps were getting heavier. Hell, he was stomping toward the porch now. “There are twenty of us and four of you, as yet, unclaimed. Choose already.”

“And who do you think I should choose?”

Renner halted at the bottom of the inn’s steps to stare down at her. A muscle rippled in his cheek. His aqua eyes gleamed. “Choose me, Miren.”

Shock at his stark look and low-edged tone made her jerk. He’d never been this direct. “Why should I choose you?”

“You won’t find a mate better suited to you. We’re both ruled by the tides. Both love the sea.”

She waved a hand. “Mikkel and Elias are mermen. They can live in the freaking sea. And why would I want a mate who loves being on the water? The moment I commit, everything I’ve worked for will be taken from me.”

“What are you talking about?”

Miren scowled. “Would you let me take a trawler out on the open water?”

“Not now. Not with the threat—”

“There have been threats all around us, both natural and supernatural, since we fled to here. I’ve run my own boats for five years. Without incident. Water is my element. Think I can’t conjure a wave or a waterspout if need be? I can take care of myself. But if I commit to a demon, everything, including my will, becomes yours.”

Renner’s answering scowl was every bit as fierce. “I don’t want to rule you.”

“By your nature, you would try.”

“Ethan—”

Her eyebrows shot upward. “Don’t you dare hold him up as an example. Bryn’s getting fat because Ethan won’t let her walk up and down her own stairs.”

“She’s pregnant.”

“Pregnant, not crippled. All I have is a splinter in my foot,” she said, raising her eyebrows to emphasize her point.

Renner glared for a long moment and then glanced toward the sky. The moment his gaze left her, she could breathe again. She pushed against his chest until he bent and set her on her feet.

Renner slowly raised his hands. She shook her head but didn’t step back as he gripped both sides of her hips. With a firm but gentle grip, he brought her close enough she felt the brush of his thickened cock against her belly.

For a moment, she was back on the field, moonlight streaming down while she grew hungrier and hungrier as her hands roamed his hot skin.

Something she hadn’t allowed herself to feel since that night beneath the oak. She’d fought too hard for her independence from rule by any mate. She’d already escaped a betrothal to a mate that would have left her in servitude to a demon for the rest of her life.

As the moment stretched, as they both swayed closer to each other, she thought perhaps the problem was she hadn’t had any sex since Ethan and Renner’s men had descended on their little bayou hamlet of Bonne Nuit, first to build a bridge and now a new office building. Before, when she’d grown restless and lustful, which wasn’t often, she’d entice a human male to her bed. But while the demons and the witches all shared a roof, inviting a human among men ruled by their primitive animal natures could have deadly consequences.

Miren wished she could be as free with her sexuality as Darcy. Her sister witch had taken several lovers from among the otherkin, enjoying all aspects of joining shy of intercourse. “Mouths and fingers can work just as well,” she’d said with a sly waggle of her eyebrows.

But Miren couldn’t risk it. Not when she craved just one man’s touch. She feared losing control and ending up binding herself to a demon. While it appeared to work well for Bryn, Miren didn’t think she could abide a man powerful enough and stubborn enough to rule her body and her life. Better to remain celibate and frustrated rather than risk the autonomy she’d given up everything—community and wealth—to achieve.

Renner’s mouth hovered over hers, and Goddess, she was tempted. His kiss would