Under a Blood Moon (Beaux Rêve Coven 2)

be divine. She just knew it. A little whimper escaped her throat and one corner of his mouth began to curl.

Before their mouths touched, he pulled back. “Make a choice, Miren. The men won’t be held off much longer.”

“There are so many of you,” she murmured, narrowing her eyes.

“Many will be disappointed.”

She bit her bottom lip and lifted a shoulder. “Who says we have to choose just one? Maybe there won’t be many disappointed.”

His eyes closed to slits, but he kept silent.

He didn’t believe she’d dare. Miren gave him a slow smile. “Tell you what. Since you won’t let me sail with my own crew, I’ll take you…and the mermen. Think among the three of you—” she dropped her voice to a sultry hum, “—that you can keep me out of trouble?”

His jaw worked side-to-side, and then a smile stretched. “Sweetheart, do you really think you have the stamina to take on three demons?”

Miren blinked and then realized what she’d said. Her jaw dropped. “I was talking about shrimping.”

“Maybe your mouth was, but your eyes were issuing a different kind of challenge.”

“I’d never—”

Renner tapped her lips. “Don’t say never. You might have to eat that word.”

Miren curled her fists. “Grrrr…you’re impossible.”

“I beg to differ. I’m completely possible and can be ready at a moment’s notice. All you have to do is curl one little finger…”

His mouth was so close, she could have kissed him with a pout. She groaned, defeated by her own need. “Are you going to kiss me?” she whispered.

“Are you asking?”

She closed her eyes, not wanting him to read her desperation. “If I was?”

“Say please,” he murmured.

She peeked at him from under her lashes. One corner of his mouth was quirked. He would love it if she did beg. Never mind she was poised to do just that.

Taking a deep breath for fortitude, she opened her eyes and frowned. “I suppose, to be fair, I should give the other waterfolk a chance to impress me.”

His smile stiffened. “To be fair? There are three of us—three large demons, and you.”

She liked the snippy way he said that, but not the way his glance swept her again, as though she was some delicate little flower—a ridiculous child even, defying a wiser man. “Only three? Not that fatiguing then.” Her smile grew as his mouth firmed. “Now, please, will you kiss me?”

Chapter Two

Renner Nielsen was caught between a bark of laughter and a groan. With Miren’s lower body pressed against his erection and her sweet plump lips ready for a kiss, he had her exactly where he’d wanted her for months—close enough to toss over his shoulder and rush to the nearest bed. And while she might make a fuss, for the sake of her pride, he knew she’d love every minute of it.

If ever there was a woman in need of ravishment, it was Miren Lynch. Sun-streaked brown hair and sea-green eyes were unnecessary embellishments upon a woman built like an ethereal goddess—delicate but with full-breasts and hips and long, sleek legs. He ground his teeth as he fought the impulse to simply take her. Once he claimed her, there’d be no going back. But he’d seen how a relationship based strictly on biology could sour. His own parents, a siren and a draugr, had coupled like wild animals but couldn’t manage to make it through a meal without shouting at each other.

He wanted more than that—for himself and for Miren. He was determined to leave her the choice for as long as possible. However, unclaimed witches were a demon’s ultimate possession, and this treasure of an entire coven, small though it was, was too tempting. Every day the women dragged their feet was another day they risked capture by some other demons—ones who might not be kind to witches who’d thrown off eons of tradition to seek their independence.

He knew Miren understood this, which was why he was confused by her resistance to the idea of taking a demon mate. He ignored her teasing threat to consider more than one mate, because it was absurd. Sure, demons loved a good orgy, but witches were gentle creatures, small-boned and delicate. How could she even entertain such a thought?

“I asked,” she said, her lips forming a frown. “Why are you making me wait?”

“I’m still thinking about the twins, Mikkel and Elias,” he murmured, “and wondering how they could insert themselves into this embrace.”

She blinked, rosy color flooding her cheeks. “If you don’t want to kiss me—”