He swallowed. Her body might be ready for seed. Inner shake. “In any event, I have a demon seal. I can’t ejaculate inside you unless you’re my mate. Which is impossible.”
He knew his crossbreed species had been forsaken by fate. But if a creature like him miraculously had a mate, and if Josephine was miraculously that one female, nothing could be more disastrous than claiming her.
His semen had been awaiting release for seven thousand years, its potency—and poison—strengthening with age, just as the rest of his body had. One of two things would happen if he released it.
She’d withstand his most concentrated poison and become pregnant.
Or his semen would prove so deadly, she’d perish with him still inside her.
But Josephine wasn’t his. So this conjecture was moot.
She faced him again. “Define mate.”
“Define one of the most universal concepts in the Lore?”
“Define a demon mate. Might be different from a vampire’s.” She had a point.
“It’s the sole female, out of any time or any world, a demon male is most compatible with. Destiny would pair her with him, then bond them eternally. But again, I’m only half demon.”
“Eternally.” Her eyes glimmered, as if she liked the sound of that. “So you figure out a woman is yours because you can come in her?”
“A demon would have some indication before the actual claiming. He would’ve reacted fiercely to a specific female. He would know there’s a good chance of burning away his seal. Still, most demons do try out many, many different females. It’s a process known as attempting.”
“Ah, so you’ve been out attempting nymphs.”
“No, I don’t believe dark fey get mates. We’re anomalies, outside the reach of fate.”
That challenging aspect was back in her expression. “Still, I want to be one hundred percent extra careful.”
His fists clenched as the demon in him flared. “Extra careful?” Because carrying his offspring would be such a catastrophe? Did she think she was too good for him?
“Is sex all you’ve got in your playbook?” she asked. “There are lots of other things we can do to each other.”
The rich promise of lots of other things placated his demon. “Then we’re in agreement.”
She grinned. “Awesome.”
Awesome?
She dashed to the bed, leaping atop it to sprawl on her back. “Let’s get to the Q and A.”
TWENTY
Jo turned on her side, head propped in her hand as she watched Rune unbuttoning his fly.
She could barely wait to see him naked.
Never taking his spellbinding eyes off her face, he hooked his thumbs at the waist of his jeans and slipped them down, lower.
Lower . . .
His cock sprang free, bobbing for her riveted gaze. The thick shaft jutted from crisp black hair. Smooth skin stretched taut over prominent veins.
Mouthwatering.
His dusky balls looked heavy. She wanted to cup them, weigh them. Tug and watch him groan. His sac tightened before her eyes.
He stepped from his jeans to stand fully nude before her, arrogant as ever.
The sight of his lean, muscled frame and tattooed skin left her dumbstruck. She took her time, gaze roaming from his sexy hair, to his handsome face and penetrating eyes. To his brawny chest. The flexing ridges in his torso called to her claws.
As if Rune liked her eyes on his body, he grew even harder. Blood flowed to his dick so fast, it jerked. The broad crown strained toward her.
Her fangs sharpened for that veined shaft. She tapped one point with her tongue as she imagined grazing him there.
Would the dark fey shudder if she drew a line of blood and lapped it up? She’d never even had a blood kiss, yet her mind had already skipped ahead to a blood blow job.
What fun she would have with this guy tonight. Her lips curled. Best. Date. Ever.
His voice was gravelly when he said, “You like what you see.” It wasn’t a question.
She nodded happily. Just when she’d realized how wet she’d grown, he inhaled and tensed. Could he tell how he affected her? Of course, he’d scented her.
“You’re ready.” With a lethal grace, he lay back on the other side of the bed, all seven feet of sculpted fey/demon physique. A long, tall drink of blood.
He used a claw to prick his finger, and a bead of black arose.
Her eyes locked on that drop. The scent filled the air, making her light-headed.
He curled that pricked finger, summoning her. “Come and get it, dove.” Then he drew a line directly over that maddening pulse point in his neck!
Her fangs were aching.
“Look at your little fangs sharpen. You crave the forbidden, don’t you?”
Gaze fixed on that line, she went to her knees, climbing over to join him. She couldn’t believe he was giving her his blood this easily. She bent to lick—