Page 113 of Bloodhunter

“Save him, Clayton. You’re the only one who can.”

“Give me today.” His voice was hoarse, but it was strong. “Oneday.”

“I would give you anything,” I said, fiercely.

But when Miriam held his reins once again, would I be ableto keep my promise?

Would it even matter?

“I’ll find a way,” I swore. “I’ll find a way to release youfrom her.”

“This was my way.” Then he shrugged off the inevitability ofhis circumstances, and his stare went from despairing to predatory and very,very hot. And not just hot, but dominating. He’d been forced to submit toMiriam’s power, but right then, he was Clayton. He was the Clayton he’d beenbefore Miriam had fucked him up. Before she’d turned him into a slave. Beforeshe’d forced him into submission.

I took a shaky breath and tried to calm my galloping heart.“How long has it been for you?” I asked. “Did Miriam and you ever—”

His laugh was surprised and completely genuine. It was alsolow and masculine and pleased, because he saw in my parted lips, mybreathlessness, and my nervousness one fact I could not hide from him.

He made me hot.

He always had, but now, I couldn’t hide it. And I didn’twant to.

“No. No one could touch me. She wasn’t lying. I couldn’teven touch myself.”

I shivered at the thought of him touching himself, and quiteinadvertently, I dropped my stare to the front of his pants. From the size ofthe bulge, I was not the only one turned on. Of course, I’d already known that.

His lust was so intense it swirled around him, an almostvisible thing.

I cleared my throat and averted my gaze. “The incubus. Canyou feel him?”

I knew he could, though, because I couldseetheincubus. He peered out Clayton’s eyes, interested and quiet. Watchful.

“Yes.” With an unexpected suddenness, Clayton grinned. I’dnever seen that grin on him, and it took my breath. He was gorgeous in hisfreedom.

“It’s a struggle to control him,” he continued, “and I won’tenvy Angus his battle with this thing.”

Maybe he was just trying to make me feel better.

“Can he…” I hesitated, afraid I’d give the demon ideas. ButI wasn’t going to put anything into his head that wasn’t already there. “Doeshe still want to suck the life from me, do you think?”

Clayton frowned. “All I feel is his interest in your body.”He ran his stare over my face and down my body, and that stare was like aphysical touch. “Or maybe that’s just my interest.”

“I should go,” I murmured, even as desire shot through me.“And let you enjoy your day.” It didn’t occur to me to doubt that he would saveAngus, once he’d had his day of freedom.

He lifted one corner of his lips in a sort of smile.“You’rethe way I’m going to enjoy my day, Trinity.” He didn’t touch me. He stood withhis hands at his sides, his face calmly blank, but his eyes blazing withpassion. Need. Desire.

It wasn’t just Clayton with his years of forced submissionand bondage but the demon inside him. Of course, in Clayton’s case, the incubuswould not be the only demon in there.

I took a tiny step back.

“Despite Miriam’s hold,” he said, smoothly, darkly, “I havelain awake at night, wrapped in my phantom chains, and imagined touching you.”

I released a shaky breath, then I took my need and went tohim. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my pelvis against his.

He cried out, and it was more a sound of agony thanpleasure. He rested his forehead against mine, shuddering. He didn’t lift hishands to hold me there, and I knew he was torn. He wanted me as much—evenmore—thanI wanted him, but something was holding him back.

Then he told me what that something was.

“Sex with me won’t be gentle and kind. The incubus is…” Heswallowed and closed his eyes, but only for a second. “He is depraved. Vicious.And the only thing he wants is sex. He knows he can no longer use you to gainhis freedom, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to fuck.” Again, heshuddered, then wiped sweat from his forehead and regained control.