Hunger Embraced (The Hunger Series) by Jennifer James Read Free Book Online Page B

growl rumbled from between his lips, the points of his fangs gleaming bright white. His eyes flashed neon blue and then turned the deep gray-blue of an ocean during a winter storm.
    I smoothed my ponytail with shaking hands and put a damp paper towel against the nape of my neck. Hot prickles erupted everywhere. My skin wasn’t glowing, but the shadows under my eyes looked better. The soreness between my thighs was already receding. I guess Incubi kings made a good meal for sex magic. A wave of nausea rose, but I shoved it down with ruthless force.
    “I’m sorry I was too late.”
    I glanced over at him then slid my gaze away in shame. “For what?”
    He waved his hands around the air in some sort of all-around gesture. “For this.”
    “Ah, well, this is nothing new.” I shook my hand to try to stop its trembling and tossed the paper towel in the trash can. “Well, maybe for a day at work it is. But otherwise…”
    He took my elbow in his right hand. “We should leave.”
    I shrugged away. “Reading my thoughts again, T.T.B.? What am I going to tell my boss?”
    “I already saw her.” The critical once-over he gave me made the threatening moisture in my eyes well up. I blinked and turned my back on him. “You don’t have to report back until Monday.”
    I swiped one hand under my eyes and dried my fingers on my skirt. “How exactly do you do that? And I know you somehow persuaded her to go to a salon.” A surreptitious glance revealed he’d moved closer to me. My heel clicked loud on the floor when I stepped away. “Don’t deny it.”
    He shrugged noncommittally, and I resisted the urge to kick him in the shin.
    A million questions bubbled up, but I popped them all. I had to focus on getting out of the building before anyone stopped me. I didn’t think I’d be capable of any kind of regular conversation right now.
    My panties were in a sad little ruined pile on the floor. I picked them up and gave them to Daniel along with the business card. My purse was locked in my desk drawer. “Do you mind?”
    He shook his head and tucked both away in his pant pocket.
    We emerged from the restroom like fugitives. I patted at my hair and smoothed my shirt down, wondering if anyone had noticed or heard anything. Daniel had returned to being self-confident and possessed by a seemingly unflappable calm. I shouldn’t have worried so much. Everyone we passed sat at their desks or on the floor with dazed expressions. Some of them were even asleep.
    The warmth of his palm on my elbow was the only warning I had before he used soft pressure to guide me toward my desk. “Let’s go to my place and have a chat, hmm?”
    The endorphins wore off, and the rub of raw, sore skin jolted through me with every step. I could only imagine how it would be if my Hunger hadn’t fed.
    Heading to his house sounded fine to me. I had to get some answers to what was going on. I stopped to grab my purse, and Shelly waved at me when I told her I was going.
    “T.T.B.”
    He leaned down closer to me, tilting his head toward mine. I took a surreptitious sniff of the scent wafting from his collar and warmth curled in my belly. “Hmm?”
    “Why is everyone looking like they just got laid?”
    “It’s what happens when humans are close to Incubi having sex. Although, I’ve never seen it affect so many at once.”
    I resisted the urge to grab his neck as he straightened back up to his full height. “Oh. Daniel?”
    He looked down at me.
    “Were you following me this morning?” When I’d gone out for lunch I could have sworn I saw him behind me on the street.
    “Yes.” He frowned. “You shouldn’t have known I was there.”
    “Why were you following me?” I sneaked a peek at him from under my lashes.
    “To keep you safe.” He sighed heavily. “I don’t think I did a very good job.”
    A black smudge on his knee caught my attention. “Did something happen to you?”
    “I was delayed by some of Adrian’s court.” The pressure on