Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 127527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 638(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 638(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Keenan grumbled something unintelligible, making Khloë roll her eyes.
“The food will be ready in ten minutes or so,” said Jolene. “You four might as well go wait in the dining room. Harper and Knox are already seated.”
Larkin gave her a polite smile. “Thank you for finding room for me at the table.”
“There’s always room for you here. And since Richie and Robbie couldn’t make it this evening,” Jolene began, referring to Khloë’s father and brother, “you won’t be uncomfortably squeezed between two people or stuck sitting on Teague’s lap.”
His brows lifted. “Shame. That would have been interesting.”
Larkin snorted. “Only you would think that.” She led the way as the four of them strolled into the dining room. With its earthy colors, soft lighting, and the many wall-mounted framed photos, the space had a very warm vibe. The little knick-knacks and keepsakes that could be found on the windowsill, shelves, and surface of the antique cabinet added to the homey feel.
Jolene kept photos and mementos in almost every room. The batshit badass had a sentimental streak a mile wide, and she made no attempt to hide it; not worried it would be perceived as a weakness.
In the center of the dining room was a long table with lots of chairs and stools of various types, styles, and sizes gathered around it. Only Larkin’s Primes were currently seated.
Harper gave them all a bright smile. “Well, hey.”
Greetings were quickly exchanged as Larkin and the other newcomers made a move to claim a seat. She felt her lips thin when Teague pulled out a chair for her, his eyes dancing. “You’re gonna keep doing this gallant shit, aren’t you?” It wasn’t a question, it was an observation. “Can you not cease trying to annoy me for just a little while?”
Opposite her, Khloë chuckled. “He likes hearing you growl at him. That’s all.”
Larkin took her seat and scooted forward before he could push her chair closer to the table. “I don’t growl.”
“Oh, you do,” said Teague with a smile, claiming the chair beside hers. “It’s a low, sexy sound that me and my demon love.”
Not sure if he was messing with her or not, Larkin waved a hand his way. “Whatever.”
She almost tensed when he hooked his arm over the back of her chair. She couldn’t help it. She was just so aware of him; so conscious of his proximity. It left her feeling strung tight.
She glanced around. “Where’s Asher?”
“Playing in the backyard with Heidi. Ciaran is supervising,” Harper added, referring to Khloë’s twin.
Larkin went to speak again, but then the sphinx raised her hand.
“I just want to say something before we get on with our evening.” Harper took a long breath. “I have an apology to make. I’m sorry about all the matchmaking attempts, Lark. I can understand now why they drove you insane. You were already involved with someone, and you were serious about him. Which I’m glad of, because you two suit so well.”
Khloë grinned. “My thoughts exactly.”
“Yes, because they have so much in common,” Keenan said, his voice bone dry.
Harper cast him a frown. “Opposites attract. Take you and Khloë, for example.”
The incubus only grunted.
It was no easy thing for Larkin to bite back a smile. For him to be so surly meant he wasn’t quite as skeptical about her and Teague as he’d been earlier. She wondered if Khloë had been filling his head with shit in an effort to convince him.
Larkin’s inner smile faltered as Teague danced his fingertips over her nape. The sensitive skin there prickled as little bumps rose. His touch was so light, so gentle, yet she’d swear it seared her just beneath her skin. Like a brand.
Harper leaned forward in her seat. “Now, tell me how you two ended up doing the horizontal rodeo.”
“Oh no,” said Larkin. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
The sphinx let out a put-upon sigh. “I had a feeling you’d say that.”
A round of small talk began. And, of course, Larkin’s chatty fake boyfriend was fully engaged in it. All the while, he alternated between doodling light circles on her nape and playing with the thin, curly whisps of hair there that were too short to add to her braid.
They were such simple things, so she had no logical answer for why they fired up her libido. Or for why excitement pounded through her so vehemently that her nerve-endings soon felt raw and tingly. Her demon, equally affected, didn’t care to reason it out. The entity merely wanted more.
It got what it wanted.
He loosely clasped her nape, skating his thumb up and down one side of her neck while fluttering his fingertips along the other side. Easy though his hold was, there was a heavy dose of possessiveness there. One she begrudgingly liked.
Soon, her skin was so hypersensitized it left her feeling jumpy. And horny. Only her awareness that she was being very closely watched by Keenan and Knox stopped her from shying away from Teague’s touch out of self-preservation.