Omens (The Dark in You #6) - Suzanne Wright Page 0,4
holding you back?” pushed Tanner.
Keenan rubbed a hand over his jaw. “You know what powers I have as an incubus, right?”
The hellhound nodded. “You can infuse lust into people, implant thoughts and images into their minds, and incite sexual desires that only you can satisfy. You’re in total control of their lust and pleasure, which means you can heighten and prolong orgasms while feeding on their sexual energy.”
“Right,” said Keenan. “I’m also in complete control of my own lust and arousal, so I don’t get hard unless I want to … or, at least, I didn’t until she came along.”
Tanner’s brows shot up, and Levi let out a low whistle.
“You’re saying you can’t control how your body reacts to her?” asked Knox.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Keenan had heard of such a thing happening to other incubi, but it was a rare phenomenon—one he hadn’t thought he’d experience. “It’s like she’s living, breathing Viagra to me.”
Not once in all Keenan’s centuries of existence had he ever felt so … aware of another person. Whenever Khloé’s attention settled over him, it was like an electric shock to his senses. The sexual chemistry that pulsed between them was as dizzying as it was intoxicating, and it never failed to make his dick jerk to life.
“Surely it’s refreshing to naturally experience a normal bodily reaction,” said Levi.
Yes, it was, but … “I don’t trust it. Not even a little bit.”
“And you don’t like that she makes your infamous self-discipline go right out the window,” Knox guessed.
“No, I don’t,” Keenan admitted. He liked to be in control of his world. Liked consistency, certainty, and predictability—things he’d lacked as a young child when he’d lived on the streets with his mother; things he’d continued to lack during the years he’d spent in Ramsbrook House.
On leaving the shithole, he’d sworn that no one would have that level of control over him again. He obeyed his Primes, but he didn’t follow them blindly. He was very much his own man. But Khloé … yeah, she had power over him.
It felt alien. Wrong. Uncomfortable. It felt as if she’d turned his own body against him; as if she’d stripped aspects of his gift from him. “At first, I thought she was doing it on purpose. I thought she had an ability that allowed her to overpower mine. But it’s clear that she has no idea she’s doing … whatever it is she’s doing.”
“Maybe she’s not doing anything,” suggested Levi. “Maybe this is just as much out of her control as it is yours.”
Possibly. Although it spooked the absolute shit out of Keenan on a number of levels that he couldn’t control his body around her, he could admit that he was beyond curious to know what it would be like to have sex while not in complete control of his body. He’d never had that. But tumbling Khloé into bed would be no easy thing anyway. She was attracted to him, but she was also convinced he was an alcoholic and, as such, wanted nothing to do with him.
“Let’s not pretend you won’t pursue her sooner or later,” said Tanner. “It’s going to happen. Just go with it. Enjoy it. There’s no need to overthink—”
“Not on the table, Khloé, not on the table!”
Hearing Harper’s shout, Keenan looked to see the little imp jump onto the table with a whoop of sheer joy. Then she was all sexual confidence and erotic power—fluidly swaying, dipping, and working her hips like a fucking lap dancer. And his dick went hard.
Where the hell had she learned to move like that?
A group of men circled the table, cheering her on and whistling—much like Devon and Raini were doing. Keenan was pretty sure his blood pressure soared.
“Let me ask you one question,” said Knox. “If Khloé crossed the ‘casual’ line with a guy, how would you feel about it?”
Anger flared through him so hot and fast, Keenan ground his teeth. “It would be her business.”
“Yeah, it would. But can you be sure you’d let that guy live?”
Keenan didn’t speak. The honest to God’s truth? No, he couldn’t be sure. Which must have been apparent on his face, because Knox gave him a knowing look.
“Then maybe you should shove all your reservations aside and act before you miss your chance,” suggested Knox. “I’m not saying you should dive into a relationship. Take it slow, if that’s what you think both of you need. If you go too fast, you’ll spook her anyway.”