A Council of Betrayal (12 page)

“Let’s go see the brothel!” I only staggered
slightly.

Gretchen was outside, nervously pacing the length of the … hotel?
Brothel? Establishment? Hell, what was the right word?

Logan pulled up to the front, handing the
keys to a valet.

“You made it,” Gretchen announced.

“Yep,” I agreed.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” she
confessed.

I shrugged. “This is a great idea, if
properly managed. I see a lot of money in your future.”

She nodded, regarding me starstruck.

“Can we get a tour?” Logan asked as we stood
there waiting for her to recover.

“Yes, of course. Please come in.” She took a
deep breath. “Welcome to The Lovely Lust.”

The front of the building reminded me of a
prestigious high-rise apartment complex in downtown New York. A
doorman opened the glass doors for us under a red circular awning
with a discreet nod and no smile.

The front desk had a well-groomed woman
behind it who greeted us with a warm, non-judgmental smile.

Gretchen blathered on about it and I tuned in
to listen to her again. We loaded into a gold trimmed elevator as
Gretchen pushed the number four.

“Each floor is themed. We have four right
now, but I own the entire building. Floor four is Victorian
themed,” she beamed as the doors opened. Modern light fixtures had
been replaced by electric candles, giving the hallway a haunted
feel.

Gretchen’s phone rang and she looked down at
it in dismay. “If you will excuse me, please take a look around.
Room four is open.”

“Shall we?” Logan asked, ushering me out of
the elevator. We strolled down the hallway lined with floral
wallpaper. Random tables with skinny legs offered guests lube,
handcuffs, and other playful items.

“She has thought of it all,” I admired.

Logan grunted, placing a large paw on the
vintage brass circular doorknob, pushing open the cream paneled
door.

“Logan, we are not going in there together,”
I reprimanded him.

“Why not?” he asked with a raised
eyebrow.

“Did you miss the part where the rooms are
enchanted for the guests’ pleasure?”

“We’re not doing anything pleasurable. How do
the maids clean the rooms if one cannot simply be in the room
without succumbing to the effects? Unless you have plans to take
advantage of me that you would like to share.”

I scoffed.

“Besides, you are a succubus. I doubt
anything here could actually affect you.”

I peeked inside at what I could see. I had to
admit he was making some solid points. Besides, what’s the worst
that would happen? I slept with Logan. I could think of crappier
ways to spend my time.

I went in first, turning around, admiring
Gretchen’s attention to detail.

Turning to Logan, I drew a breath to comment
on how pretty the rose wallpaper was. My air caught in my throat as
desire shot directly into my belly.

“Logan,” I whispered, digging my fingers into
my arms, “it’s affecting me, we have to leave.” I finished in a
hiss, trying to control my breathing.

He never had a chance. The spells seeped into
him immediately and his eyes began morphing before my own. Slowly
he stalked me, removing his jacket in the process, the fabric
falling in a heap as he moved closer to my trembling body.

I forced myself back a step on the plush rose
carpet, my body wanting to give in to the heat inside of me, a heat
I knew Logan could smother. Pulling another jagged breath, I pushed
a hand out as Logan followed me back. It connected solidly with
firm muscles, a sensation quickly followed by the absence of all
rational thought.

“Logan,” I tried again, unable to move. “We
have to get out of here,” I whispered, panting the least of my
worries. His energy was unleashed and calling me, his fire and
desire my own, doubled and dumped back into me.

Smiling, Logan pulled me into his chest with
one strong, long arm, pulling us face to face.

“Logan.” It was the last warning I could give
him, as his lips slowly descended upon my own, brushing gently,
sending scorching heat through my body. Groaning, I leaned into
him, forcing my tongue past his lips to swipe a taste of him, just
a taste, I told my nagging awareness.

Threading his fingers through my shoulder
length hair, gently cupping my head, he growled low before fisting
his hand, forcing my lips away from his own as he trailed hot, wet
kisses down my neck.

His saliva left cooling circles on my body.
My knees weakened, supported by his arm around my waist as he
pushed me back to the flowery bed behind me. The back of my knees
felt the soft brush from the Egyptian cotton bedspread. As I leaned
away, Logan released me in anticipation of my overheated body
falling into the promise of sweet softness.

With my one remaining lucid brain cell I
rolled off the bed and dashed toward the door, my body despising me
with every painful step. Logan’s body slammed into the door before
I could even touch the handle, a carnal smile on his tempting lips.
Growling, he moved quickly, pressing my back against the wall, my
body held there under his rugged chest.

“You are mine,” he growled, pinning me with
his hips to keep me immobile while gently placing both my hands
above my head, grinding his massive erection against me.

Feeling his swollen member, I let out a heavy
breath, all rational thought fleeing me. I arched my back, pressing
myself against his iron chest.

Logan growled low, pulling back to meet my
eyes with his own golden gaze. I was disappointed to think he might
be regaining his senses. My own muddled brain never had a chance to
glean his reason for the pause, as he pressed our lips back
together.

The pain in my body disappeared, the nagging
sting in my hands gone.

Moaning low, I felt his calloused hands shove
my black pants down, tearing the adorable delicate panties I had
worn.

My leg snuck up to his hip without my
conscious knowledge, kicking out of my pants. My hands fell around
his neck he pulled my other leg up, balancing me against the wall
with shocking gentleness. Pressing my heels into his back, I forced
him closer to my naked depths.

The hard wall disappeared as Logan flipped
me. I landed on all fours on the bed, one massive hand landing on
my back as his other hand unfastened his pants.

Pressing just the tip against my wet
entrance, he paused for a moment, driving me insane with the
waiting. I pushed back, working his large erection inside of me.
His hands locked onto my hips, his fingertips pressing painfully
into my sides. Back and forth, my slick body coated him, allowing
him easier passage into me. My back arched when his control finally
broke and he slammed into me, his balls bouncing against my
ass.

Crying out, I braced against the bedframe
under Logan’s animal aggression, before he pushed me back to my
forearms. My overheated body clenched onto him, sweat beading down
my forehead. Logan bent his body over mine. “Kiss me,” he
demanded.

Turning, I met his greedy lips, sloppy, warm
and needing. I pushed back into him, nibbling on his bottom
lip.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered,
nuzzling my ear. “And you are mine.” He growled, moving back to
work my heated body, reaching under to pinch my clit. Yelping, I
pushed back forcefully against him.

Hissing his pleasure, he repeated the
process, picking up the speed. My world narrowed to Logan and what
his thick length was building inside of me. Pleasure pushed down on
me from every angle as he worked the delicate nub between my legs.
Arching beneath his body, I clenched the comforter in my hands,
meeting his thrusts and pushing into them.

The pleasure Logan was blissfully bringing to
my body threatened to overload my senses and I squeaked his name
out. The impossibly fast pace quickened and I slammed my fists
against the bed, screaming my release, stars blinding my vision as
I felt his equally powerfully release slam into my body.

His weight shifted, pinning me under him,
pressing me against the mattress, his white button down shirt
pressing against my jacket. My neck throbbed painfully. “Logan,” I
whispered as he nuzzled my ear, “what happened to my neck?”

Quickly, he pulled out of me and my body
missed the contact as he pressed around the wound. Tilting on my
side, I looked down at the horror on his face.

“I marked you,” he said, meeting my eyes. I
read the fear and worry in his own.

Running my fingers absentmindedly though his
caramel locks, I asked, “Is that bad?”

“I gave you a mate mark,” he clarified,
meeting my gaze.

“I thought those were just legends,” I
answered, terror stealing my earlier warmth.

“They are very real and I have just bound us
together,” he answered, stroking my side, the room beginning to
influence him again.

“We need to get out of this room, Logan,” I
told him forcefully, unable to actually move.

He shrugged, pulling his tie open. “I’m
having a hard time finding a reason to.”

Pulling my pants on, I started for the door.
Remembering Logan’s state of undress, I stood him up and zipped his
pants.

He stroked my face absentmindedly as I led
him out into the hallway. The pain in my neck increased and I
watched the disbelief seep into his eyes. “What have we done?”

I took a step toward him only to have him
step back.

“There you are!” Gretchen cried out.

Shit.

I smiled, turning around, pulling my shirt
over the bite mark on my shoulder.

“Let me finish the tour!”

Logan gave me a searching look and I glared
back at him. This conversation would have to be tabled.

Gretchen flicked a gaze at each of us before
she chanced a glance at the room.

“Oh, my.”

“Your rooms are excellent.” I turned the
wattage up full blast on my smile. “I certainly hope you don’t mind
that Logan and I gave it a trial.”

“No, no, not at all!”

“How does your cleaning staff manage?” Logan
asked, tightening his tie.

The question caught Gretchen off guard. “We
use enchanted talismans they have to have on their person at all
times.”

I gave Logan a pointed look, which he
ignored.

...

“You’ve done an excellent job, Gretchen.
Please keep me posted on when you can get away to look at
properties in St Ann.”

She beamed, her smile threatening to crack
her face.

I smiled back, knowing it didn’t reach my
eyes.

Slipping into the SUV, I waited a moment
before diving right into the heart of the issue.

“Are we going to talk about it?” I asked
softly, staring ahead. The throbbing in my neck was starting to
wear on me. I reached up, flipping down the visor to inspect the
wound in the mirror.

“Does it hurt?” he asked, just as
quietly.

“Yes, it throbs.”

He nodded. “Do you feel any different?” he
asked, casting a fleeting glance my way.

“No, should I?”

He shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t know.
This isn’t a custom done much anymore.”

“Why?” I asked, turning to look at him,
trying really hard not to have flashbacks to the mind-blowing
sex.

“It’s forever. If either of us were killed
the other could never find another partner. In most cases the
surviving partner doesn’t last more than a year.”

“Why? What killed them, the mark?”

“No,” Logan said, stopping at a red light and
looking at me, “a broken heart.”

I gave him a disbelieving look. “Do you feel
differently about me? I know we had the conversation of liking each
other…”

I let the question trail off. He gave me a
smug grin. “You admit to liking me?”

I huffed, “After that mind-blowing example of
your bedroom skills, I
really
like you.”

Logan laughed, moving ahead with traffic, and
I loved the sound of it. I shook my head, where had that come
from?

“Mind blowing?” Logan repeated, smug.

“Don’t let it go to your head. That room was
magically enhanced, which may have been the only reason I used that
term.”

Logan turned a serious gaze to me. “I’m happy
to pull this car over for a demonstration without magical
enhancements.”

“Pay attention to the road, Logan.” I was
pretending very hard that his offer hadn’t sent warmth to where he
had just been.

“Maybe the bite won’t affect you? Other
shifter bites haven’t before?” Logan debated out loud.

I nodded, turning to stare out the
windshield, numb and uncertain.

“Maybe,” I agreed. Fuck, hopefully? If a mate
bond was as forever as Logan was making it sound, I was fucking
terrified.

…

“So you aren’t feeling any different?” Logan
asked for the fifth time.

I slammed the SUV door. “Annoyed, I feel
annoyed.”

He wanted to say something else, I could see
it etched into the lines of his face. Whatever it was, he wasn’t
sharing. He continued to keep his thoughts to himself.

“Let me walk you to your room.” Logan
positioned himself in front of me on the elevator to hit our
floor.

I turned, looking at him as the elevator
dinged and the doors closed. “Are you feeling different?” I asked,
crossing my arms and leaning against the elevator wall.

He shrugged, taking out his phone and playing
with it, not looking at me.

The elevator announced our arrival to our
floor and Logan ushered me out with a hand on the small of my back.
He stayed close and in my personal bubble until I pressed my
fingerprint to the room door.

I opened the door, looking at him. “Do you
want to come in?”

Shit, why had I asked that?

He instantly moved closer and I tilted my
head up at him, thinking very seriously about a repeat performance,
when Mark yelled for Logan.