His gaze slid to the window, and I had no idea if I was actually getting through to him. “You and Amon both,” he said quietly.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s on your side.” He let out a long sigh. “But the fact is, Rowan, the mortals have too much control over us in the modern world. One bomb could take out our walls, and then we’re done. That’s what the curse means. And what sort of king would I be if I didn’t prioritize the safety of my own subjects over outsiders?”
He was almost sounding reasonable, which was making it hard for me to keep my resolve. So reasonable that I nearly forgot that several people were claiming he’d sent someone in to try to kill me tonight.
And here was the real question: what did I have to lose by taking the crown from him?
The simple fact was, if I were in control, I wouldn’t have to worry about who to trust.
I straightened and lifted my chin. “Listen, Orion. There are only two options for this trial. If I win, I decide what happens. Or you win, and that’s when you can prove to me that you do really want me to rule with you. Because right now, you have all the power. Of course you want me to give up. Let’s see you offer me an alliance when it actually counts.”
His eyes sparkled, and he took a step closer. He gave me a slow, dazzling smile that made my heart skip a beat. “I’ll be happy to prove it to you when I win the trial. And do you know what?” His voice was low and silky. “I like being challenged by you.”
The vulnerable side of Orion was gone, and he’d turned on the charm again. So I can’t say I was shocked when he left the door open between our rooms. He crossed into his own room, pretending to ignore me as he unbuttoned his shirt. When he pulled it off, I told myself not to stare at the absolute masculine perfection that was his body—the thickly corded muscles, the visible V in his abs just over the top of his pants.
But telling myself not to stare was just about as useful as telling the moon to stop shining.
When he turned to me, his lips curled in a beautiful half-smile, I was momentarily mortified to realize my mouth had been hanging open.
He crossed to the door frame and leaned against it. My gaze roamed over his snake tattoo, then down to his chiseled abs again. “Something the matter, Rowan?” And here was Orion’s cocky attitude, replacing that brief glimpse of his vulnerable side.
I took a deep breath, trying hard to ignore the heat sliding through my belly. “Are you trying to seduce me? Because I don’t care how pretty you are—I’m still going through with the trial.” I’d somehow lost control of my voice, and it had come out louder than necessary. One of the dogs poked his head in the door, looking between us to make sure everything was all right.
Orion’s eyebrows rose. “I simply took my shirt off because I’m getting ready for bed.” The look he was giving me was positively smoldering. “Love, surely you know by now that if an incubus were seducing you, you’d be writhing beneath me and begging for more right now.”
I felt my cheeks flush, and my mind clouded with a haze of lust. I wasn’t exactly sure what was happening, only that Orion was getting the upper hand. Throwing me off my game, getting me flustered.
But I was a succubus, and two could play at this game.
I let the blanket drop from my body, knowing that my wet tank top was falling off one of my shoulders and that my underwear hardly covered a thing. As soon as I did, I felt the atmosphere in the room change—a flash of heat and light that seemed to pulse from the demon king himself.
15
ORION
As soon as she dropped the blanket, I knew I was in trouble. All the blood seemed to rush from my head, making my cock harden until I could no longer think straight.
I stared down at her—big brown eyes, her full, peaked lips, nipples straining at the wet fabric…
In the salt breeze off the coast, I knew that if I kissed her, she would taste of the sea. I loved kissing her, and the way she looked at me. I loved…
Stop it.
Only a thin sheath of fabric covered her naked body, and I could see her perfect contours beneath it.
As a succubus, she could feel me drinking in her beauty, and her chest was faintly flushed.
“Not trying to seduce,” I managed, forgetting the basics of language.
I was repeating myself, though, wasn’t I?
And yet, it was the truth. I couldn’t seduce her—not when I risked everything.
I’d simply wanted her to realize that little blond pretty boy Kas had nothing on me. Quite simply, jealousy was making me act like a fucking idiot.