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Harper’s brows snapped together. “A game of what?”
Khloë lifted her shoulders. “You know … exploring Punarnia. Stuffin’ the muffin. Slaying the vadragon. Shampooing the wookie. Getting one’s Twinkie stinky—”
“All right, you’re done,” Harper declared. “Stop laughing, Devon. You’ll only encourage her.”
Khloë rolled her eyes. “Raini, I’ll put it in less crude terms to appease Mrs. Prim and Proper over there. I personally think it wouldn’t be so bad for you to let Maddox go paddling up Coochie Creek.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Khloë,” Harper burst out, shaking her head at Raini for snorting a laugh.
Tearing the wrap of cellophane from her brownie, Khloë eyed the sphinx. “God, you’re snippy today. Hasn’t Knox done any paddling lately? Is that what it is?”
“I’m done engaging with you.” Harper returned her attention to Raini. “What are you planning to do about Maddox?”
Raini puffed out a breath. “I don’t know. Honestly, my libido is all for riding him like a pony. But my brain is telling me it would be dumb.”
Harper gave a nod of understanding. “It was the same for me when Knox made his move years ago. I fought him—and myself, for that matter—on it for a while, as you know. Obviously, I don’t regret giving in. But it could have ended so differently. He could have gotten tired of me and found someone else. That would have hurt. Is that what you’re worried will happen?”
Raini felt her brow furrow. “I don’t think it would hurt to hear Maddox claim he’d had his fill of me, because we already have so many walls between us. He’ll never let me close. Ever. So I’m well aware that sex between us wouldn’t lead to anything else.”
“Not that I’m saying you shouldn’t be conflicted,” Devon cut in, digging another chip out of the bag, “but why are you if you don’t think this is a situation where you could potentially get hurt?”
“I just feel like I’m swimming in unfamiliar waters right now.” Raini leaned back in her chair. “I’ve never felt sexual chemistry before. I didn’t imagine that it would be so electric and … vicious. It truly feels vicious. Like it has teeth and claws and isn’t gonna let go. Is that normal? Does it pass on its own?”
“It’s normal, but not common,” said Devon. “I’ve never felt it so strongly with anyone other than Tanner. And it flared between us for years. That’s not to say that the chemistry between you and Maddox won’t ease up, though.” She tossed a chip into her mouth. “What else is in these unfamiliar waters you mentioned?”
“I’ve never once been with a guy who can’t be snared, but I always wished I could find someone like that. Now that I have, you’d think I’d be thrilled, wouldn’t you? You’d think I’d be eager to explore this chemistry we have.” Raini rubbed her arm. “Although I like that I have no preternatural influence over him, it makes me feel vulnerable.”
“Because to have no influence over him is almost like he’s counteracted your power which, as a succubus, is linked to your sexuality,” Harper pointed out.
Raini felt her eyes widen. “Yes. I couldn’t put it into words before but, yes, that’s it.” She exhaled heavily. “It turns out that, like he said, I’m more comfortable with what I know.”
“Most are.” Harper took another swig from her bottle. “That’s not wrong.”
“And maybe he’s also right in saying I worry that he’ll take me over,” Raini conceded with a brief tilt of her head.
“Oh, he’ll give it his best shot,” Harper predicted, setting down her bottle. “You’ve got an alpha on your hands. That’s kind of what they do in the bedroom. And out of it, for that matter. So your worry isn’t a senseless one.”
“He also accused me of being scared that I’ll like it if he takes me over.”
“You might in the bedroom. That’s not wrong either. Submitting isn’t a demonstration of weakness.”
“I know that, and I wouldn’t feel weak. I’d just feel … It’s hard to explain. I’ve never been with a man who’s so … so everything. Maddox has this huge presence. It’s intense and overwhelming and sometimes even a little oppressive. And I don’t know how old the dude is, but I get the sense he’s been walking this Earth for a lot longer than I have.”
“You feel out of your depth.”
Raini pointed at the sphinx. “Yes. Exactly. I feel out of my depth. Especially when he says shit like he and his demon will have me any way they want me and that neither of them will take it easy on me.”
“He said that?” Khloë fanned her face. “Yowza.” Right then, the imp’s cell beeped. She tossed the last of her brownie into her mouth and then whipped out her phone.
“Yeah, I’ll admit, my hormones were totally yelling ‘yowza’ when he said that,” Raini confessed. “But doesn’t he demand enough of me already? It would only get worse if we crossed the platonic line.”
