Free Doomsday Brethren, Book 04: Entice Me at Twilight by Shayla Black Page B

looking for her now. Your government friends can’t help Felicia at all. I can. I won’t release her until she’ll be safe.”
    “That’s absurd. I have connections to highly trained individuals at MI6 and—”
    “Even MI6 can’t fight this. The danger can only be fought by people I know,” Duke countered. “They understand this madman. I promise, she will be safe with me.”
    “How? If MI6 can’t protect her, how can an aimless playboy like you? You’ll do anything to get into a woman’s knickers, and this just proves it.”
    “I have no iniquitous purpose,” Duke insisted. “I’ve duly noted that she is yours and have no plans to seduce her. That is the last you will hear from me on this subject.”
    No way could he promise he’d never touch Felicia. Of course, he’d try like hell to keep his hands off, but Duke knew he wasn’t strong enough to promise it. Half of his thoughts revolved around keeping her safe. The other half fixated on stripping her down to her skin and loving every inch of her.
    “You fucking—”
    “Would you like to speak to her?” Duke cut through Mason’s outburst. Responding to it would only prolong the argument.
    His brother cursed. “You know I would.”
    Duke hit a button to mute the phone, then turned to the lovely Felicia at his side, sleeping restlessly in her seat. Her honey hair was loosening from its French twist, wisps of golden strands curling at her neck and temples. She looked so soft, so female. And so exhausted. His heart jolted, and he jerked his eyes back to the road, swallowing hard.
    “Felicia?”
    She didn’t stir at all. Nor did she when he called her name again, this time louder.
    Bloody hell. He was going to have to touch her.
    Duke didn’t like the way his hand shook as he reached out and cupped her shoulder. The contact was like a lightning bolt through him. He tugged his hand away, but when she didn’t stir, he drew in a shuddering breath, then wrapped his hand around her shoulder again.
    Steeling himself against a hot flood of desire, he jostled her. “Felicia?”
    She moaned and turned her face his way, lashes fluttering slowly over her blue eyes, now sultry with sleep. As if he needed another slam of arousal coursing through him.
    “What?” Her sleepy voice sounded husky and rough, and Duke couldn’t help but wonder if that’s how she’d sound after a night in his bed.
    He cleared his throat. “Mason is on the phone. Would you like to speak to him?”
    That news brought Felicia’s eyes open wide. She sat up straight, looking startled. “I fell asleep? Blast it!”
    “Mason?” He held out the phone.
    “Yes. Please.”
    Duke held in a curse as he unmuted the phone and handed it to her.
    Felicia grabbed it tightly. “Are you all right?”
    “Darling, are
you
?”
    In that moment, Duke regretted that he had very good hearing.
    “Fine. A bit rattled. Worried about you. I saw the robed men. What did they do?”
    “I don’t know precisely,” he said bitterly. “Simon’s odd friends dispensed with them. After the attackers demolished the chapel with their bloody bare hands—which I still can’t comprehend—I had my hands full keeping the guests calm and reviving Mother after she fainted.”
    Felicia gasped. “But she’s all right? You and everyone else are well?”
    “Quite. It’s you I’m worried for. We should be together tonight, husband and wife, making love.”
    “Mason …” Felicia flushed and shot a furtive look across the car before her glance skittered away.
    No doubt Mason had experienced all the joys of her body, but the notion of his brother in Felicia’s bed made Duke homicidal. He gripped the steering wheel to keep himself from ripping the phone out of her hand and kissing her senseless.
    “Be careful with Simon, darling. He’s
very
much like Alexei.”
    Her gaze strayed his way, measuring, before jerking her stare back to the dark road. “Thank you for caring.”
    “I do. I have for six years, since I