I stopped as I realized I did indeed feel bad for the guy.The more I got to know Desmond, the more I realized he was not anything like I had expected.His parents may have been involved in Violet’s kidnapping, and that was still uncertain, but...
Desmond was curious.Smart.Cocky.But he was also naive and clueless.
“Do you, uh...”I reached a hand behind my head, knowing what I was about to ask would be awkward as hell.
“Do you come a lot?”I asked, and his eyebrows shot up to his hairline.
“What?”His cheeks reddened as he let out a heavy breath.He didn’t answer me.
“Des?Do you masturbate?Like at all?”
“Of course I do!”he barked.He was clearly flustered, but the tone of his voice was high-pitched.
“How often?”I asked, stopping just underneath the awning of the exit.
“That is none of your business!”he said, crossing his arms.
I held mine up in surrender.“I’m just asking because I want to help.”The words fell out of my mouth of their own accord.
I realized Ididwant to help Desmond, and that itself was just as frightening as asking the guy if he jerked off regularly.
His eyebrows furrowed and he bit his lip.For a moment I thought he wasn’t going to answer me, but he did.
“Once a week, I guess.”
“You guess.You don’t know?”
He twisted his lips.“It’s not like I keep track, Bane.I’m busy.I have things to do and?—”
“Your knot inflate?”I asked.
He turned to look over the hills, toward the ocean.“I...”He sucked in a breath.“I don’t usually let it get that far.”
“Why?”I asked with the utmost shock.
“Because I don’t want to knot my hand, Bane.I want?—”
“A person,” I said softly.I cleared my throat.
And I realized all at once why Desmond hasn’t gone into heat.
He was waiting.
For the right person toigniteit.
I’d never heard of such a phenomena except in those oldgancanaghtales Laughlin taught in class.But I’d always thought it was just an edit of the old stories, meant to push a safe sex agenda on the students at Blackthorn.But...
I realized then, perhaps there was truth to the stories.
An incubus who wantedonesole source of heat.One person.One mate to ignite his spark and keep the flame hot for all eternity.
It was admirable, but it was also quite insane.
“Maybe you’ll find the right person at Blackthorn,” I offered.
Desmond eased up, nodding, but he didn’t smile.“Maybe.”
When we got to the beach, Wanda and Norman were already out in the water, which wasn’t surprising in the least, what with them being creatures of the sea.I took a seat on the sand and Desmond sat beside me.
