Adonis remained seated in his makeshift throne, the four women he had seduced on either side of him, and his bodyguard Hunter stood nearby, awaiting orders from his master should they ever come.

The prince held a crystal that was glowing a light blue, and Adonis was trying to concentrate on it. "This thing has lost its edge." He looked around his throne, looking at the four women that had fallen under his spell in the last few days. They were nothing more than slaves to him, all blindly following him and waiting on his every whim. Of course, that is how he saw all the women that came before him. "It has failed to find me a woman who would be my equal." He clenched the crystal in his fist, "Hunter! Come forth!"

The tall, muscular warrior covered in armor from head to toe, stepped forward, "I am here master. Tell me what it is you wish."

Holding out the crystal, which was now glowing a deep green, Adonis watched it for a few seconds, "The seeker crystal seems to now be active. We just might have found another potential mistress. We must leave now, before she gets away." The larger man nodded once, and he took the crystal and headed out into the street of Crystal Cove.

Adonis had to explain to his lesser female servants that he had to attend to other matters, but that he would return soon. They silently pleaded with him to not go, but he ignored them and went on his way. Using his magic, Adonis changed into the clothes of a normal human of 20 years in age, a blue t-shirt and dark denim jeans. Hunter had done the same, changing into a similar outfit that did little to hide his bulk of muscle he was.

The two went on down the street, able to avoid attention while Adonis wore the crystal around his neck. The little rock began to glow just a shade brighter as they went down the street, into the human town and its shopping district. They stopped at a red light along with a crowd, and when they started walking again, the crystal began to stir, as well as starting to glow a bright yellow. "Hunter, we are close."

The two stopped in front of what appeared to be a pastry shop, and Adonis peered in through the large window, looking past the delicious sweets being offered to passersby. He saw a great many people in there, no doubt shopping for the sale they were taking advantage of.

Going on inside, Adonis was immediately the attention of the clerk behind the counter, whose attention was at first on the bell over the doo before seeing the handsome man walking into her store. "Um, how may I help you, sir?"

Seeing that her nametag was Jennifer, Adonis addressed with savvy and charm, "Excuse me miss Jennifer, but I am looking for someone." Without notice from anyone else in the room, magical incense went from the grinning Adonis to the enamored female that was now under his thumb. It put her even further under his spell, but she acted as if she had a free will of her own.

"Sir...I believe who you are searching for...is down there," the blonde pointed down the aisle behind Adonis, and there was only one person there.

Holding a folded red velvet cloak in her arms was a young woman who had long dark blue hair that went down to her waist. The color reminded Adonis of blueberries that he'd eat. Not only that but from the ankle length dress she wore that showed off her curvy figure. Well endowed too with ample breasts Adonis also noted. This beautiful woman was just standing into he aisle, looking at the small cheesecakes of various flavors.

Adonis didn't bother to thank Jennifer as he released her from the spell, and he slowly began to walk towards the blue haired damsel that had entranced him. He raised his hand to get her attention, but another man came into the aisle on the other side of the woman and she happily greeted him. Adonis backed off, pretending to look around as he listened to their conversation while waiting for his opportunity.

"Michael, these look so delicious it's rather hard to choose which one I should take," the woman said to the man named Michael.

This 'Michael' reminded Adonis of Hunter as he was tall, easily towering over the woman beside him, and he was masculine. Little doubt in the Prince's mind that he was probably a henchman that protected the woman.

"Well, Claire, we have some time to spare. Take it slow and make the best that you can. Just promise me that you won't get more than one. I hear this stuff can easily make your stomach upset," Michael said.

Adonis smirked upon hearing the woman's name. 'Claire...the name of lightning, how perfect,' he thought. He didn't do anything to draw attention to himself. He wanted to get Claire alone before he made his move. He just had to wait until this interloper left and then he'd be good to go.

"Darling, I appreciate the advice, I'm not too sure eating all this was good for me to begin with, but..." Adonis couldn't see what she was doing other than moving in closer to Michael. They got too close, and Adonis wasn't liking it. Michael was getting too close to the woman that Adonis desired.

The Prince continued to watch the two as they parted, feeling a bit of disgust fill up his throat. Claire eventually chose the cheesecake she wanted, which happened to be strawberry, her favorite.

Michael held onto Claire's free hand and went about their shopping, eventually ending up on the other side of a buffet table, and Adonis got to see Claire from the front this time. She was drop dead beautiful, and whatever disdain he felt for Michael disappeared for the time being as he examined Claire.

His earlier examination of Claire paled in comparison. Lovely face, she was no doubt no older than twenty, and the bodice of her dress was tight enough to show off the curves of her chest. Adonis would never admit it, but he would have stared at her all day had she not looked up every once in a while, and he more than once was able to dodge her eyes. He didn't want her to see him until he was ready for her.

But Adonis was finding it really hard to do so, as long as that blasted Michael was with her.

Speaking of which... The man Adonis hated kept as close to Claire as possible, never leaving her side and always remaining in sight.

Eventually Claire seemed happy with what she had wanted. Contrary to Michael's advice from earlier, the woman did buy two small cakes, one of which she claimed was 'for the road'. Michael seemed to not like the idea, but a shrug of his broad shoulders signaled he gave up on it as he and Claire went to the register. Adonis walked out of the store, quite upset that he had not gotten what HE had wanted.

 

Michael held the door open for his wife as they left the store. Claire had made sure the cakes she had bought were secure as she thanked her husband for the kind gesture. "Sorry that took so long, I always have trouble deciding these sorts of things."

Michael walked alongside Claire, the arm no carrying the bag hooked in his left arm, "I blame your sweet tooth for all that."

Claire shook her head slowly, "I am telling the truth, I never know how sure I am of a lot of things I want to buy."

Stopping to sit on a bench near the street corner, Michael sat down to rest his legs, "I was giving you crap Claire, no big deal. Besides, if you don't end up liking it then we won't get the same hang next time."

"If that be the case, I want to see if it is as good as it appears," Claire said, sitting down next to her husband. Pulling out a plastic case with one of the cakes in it, she gave it a quick whiff, and she liked it so far. "Good thing I grabbed some more of these utensils for this." Claire pulled out a white plastic fork and took a small piece of the cake with it.

Michael caught a whiff of the cake as well, and while he wasn't a fan of cakes and junk food, he had to agree that it smelled good to him at least.

Taking the small bit into her mouth, Claire's eyes went wide, and Michael came to the conclusion that she liked the taste. "Was it good?"

Claire swallowed, and she nodded, "It did, thank you." She took another piece out of the case, and offered it to Michael, "Care to try it?"

Michael politely tried to refuse, "No thanks Claire, not a fan of cakes."

The little witch wouldn't hear of it, "Oh you and your always healthy diet can handle a bite. Open up."

"Claire no-" Michael started but Claire quickly stuck the fork in between his lips and right into his mouth, force feeding him the sweet and in one swift motion pulled it back out.

Michael clamped his mouth shut but made no sound, and Claire appeared quite proud of what she did as she watched her husband's reaction. It was actually humorous seeing something as sweet as a cheese cake make the former Delta soldier shake after touching his tongue. Michael swallowed it quickly enough, but he couldn't deny the taste, and it was delicious.

Claire smiled, "See? Not bad is it?"

Michael didn't say a word, instead taking the fork and using it to smear a bit of the frosting from he cake on the tip of Claire's nose. Claire's smile instantly vanished and her eyes narrowed, "Not funny..."

This time Michael smiled.

Then there was a flash, and Claire covered her eyes as the flash from the camera went into her eyes. Michael had not noticed the teenager with a large photo camera around his neck take the snapshot. "Sorry about that, I should have said something first."

Claire rubbed her eyes, then her nose to get the frosting off, "Oh, that's alright, but why take a picture of us?"

"School newspaper on the 'emotions of Spring' or something like that. Take pictures of things that are joyous. You two were rather, how best to put it, irresistible," the boy said, and Claire had a small giggle fit as Michael put a hand to his face.

"Alright, guess I'll agree to that," Michael said, letting go of the fact that he had an intimate moment with Claire in public caught on camera.

"Oh darling, you look cute when flustered," Claire said, not being able to resist teasing her husband.

Michael gave a sigh, but let his wife beat him at a game he knew he couldn't win.

As the two shared their moment, Adonis and Hunter watched from afar, at the entrance of an alley not too far from the corner. "Hunter...I am displeased."

"Why is that milord?"

"It appears that the woman that which the crystal has chosen to be mine belongs to another man. No less, I'm not going to let that be a burden to me. This Claire will be mine." He was sure of it, so sure that he was going to make his move, and he was not going to let her get away from him.

2: Chapter 2: Claire

Michael and Claire entered the bookstore called Barns & Noble, and for Claire it was the largest bookstore she had ever visited. She couldn't contain her excitement, her smile shining brightly. So much so that Michael noticed her.

Speaking in a low voice, the man spoke into his wife's ear, "They have anything you could ever look for."

Claire removed the red velvet hood of her cloak; long locks of her hair fell out and reached to well beyond her collarbone, "I do hope so."

Michael sighed as he pulled away, "Well, I'm going to go and look around. Don't go too far, okay?"

The woman twisted a thick strand of her dark blue hair in her fingers, she assured her loving husband, "Do not worry, I won't stray."

Personally loving her old English accent, Michael nodded once as he took her hand and kissed it. Claire gave him a smile just before he walked on into the forest of shelves.

Claire went off on her way on the opposite side that her husband chose, which was where the History section was, as well as the Romance fiction stories. She enjoyed looking up history, not because she was interested in the past but more into the history she missed. Claire knew she was out of place in the world, but thanks to circumstances and luck, she felt like she fit in quite well. 'Not too bad for a girl like me, being born in the 1700s and enjoying this advanced century.'

Entering the History section, Claire ran a hand over the covers until she found one that was interesting. The book was titled 'Civil War', which was about the United States during that tumultuous time. Then she felt an aura come up behind her. The aura gave a hot feeling, which was in fierce contrast to the well comforting cool air the store gave off. Being a witch of her caliber, Claire knew something-or someone- was nearby. Someone not quite normal and it wasn't her husband.

The incubus prince Adonis, still seething from not acquiring Claire earlier, watched his prey from the other side of the same bookshelf she was standing in front of. He could see her, and thanks to the way the shelves were stacked she couldn't see him.

'She's alone...Hunter should be able to hold off that brute she was with earlier, so that leaves her to me," Adonis thought, a wicked smile coming across his handsome features as he went around the corner.

Claire was still standing there, her wonderful hazel eyes looking down into the book that had her seemingly undivided attention. Being as diverse in human behavior, Adonis started to pull a book out of the shelf above Claire and let it slip out of his fingers. It fell to the floor with a loud thud, and to add effect he said a small 'oops'. The effect was successful, and Claire's attention was diverted.

"Oh, I'm sorry I startled you," Adonis lied as he picked up the book he had dropped.

Claire, who was now wearing reading glasses, legitimately startled by the sound, smiled nervously, "It's alright."

Adonis went on with his ploy, inching ever closer to the woman, hoping to get close enough to administer a spell. Making direct eye contact with Claire was the first thing he needed to do to complete this task.

He put the book back on the shelf, "You know...you seem familiar..."

Claire's eyes remained in her book, but she spoke, "Hm? I do not recall seeing you before. Perhaps it is a mistake?"

"No, I am pretty sure that I have seen you before," Adonis said, not intending to tell the woman he had followed her from the cake shop to the bookstore. His element of innocence would then be ruined. He had to pretend to be just a pleasant stranger wanting to get to know another.

"Well, I do not, now if you'll excuse me," Claire put her book back on the shelf and turned to leave.

"Sorry, I just want to know-"

The moment Adonis grabbed her hand; he released a pheromone that exploded unseen from his body. The wave washed over the aisle, and Claire was hit with it. She turned to face Adonis, and the pheromone, which she was unable to sense, washed over every inch of her skin and entered her body and mind.

The effect was immediate.

Claire put a hand to her stomach, and she bent slightly forward like she was having trouble breathing. Added to that her skin felt hot and she felt the most sensitive parts of her body feel like they were on fire. She took a few big breaths to try and calm her down as she started to sweat just from the heat under her skin.

Adonis knew his pheromone was working its magic, though he knew Claire was trying to hide her discomfort from him. She saw him as a stranger, not knowing he was a demon. Soon, if she fell to the level he preferred, she would not be able to control her own mind or body and would fall to a rapture point. Once there, she would belong to Adonis without question, and be his slave.

Yet, even as his spell came over the woman, something was not right.

While Claire was obviously feeling strange to the sudden attack from the spell he was attempting to use on her, she was not falling to the point of capture.

In fact, Adonis could swear that the woman was fiercely resisting his spell, which was unheard of.

Claire heaved and spoke some seemingly random words in her breath, and she tried to pull away from Adonis' grip.

Incredulous, Adonis tightened his grip and felt frustrated. He used his spell again, and Claire fell to her knees, her hand still to her stomach.

Trying her hardest to keep from screaming, instead Claire spoke more random words under her breath and still tried to struggle from this stranger who had her in his grasp.

"Let me...go," she said, struggling to do so.

She was refusing him, and Adonis was once again confounded. Where was she getting this ability to resist? Why wasn't she like the other weak willed women he had ensnared many times in the centuries?

"I said...let me go!"

The sudden outburst caused the spell Adonis had set on her to burst outward, and Adonis lost his grip and fell back a few steps. He fell back against a shelf, and a few books fell from the impact. Adonis fell to a knee but got back up to see Claire get to her feet as well. "Why...you wench."

Claire was rubbing her wrist, which was slightly bruised from his grip, and was obviously not happy with this man. She had the look of a tiger ready to strike.

Adonis took one step forward, but was taken by surprise by the large fist striking his left cheekbone. The force of the blow sent the prince staggering into another shelf and he fell down to both knees with a yelp of surprise and pain.

Claire was surprised at first, until she saw who it was. Not surprisingly, it was her husband. And he from the look on his face, far from the lovingly peaceful man she was married to, he was livid.

Or more correctly, in Michael's own words, he was beyond pissed off.

3: Chapter 3: Michael

Adonis was more than taken by surprise when the man Claire was with struck him in the face. It wasn't something that happened all that often. In fact, it must have been the first time in over five centuries that he had been dealt a physical blow from a mortal.

The standing feet from the fallen prince had both fists clenched tightly, anger burning in his veins, and Adonis knew that his plan had failed.

"Michael!"

Adonis watched as Claire, the woman he desired, ran to the man's side. She put both of her hands up to the man's broad chest, pressing against it trying to hold him back.

A look of anger went to Claire's eyes, but Michael soon enough calmed down, but that same glare went to Adonis. Another rarity, Adonis felt a feeling short of fear go through his being. Something about Michael's presence was strong enough to put such a feeling in Prince Adonis that he shook with that first look.

Hearing words of concerned onlookers who came to investigate the commotion, Adonis saw his opening, and snuck off to the side when a woman blocked Michael's view of him. He went to the nearest exit and scrambled out the door, wondering more of what had happened.

"What happened?"

Claire was trying to hide her feelings of what had just swept over her when that man had grabbed her wrist. She would not mention that detail for obvious reasons, so she had to come up with something to cover suspicion. "I was reading a book and a man was passing by me. He got a bit too close and I took offence to what felt like groping."

The older woman looked at her with a questionable glance, "That must have been one heck of a close call for a scream like that."

The younger woman opened her mouth to speak when her husband stepped forward, "Why don't we just ask the guy who so-called groped my wife and see what he says?"

The older woman nodded in agreement, but when she turned she saw that the man in question was gone.

 

Claire remained quiet the entire way home, her arms held to her sides, and Michael tried to ask her what was going on to no avail. His wife was obviously distraught over what had happened, and Michael was sure that that man in the bookstore had something to do with it. Too bad he never got his scent, and then the former soldier wouldn't have a hard time finding him and beating the truth out of his worthless body. But he wasn't sure what was going on, and he wouldn't want to beat someone up for an assumption, and it might have been what Claire had called 'an accident'. Besides, the prospect of beating someone up for feeling up his wife would have made things worse, not to mention only make himself feel better.

Still, Claire kept to herself as they drove to the woods west of Salem, where their house was kept on a lonely road. The car stopped and Claire got out with Michael close behind. He stopped to take his jacket off, but Claire seemed like a woman on a mission, not stopping for anything and heading past the living room. Once inside, Michael gently grabbed Claire's arm. It pulled her back and she turned when she was pulled.

"Michael-"

Her husband raised her arm, specifically her left wrist which had slight bruising on her skin up to his lips. "This looks painful."

Such an act of compassion was appreciated from Michael, Claire knew he was concerned. She couldn't keep anything from him. "Yes, it hurt a little, but I am fine now."

Michael didn't seem convinced; the slight narrowing of his eyes confirmed this. "Claire, what happened?"

The young witch pulled her arm back, "I'm not sure, but what I do know is that it was some form of magic." 'A magic I do not recall encountering before...'

Nodding once, Michael followed Claire to the kitchen, talking as he watched her wash her hands in the sink. "Still, that guy didn't look more out of the ordinary than we did then."

Claire turned off the faucet, "I know, but I'm at a loss for what happened. I think a good amount of research is needed to solve the mystery."

She walked slowly past her husband, pondering what could explain what she had felt.

"Well, you should probably rest before you get too involved. A nap couldn't hurt, Claire."

She stopped and turned back to her husband, nodding once with a quick smile before continuing on her way.

There was minimal sound coming from Adonis' chamber, the only audible noises coming from the four women swooning around the lone seat in the darkened chamber. Adonis sat in the throne like chair, his arms on the rests. With a woman on each arm, and a third on the floor near his knees. The fourth woman was dancing for her master in an exotic way.

Whether or not Adonis was adoring or even paying attention to his slave's movements was not made apparent.

His eyes, golden yellow and irises like a cat; Adonis was not paying attention to anything except the images in his mind. The four women that were around him were exceptionally beautiful. All color of their hairs were different. One blonde, another brunette, the third a raven haired, and finally the red head. The hair was one thing; their bodies were a similar range. From luscious and ample to slim and smooth. Surely they would grant his attention totally.

Yet, it wasn't a red head he had his mind on. Adonis's mind was on a darker shade of blue.

Long and dark blue, attached to a head of the most captivating woman on earth, and her name danced off his tongue under his breath.

Adonis' appearance slowly changed, from the unnaturally beautiful man from hours before. Two curled horns menacingly formed from his temples, and body markings resembling tattoos covered his entire upper body in an ancient language.

"Hunter, I am troubled."

The large golden armored bodyguard kneeled before his master, "Milord...what troubles you?"

Waving off the two women at his sides, Adonis sat up, just as his finger nails became longer to almost two inches in length, "You know where the word Tantalizing comes from?"

The guard didn't hesitate; he slowly shook his head without looking to his master.

Adonis liked that hesitation, "The story goes that a man named Tantalus got greedy and got all he wanted. Though he was ultimately punished by the gods for his greed, the word came to the encyclopedia because it was given to those who wanted something so badly that they would reach for it but never get it."

The prince walked from his throne, his boots clicking on the concrete, and a forked tipped tail reaching the floor. "You know what the connection is between the story...and myself?"

The guard stood up, holding a great sword in his large hands, "The woman you desire, the one from the book shop. Right sire?"

The air thickened though no one except Hunter knew it was because of his lord, upset by the obvious fact that he was answered correctly.

The incubus looked his servant square in the eyes while his red headed female slave went and ran her hands up and down her lord's right leg, caressing it. "She will be mine, Hunter. That I promise."

4: Chapter 4: Plans

The area was black, purple clouds were encroaching on Claire. She was trying to relax but her legs were moving uncomfortably and her skin was feeling like it was on fire.

Lying on her side, sweat dripping from her forehead, her breathing coming in slow uneven breaths. She shifted in the bed, going to her back. She could feel something approaching her, making the air even hotter and harder to breath. Or maybe I was something else...

'The hell is this... I felt this before...'

She opened her eyes. Dim red-orange light from the setting sun seeping into the room, and Claire gave a sigh. 'A failed attempt at a bad dream...no...It succeeded.'

Claire sat up, putting her hair back behind her head; she quickly wiped the sweat from her hair before going to her legs. She had taken her dress off before her nap for comfort. Instead of a very cumbersome dress she wore a deep red corset that look just tight enough to be comfortable as well as tight black night shorts. Grabbing a light pink semi-transparent sweeper with long sleeves, Claire did some minor touches to her face before heading off to her favorite room in the house.

Her walk was like that of a woman with something terrible on her mind.

Reaching the door just around the corner from the bedroom in the hall. It was a door with a handle that didn't have a keyhole. Claire knocked on the door, and once a click was heard she turned the door handle and walked on in.

Claire went right to work. Reading glasses were on first, and then books started floating from the shelves when she called the name, and finally the fire under her cauldron burst into flames and the pot started to smoke.

Three books were floating at eye level in front of Claire. "Magical Creatures of Wiccan Society", "Those That Cannot Be Seen: Demon Edition", and "Malice: Demons of the Darkest Nature" were the books, all lined up in a row in that order. "Magical Creatures of the Wiccan Society...turn to the page that describes a monster using black miasma," Claire said to the floating book. It opened quickly, pages flipping at a high speed, but it didn't stop until it reached the end of the book.

The failure was hard to swallow for Claire, but she just shook her head and waved the book away. "That was a bit off...never mind." Clearing her throat Claire decided to try the next book.

"Those That Cannot Be Seen...please find me an entry on monsters using mind altering magic."

The middle book did the same thing that the other book did before. It flipped through the pages, not stopping until it got to the end.

Now Claire was getting frustrated.

Waving the other book off, the young witch ran the details through her mind again. 'There was a feeling of helplessness, heaviness in the shoulders and weakness in the knees...heart beat quickens...heat travelling to core areas that caused overly sensitive reactions that correspond with...oh dear.' Claire made a realization that she had not noticed before.

Looking at her book shelf, Claire put her hands on her hips, "I summon thee: "Nightmare Kingdom."

A black leather covered book came from the shelf and right in front of the witch. The title was emblazed with gold letters on the front cover. It certainly looked like a book that was never really used. For good reason. Claire never liked what was in it.

"Nightmare Kingdom...find me the entry on the creature known as-"

Claire stopped a feeling of disgust in her voice as she finished, "the Incubus."

The book opened like the others, but the pages stopped right with a picture of a bat winged humanoid creature, the title 'INCUBUS' on the opposite page. Adjusting her eye-glasses, Claire began to read the words on the page:

"'From the beginning of life, the creatures that played with the erotic side of the human mind and hidden desire were the incubus and its female counterpart the succubus. These creatures live for hundreds of years feasting on the sexual energy of humans. They can use magic to hide their true appearance behind that of a unnaturally beautiful human, using their bodies to attract their target...they can also use magic to create illusions that can weaken the subject...magic that also use a certain miasma that can cause sexual stimulations in the target. Once the target is mentally and/or physically weakened the incubus or succubus will seduce its target...'"

Claire put a hand to her forehead, 'That bastard...'

Hands shaking with nervousness or trembling with anger, Claire requested the book turn the pages when she went through them, reading upon every detail she could absorb with her eyes, only stopping to push her glasses up her nose. By the time she was done she was visibly shaken by what she had read. "Absorbing life from humans via sexual intercourse..."

The book closed and sunk to Claire's waiting arms, she wasn't entirely done with it yet.

She had some more notes to jot down before she could be done.

While the wife of the household was in her den, the husband was resting from some daily work outs. Michael had done his weight lifting and was going to see if Claire was awake after her nap. Last he had checked she had been sleeping in their bed a few hours before.

The evidence of his work out was easily seen with the thin coat of perspiration on his bare upper body, it being as warm as it was outside and the garage didn't have an air conditioner made it easy to predict about the sweat.

Walking his way to the bedroom, Michael was stopped a few feet from his destination by the sound of the door to Claire's room opening. As soon as his wife stepped out of that room Michael smiled, knowing he didn't have to worry about waking her up. She was already up and running, and from the looks of it she had been rather busy.

Claire was holding a thick black book in her arms as she stepped out, closing the door behind her and locking it before it dissolved into the wall. She didn't notice her husband until she literally walked into him. The sudden collision knocked her glasses off her nose, but Michael caught them before they fell to the floor.

"Thank you," said Claire, putting her glasses back on.

"Sure. So, what have you been up to?"

Claire showed him the title of the book she was holding, "Research."

The witch gave a light sigh before tucking the book under her arm, "And what about you?"

Michael shrugged his shoulders, "I'm sure you can figure it out."

"Hm?" Claire lowered her glasses to see what he meant, and it didn't take her long to know. She saw her husband to be shirtless, and his well toned physique slick with perspiration made her cheeks turn a light shade of red. "Oh..."

Michael smirked. After three years of marriage to Claire, it was still a wonder that he could make her blush like a teenager. Then again, as young as she was maybe it took a great deal of time to get used to. "Well, I was going to wash up and have a small dinner. What were you going to do?"

Shaking her head and trying to concentrate, Claire cleared her throat, "I was going to do the same."

"Best better eat first then," Michael said, walking past Claire towards the bedroom.

Slightly confused, Claire followed her husband, "Why do you say that?" She placed the book on her vanity near the bathroom door.

No less than a second after she finished her sentence did she feel her husband's strong arms wrap around her shoulders, "Let's just say that if all goes as planned, we might have a shorter night than normal."

Slightly intrigued, Claire asked, "Oh, and what can I expect if this plan of yours succeeds?"

Michael whispered in his wife's ear, teasing, "Hopefully, you'll be wearing less than what you are now."

Claire's jaw fell at his idea, but it fell further when Michael gave her a love tap on her backside, causing her to go forward half a step. She quickly turned around and smacked his arm in retaliation, "Don't do that! You know how much I hate it when you do that."

Michael gave a light chuckle as he moved past her, "Yeah, you made it clear the first time." He went and pulled a t-shirt out of a drawer and set it on the bed. He gave a light smile, "Still, to hear you squeal every time makes it worth it."

Her only response was to throw the heavy book in her hands at her husband.

It missed him and landed on the floor, and Michael shook his head, "You missed."

Claire lunged for him, but Michael easily grabbed and tossed her onto the bed next to him with relative ease. He pinned her down, yet she tried to get free.

"Just wait until I get up again, I'll teach you a lesson," Claire said as she struggled. Her husband held her hands lightly at her sides, he didn't want to hurt her, and with his strength he could easily break her arms.

Michael spoke in a low voice, "Why would I want you to get up?" He lowered himself while pressing his right leg up and between Claire's legs and spoke into her ear, "You're not going anywhere now."

Claire put her hands on her stomach since Michael had her held by her upper arms; she knew she wasn't going to be able to move otherwise. Still, she decided to resist verbally, "I will not comply with that."

Pulling back, Michael let go of his wife and kissed her cheek, "That's one thing I love about you. You're defiant."

Claire rubbed her cheek against Michael's, "I'm not fond of the stereotype of damsel in distress. Not that I don't mind being rescued by you when I need it."

"I'm glad you're not like that," Michael said.

"Parents were fighters, guess I just inherited it from them," said Claire as she sat up on her elbows.

Michael took a quick breath, "Guess we should go and make dinner then, huh."

As he tried to stand up, Claire grabbed his hand with one of her own. The other hand went up the front of her corset, using her thumb to mess with the zipper, "We could, but I'm not too hungry at the moment."

Watching Claire lower the zipper very slowly, revealing more and more of her soft skin, put Michael right at attention. Soon enough, the piece of fabric was gone, and Claire's ample breasts were exposed to the cool air and she shivered.

 

The only sound that was made in the woods outside the Howlett house were the chirping of the crickets. Still, along the tree line looking at the house, the walking mass of muscle known as Hunter was standing there. He had been watching the house for the greater part of the last two hours. Neither the cold nor the wind was bothering him, it never did.

A black mist formed behind him, and when it disappeared, the guardian's master was standing there. He was in his more human appearance, wearing a light white jacket and black pants, his dark brown hair draping his shoulders. He was looking his best, and for good reason. He was finally going to get what he was lusting after.

"Hunter, what has happened? Anything worth noting about our new friends?"

The big man turned his head, but left the rest of his body still, "The man of the house is Michael Howlett. The woman's name is Claire Reddington. Their relationship is unknown, but they do indeed live together. It is also known that the 200 acres surrounding the home belong to Michael, and he patrols the entire line and has it under surveillance. I took out a few of the contraptions so we didn't let them know I was here."

"Very well done. We can use his surveillance to lure him out while I deal with the more important matter of retrieving my future bride," Adonis said confidently, his facade appearance changing back to his natural incubus form. "It has been awhile since I've had a new woman. It should liven up the palace, right Hunter?"

Hunter only nodded.

Adonis put his hands on his hips, looking at the house. There wasn't a single light on inside, but it seemed too early for anyone to turn in for the night. Adonis' mind had somewhat juvenile thoughts going through it, and while the exchange had yet to happen, he was already making plans for Claire. 'Well, she'll soon be my woman, so I'll refer to her as such from now on.' So, Adonis decided to be a bit more cautious, "Hunter. This Michael has been a thorn in my side since I first saw him lay his hands on my Claire. And since he will no longer have her under his devilish charms after tonight, I think it's your task to...rid her of him. Don't you say?"

Hunter's eyes lit up. He knew what his master was insinuating, and he liked the idea, "I shall deal with him, Master."

The prince unfurled his large black wings from his back, and his eyes glowed their vile green color as he smiled wickedly, "And while you do that, I will get my woman, and live happily ever after."