Taken (Enchanted Gods Book 3)

by K. K. Allen

  Finally, Johnny uses his strength to push Alec from him and send him flying—literally flying—into a standing position a few feet from him.

  “Enough!” Arabella and I say at the same time. I’m glad she’s finally taking this seriously.

  The guys aren’t done, though. They’re about to use their magic again, both palms up and aimed at each other. Arabella and I exchange one look. It’s clear what we’re doing next.

  “Help us!” Arabella shouts to the twins.

  Simultaneously, the four of us throw our power between Alec and Johnny, intending to shield them from each other, but they throw their power at the same time. Suddenly, everything collides. The explosion of flames, energy, and light combusts into a colorful fireworks show. The sound is deafening, especially to our sensitive ears.

  We all pull away at once, and as the lightning show continues to grow, Johnny and Alec crawl backward to avoid the inevitable aftermath. Our energy is taking on a life of its own. The light transforms into various shapes, as if it doesn’t know what to do with so much energy.

  The clashing energy becomes so excruciating, we have to throw our hands over our ears to muffle the noise. Something is going to combust any second. But instead of an explosion, the particles separate into pieces, causing flickers of light to burn as the energy floats away. It’s like the atmosphere is calling to the energy, magnetizing it to its rightful position—everywhere.

  “Just sit still.”

  Johnny is wound up from the fight, so trying to maneuver him into a resting position is close to impossible. We made it to his boat, where he grabbed a stack of towels from his bathroom, then started to apply pressure to himself, fuming angry words under his breath. I can see that the fight was not the least bit therapeutic for Johnny. I finally force him to a sitting position on the couch and sit beside him.

  Blood from his head wound soaks through his shirt at the top of his shoulder. I’m attempting to clean his injured knuckles on both of his hands, but he’s fighting me, telling me he’s got this. His stubbornness only fuels my need to heal him. It’s what I do.

  “It’s magic. It won’t even hurt!”

  Despite his struggling, I manage to grab hold of his right hand. In a slow and deliberate attempt to calm him down, I bring his palm to my face and let slow, cool air pass between my lips. I’m not sure if it’s the tingling sensation on his skin or the sight of my actions that finally stills him, but the energy between us is suddenly sweltering. It takes an insurmountable level of effort to concentrate, so I narrow my eyes, allowing my long lashes to shield the effects his closeness has on me. As I let out another breath of air, he shifts slightly, but I refuse to look up. I purse my lips to keep my face muscles from smiling and continue to work on his palm.

  I transfer air from my lungs to his knuckles then trail featherlight fingers over his wounds, sealing them as I go. I smile as the last residue of a scar disappears completely, leaving perfect hands. My eyes might linger on them a little longer than intended, only because I’m not sure where to focus next.

  Blood trickles down his arm, and I decide his shoulder is my next mission. He’s still pressing a towel to his wound. Meanwhile, more blood trails down around his eyes and onto his nose. I must look concerned, because he attempts to reassure me, telling me he’s fine. He’s not convincing enough. Besides, I like what my magic does to him. This time, I’m in control, and I’m going to take advantage of every second.

  In a swift move, I swing my left leg over him so he’s pinned beneath me. Johnny’s eyes widen then darken not even a second later. I can feel his entire body grow tense at my position, and I have to bite down on my lower lip to hide my smile.

  Forcing myself to focus on the task at hand, I throw the bloody towel into the bowl beside us. His shoulder is still covered by his T-shirt. With both hands on either side of the seam, I rip his sleeve from his shirt and toss it to the side. His sharp intake of breath causes my cheeks to burn, and my pulse begins to sprint through my veins.

  “I really liked that shirt.” His voice is husky, and I know he’s not mad in the least.

  “Yeah, well, you should have thought about that before getting into a gorilla match with Alec.”

  In my peripheral, I can see Johnny’s glare. “He was out of line.”

  I sigh and pin my focus back on his shoulder. “Maybe, but so were you.”

  As I apply pressure, I use my magic to stop the blood flow. Before I actually heal the wound, I want to see it. This is something Charlotte taught me. Even when using magic, wounds can heal incorrectly, causing infections down the line.

  I examine the ugly gash. Besides the few splinters that managed to web themselves into his flesh, it seems fine. I will the splinters out one by one without touching them and toss them into the bowl.

  Once the area is clean, I heal his gash the same way I healed his knuckles, by blowing air onto it. Then with my hands steady on either side of his shoulder, I watch the last trace of the wound close. Not even a blemish.

  As he turns his head to look down at his shoulder, I steal a look at his profile, knowing I’ll be dangerously close to staring into his eyes soon. Maybe I should have left a tiny scar as a reminder to not be so stupid next time. I shudder. Hopefully, there won’t be a next time.

  I’m glaring at him when he looks away from his arm and directly into my eyes. He grins, knowing he has me back under his control.

  “Why are you glaring at me like that?” he teases, obviously enjoying this a little too much.

  A tingling sensation fills every part of me as two of his fingers slowly paint my spine, brushing upward then downward. My breath releases in a jagged rush. He’s trying to distract me. I can’t let him win.

  “Why did you antagonize him? You’ve done enough by showing up here again.”

  Johnny places a hand on my knee and stares deeper into my eyes, searching them. He gives me such an incredible rush. Like I’m a pool of water beneath a waterfall, he falls into me, and I embrace him, no matter the risk. He’s mine.

  His lips are close, but so is the trail of blood that’s reached his mouth. It’s enough to bring my focus back to my mission. I grab a clean towel and wipe the blood away in one clean sweep then stop the pooling from his forehead.

  To get the best angle, I adjust myself so that I’m closer to him and raise my hands to each side of his head wound. Another mistake. His breath against my neck is hot and fragmented.

  Teasing him is addictive, but there’s not enough air in the world to give me the oxygen I need to control my own breathing now. Unable to stand it anymore, I sigh and dare to look down again. Our eyes lock, and this time our intentions clear. Neither of us pulls away. It’s just an agonizing wait as his hands and fingers roll up my thighs then onto my waist without stopping. His fingers travel parallel up my back while his thumbs glide up the front of my ribcage. He’s looking directly at me, gripping my eyes, as if willing them to be his. How can such a big, strong guy be so incredibly gentle?

  “I’m still mad at you.” I’m able to say this and only this because the racing of my pulse has kidnapped my ability to breathe.

  His hand reaches my neck, then guides my head toward his and whispers, “I know.”

  I’m not sure there’s fight left in me to pull away even if I wanted to. I definitely don’t want to.

  His lips press into mine softly, tenderly. I’m kissing him back, instantly becoming the marshmallow to his blaze, melting and sticking to every surface of him. Suddenly, the passion between us is everything I remember from the other night and more. A lot more.

  As one arm encircles my waist tightly. The other softly massages my neck in sweet circles, saying all the things he needs to say with his hands and mouth. He breathes me in while pulling me closer until we’re molded together and deepening our kiss.

  I don’t even notice I’m rocking my hips ever so slightly against him until he starts to harden beneath me. A groan slips from his mouth and into mine, then he pushes into
me, greedily and silently asking for more. What started as a slow and sweet kiss intensifies quickly as my hips find their rhythm, my insides sparking at the friction.

  I’m an addict, begging to feel that same fire he lit me up with that first time, the way I burned for him until I totally combusted. The night in the lifeguard tower doesn’t hold a candle to that day on his yacht. I’ve touched myself to the memory of his lips on my naked body as nothing but sky and ocean surrounded us. I’ve prayed to be that close to him again. And now, here we are, two Enchanted descendants, moving together in a way only two connected souls can.

  His hands slide up my body and lift my shirt over my head, separating our mouths. When his gaze darkens on my chest, I know he’s regarding my hardened nipples through my thin sports bra.

  He doesn’t bother slipping the fabric away before his mouth suctions to my breast and wets my skin through my bra. His free hand grips my ass and rocks me into him faster.

  “Take me to your bedroom.” It’s just a breathless rasp, but a demand nonetheless.

  He peers up at me, the shock and desperation in his eyes only adding to the fire burning in my belly. “Kat, we should—”

  “Now.”

  Without another beat of hesitation, he lifts me from the couch. “My pleasure.”

  I’m too wrapped up in Johnny, physically and mentally, to check out my surroundings. I only know we’re in his bedroom when he deposits me on his bed, never tearing his mouth from mine. I hug his neck to me as he eases himself down, holding his weight so he doesn’t crush me into the mattress. Not that I would care if he did.

  I’ve come to terms with who Johnny is—as descendant of Poseidon, his responsibility is to the sea. But being in his arms, allowing him to completely invade me with his presence, feels so right. Like there is no life after this. I know it’s not true, but at this moment, there is only Johnny.

  We make out for what feels like hours, our hands skating hungrily over what’s left of our clothes, our ferocious lips bruising each other as teeth nip and moans escape. Piece by piece, we strip the fabric from our bodies until all that’s left is Johnny’s black boxer briefs, which he refuses to remove.

  “Not yet,” he says as he sits back on his knees and peers down on me like he’s just found a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I don’t mind being his treasure. “I need to see you first. All of you.”

  There’s no light on in the cabin, but when Johnny’s mouth lands on my neck, my eyes open to find the skylight providing a beam of light from inside the boathouse. His muscles ripple beneath tanned skin, and his piercing blue eyes drink in every inch of me that lies bare for him beneath his gaze. I want him to touch me. I want his mouth on every morsel of my skin. Most of all, I want him to see him all of him too.

  He sighs heavily, his eyes scrolling over me again. “You’re so beautiful, Kat. I thought about you every damn day. I know you questioned my feelings because of the way I left and that will forever haunt me. You need to know there has never been anyone else for me.”

  I squeeze his hand as my throat tightens with emotion, because I feel the exact same way about him.

  He bows his head. “I don’t deserve you.”

  I reach out to touch him, but my fingers barely graze his chest. “You deserve everything. I understand why you had to go. All I care about is that you’re here with me now.” I let out a breath as tears threaten to surface and breathe, “Kiss me.”

  He gives in to my demand while fitting his hard length between my legs. My chest feels like it will burst with happiness. My body aches for him, to be with him in ways I’ve only imagined.

  I slip a hand beneath the elastic of his briefs to where my palm cups his backside, and I pull him into me, desperate for more of the friction I felt earlier. He takes the hint and rocks his hips into me while I rub against him, anticipating that spark. My fingers slide through his hair, holding him to me as he quickens his movements until I gasp. He’s not even inside me yet, and I’m seconds away from catching fire.

  He sits up, his gaze darkens, and his tongue slides over his bottom lip, wetting it. He runs his hands up my legs until he reaches my knees, then he bends them slightly while spreading me wide. For a second, I think he might lower his wet mouth onto me, but he doesn’t move at all. Instead, blue energy streams from the tips of his fingers and vibrates against my sensitive bundle of nerves like the other night. But I don’t want his immaculate orgasm now. I want him, his touch, his mouth. I want to feel the stretch of his fingers as they reach into me as deep as they can go.

  My eyelids widen, and I peer back at him, but he’s in deep concentration as I’m enfolded in a warm caress. A firm sensation wraps my breasts while my nipples harden with what feels like Johnny’s finger circling them. But he’s not actually touching me.

  His gaze travels down to where I’m spread for him, and that’s where I feel his energy next. If I dared to close my eyes, I would think the sensation I felt below my waist was his tongue—swiping at me and sucking me into his mouth.

  Once I stop focusing on what he’s doing and relax, I start to feel everything. My breasts are currently being kneaded and ravaged by Johnny’s energy, and the sensitive bud between my legs is being worked so fast and hard that I’m nearing my brink. I can hear his rapid breathing as he torments me with his magic, igniting the fire at my core while continuing to tantalize me in all the sensitive places. His chest is heaving, and when I look down, I can see the stretch in his boxer brief’s fabric. If he can use his magic on me, then I can do the same on him.

  I narrow in on the elastic at his waist. Green energy shoot from me and tug them down, all but shredding the fabric to release his length. I don’t expect the size of what I unleash. He’s incredibly thick, long, and pulsing. The tip of him is wet with his excitement.

  “Kat,” he gasps, but he’s so focused on working his magic on me that he doesn’t do a thing to stop my magic from stroking his engorged length toward me as I imagine my hands doing all the heavy lifting.

  It doesn’t take him long to catch up, and before we have a chance to slow down, I give in to the power of our connection and let myself combust completely under his stare. He’s right behind me, slamming his eyelids together when his release hits him.

  Johnny covers my mouth with his, and he rolls me over so that I’m straddling him from on top. As our energies morph together into one, the air crackles with the heat of our connection, and I’m suddenly terrified. If this is what it’s like without even touching, then how will it be when we’re physically connected? Maybe I’m about to find out.

  His length is already hardening again. I reach for him, aching to feel the powerful beast between my fingers. He growls at my touch, then his hand snakes between my legs, his fingers searching greedily until they reach my wet center.

  He pushes two fingers inside me, burying them deep and torturing me with a mixture of magic until I gasp with my next release. I arch my back, my breasts pushing up into the air as the aftermath of another orgasm, this one a million times more intense, shakes through me.

  He leans back on his knees, watching me come down from my high as he looks down at himself. It looks painful, swollen beyond measure. I want nothing more than to release him of all that anguish.

  He must have the same idea, because tortured eyes bore back into mine. I sit up, wrap my hand around him where he needs it the most, and begin to caress him with long and firm strokes.

  His hooded eyes find mine. “I promised myself I would take my time with you, but you’re making it damn near impossible, Kat.”

  I feel the curve of my lips as I quicken my strokes as if to make a point. “I’m not asking you to go slow, Johnny. You’ve made me wait long enough.”

  His mouth finds mine as he pushes me back onto the bed and spreads my knees again. “You’re a goddess, Katrina Summer. An irresistible goddess.” he murmurs against my skin while trailing kisses down my neck and across both breasts. “What am I going to do with you?”
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br />   Before I can respond, an annoying buzz vibrates from Johnny’s pants pocket and we halt midbreath. The look we give each other says it all: this is not happening tonight.

  “I could ignore it,” Johnny says. “I can’t imagine anything is more important than this right now.”

  I cringe, hating that I have to state the obvious. “Probably not, but now I won’t stop wondering if that’s my dad calling you. Can you at least check it?”

  Shimmying away from me, Johnny fumbles for his phone and breathes a sigh of relief. “It’s just Roy.” He taps the screen. “Oh, he left me a text too. He needs me to close tonight.”

  The sheer disappointment on Johnny’s face makes my heart melt. “Well, you did say you wanted to take your time with me, right?”

  His glare is as fierce as it is amusing. I can’t stop my laughter from bubbling up my throat.

  He pushes me back onto the bed while weaving his fingers through mine. “I said I promised myself I would. I didn’t say I wanted to.” His gaze flickers across my face before landing back on my eyes. “Next time, I won’t hold myself to such ridiculous standards.”

  With I smile, I hook my arm around his neck and bring his lips to mine. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  It’s been a full day—a full day of overanalyzing and worrying about what comes next. My conflicted soul tells me I should be focused on my secret mission to locate the mysterious energy source rather than getting wrapped up, literally, with Johnny. He’s a distraction, in all the good and bad ways, but I’m starting to accept that he comes with the territory. If I’m going to manage this life, I’m going to manage it with him and all the uncertainties that come with it.

  I’ve gone over yesterday’s events a thousand times. The treehouse, the fight and the epic lightning show as result of the combination of so much power, then everything after. Johnny and I took things to a whole new level last night, and it felt good. It felt right. Our connection hasn’t been building just since the second I recognized him at the Arctic Ball. It’s been building since the moment I spotted him jogging when I arrived in Apollo Beach. As complicated as things were then, they seem to be even more complicated now.