by Elissa Daye
“Will you marry me?”
Brina sucked in her breath and a tear slid down her face. “Yes.”
Killian rose from his chair and knelt before her. He put his hands on her face and whispered, “Just one kiss, Brina.”
When his lips touched hers, Brina felt all her doubts start to fade away. Gentle, sweet, filled with the promise of something that was eternal. When she tried to deepen the kiss, her breasts scarred his flesh and he pulled away.
“Brina,” he cautioned her as he removed one of his socks.
She pouted when he pulled away. “Fine. Is this your house?”
“Yes, one of them.”
One? How many houses did he have? She was suddenly filled with even more questions, but she might lose her mind before she got to them. Removing her panties, she flung them at his feet.
He was clearly having trouble staying focused. He cleared his throat. “Do you mind settling down near my family?”
She smiled at them. “Not as long as the windows have blinds and the doors have locks.”
Killian looked relieved as he removed his other sock, but he didn’t say a word. His eyes traced every inch of her body with almost as much heat as his hands would have.
Brina gulped slightly as the thought of her having her wicked way with him rose to the front of her mind, game be damned. But she also didn’t want to forfeit. She would just have to try that much harder to get him to break the rules. With only two socks left, Brina was fairly certain that the exciting part was just about to get started.
“Does it hurt?” she asked him.
“What?”
“Shifting. It looks rather painful.” She gave him a weak smile.
“Sometimes, but it all comes with the territory. The Knights have been protecting this world for as long as I can remember.”
Brina removed a sock. “Me too. Protecting, that is. That’s why I came here. I was called to help.”
“How long have you been practicing?” He asked her.
“All my life. I’m a hereditary. Our magic has been passed down to the women every generation.”
Killian removed his belt and Brina smirked at him. “What? A belt is technically an article of clothing.”
Brina grumbled. “I should have worn my earrings.”
He chuckled at her. “Not my fault, Bri.”
“Would you be upset if you knew I was rich?”
“How rich?” His eyebrow rose curiously.
“Disgustingly so.” Brina had never really lived her live as the millionaire that she was. It was much easier to live a simpler life. “And you didn’t answer my question.”
“No. That means you’re not after my money,” he teased her.
Brina removed her last sock and stretched out on the couch in all her naked glory. Her hand moved over her stomach, and she waited to see what Killian would do next.
“Dominant or submissive?” he threw out at her.
“I’m not sure. Can we try both sometime?” she asked him.
Killian almost bolted off the chair. He stood up and to remove his jeans but didn’t. “God, I hope so. The idea of you taming the beast....”
Brina shuddered at the thought. Would she be able to wield the control over Killian and his beast? “Has it merits, doesn’t it?”
“Well, Brina, do you have another question?” His eyes gleamed.
“I’m at a loss,” she pouted.
“Then you forfeit this round. Let’s see...what do I want?” He thought for a moment. “Touch yourself.”
“Excuse me?” she squeaked. Touch herself? With him watching? “Where?”
“All over.”
Brina pursed her lips. He wasn’t seriously suggesting she do that. She narrowed her eyes on him.
“Your rules, Brina,” he reminded her.
Damn it. He was right. Those were the rules. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She started to move her hand and he interrupted her.
“Eyes open, Bri.”
Her eyes flew open and she saw the hunger on his face. “I’m not sure I can do this.”
“Remember, unafraid.”
Brina kept her eyes on his face, watching his expression as she moved her hands down to her breasts. She moved them gently around each areola, which already seemed to harden. Squeezing her nipples in her fingers, she sucked in her breath when she saw the madness cross over his face. She released them and let her hands slide down her stomach, and let herself imagine it was his hands touching her. Her belly clenched in reflex. When her hands started to travel lower, Killian growled. “That’s enough.”
“You sure?” she whispered.
“No…yes.” He ran a hand through his hair as he tried to clear his thoughts.
“Your question,” she reminded him.
“Did you like that?” his voice was almost ragged.
Had she? Probably more than she cared to admit. It wasn’t something she would normally do. “Yes....”
Killian sucked in his breath at her answer. He undid his jeans and slid them down slowly. “I’m running out of clothes.”
“Good.” Brina could see his erection bulging tightly against his briefs. She licked her lips as she thought about what she could do with it.
“Stop that.” His voice sounded like he was almost in pain.
“What?” She bit her lip, perplexed by his command.
“Is that your question?” He asked her.
“Yes.”
“You’re playing with fire. This will be over before it’s begun. I’m trying to be a good boy,” he teased her.
“Oh, you’re good. You’re very good.” Brina closed her eyes and remembered the passion that had flowed so easily between the two of them, and she almost sighed aloud.
“Kiss me, Bri.”
She was happy to oblige him. Brina slid to the floor and crawled over to him. Her mouth rose to his and he kissed her gently on the mouth. He was maintaining his control far better than she was. When he broke the kiss, Brina moved away from him and sat on the floor with her legs wide open.
“Bri!” He almost shouted at her.
“What?” she asked innocently.
“Close your legs.” The veins on his neck were nearly exposed. Brina could sense his wolf creeping closer to her, as it fought for control over his passion.
“What’s your favorite position?” he asked her.
“Hmm...I’m not sure. But I’m willing to experiment.” She smiled brightly at him. “I rather enjoyed when you took me from behind.”
Brina had never seen a man take his bottoms off in her lifetime, but as he did his cock sprung into the open air and Brina felt a fierce need circle inside her. She barely heard him call her name.
“Bri...Bri?”
She looked up to his grinning face. He was enjoying the effect he had over her. “Yes?”
“It’s your question,” he reminded her.
“Hmm...how many orgasms can you have each day?”
Her question caught him completely off guard. His teeth clenched and his cock seemed to bounce in reflex. “Depends on the day. Sometimes three, sometimes six. Come here, Bri,” he ordered her.
“What was your wish?” She asked him.
“You’ll see.”
“I don’t know about that; you seem a little enraged,” she teased him.
“Bri....” His voice was almost guttural.
Bri stood up before him. “Yes, Killian?”
He pulled her onto his lap and his mouth was on her. Readjusting her in his lap, he slid her over his length and Brina almost came undone. His hips moved slowly at first, heating his path into her. Brina whimpered when his hands squeezed her ass. He helped guide her up and down, until Brina finally understood she could take whatever she wanted from him.
“That’s it, Bri. Take it,” he whispered against her ear.
She rode his length, taking him slow, then fast, until she felt the tiny explosion erupting inside her. Killian tensed against her and held himself still
while she finished her orgasm. When she opened her eyes, she looked into his. She was desperate for more. “Please, Killian.” He pulled her down hard on his length and she almost screamed. “Yes, please....”
That was all he needed to hear. He rammed into her over and over, taking every inch of her as the beast inside fused with him. Brina sense the need in him, and she met each thrust with her own. Her release was building inside, but it refused to let go until she felt him jerking wildly under her. They came together as one, and Brina collapsed on top of him.
Killian held her tightly against him and stroked her back as he pulsated inside her. “I may have undercalculated that number.”
Brina smiled at him. “We could always test that number out.”
“Later, Bri. I have to get to work.”
She pouted at him. “Just as well. So do I.”
“Don’t go into the forest without someone with you,” he cautioned her.
“Who should I take with me? Karter?” She suggested.
“Like hell. Take Kam if he’s free. Or my father. Yes, take him with you.”
“Don’t trust me?” she sighed.
“Oh, it’s not you I don’t trust.”
“They’re harmless, Killian. I only have eyes for you.” She rubbed her nose against his.
“Ah, Bri. Until tonight?”
“Is that a promise?” She squeezed herself around his erection, which was still hard enough to imagine doing so much more to.
“Guarantee.”
Brina pulled herself off him and reached down to retrieve her clothes. When she looked back at him, he had a serious look on his face. “Something wrong?”
He smiled slowly. “Just imagining what you’ll look like when you’re thick with child.”
Brina blushed. For all she knew that thought had already taken root. She smiled. “Someday.”
She quickly left the room before she got in trouble for distracting him further. When she made it up to the master, she heard the door open downstairs. It closed again, and she realized he had already left. Brina lay down on his side of the bed and breathed in his scent. She wished she could bottle the scent and carry it with her always.
Chapter 17
As Brina lay on the bed, she wondered what could be so important that Killian had to rush off for it. He had said he was a carpenter. Did that mean he had a job to do? The man would probably always be a mystery to her.
Brina sighed. Well, she could sit here and wait to see what would happen next, or she could go out and start to live her life a little. He had asked her not to go into the woods without him, to bring someone else with her. The only problem with that was she wasn’t entirely sure how to get back to the main house from here. Was there a path?
After checking herself over in the mirror, Brina walked downstairs. She was actually surprised to find Kam sitting on the couch waiting for her. “Kam.”
“Hello, Brina. Killian thought I could be of service.”
“Of course he did.” Apparently, the man thought of everything.
“How can I help?” Kam asked her.
“Well, first, I’d like to know how I find my way back to the inn.”
“Sure thing.” He rose from the couch, and she wondered just how long he had been sitting there.
“You got here awfully quick. How did you know?” Brina asked him.
“I wasn’t far away.” Kam opened the door and waved his arm before him. “After you, my lady.”
She sure hoped he hadn’t been anywhere outside the cabin. Had he heard them? God, she hoped not. Brina shoved that thought to the back of her mind. She couldn’t let the distractions get in the way today. Brina really wanted to get some investigating done.
Kam pointed to the posts that had been driven into the ground. “If you follow those markers, they will lead you back.”
“I see. I’m not sure how I missed those before.” Brina felt like she was losing her touch.
“You were probably just distracted. Happens to the best of us.”
“Well, your brother is certainly a distraction. One I hadn’t counted on.”
“Are you happy, Brina?” Kam asked her quietly.
“Not to worry, Kam. I am happy.”
Kam looked relieved. “Good. I’d hate to have to hurt him.”
“He’s a good man, Kam. Although, I’m only really getting started with him. I imagine we’ll both have our days when we clash. All couples do, right?”
“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t been in a real relationship.” Kam held his hands up in front of him when he saw the assumption in her eyes. “Oh, I’ve plenty of experience with women.”
Brina chuckled. “Oh, the look on your face, Kam.”
“That’s just not funny.” His nose twitched in annoyance.
“I’ve never had a brother before. Am I not allowed to tease you?” She didn’t want to upset him, especially if Killian trusted him the most.
Kam blinked and started laughing. “Oh! You’re too innocent, Yes, anything goes in the Knight household, although I wouldn’t bring up sexual relationships in front of Killian. He’d likely kill us for even talking about it.”
“He does seem the jealous type.” Not that it bothered her. She had never had a man who cared that much about her. Most men were more likely to push her to the side rather than fight for her.
“Might be the alpha in him,” suggested Kam.
Brina decided to switch the topic. “So, the small posts lead back to the house. How might I find Witch’s Hollow?”
Kam’s face now seemed paler. “What do you want with Witch’s Hollow?”
“I was sent here to investigate the murders that have been happening the last few years.”
“How do you know about them?” He looked uneasy.
“You do realize I’m a witch, right?” Brina’s eyes narrowed on him.
“Well, yes, but no one on the outside knows what is really happening here. The law enforcement thinks it’s just accidental drownings.” Kam stood there, slightly perplexed.
“Someone from the inside sent for me.” Brina waited for his next question.
“Who?”
“The dead.” Brina sighed and prepared for his reaction to her statement.
“Really? A two-for?”
“Excuse me?” What the hell did he mean by that?
“You know...a witch and a psychic medium. Two for one, like the rest of us.” He grinned at her.
Brina almost sighed in relief. “I guess you could think of it that way.”
“So, the witches are speaking to you from the grave? What did they tell you?”
“They aren’t sure what’s causing it. They believe it’s an outside force. I’d really like to check out Witch’s Hollow to see if I can get any impressions from it. Can you take me there?” Brina sure hoped Kam had more of an adventurous spirit, and that he didn’t always answer to his brother.
“I won’t tell, if you won’t.” Kam winked at her.
“That’s the spirit. Now, how do we find it?” If she was going to live anywhere near here, Brina would need to know where she was at all times. She certainly didn’t expect to spend more time than necessary in the hollow, though.
“The trick is finding the path that leads there.” He nodded for her to follow him. “It’s quite a walk.”
“That’s okay. I’m wearing my walking shoes, and I’m not afraid of a little exercise.” Brina found that she was actually wide awake. Maybe it was all the extra exercise, not that she would tell Kam that. That’s all she needed. The brothers would never let Killian live it down, and in the end, it would only humiliate her.
“This way.” Kam led her through the first line of trees.
At least these trees looked familiar. She had walked through here last night when she had found Killian. In fact, there was the rock she’d sat on right in the middle of the small clearing. She was pretty sure she could find this area. From here, though, she had no idea.
“Do you see that oak wi
th the large bend at the top?”
Brina looked at the tree he was pointing to. It had one large fork that almost seemed to be pointing to the east. “That’s a massive tree.”
“It’s been struck by lightning eight times, and it still stands tall.”
“Wow. That’s almost divine intervention,” Brina remarked.
“It’s intervention for sure. That tree marks the path leading down to Witch’s Hollow. The tree is protected by an ancient magic.”
“I see.” And she did. Brina started to walk toward it, leaving Kam standing there staring at her in shock.
“Where are you going?”
“To Witch’s Hollow.” She rolled her eyes at him, as if he was a marble short. Brina was pretty sure she had already made herself pretty clear.
“Not alone, you’re not.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” She teased him.
Kam looked as if he would rather be anywhere right now but here. “You can’t just march into it. It’s—”
“I’m a witch, Kam. I know how to protect myself...at least when I’m not distracted.” She had a feeling he would bring up the river, so she put that out there. “I promise not to let any voices lead me astray this time. Besides, I have you. Unless you’re too afraid.”
“I’m not afraid.” Kam’s chest puffed up in defense.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Our kind are not allowed...not inside the ring,” Kam tried to explain.
“Hmm...so you can’t go inside, yet you can’t leave me alone. Sucks to be you.” She fought the urge to roll her eyes at him as she kept moving. Brina wasn’t about to let him talk her out of it.
“Fine. I’ll go with you and keep an eye on you from the tree line.” He cursed softly. “Killian’s going to kill me.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll deal with him.” She smiled at Kam, who had the decency to blush at her words. “Let’s go. Daylight’s wasting away here.”
Brina walked beside Kam in silence. She was pretty sure Kam was trying to find fifty different ways to talk her out of going into the hollow. None of them would work—maybe he knew that too. As the trees twisted around her, she saw that the bark seemed to be darker the closer they got to the clearing ahead. When Kam stopped next to her, Brina turned to smile at him. “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”
