“If you like the way I look, why do you keep—?” He shook his head. “Never mind. That’s a start. We can work with that. Tell me more about Flynn.”
Cameron Flynn, a user and abuser of women throughout his human lifetime. He sounded like the evil villain in every exploitation film Ryder had ever seen, a quintessential bastard, and though Ryder knew a lot of bastards in his world, Flynn sounded like he could win the contest hands down. The fact a man like Flynn could regard women so callously and cruelly made Ryder’s blood boil. The longer Arleigh talked, the angrier he got. Finally, he dropped down on the river bank and pulled her down next to him.
“Too much information, honey. I wasn’t crazy about the guy to begin with. Now I find I might need to kill him.”
“You can’t kill him.”
“It wouldn’t be much of a loss. He’s a prick.”
“I don’t know what that is, but I’m sure you’re right.” She paused and looked at him with that serious expression. “But you aren’t going to be able to kill him. He’s an immortal.”
“He’s going to live forever?”
“In his manner of living, aye.”
“Like a vampire?”
“He is a bit like a vampire, I suppose, but vampires are not faeries. Cameron is fey.”
“Vampires are real?”
“Oh, aye, Ryder. How can you be such an innocent?”
“Well, too bad he isn’t a vampire, because I could handle one of those. I’ve seen the movies. But if he’s like a vampire, he has to have an Achilles heel.”
“The Greek warrior?”
“Shakespeare, French, and Greek? Did you have a classical education?”
“At times. I have known many kinds of people.”
“If you know about faeries, you must know something about him that would hurt him, his form of kryptonite. Everyone has something.”
“Cripto…what?”
“His weakness. Something that makes him powerless.”
“I will think on it,” Arleigh said. “What is your cripto…your weakness?”
He ran his finger across the top of her hand. She stared at him with those clear green eyes. He brushed at a piece of hair that blew into her face.
“You,” he said.
“I don’t want you to say that. ’Tis not real.”
“Why do you think it isn’t real, Arleigh? You can trust me.”
“’Tis not your sincerity I be doubting, but you have no idea what I am. You don’t know the reason behind what you’re saying or even feeling.”
“I’m a grown man and understand my own feelings. I’ve had trouble committing to women, but I’ve never met a woman like you before.”
“There are no other women like me.”
He laughed. “I’m beginning to believe that.”
He touched her face and ran his finger across her lips. His body ached for her, had been since he saw her ghost materialize in his yard. His fingers loosened the tie that held her cloak, baring that leather corset. He plucked at the laces, staring into her eyes.
“I want to apologize for last night,” he said. “I do want to know about your past, but not for the reasons you think. I want honesty, trust, and openness. I want things right between us. I can’t stay away from you.”
“I’ve noticed, but there may be reasons—”
He leaned down and caught her lips with his. She tensed, her body rigid, holding her breath. She released a shuddering breath, and her body melted beneath him. He raised his head and ran his finger across her mouth and her lips closed on the tip. Her tongue touched his skin.
He laid his hand on the swell of her breast, his fingers lightly grazing her skin. Her eyes widened. He brought his face closer to hers and let his lips trail across her chin. Her hand came up and curled around the back of his neck, pulling his lips down to her throat. Her head fell back.
“Let me love you, Arleigh. It would be good between us.”
“Oh, I want to,” she breathed, “but there are reasons, circumstances, and I just can’t—”
“Tell me why. You respond to me, your body opens, and when I think we’re going to have the most magical moment in both our lives, you shut down.”
“Magical moment. Is that a jest?”
“No jest, baby. What happened to you? Is it Flynn? Or another man? Are you in love with someone else?”
Her head shook violently. “No, there’s no one.”
“You want me. I can feel it. You’ve said it. And I want you, Arleigh. I’ve never wanted another woman the way I want you.”
A moan tore through her with aching intensity. A sign of surrender.
Something about Arleigh touched a part of his heart. He wanted to protect her, share his thoughts with her, comfort her and allow her to take the piece of himself that he never dreamed he would be able to share with anyone. He didn’t understand it, but this woman was the only one he wanted.
Desperate to make her understand how he felt, he grabbed her face in his hands, pushing his fingers through her hair. She blinked, and he thought he saw tears, but her eyes locked on his, wide, innocent, hopeful.
“Arleigh, we need to be together. Can’t you feel it?”
She nodded. Her arms circled his neck, and she shoved her face against his throat. The small, irregular breaths that flowed across his skin made his heart flutter. Filled with a need he could never explain, he cupped her face and forced her to look at him. Her eyes were a dark, dusky green that reminded him of stories he had read in childhood. They were the color of a soft, grassy mound of a faery ring at twilight. A magical time, a time when endless possibilities existed, when dreams could come true. Surrounded by twilight, he breathed it in along with the scent of her skin.
Arleigh watched him through a thick veil of dark lashes. Her eyes filled with promise, and he drank it in, pulling it down into the depths of his heart where he had secretly feared he would never find the magic he had so desperately sought his whole life. Arleigh’s eyes held everything he had ever dreamed of, wished for, wanted, filled with the beauty of her soul. A slight apprehension lurked there, a tiny flicker of ambivalence, but also something very close to lust, to passion, to a fire she couldn’t control. Her body burned with that fire. The heat shimmered around her, enveloping him and fanning something inside his soul.
“Please kiss me,” she whispered. “I need to feel you.”
He lowered his face, and she crushed her lips against his. In that one moment, he thought his heart had stopped. A rush of power, a lightning bolt of passion, spiraled through him, and he thought for a split second he had died, and he didn’t care. His cock hardened inside a dead man’s breeches, pressing against her, painfully swollen and ready. The fleeting thought of Stephen entered his mind, and he wondered how this woman had existed here in this place with another man when she had always belonged to him. How had they been born almost four hundred years apart when they were meant to be together? The thoughts flickered in his mind, but died when her mouth consumed his, and suddenly, all thoughts vanished but her. There had never been anyone but her.
Arleigh’s mouth pushed against his. Her teeth scraped against his, rough, greedy, demanding. Her tongue found all the soft spots in his mouth, sucking the moisture from his mouth and filling it again with a voracious need to taste her more thoroughly. Her lips continued to torture him as they sucked and pulled, devouring him. His heart beat thunderously, pushing the blood through his body with lightning speed, and stealing all the reason from his mind.
He could do nothing but kiss her back. He had never felt this all-consuming hunger that seemed to possess him. He drowned in her essence, and it was the most satisfying experience of his entire life.
She tugged at his clothes. Her fingers grazed his dick through the fabric of his pants. He groaned. He couldn’t stop. He had no control over his body. It belonged to her, responded to her, wanted her. Arleigh’s mouth continued to work its magic, finding places on his neck that sent shivers through him. He wanted to take her on the ri
verbank, fill every part of her, claim her. She belonged to him, and he needed her to know.
His fingers were caught in fabric, and he realized he’d pulled up her skirt, roughly yanking at the cloth, higher and higher, until his hand found bare skin. Her hand fumbled with the tie of his breeches then slid inside, searching eagerly. She grasped his cock, and he shuddered.
Ryder paused, thoughts ricocheting through his mind.
He was on the verge of fucking a woman, a virgin he had known only days, a woman in clear mental distress, a woman who needed his help, not his sexual prowess. The most beautiful, desirable, sensual creature he had ever laid eyes on.
You may be yanked out of paradise tomorrow. You can have her now. She wants it too.
He groaned and pulled back.
You’re a goddamned idiot, Kendall.
He gathered her face in his hands. “Honey, Arleigh, wait.” He raised his head and stared into the darkening sky. “Damn it.”
He reached down and pulled her hands away. Arleigh moaned, and her head tilted back.
“Make it stop. You are the only one who can make it stop.”
“God, Arleigh, please,” he groaned. He leaned down and kissed her neck, pressing his face into her hair. “You’re making this so freaking hard.”
Her mouth searched for his again. This time he kissed her hard and pulled away.
“You said you wouldn’t take what I didn’t offer,” she said. “I’m offering, Ryder. ’Tis what you want.”
“But it’s not what you want.”
“It is. What else do I have to do? I’m offering.”
“Honey, I get that, really I do, but I put some pressure on you, and I didn’t mean to. I can’t do it here.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Both,” he said. He gathered her against him.
Her heartbreaking voice promised tears would fall, proving to him he had made the right decision. “You don’t want me?”
“Oh, Arleigh, you have no idea how much I want you.”
“But you won’t take me?”
She pulled away and bolted to her feet. Lips pursed and fists tight against her sides, she peered into his eyes for explanation. She took a step back and tossed her hair. He waited, watching her fight her disappointment, her embarrassment, and her disbelief. When she spoke, he got the tone he expected. The little princess wanted a reason.
“You’ve been pawing at me since you got here. You acted like this was what you wanted. And then I practically throw myself at you, and you say no? Why? Why won’t you make love to me?”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this.” He raked his hair away from his face. “I want to wait.”
“How long? Why? There’s ne’er going to be a good time. The risk is not going to go away. And the longer I wait, the harder it will be to lose you. I can’t believe I offered myself and you don’t even want me!”
She turned to flee, but he jumped to his feet and tugged her back.
“This is a bad habit with you. Stand there and listen.”
She cocked her head and folded her arms across her chest. “I’m listening. Make it good.”
“I want you, Arleigh. Don’t have any doubts about that. And some day soon I’m going to have you. But it’s not going to be today, and it may not be tomorrow. I want it to be our choice. Together. And when we do finally make love, Arleigh, I know we’re never going to let each other go.”
“We won’t have a choice,” Arleigh said softly.
“No, we won’t. I think you’ve already stolen my heart, Arleigh. Once we’re together, you’ll have my soul.”
“Please don’t say that. I don’t want your soul.”
“That’s why I want to wait.”
“’Tis that easy for you?”
“Oh, believe me, baby, it’s not easy at all. In fact, I think it might actually kill me.”
Arleigh’s eyes widened, and her lip trembled. She burst into hot, wet tears, sobbing so hard her body shook. She buried her face in her hands. Ryder stood for a moment, his hands reaching toward her, pulling back, reaching again. When she threw herself against him, he caught her against his chest and steadied himself before they both slid down the embankment to the river. He pulled her face up, forcing her to look at him.
“What have I done now? You’re angry with me for wanting you and sad when I turn you down. How am I supposed to win this?”
“I think you just did.” The tears ran down her cheeks. Her mouth covered his with a salty kiss.
Chapter 17
Her kiss deepened, and he found himself falling back under her spell, like being caught in a tidal wave that crashed over him, again and again, until he could no longer get his breath. He needed to get her to the house. Though not much safer, at least it would be more private if something happened. He’d never be able to say no again if she kept it up. His body had reached the point of no return. He couldn’t take it twice.
“I don’t want you to come to hate me because I forced you. But there are things that can be pleasurable for both of us. If you come to the house with me, I’ll show you.”
Her swollen lips beckoned him irresistibly. Her eyes shone bright in the growing darkness. He pulled his hands away before he touched her again and they didn’t make it to the house.
“What a spectacle.”
Ryder stiffened, and Arleigh gasped. Ryder turned slowly to see Flynn walking toward them. Ryder thought of Arleigh’s bare leg, her hands roaming over his body, her hands reaching into his breeches, the groans. He thought of Arleigh’s tears. She moved closer, and her fingers caught in his shirt.
“You seemed to be having some kind of spat. Is someone displeased with the lovemaking?”
“Keep it up, Flynn. Hitting you again would give me such a rush.”
Flynn laughed. “Aye, that worked so well for you the first time. Are you inept in lovemaking, as well?”
“I told you to stay away from here.”
“I came about the little girls. Quite a handful, I must say. More trouble than I bargained for.”
“Are they here?” Excited, smiling, Arleigh moved toward Flynn, and Ryder grabbed at her arm, pulling her back.
“No,” Flynn said. “They aren’t here, and they won’t be coming home. They’re all settled in quite nicely. There is a ban-tee taking care of them. You see, Arleigh, I am concerned for their welfare, so I captured a faery nurse for your peace of mind. I would never harm a child. But your new lover certainly complicates things.”
“Sorry for that,” Ryder said. “You can thank me later. Have I spoiled your little takeover? Where I come from, people have way more finesse. We don’t steal kids to show our muscle. We have high-powered attorneys for that.”
Flynn glanced at Arleigh. “Is he daft?”
Ryder ignored him. “Why don’t you send the girls home before there’s trouble?”
“So you plan to make trouble for me,” Flynn said, shaking his head. “Not good, not good at all. I intended to purchase this property and send the girls packing, maybe even back to Ireland. I don’t really care what happens to them. But I never intended to harm them.”
“Keep it that way,” Ryder said. “And this property is not for sale.”
“No, I’m beginning to think it won’t be as easy as I thought. I will have to rethink my entire plan.”
“Why are you here, Cameron?” Arleigh asked, her voice tired and weary. It hurt Ryder to hear it.
Flynn stepped forward, but Ryder’s hand shot toward him. Flynn backed up with a smile, holding up his hands.
“I wouldn’t dream of touching your property, at least not until it all belongs to me. The plantation, the island, the woman. It will all belong to me in time. There’s just a tiny detail that needs taken care of before all that can happen and I’m hoping—”
“I am seriously going to kick your ass,” Ryder said.
“You are a very violent man, Kendall. But tell me, did her kisses make you feel like you were caught in the tides
, like your heart would burst through your chest? Did you want to drown in her eyes, devour her, pour your soul into her when you buried yourself between her thighs?”
Ryder’s stare wavered. Arleigh bowed her head, and she pulled her cloak more tightly around her body.
“Was her skin softer than Chinese silk?” Flynn asked. “Her mouth like honey fresh from the hive? Did you feel as though you hadn’t been alive until that moment you slid into her pussy?”
“You smug, superior son of a bitch,” Ryder said.
Flynn laughed. “So you felt it! Delightful! I hope you enjoyed it, because it may be your last earthly sensation.”
Arleigh’s head snapped up. “We didn’t make love.”
Flynn frowned. “No? Pity. You must be very strong, Kendall, and you must have a certain amount of integrity if you didn’t take her. She is very hard to resist. The heat of her mouth, the moist flesh of her body, the taste of her skin. I know how hard it is to resist, and she probably threw herself at you. She’s that way. She can’t help herself.”
Ryder glared, and Flynn’s eyes grew serious.
“I am right, though, aren’t I? The feelings were there, weren’t they? My friend, you’ve had a only small taste of what Arleigh Donovan can do to you. You may not be alive the next time I see you.”
“Is that a threat?” Ryder asked.
“Oh, no, I don’t threaten. If I wanted you dead, you’d already be dead. That’s the way I work. I have no grievance with you. I suppose that will change in time, because the Caindales and I have never really been friendly. For now, though, I’ll let her take care of you. It will be my gift. To both of you.”
Ryder pulled Arleigh close to him. “Get off of our property.”
Flynn nodded and glanced at Arleigh. “I came by to give you an invitation. Do you still want it?”
She stepped forward eagerly. “Can I see the girls?”
“Aye, they’ve whined for three days straight. Arleigh this and Arleigh that. I get no peace. But don’t try to take them from me. There will be consequences. They need to stay where they are for now.”
“You know this is kidnapping, don’t you?” Ryder asked. “Kidnapping is pretty frowned on where I come from. Jamestown may not be on the New World’s Top Ten List, but I imagine stealing little girls is still a serious no-no.”
Carlton, Amber - Trinity Magic (Siren Publishing Romance) Page 18
