She rose from her knees. Her hardened nipples rubbing against his flesh as she stood before him. Her gaze daring him to stop her.
“And if I give myself to you willingly? What happens if I get off taking the beast within me? I married a beautiful man and never achieved an orgasm.”
Her honesty and the hostility behind her words touched him. This woman had married Prince Charming and had been disappointed. In her eyes, she had nothing to lose and he didn’t have the freedom of will to cast her aside for her own good. That was the tragedy that would haunt him when this ended badly.
“Do you want to be taken from the rear like a horse takes a mare?”
She didn’t flinch at his harsh delivery.
Elle shook her head. “I want to look into your human eyes when I climax.”
The words she spoke shook him. She’d always stared directly into his eyes, seeing something others didn’t. Whether she broke the spell was no longer relevant. He’d find some peace in this woman’s embrace, no matter its short duration.
He lifted her into his arms and kissed her. She tasted of sweet oats, mint, and something uniquely her. With the desire to take more of her ambrosia into his mouth, he deepened the kiss.
Her long legs wrapped around his waist. How many times had he imagined her limbs coiled around him? The erotic dreams he’d experienced since her slap were about to become a reality.
Billings backed her into a wall. His urgency too great to make it to the bedroom. He didn’t want to embarrass himself by coming before he entered her. She needed to find her own release before he climaxed.
He pushed into her an inch at a time, allowing her to become accustomed to his size. With each additional inch, he examined her face. She wasn’t a virgin, but her tight passage indicated it had been a while since she’d had sex. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her.
Magic swirled around her, but he couldn’t stop. He didn’t know if the force turned out to be a product of his own enchantment or Magic’s witches searching for Elle or protecting her.
Nothing and no one would take what belonged to him. He’d kill to keep her. The beast from within knew he held his mate.
Her muscles expanded to take in more of him until he filled her to the hilt. A human woman would never have been able to take his girth and length. She wondered if the witch who had enchanted him knew of the other supernatural beings who wandered the face of the Earth.
Elle held on tightly and he pulled out of her, only to reenter her warmth. His initial slow speed had transitioned into an ever-growing frantic pace. Her uneven breathing created gasps and audible groans she didn’t bother to muffle.
“Keep up with me, Elle.” His guttural delivery was a product of the intensity of their lovemaking.
A morsel of rational thought caused her not to panic. People didn’t combust during sex, regardless of the heat building within her would indicate.
She struggled to breathe, overcome by the pace he’d set. Her mind called upon the strength of her horse to push her forward. Her animal had never been touched during her time with Jeffrey. Now she felt the high she experienced when she galloped.
His lips once again found hers. She had no idea what a troll tasted like, but she could easily become addicted to his flavor. Between each luscious kiss, she gasped for air.
The volcano within her erupted. Magma of pleasure spread throughout her body. Her orgasm’s intensity generated a scream releasing some of the energy created by her climax.
She tightened her grasp on Billings as he pushed toward his own release. There was a beauty to his ugly face when he climaxed. His eyes sparkled as a groan escaped his lungs.
He’d given her something she’d never experienced before and she wanted more. She closed her eyes to dampen her desire, knowing he’d need time to recover.
When her eyes opened, she stared into the face of the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen. For the first time since coming to Magic, Elle screamed in terror.
Chapter 10
Alistair Cooper knew the second the enchantment ended and his human form returned. He would have reveled at the spell’s cession had it not been for Elle’s scream.
“It’s all right,” he said, attempting to calm her. “Your unselfish love broke the spell I’ve been under for over a millennia and a half. Ellie, stop screaming.”
Her fists pounded on his chest. “Let me go!” She struggled in his arms until he withdrew from her and released his hold.
She staggered to the robe and wrapped herself in the cotton material. She headed for the patio door, but he cut her off.
“What’s wrong? It’s me, Billings. Although my true name is Alistair. Now that I’m human, I can claim it once again. Ellie—”
“Stop calling me that,” she shouted. “It makes it sound as if we’re close friends. Not even my husband called me Ellie.”
He didn’t know what to say to the irrational woman in front of him. What happened to the adventurous woman who made love to a troll? She hadn’t been repelled by his former state but appeared bothered by his true self.
Alistair placed his hands on her shoulders and she shirked away from his touch. In surrender, he opened his hands, his palms facing her. Although he wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms, he backed off.
“At least tell me what I did,” he pleaded. “We just shared something wonderful. Please, talk to me.”
Tears flowed from her eyes. It wasn’t a single tear, but a deluge of torment. She wiped the moisture from her cheeks with the back of her hands.
“You used me to break whatever curse possessed you,” she cried.
He couldn’t deny her claim, but it hadn’t been his primary purpose. For whatever reason, he’d fallen in love with her and it had nothing to do with the enchantment. His affection for her remained, even after the magic ceased.
“I believed only an unconditional love could break the spell,” he tried to reason with her. “My feelings had to transcend the curse and yours pure. A perfect moment between us had to be achieved.”
A sputtering sound escaped her. “A moment, followed by betrayal. I want to leave. Please, stand aside.”
Her anger had to come from a source other than him. He must have her former husband to thank for their current difficulty. After being in misery so long, he wasn’t going to give up on her so fast.
“We’re soul mates, Elle,” Alistair informed her. “I would sooner cut off my arm than betray you.”
Her frown indicated she hadn’t been convinced. They’d gone from the height of passion to despair. If he couldn’t convince her with words, he would with actions.
He reached out and she leaned back to avoid his touch. “Answer one question. How did you come to be cursed to begin with?”
“I toyed with the wrong girl,” he replied. The specifics would only paint him into a worse position. “The vain, ignorant man I had once been deserved to be punished. But I’m not the same man. The curse humbled me.”
Her eyes examined his face, searching for the truth. Words were cheap, he knew that. He’d have to prove his trustworthiness.
“How long will it take before your old habits reemerge?” she asked.
“Stay in Magic a little longer and get to know me,” he begged. “I’m not so different from Billings. When you looked into his eyes, they were mine. You can continue to call me Billings if that will make you more comfortable.”
Elle bit her lower lip. At least she hadn’t given him an immediate negative reply.
“Come to dinner tomorrow,” he asked. “I’ll have Prue, Dreyden, Marc, and Annie join us. You won’t have to be alone with me unless you wish to.”
“If you let me go, I’ll consider it.”
Alistair stepped aside and let her pass. As soon as she stepped outside, she dropped the robe and her horse took off running.
He’d call on Annie’s assistance to bring Elle to dinner tomorrow night. His earlier vision played in his head. Elle was the horse. He still didn’t
have a clue related to the energy blast. He knew the two had to be connected.
Prue’s house teemed with people when she returned. She trotted around the house, heading for the backyard where she’d left her clothing. After shifting into her human form, she quickly dressed and entered the house through the kitchen.
Dreyden sat alone at the breakfast table. Was he waiting for her or merely escaping from a living room full of women?
“Are you all right?” he asked. She wondered how much he knew. The alien could have a superhuman sense of smell. Fortunately, shifting had removed Billings’s scent from her body.
“The desert is peaceful at night.” She didn’t lie to him, just bypassed her sojourn to Billings’s home. “Is Prue angry?”
If a houseguest of hers had taken off as she had, Elle would have been furious. She took a deep breath and pushed the swinging door leading to the living room.
Elle felt everyone’s gaze on her as she entered. Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment. It felt as if they knew what had passed between her and Billings.
“Has the enchantment ended?” an older woman with bright magenta hair asked. “We’re dying to know if the curse has been lifted.”
She couldn’t help but be confused. “I thought you wanted to get me out of town to save my life.”
Prue shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “That had been the plan before Topper arrived. Our focus changed. She’s something of an oracle.”
“We’re dying to know,” another witch cried out. “Give her a glass of wine and have her spill the beans.”
Elle sat in a chair and a glass of red wine miraculously showed up in her hand. Handy trick. Too bad there weren’t witches in Eclipse.
She took a sip and closed her eyes. Before she responded to the ladies, she wanted to collect her thoughts. In all likelihood, they’d want details she wouldn’t feel comfortable providing. Particularly any discussion regarding where their relationship stood. One doesn’t cause a spell to be lifted and fade into the sunset.
Seven pairs of eyes were glued to her face. There wasn’t a good reason to hold off the inevitable. In the end, she’d answer all their questions.
“The enchantment is over.” If they expected excitement in her voice, they’d be disappointed. “Billings Montana is no more. His former self has taken his place.”
A man she felt conflicted over. Elle had been both attracted and sickened by him. She fought his allure from the moment her eyes soaked in his splendor.
“What does he look like?” another of the witches asked.
“Beautiful,” she responded without thought. Why deny the truth to the witches or herself?
His short dark hair went perfectly with his sun-kissed skin. How she wanted to run her fingers through the closely cut tresses. His strong chin supported the face of an Adonis. Time had preserved his perfection.
Question after question came from the witches, overwhelming her. Prue remained quiet studying her. Billings’s scent could no longer be detected on her flesh, but she felt as if Prue knew about everything that had occurred between the two of them.
Prue cleared her throat. “Let’s not forget what led to his enchantment in the first place. Not to mention what he’d done to women since being cursed.”
Topper, the most powerful witch among them, placed her hand on Elle’s forearm. “He can’t be held responsible for what the curse forced him to do.”
Elle didn’t feel conflicted over what he’d done under the enchantment. He’d been a victim from the magic. But she couldn’t ignore the deaths he’d caused. “Knowing what he was capable of doing, he could have lived in a cave away from people or joined a monastery.” The bottom line, he’d had options available to prevent harm to countless, innocent women.
Topper once again came to his defense. “Underneath whatever shell he wore, Billings’s human nature would ultimately draw him to people. Isolation is a difficult burden to bear. He’s only human after all.”
Billings had admitted he’d shied away from people. The witches of Magic drew him out. They must have foreseen the curse’s end and used her, as he had.
Chapter 11
“Does Annie have the ability to glamour us? Because I can’t believe we’re on our way to Billings’s for a dinner party.” Elle pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t in some crazy dream. Prue had started as her protector and now accepted social invitations associated with him.
Prue humphed. “She does. Annie glamoured Sheriff Theo without knowing it. But she didn’t use her powers on us. The little vampire used guilt, plain and simple.”
She reluctantly accepted the invitation, but wore the nicest dress she’d packed. If she hadn’t been afraid of running into Jade Udo, she would have purchased a new dress for the occasion. Unfortunately, Jeffrey’s former mistress owned the nicest clothing store in Magic.
“You’re awful quiet.” She knew Prue addressed her husband. “Any guy would be finding words asking us to give Billings another chance. You all stick together.” From the tone of her voice, Prue looked for a female-vs-male confrontation.
Elle sat back in the rear passenger seat and sighed. She should have shifted and made her way to Billings’s on her own. But then she’d have had to undress and dress again. Not practical for a dinner date. Now, she was stuck in the back of the car with a feuding couple.
Dreyden tightened his hold on the steering wheel. “I captured cosmic prisoners for a living before I ran Magic’s space port. In my experience, criminals don’t change.”
“He’s not a criminal,” Elle quickly responded to Dreyden’s comment. Her automatic defense of Billings surprised her.
Prue turned her head and examined Elle. How she wished she had telepathic powers in order to read the mage’s thoughts. Rather than commenting, Prue returned her gaze to the road ahead of them.
They pulled into Billings’s driveway. She decided to adhere herself to Prue’s side throughout dinner. Marc and Annie would be supporting their neighbor. She wasn’t sure when she began to think of the dinner as a battleground.
Billings opened the door as soon as her feet hit the doormat. Had he been lying in wait?
For the first time, she’d seen Billings’s human form in clothing. Their host wore black slacks and a deep hunter green shirt that brought out small specks of green in his irises she hadn’t noticed before. He took her breath away. His appearance only reinforced her decision to remain glued to Prue’s side. The mage would keep her from doing something stupid.
They were led into the living room where Annie and Marc sat. Incredible aromas came from the kitchen. She hadn’t had an appetite until her nose got a good whiff of what would be served tonight. Her mouth watered in anticipation of the feast to come.
“To respect my friend’s new diet, I’ve prepared vegan stroganoff,” Billings announced.
Elle had always been handy in the kitchen. “Without beef, sour cream or egg noodles? I’m a vegetarian and if it tastes as good as it smells, I’d love the recipe.”
A cocky smile borne of confidence crossed Billings’s face. She couldn’t bring herself to call or think of him as Alistair. “You’ll never know the difference,” he assured her. “Marc can you pour everyone a glass of wine while I finish dinner?”
Curiosity got the best of her and she followed him into the kitchen. As soon as they were out of sight, Billings took her into his arms and kissed her. She hadn’t expected the stealth attack.
Her mind rebelled, but she enjoyed the firmness of his lips. The troll’s were chapped; the man’s were perfect. He tasted of red wine, intoxicating.
When she came to her senses, she pushed at his chest. Billings immediately released her. Any other action would have brought in a cavalry of supernatural beings reacting to her screams.
The kitchen looked like a disaster area. To her surprise, no restaurant to-go boxes littered the area. A cutting board covered with herb stained residues sat on the counter and flour was scattered about.
“You made y
our own pasta?” she asked in amazement.
Rather than responding, he attempted to take her into his arms again.
“Listen, I enjoy cooking and wanted to see what created that amazing aroma,” Elle admitted. “If I’d thought you’d assault me, I would have asked Prue to escort me.”
Alistair groaned at the political correctness of twenty-first-century morals. Men had to ask permission to touch or kiss a woman. In his day, you hauled off the woman you wanted. That barbaric behavior got him into trouble to begin with.
He bowed before her. “My apologies. The enchantment may be over, but my attraction to you remains. That proves I possess genuine feelings toward you.”
Elle looked like a deer caught in the headlights. When her color returned, she walked around him and picked up the wooden spoon next to the pan. “May I?”
“Be my guest,” he replied.
In his solitude, he’d developed into a master chef. Over the years, there were very few people who would share a meal with him. The fact she wanted to taste his food thrilled him.
She cut into a piece of tofu and dragged the spoon to saturate it with the sauce he’d worked on for over an hour. After blowing on the sample to cool it, she opened her mouth and consumed his creation.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “It’s delicious.”
Elle moved to the sink and washed the spoon, returning it to sit beside the pan. There would be no double dipping where she was concerned. He imagined if she’d cooked the meal, the kitchen would be immaculate.
Cooking the elaborate meal allowed him to think about something other than how he’d get her into his bed. She’d be more likely to sleep with the troll than the man he’d returned to being. His handsome exterior seemed to turn her off.
He’d be lying if he told her on the inside Billings Montana still existed. With the curse lifted, aspects of his personality had radically changed. How could it not?
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