by Eliza Gayle
So why was it every time he looked at her, he wanted to touch her? He ached to see her naked—rubbing against him, begging for his touch. Feel her lips caressing his skin. All the days he’d been forced to keep his distance and watch Jake take care of her, his hands the one massaging across her flushed skin had driven him mad. She was like a drug that he’d become addicted to, and a dangerous one at that. The last thing he needed was another addiction.
Since her outburst yesterday morning, when she’d searched the house for a way to escape, she’d been remarkably calm. He was certain it was one of those eerie calms before the storm or maybe more like the eye of the hurricane. He needed to talk to Jake. His instincts told him that she was up to something. He’d done some research on her, and what little information he could find indicated a sharp intelligence as well as an above average aptitude with weapons and hand to hand combat. None of which she’d attempted to use against them.
He’d discovered her school records and had been impressed with her achievements at Harvard. She’d gone there right behind him, entering as a freshman the year after he graduated. She bent at the waist, distracting him from his thoughts. What was probably a simple move meant to stretch her legs turned into an erotic fantasy as he imagined sliding into her from behind. Need for her built more every day to the point he was now poised to blow like a keg of dynamite.
Denn turned away from the window. He was never going to get any work done watching her move like that. When she was faced toward the window he admired the smooth skin showing underneath the tank that barely hid small pert breasts, and when she walked away from the window he found himself entranced by the sleek curve of her back that dipped into a tiny waist before flaring out to wide, curved hips.
“Fuck it.” He pushed the French doors open and walked into the sunny courtyard. He wanted to be closer. Needed to be.
Her head swung around at the noise he made entering the space. She stood frozen like a deer in headlights, staring at him with a mixture of anger and lust. She was so damned beautiful. Long black hair framed a heart shaped face with skin so luminous he’d bet she’d glow under the moonlight.
“Denn, you can’t keep me here like this.”
“I can’t let you go.” He stalked closer.
“Why not?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“You’re a risk to my family.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“What do you mean?”
Her shoulders sagged on a deep sigh. “You know exactly what I mean. There is something going on in this house that I don’t understand, and I need to get out before something really bad happens.”
He stopped in front of her. “What do you think is going to happen?” He used a finger to push her hair out of her eyes and behind her ear. Her gaze stayed glued to his own, steady and intense. “You have nothing to be afraid of here. I’ll take care of you.”
Her lips curved down. “I’m not so sure about that.”
“Neither Jake nor I have any intention of harming you.” He let his fingertips graze her skin, the now familiar streak of power whispering between them. She shuddered under the tingling sensation, her mouth opening to form an O. "Feels good, doesn’t it? Every time I have touched you these last weeks has given me a myriad of energy surges and spikes.”
“Well, we are both witches.”
“I’ve touched plenty of witches before.” He continued his trail along her jaw and along the line of her neck.
“I bet you have,” she whispered.
“I’ve never experienced anything even remotely like this. It’s like my power changes when I spend time with you.”
Her mouth opened in a tiny o. “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what? I’m not doing anything, just touching.” Everything about her mesmerized him.
“No, it’s more. It actually feels like much more. This pull…” She shook her head. “It makes no sense.”
Denn had to tell her the truth. Focusing on her lips, he dipped his head—right after he tasted her he would confess. He meant to be gentle with his first kiss, but when his mouth pressed against her lips he lost his mind and forgot all of his good intentions, allowing the desire to take control. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her tight against him. He traced his long along the outline of her mouth in a subtle demand to allow his entrance. Her lips parted slightly and his tongue pushed its way in. He groaned, a harsh rough sound that rumbled between them, giving away the true effect she had on him. He swept through her mouth taking care to explore every inch before tangling his tongue with hers.
Her hands reached for his shoulders, grasping at his shirt as he continued devouring her. She tasted light and dark, an unusual combination of sunshine and moonlight that reached in deep and grabbed him by the balls. She made it impossible for him to think clearly when all he wanted was to climb on top of her and fuck her until she screamed his name.
“I want you. I can’t explain it but I swear if I don’t get inside you soon, I’m going to die.”
Her mouth fell open, giving him all the invitation he needed to resume their kiss. Her breasts were pushed tight against his chest and her tight nipples poked at him through both their shirts. How he longed to remove their clothes right here and now. He could ease her into one of the lounge chairs and have her stripped and naked in no time.
Why the fuck not? They were alone and in private. They both wanted it.
When she gasped into his mouth he gentled his movements, easing her backwards. After a few slow paces he reached down, one arm around her waist and one hand on her ample bottom, and lifted her. He carried her like that until he reached the target and leaned her towards the chair. When her ass and back hit the cushions she wrenched her mouth from his.
“Denn—Denn, what are you—what are we doing?” Her words were urgent and breathless.
“I really don’t want to stop, Raven. You feel so good. Warm and soft. Please don’t make me stop.” His hand roamed her hip, sliding underneath the edge of her tank top to the bare skin underneath. Touching her was electric, magnetic, magickal.
“I thought I was the enemy here.” Denn paused at her words. He hadn’t thought about the fact that only a few short weeks ago she nearly killed his brother. At least, not in the last few hours. It was damned difficult to reconcile that she worked for his uncle as a bounty hunter, and yet she was the prophesied one to balance him. Fuck. This makes no sense. He pulled away from her, looking at her lying there with her kiss-swollen lips and exposed belly, the scent of her arousal filling his head.
This couldn’t be wrong. His magick swelled between them, energizing the air around her. Hell, he was no damned saint. He was addicted to a dark magick that few knew he even used. He’d managed to hide just how much he used for years now, convincing himself that it was okay because he used it to save people. But he had always known there were consequences and he did it anyway.
He always thought it a good thing that he stayed so far away from his brothers so they wouldn’t know. He had worried that Cash would, and then he would have his brothers coming down on him, but Cash hadn’t been at full strength, his mind not on his brothers when he left New Orleans and headed west to seek out Selene.
Denn had gotten lucky that time.
Now, looking at the luscious Raven watching him with caution and lust in her eyes, he sensed that she meant no real harm. He decided there would be no holding back this time. He would take the consequences. Besides, who was he to argue with ancient prophecies?
He jerked his shirt over his head and threw it on the ground before easing himself down next to her on the lounge. “Are you my enemy, Raven? Do you really want to kill me or my brothers?” His hands again touched her bare skin, quickly moving her tank top up her torso to expose her tits. They were small and round, fitting perfectly in his hands when he caressed them. They were topped with large perfect pink nipples, and he gave in to the temptation to squeeze and flick them. “Do you?”
; “No.” She shook her head violently.
“Then relax.” Again he pinched her tips, and this time he was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath and a deep shudder under his hands.
“Mmm, so sensitive. I like that, babe.” He lowered his dark head to take a tight nipple in his mouth, lightly grazing it with his teeth. That elicited a moan from her and he smiled around her flesh. “Do you want me to stop?”
“Don’t you dare,” she managed in a breathy voice through gritted teeth.
He swirled his tongue around and around, switching from one breast to the next, nibbling and sucking until she writhed underneath him. Touching her like this sent heat zipping through his body but wasn’t nearly enough. He stood and shucked his own jeans before pulling her up and off the chair. Exchanging positions with her, he reached for the waistband of her pants and rolled them down her hips. He leaned down to peel further and the scent of her arousal hit him full force. Sweet, sexy and fucking hot. He kissed her torso just above the dark soft curls barely hiding her sex from his eyes as she stepped out of her pants.
“Can’t wait to taste you.”
She jerked, a sexy hiss escaping her.
His cock ached to bursting to thrust in between her legs, and push its way through her tight opening into the warm heat of her sex. With those thoughts running through his head he stood and leaned into the chair lying down on his back.
He grabbed her hand. “Please, Raven, I can’t wait.” She took a couple of cautious steps toward the chair and he wondered what held her back. She’d gotten under his skin with barely a glance and now he wanted to see her control shattered as much as his. He pulled her roughly down on top of him, ravaging her mouth once again while his hands kneaded her ass.
When her wriggling nestled his cock to the wet opening of her sex, he froze. Holy hell she was so fucking wet. He pushed his thigh between her legs and spread them wide, giving him access to slide his hand between their bodies and into the slick swollen folds of her sex.
“Good Goddess, baby,” he muttered as he shifted under her and settled her down on top of him. She was incredibly tight around him as her body adjusted to accommodate him. Looking at her face, he watched her eyes roll back and her breathing quicken.
“You’re going to scream.”
“No I’m not.”
“I think it just became my life’s mission. To make you scream.”
She laughed. A deep genuine sound that vibrated to his core.
“You’re so damn tight, I’m afraid to move.”
Her gaze returned to his and a sly smile passed over her lips. “Then let me.” She rested her hands on his chest and did exactly that. She lifted herself off of his cock until just the tip was still inside, then she roughly pushed herself down, letting him impale her until her ass cheeks were again resting on the tops of his thighs.
Denn’s eyes rolled to the back of his head. “Fuck. Do it again.”
He groaned in the sheer tormented pleasure of her tight flesh moving against him as she repeated the process over and over again. He gritted his teeth, forcing a level of concentration to hold back. His balls tightened against him and the need to empty himself inside her nearly overwhelmed him, but he refused to allow it until she came apart in his arms. He wanted to watch her face and body as she exploded. And he wanted her scream.
He reached for her bouncing breasts to squeeze and roll her nipples between his fingers, and watched the sensual lines of her face and body flush in excitement.
“Oh Denn. I—I’m so…”
“I know, babe. I’m right there with you. Let it go. Scream for me, sweetheart.” Her movements turned frantic as one of his fingers moved to her clit and squeezed the hard bundle of nerves. She cried out in shock.
He growled. “That’s right, Raven. Come.”
Goddess, he was so lost inside her. Deep inside her pussy, his cock jerked. She thrashed and bucked against him until she screamed in release. The tiny muscles of her pussy clamped down on him like a vise and cream covered his fingers, sending his own body over the edge. He emptied himself in her convulsing body, barely noticing his own groans of pleasure almost outdoing her screams of delight. His fingers continued the movement against her sensitive spot as they came together, dragging out the sensations for them both until finally she collapsed against his chest, sweat covered and exhausted.
Neither of them spoke as they each struggled with catching their breath and recovering. Denn had known fucking her would be good but damn, this was off the charts. If she wasn’t already his captive he would drag her inside and lock her up so as not to let her get away. He’d never had sex like that.
Immediately guilt stabbed through him at that thought. Thoughts of Jake and their mind-blowing sex flooded him. This was different. He already loved Jake, and now this woman sprawled across him naked and in the sunshine, was working her way inside him almost against his will. Would he have to choose between them? Or could he possibly convince them both that they belonged with him?
Hell, who was he kidding?
“Raven?”
“Mmhmm?” Her voice sounded sleepy and far off. He hated to break the mood, he liked the idea of keeping her naked next to him a lot.
“Do you have any idea what’s going on between us?”
Her head shot up and she looked at him. “Yeah, great sex. Well, that and the fact that you are holding me here against my will. So I’m still technically your prisoner.” She smirked at the last part.
“I think there’s more to it than just great sex.”
“C'mon, Denn, don’t go taking this so seriously. We had fun, please don’t kill it with emotion.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about, either.”
She looked at him quizzically. “What then?”
“Our magick. Together it’s different.”
“We’re both witches, what did you expect? Power begets power like this. Haven’t you ever had sex with a witch before?”
“So, you’ve had sex with other witches and felt something like this before?” The thought burned inside him.
She turned away, resting her cheek against his chest again. “I’ve had sex before, Denn, I’m no innocent.”
“I didn’t mean that as an insult, Raven. I just wanted to know if you’d experienced a power change like that. I’ve had sex before, too, and never have I felt anything like that.”
“I don’t think you should read anything into this, it’s probably just a fluke.”
He wondered if she realized that her thumb stroked his chest as she spoke or if it was an unconscious gesture. To him that soft caress meant the world. It spoke volumes about what went on inside her pretty head besides killing and running.
“I think there is something you need to know, Raven.” It was time to tell her about the prophecy. If she was who they thought she was, they could trust her.
“Looks like I missed the party?” Jake's voice had them both jumping.
Raven pushed against Denn, looking around frantically for her discarded clothes, but Denn gripped her arms tight and held her in place plastered across his body. She twisted back around to look at him and his eyes bore into her with a dark warning look. He obviously didn’t want her going anywhere yet. But damn, she didn’t want to be in the middle of a potential lover’s quarrel, if that’s what they are.
“No, Jake, the party has barely begun.”
Raven looked up at Jake then and recognized the myriad of emotions in his eyes. Jealousy, pain, and more than a little curiosity if the state of his cock was any indication. Oh no, I definitely can’t be doing this. The alarms going off in her head told her to get up and get out fast, but her body betrayed her once again. She felt a familiar tingling of arousal sneak up on her. Something about these two men had a hold on her and not for the first time she wondered if there was something magickal at play here.
“Uh huh. So, did you tell her yet?”
“Tell me what?” She looked back and forth between the two, suddenly f
eeling a little out of the loop. Obviously they had some information that she needed to know. She struggled in Denn’s arms, trying to work herself free. Just like her, his body was stirring again, and if she didn’t get some distance between them she’d be begging to be fucked again and this time it wouldn’t just be Denn. “Let go of me. Now.” She stared at Denn, willing him to release her. Finally he did and she scrambled from the chair and scooped her clothes from the patio, intent on getting away from these two as fast as she could.
She strode towards Jake, knowing she had to walk past him fully naked to get back to the house. Despite how she looked she held her head high and walked by…almost.
Jake swung out his arm in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. “Don’t go.”
His simple statement gave her pause. While it wasn’t a question neither did it feel like a demand. In fact, it had almost sounded like a plea. She looked at his arm, tan with a light dusting of brown hair, and lean, corded muscles running the entire length. His hand looked like it had seen its fair share of work with rougher skin and a couple of calluses. A shiver worked through her. She well remembered the feel of that same hand stroking her belly and legs as she’d lain in her bed. His touch had managed to turn her inside out until she wanted to scream with want for him. And now here she stood, just having fucked one man and now desiring another. What the hell had gotten into her? She needed out of this house. Something was wrong with her.
