Magical Redemption

by Corinne Davies

  “I can’t answer that until I know how you managed to get in there in the first place. Who are you, Dani? Are you working for anyone?”

  “I’m an astrophysicist and I was working for the Florida Astrological Society.” Another layer of anxiety crept up her senses. She’d tried so hard to put that fact out of her mind. She found out a week ago that the Society’s funding had been cut and so had her project. How am I going to support myself and my mom if I don’t have a job? Before the anxiety from that thought path took over too much, she realigned her thoughts and tried to focus on the conversation with Maddoc.

  “I mean, what paranormal group are you helping?”

  “I don’t understand your question. I’m an astrophysicist, not a paranormal investigator. There is a big difference between the two.”

  Maddoc nodded and looked as though he was fighting a grin. Dani had no idea what was so funny, but that wasn’t new. She was used to people laughing at her when she tried to explain things.

  “Gavin has gone to the hotel to get your things. Why don’t you use my phone to text your friends?”

  “Oh, please.” Dani couldn’t verbalize how much of a relief it would be to touch base with them all. One of the fears nagging at her was that they were worried about her, and she didn’t want them upset. She remembered the night they had all waited up for Lisette to come home, only she hadn’t.

  Maddoc handed her the phone, and she quickly typed in everyone’s number before creating the message. How is everyone? I’m okay. Forgot my phone at the hotel. Sorry if I worried you. Love Dani <3.

  Sending out the message allowed a certain level of calm to smooth out the rough edges of her thoughts.

  “You feel better?”

  “Yes, thank you. I don’t want my friends to worry unnecessarily.” How could she explain to him how much her friends meant to her when she couldn’t explain her own emotions half the time?

  His phone chimed almost immediately,

  I’m hung over and sleeping it off. Good night.

  It was a message from Faina but didn’t really read like something she’d write. She must have drunk all Marie’s rum after we got separated. Dani rubbed her fingers along the phone waiting for Erin, Heidi, and Shayla to respond. Erin hadn’t looked well last night, and the way she collapsed at the cemetery kept Dani worrying. Maddoc tried to ease the phone from her grip, but she clenched her hand around the small device when she felt it vibrate again.

  I'm fine, but who is this?

  “Why don’t you leave the phone on the nightstand?” Maddoc asked.

  “Erin and Shayla haven’t texted back. I should phone the hospitals or the police. What if Erin’s still at the cemetery? I think Heidi has amnesia. What if Shayla’s hurt, too? They could be dying.”

  “Dannika, calm down.” Maddoc wrapped his large hands around hers, trapping her phone in her fingers and bent his head to catch her gaze. His eyes were so dark she almost couldn’t see the difference between the pupils and the irises in the dim light. Another wave of calm washed over her, and the longer she kept eye contact with him, the calmer she felt. “It’s five o’clock in the morning. They’re probably sleeping.”

  “Five?” Dani glanced at the large windows, but heavy drapes had been pulled over them blocking out the view. She’d thought it was much later in the day. “I don’t lose track of time. I always know what time it is.” It felt like her heart was fluttering against her chest as she tried not to get upset for any reason. Warm fingers slid along her jaw, cupping her chin as Maddoc guided her face back toward him.

  “You are an enigma, Dannika.”

  “That’s not my name.” Dani didn’t understand why he would say something like that or if he meant it in a nice way. Her legal name wasn’t what she went by, and aside from the people closest to her, usually people thought her full name was Danielle.

  “But I like it.” Maddoc smiled, and it felt like Dani’s heart skipped a beat. He moved closer, and she couldn’t bring herself to move away. The fluttering feeling returned to her chest, but this time it was driven by anticipation instead of fear or panic. His warm fingers caressed her skin, chasing away the chill that had started to settle in. Maddoc’s lashes were long and created a thick frame around his dark eyes. She knew lots of girls at school who’d spent a fortune on expensive mascara to get lashes like his.

  “You have very pretty eyes.” The words shot straight from her thoughts to her lips, but before she could take them back, he leaned forward, closing the distance between them, and kissed her.

  The teasing brush of his lips on hers felt like magic as it drained all the anxiety from her body. He murmured her name against her lips, but she didn’t want to talk. Talking led to awareness, and that lead to fear and panic. She didn’t want to leave the ocean of serenity she’d discovered in his kiss.

  His hand slid along her jaw to her hair, and she felt him grip the length at the back of her neck as he tilted his lips and deepened their kiss. Dani was more than happy to follow his lead. She grabbed handfuls of his shirt and held tight, afraid that he might drift away from her.

  “No chance, woman.” Maddoc swept her up into his arms and pulled her across the bed, cradling her in his lap. She felt his erection under her ass, and it reminded her of Gavin holding her. She’d felt his arousal, as well, but at the time it hadn’t registered. It was strange that even though she’d known these men for a few hours, she felt like there was a part of her that instinctively knew they weren’t a danger to her.

  Feeling bolder than she ever had before, Dani slid her hand up Maddoc’s chest, feeling the layers of muscles twitch under the fabric of his shirt. She fingered the small button at the top, wanting to feel his chest but afraid he’d take her curiosity as an invitation to sex. She wasn’t certain she wanted to go that far. “Maddoc?”

  “You never have to ask, Dannika.” Maddoc leaned back to look down at her as he covered her fingers with his, flicking open one of the buttons. “As many as you want, only as far as you want.”

  “Really?” Excitement surged through her. “But I don’t want to be a tease, and I’m not sure—”

  “Touch me, Dannika. I need it as much as you do.” His voice had dropped a couple octaves, sending an erotic jolt between her legs. She could feel how wet she was and his voice made her want to rock her hips in his lap. “I’m not some young boy who can’t control himself. You’re the one in control here. I’m selfish enough to take what I can get.”

  She flicked open two more buttons and slipped her hand under the material. Crisp hairs lightly coated his pectoral muscles and tickled the palm of her hand as she explored. His chest was broad and strong, and made her ex look like a boy in comparison. The memory of his hurtful comments cut through her, but Maddoc stroked her back and the negative thought disintegrated. Dani was fascinated by the feeling of his muscles under her palm as she stroked him. Maddoc groaned and she stopped.

  “Sorry.” Way to go, Dani. You can’t even feel up a guy without screwing it up.

  He dipped his head to her ear and pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. “No, don’t stop. Something about your hand on my skin, it feels like I’ve waited forever for this.” His voice vibrated against the delicate skin below her ear, sending shivers along her spine. His arm was like a steel band across his back, and he was gripping her hip tightly.

  It was impossible to conceive, but she could understand what he was saying. Something about this moment felt like it was meant to be. His nipple was a hard little nub under her inquisitive fingers as she stroked a circle around it. Maddoc nipped the muscle where her shoulder met her neck and pulled her hips tighter against the hot erection pressing against her hip.

  She’d never felt the comfort in a person’s arms like she did with these two men. But how could she choose between them? What if Gavin came in and saw her like this? What if he felt that he had a right to her since he’d been the one to hold her last night? He’d be angry and throw her out, calling her all sorts of names s
he deserved.

  “Dannika, come back to me.”

  Dani blinked and focused on Maddoc’s face. “I’m sorry. I drifted. Oh, god, that sounds so insulting given what we—I was…” She tried to pull her hand from his shirt, but Maddoc pressed his hand against hers, trapping it against his chest.

  “Do you know what I find most fascinating about you?”

  “What?”

  “Is that the more emotionless you appear on the surface, the wilder and more panicked your thoughts are inside. It’s like the energy deep inside you starts to whip around you like a hurricane. What’s bothering you? Were you thinking about Gavin?”

  “No.” Dani felt her cheeks grow hot as she tried to think of a good lie to convince him that she wasn’t thinking of another man while she was touching him.

  “You’re a terrible liar.” Maddoc laughed and pressed a quick kiss against her lips. “Gavin and I are like two halves of the same person. We’ve shared everything for our entire lives, and that includes our feelings and women.”

  “Would you share me?” Her voice had been much more breathless than she anticipated when she asked the question, but the image of being between both these men had burned itself into her brain. Her body felt achy, and she wanted to feel him moving against her, naked, hot, and demanding.

  A needy sound rumbled in Maddoc’s throat, and he gripped her hips, pulling her body against his. She could feel his iron-hard cock through the layers of material as he ground against her for a second. It was an erotic movement that her body happily responded to, sending a rush of moisture between her legs.

  “Yes, I hope to, but not until you’re ready.” Maddoc’s breath was hot against her throat as he kissed his way along her collarbone. She arched her head to give him room as she slid her hand to the buttons on his shirt, flicking open the rest of them. “Gavin will respect your limits the same as I will when you’re alone together. If you’re curious to see how much alike we are, you go right ahead and indulge yourself.”

  She got a good idea of the amount of strength in his body when Maddoc adjusted their positions. He lifted her as if she didn’t weigh more than a feather and laid her back with her head resting on his forearm as he stretched out along her side. Looming over her, his shirt gaped open, giving her a framed view of his chest, but she wanted to see it all. Grabbing the edge, she pushed the edge of his shirt over one shoulder, and he shrugged it off completely, revealing a muscular chest lightly dusted with black hair.

  Dani lifted her head to give him a chance to move his shirt from where it was caught on his one arm, but he rested his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it.” His fingers traced the edge of the robe she was wearing, lighting caressing her collarbone. She could feel that the robe still cocooned her from her knees to her breasts, but she wanted him to touch her, as well.

  “My control isn’t that good, Dannika. I need to keep you as covered as possible right now.”

  “How did you know I was thinking that?” It dawned on her then that he’d responded a couple of times as if he could read her mind. She’d always been very uncomfortable with strangers getting too close to her, but Maddoc and Gavin seemed to be the exception. She wanted them as close as two people could get.

  “I can’t read your mind if that’s what you’re thinking. You wear your emotions for the world to see.” Maddoc stroked his thumb along her eyebrow and down the side of her face. She loved the way he touched her, almost as if she was afraid of hurting her.

  “No, I don’t.” She’d been told a hundred times over her life that she had the best poker face. She’d also been referred to as robotic or ice queen more times than she could remember.

  “Anyone who doesn’t see what I see hasn’t tried looking close enough. I can feel the energy swirling around in you and the way it changes with your thoughts.” She watched, mesmerized, as he lowered his head to press a kiss to the bit of skin exposed at the neck of the robe. “This is how I also know that I could have you naked under me if I tried, but I don’t want to rush what is building here.”

  “That sounds like a bunch of romantic bullshit.” Dani mentally cringed when the words shot out of her mouth, completely bypassing her inner filter.

  Maddoc lifted his face and laughed loudly. “Promise you will always be this honest with us.”

  “You say that now, but most times I get myself in trouble that way.” Dani tried very hard to watch what she said, knowing that a lot of people took it the wrong way, but she didn’t understand how placating people with lies helped.

  “I find it refreshing.” She’d dropped her hand to his arm as they spoke, and he wrapped his hand around her wrist and lifted her hand to his chest. “Now, back to what we were discussing before.”

  Dani felt her cheeks heat up. “I don’t think we were really discussing anything.”

  Maddoc smiled down at her and chuckled. “Not obviously, but I was letting you seduce me.” A small smile still curled the edge of his lips. She couldn’t read the expression on his face, but it made her feel hot and needy all over.

  “Is that what I was doing?” She slid her hand over his pectoral muscle and down his ribs to the edge of his pants. Feeling bold again, she slipped a couple fingers under his waistband, stroking an inch or two of soft skin before sliding her hand back up over his stomach.

  Maddoc’s stomach flexed at her touch, and he wrapped his hand around the side of her neck. “Oh yeah, you’re a natural at it, too.”

  Dani reached up and slipped her fingers through his hair, tugging gently. Maddoc understood her silent demand and lowered his face to hers. His lips were like hot silk against hers, awakening her more than anyone else had before. He licked her lower lip, and Dani opened her mouth to him.

  His kiss was more intense than she’d ever felt before. It was more than a physical need for arousal. It reached into her past, the thick wall she kept between herself and the world, decimating her fears and concerns, and filled her with hope and longing. He groaned and deepened the kiss as his tongue tangled with hers, gentle but demanding. Dani couldn’t get enough. Her body felt like it was on fire, and when Maddoc slipped one of his legs between hers, she kicked away part of the robe and arched up into the pressure his thigh put on her core.

  She had no words for what flowed through her—a riot of sensations that flew out of her control and normally would have reduced her to panicked chanting—but Maddoc’s body was like an anchor for her to hold on to. His hands were buried in her hair, clenching the strands tightly as she caressed and learned every angle and dip of the muscles that covered his torso. When she reached for the button of his pants, he broke off their kiss.

  “Don’t.” The word sounded like a groan, not a real denial, but she froze anyways.

  Part of Dani wanted to press him, test his boundaries. Somewhere between losing her friends and waking up in a strange bed, she’d found a need only he could fill. “You said I could touch you anywhere.” She left the button alone but slid her hand down to cup the large bulge stretching the front of his pants.

  “I lied.” His hips jerked, pressing his cock against her palm. She understood the need riding him, as she’d practically been humping his thigh moments before.

  She reached up and grabbed his hair, tugging hard. His gaze moved from where she was pressing her palm against his erection to her face. Dani had never been good at reading expressions, but she could see the primal hunger on his face. “I want to.”

  “You first.”

  * * * *

  Maddoc almost came in his slacks when Dani cupped his cock. The need to tear his robe off her and bury his cock inside of her almost overwhelmed every single thought in his head. He’d never experienced the depth of connection with any other woman in his long life as he did with this fascinating woman.

  She seemed determined to take this farther than he’d originally planned, but as the blood in his body drained from his brain to his cock, he’d lost the ability to tell her no. What he wouldn’t compromise
on was her pleasure. He wasn’t about to come in her hand before making sure she’d screamed his name at least once.

  “You keep these up here.” He lifted her hand from his crotch and placed it back on his chest, over his heart. A little grin kicked up the corner of her mouth that screamed mischief, and he could just sense the energy quivering around her. He couldn’t wait for Gavin to get back here and spend some time with her, as well. He was sure his brother would have her giggling or getting into trouble somehow.

  He slid his hand along the edge of his robe and opened it a bit farther, baring the softly rounded edge of her breasts. “You are perfection,” he whispered before bending down to press a kiss against her creamy skin.

  “I think you’re biased because I’m almost naked in front of you.”

  “Not nearly naked enough.” Maddoc didn’t want her to think for a moment that she wasn’t more special than anyone else in the universe. He nuzzled the edge of one breast and trailed his lips up, moving the material of his robe back with his nose. He could smell the musky aroma of her arousal and wanted to taste her flavor over his tongue.

  Her hands continued to caress over his skin, petting him. She dragged a nail gently over one of his nipples, making him jump. He heard her soft giggle and retaliated by covering her nipple and sucking as much of her breast into his mouth as he could.

  “Oh god,” she cried out as she gripped his arms and rocked her hips up against his thigh. The heat from her pussy radiated through the fabric of his pants, and he wanted nothing more than to strip them off and plunge his cock into her. Not yet.

  The need to feel his cock buried in her wet heat was a temptation he wanted more than his next breath, but taking her without Gavin here didn’t feel right. He didn’t feel the need to share her every time they were intimate, but the first time was different. He wanted her to experience what he and his brother could offer her. Gavin wanted to make certain that she trusted them, something that would take a while to develop, and Maddoc wasn’t feeling patient at the moment.