One Breath

by Cheyenne McCray

  Silver gave a loud sigh. “I know. It’s crazy.” She looked at the warlock. “You’re going to have to answer for your crimes, Darkwolf.”

  The warlock moved his hand to the arm of the demon-woman.

  The corners of Darkwolf’s mouth quirked. In a mere wink, the warlock, the demon-woman, and the eye were gone.

  12

  “Godsdamn.” Conlan stared at the spot where Darkwolf and the demon-woman had been standing.

  He ground his teeth. The eye had nearly been within their grasp, and again it was gone.

  Sydney wiped the back of her hand over her cheek. Her glasses were slightly tilted, her face smudged, and with her fierce expression, she looked as though she wanted to slay a demon with her bare hands.

  She rubbed her fingers behind Chaos’s ears as she gazed into empty space where Darkwolf had been.

  Emotions so strong welled up in Conlan’s chest that he could barely rein them in. His heart felt like it was on fire—and not from the battle. He wanted to go to Sydney, to wrap his arms around her and keep her close to him. To protect her and make sure nothing bad ever happened to her.

  By the gods, he wanted her. The thought shocked him to his core. He had never wanted any woman for more than a night’s pleasure, or maybe several. He enjoyed women. Their silky soft skin, the taste of them, the feel of their bodies pressed to his, sliding inside their welcoming depths.

  But Sydney…

  Suddenly thoughts of other women faded so completely that he could think only of her. Could imagine having only her in his arms, could imagine being inside only her body, her mind, her soul, and her heart.

  Conlan pushed his fingers through his hair, battling with the enormity of what raced through his mind.

  He wanted Sydney as his own—as his mate.

  Forever.

  As if she could hear his thoughts, her gaze met his, and for a moment he could not breathe. She stood several feet away, but he could close that distance, sweep her into his arms, and take her to Otherworld with him. The look in her eyes—did she feel the same?

  “The Drow.” Mackenzie interrupted his thoughts, and he looked at the D’Anu witch. She stood on tiptoe and looked around those standing in front of her. “The Dark Elves are gone.”

  Silver braced her hands on her hips. “They probably returned to Otherworld.”

  With frustration, Sydney pushed her hair from her face. “How did you know they’d be here?”

  Silver stared off into the distance. “Below the pier, in the rock wall, there is a door to Underworld. I was certain that if the Drow were involved, and it was near water, that it had to be here.”

  “Do we really know if they wanted to destroy the eye?” Sydney’s jaw muscles tightened. “Or did they want to use it for other purposes?”

  “If our envoy is successful, we’ll know soon,” Alyssa said, referring to another group of D’Danann and D’Anu witches who were currently in Otherworld seeking aid from other races in the fight against Balor and his wife.

  “Like we talked about before, it was too easy locating Darkwolf these last two times.” As Silver spoke, she drew Conlan’s attention. “I wonder if he wanted us to find him, wanted us to know he’s fighting Balor, just as we are.”

  Hawk scowled. “Darkwolf should be shown no mercy, as he gave none to the people he has slain.”

  “Hawk’s right.” Mackenzie came up beside the warrior and folded her arms across her chest. “Darkwolf is one of the vilest criminals we have ever known. He could be toying with us.”

  Conlan’s gaze settled on Sydney when she spoke. “I agree with Silver. The only answer is that he wanted us to find him. In the past, every other time we’ve tried, it’s been impossible.”

  She glanced again to where the warlock had been standing before she continued. “He could have left at any time. But he chose to stay with us and fight Balor.”

  Hawk looked like he wanted to interrupt her, but Sydney continued, “Yeah, he’s done some pretty screwed-up things—to put it kindly—but if he’s fighting Balor and his bitch of a wife, we can use all the help we can get. And then we’ll deal with Darkwolf and Junga.”

  Everyone was quiet for a moment before Alyssa said with exhaustion in her voice, “Let’s get back to Sydney’s house. It’s time to regroup.”

  After scratches and wounds were tended to, everyone took turns bathing or showering to remove the stench of battle. Conlan wanted to be with Sydney, but she had slipped away into her bedroom and locked the door.

  By the time she emerged, Conlan had taken a shower in the upstairs bathroom and was waiting in the downstairs hallway for her. He stood with his arms crossing his chest, facing her door, and contemplated breaking it down.

  The door jerked open. Sydney stumbled into him the moment she came out of her room. She put her palms against his chest to steady herself, and he unfolded his arms to grasp her hands in his. He held them over his beating heart.

  For a long moment she looked up at him. Her eyes were filled with desire, but her brows were drawn downward as if in concern. Was she afraid to care for him?

  When she spoke, she tried to pull her hands from his, but he refused to let go. “I told you I can’t do this.”

  “Yes.” He brought her hands up to his mouth, brushed his lips across her knuckles, and he felt her shiver. “You can.”

  “Conlan.” She clasped her fingers around his, and he raised his head to look into her eyes. “Everything’s so wrong now. This war. My life.”

  “But we are right.” His heart thrummed. “The two of us make a whole. Side by side we will work together.”

  “I could fall for you.” Sydney stared up at him and her lips trembled. “I think I already have. A relationship that’s purely sex without commitment—I can’t do that. Not at this time in my life. It’s better that we end this now.”

  He released her hands and slid his fingers into her hair. “I am speaking of a lifetime together. Many lifetimes. You are meant to be my mate, and I am meant to be yours. Even though we have known each other for only a short time, I know in my heart and soul that this is true.”

  Sydney frowned—not the reaction he wanted to see. He brought his free hand up and brushed her lower lip with his thumb.

  “Are you serious?” she finally said. “You’re not talking about just a bunch of sex when we’re together?”

  “Making love to you, being with you is an experience far greater than I can put into words.” He smiled as he moved his hand over her cheek. “But having you for my own, to bond with you, that would be my life’s greatest joy. In all my years of existence, I have never been as sure about something as I am about you and me.”

  The hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, and warmth began to wrap its way around his heart. “Making love is good.” She slid her hands up his chest and clasped her arms around his neck. “But having you all for my own is better.”

  “Ah, gods.” He clenched one fist in her hair, slid his free arm around her waist, and pulled her tight against him. “I will never let you go, Sydney Aline.”

  She smiled, the worries of the world seeming to slide away from her face. “And you’d better not plan on going anywhere without me.”

  Conlan crushed his mouth to hers so hard and fierce he was afraid he might bruise her lips. But the moan rising from her throat told him that she desired this kiss as much as he did.

  She tasted of fire and passion, of sweet nectar and spice. Her lips meshed with his, and their tongues met and met again.

  The heat in his body expanded. He moved his hand over the satin of her robe and slipped it inside. A gasp rose from her throat when he slid his fingers over her bare skin. Gods, but he had to claim her in every way, and he had to claim her now.

  Sydney’s mind, body, and heart were on fire. His kiss made her head spin, and she could barely remember where they were.

  She knew this was right. Their relationship had happened so fast, but, in a way, war had a way of making things s
harper, clearer. It made one realize just how important it was to hold on to loved ones and to take a chance on new love when it felt so right.

  When Conlan pushed aside her robe and captured one of her nipples with his mouth, she couldn’t think anymore. She could only feel.

  “I love how soft you are in my hands,” he said in her mind as he pushed her robe open wide, baring all of her to him. “I love the beauty of your eyes. I love the way you taste. I love your spirit, your fire. I love everything about you.”

  “Conlan.” She gasped out loud as he pushed her up against the wall of the hallway and started trailing a path with his tongue down her belly. In her mind she told him, “I love your acceptance of who I am and what I must do. That you don’t hold me back. I love the way you care about those around you.”

  When he used his tongue, she was incapable of speech in any form. She tilted her head back against the wall and clutched his hair, holding his face tight against her folds.

  Sydney closed her eyes and totally gave in to the sensations of his tongue licking her in long strokes and his mouth sucking on her. Cool air brushed her breasts and tightened her nipples.

  The climax building inside her grew and grew in intensity until tears leaked from her eyes.

  Her orgasm slammed into her, and she cried out as her entire body trembled with its force. Only the wall kept her from falling as her body shook against Conlan’s face. When she looked down at him, his eyes met hers. He gave her one more lick, sending a spasm through her.

  “Well, I’d say she’s more than okay,” came Mackenzie’s voice.

  Sydney gave a small cry and jerked her robe around her at the same time Conlan rose. He brought her tight against him.

  Mackenzie had laughter in her eyes. “You sound like a wounded animal when you climax.”

  Hawk snorted and Silver slugged him.

  Once again, Sydney thought she’d die from embarrassment. She had completely lost her mind from the moment Conlan started kissing her.

  “Come on.” Alyssa tugged at Mackenzie’s arm. The witches turned away, but this time Mackenzie laughed out loud.

  Sydney looks so beautiful when she’s embarrassed, Conlan thought.

  He did his best not to smile as he scooped her up into his embrace and carried her into her bedroom. He shut the door with a kick and took her to the bed.

  Apparently they had both lost their minds in the hallway.

  “I am sorry,” he said as he lowered her on to the white sheets. He sat next to her and brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “You make me forget everything but you.”

  Her breasts rose and fell as she sucked in a deep breath and let it out. “Let’s not do that again, okay? Um—the getting-caught part.” Her face was still flushed as she added, “The other part—you can keep on doing that.”

  “Forever.” He bent to kiss her softly on her mouth.

  “Mmmmm.” She murmured against his lips, “Forever.”

  Conlan pushed aside her satin robe, baring her beautiful body again. As he stared at her body, he rose and began stripping off his clothing, starting with his boots. Sydney watched him, her eyes half shuttered.

  “If we weren’t caught, that would have been the best orgasm ever,” she said as he moved onto the bed beside her.

  “We will make up for it.” He trailed his fingers from between her breasts all the way down. Goose bumps rose on her flesh. “Soon I will bury myself deep inside you.”

  Sydney squirmed at the image of him doing just that. But then a thought came to her that caused her cheeks to heat. “Do I really sound like a wounded animal when I climax?”

  Conlan’s face took on a serious expression. “You sound beautiful. I want you to cry out like that every time we make love.”

  Make love. She felt jittery and shivery all at once as she thought of those words passing between them again. We’re making love. It’s not just sex anymore.

  Conlan moved his hard body closer to hers as he continued to trail his fingers from her breasts to her inner thighs and back.

  If he was going to tease her, she could one-up him.

  She slid her fingers down his muscled abdomen but didn’t take him in her hand. Instead, she traced one finger over his skin.

  Conlan groaned. He grasped her ass and pulled her to him, and his hard ridge pressed against her belly.

  “You wish to tease me?” he said as he took himself in hand and slipped between her thighs. With slow, deliberate motions, he began sliding against her folds.

  Sydney dug her fingernails into his biceps and moaned. “No, I won’t tease you anymore. Please just be inside me.”

  Conlan rolled her onto her back and slid his body between her thighs. She looked up into his eyes that had turned from grass green to as dark as an oak leaf.

  Her belly flipped at the sight of this big, muscular man spreading her thighs apart with his hips. She shivered as his long hair trailed her skin when he nuzzled her neck and breasts. He laved each of her nipples with his tongue until she was squirming beneath him.

  “Please,” she begged him in her mind. “Please be inside me.”

  Conlan raised his head, and his look was intense and almost fierce. For a long moment his eyes held hers as he braced his hands on the bed to either side of her breasts.

  “Now I will make love to you, my sweet witch.” His entrance was deep and filling as he slid inside her. Sydney gave something between a moan and a cry as he began moving his hips and sliding in and out of her.

  She squirmed even more as he kept his pace slow. She dug her fingernails into his ass and brought her hips up to meet his.

  Every orgasm she’d had with Conlan had been a different experience. This time, jolts of electricity fired through her body as one big ball of energy built in her abdomen.

  The stinging sensation on her skin grew greater and greater until she was vibrating from the force of it.

  When she climaxed, it was like the ball of electricity exploded inside her. Every nerve ending in her body tingled with sensation, and her core throbbed and throbbed around him.

  With her orgasm came a cry rising from her throat she couldn’t hold back. That she didn’t want to hold back.

  “That is what I love,” he said in her mind as he thrust harder and harder. “Always scream for me, just like that.”

  A few more strokes and Conlan shouted her name. He pulsed inside her channel, and she spasmed around him, clenching down hard.

  They both groaned with satisfaction when Conlan rolled onto his side, taking her with him. Their skin felt warm and sweaty against each other and their chests rose and fell with the same rhythm. The smell of sex was strong and it mingled with Conlan’s male scent that she loved so much.

  “It’s been so fast, but it’s so right.” Sydney cuddled closer to him. “I’m totally in love with you, Conlan.”

  He pressed his lips to her hair. “And I love you, my sweet witch.”

  Feeling sated, warm, and protected in Conlan’s embrace, Sydney believed to her bones that with this one thing being right, together they could make something else right.

  Maybe there was a chance to win this war after all.

  Also by Cheyenne McCray

  (in reading order)

  * * *

  ~Paranormal Romance~

  “Dark Sorcery” Series

  The Forbidden

  The Seduced

  The Wicked

  One Breath (novella)

  The Shadows

  The Dark

  * * *

  ~Contemporary Cowboys~

  “Riding Tall” Series

  The McBrides

  Branded For You

  Roping Your Heart

  Fencing You In

  Tying You Down

  Playing With You

  Crazy For You

  Hot For You

  Made For You

  Held By You

  Belong To You

  * * *

  Amazed by You

 
Loved by You

  Midnight With You

  Wild for You

  * * *

  “Rough and Ready” Series

  The Camerons

  Silk and Spurs

  Lace and Lassos

  Champagne and Chaps

  Satin and Saddles

  Roses and Rodeo (with Creed McBride)

  Lingerie and Lariats

  Lipstick and Leather

  * * *

  “Armed and Dangerous” Series

  Zack

  Luke

  Clay

  Kade

  Alex (novella)

  About Cheyenne

  Cheyenne McCray is an award winning, New York Times and USA Today Best Selling author who is a rare native Arizonan.

  In her spare time she loves to torture characters—whether they’re misbehaving or not—and kill off deserving individuals. She also has a blast blowing things up. All fictionally, of course.

  Chey enjoys creating stories of love, suspense, and redemption, and she loves building worlds her readers can get lost in.

  Cheyenne and her equally geeky husband live in the wilds of Arizona with their two dogs, Checkers and Nikki.

  To catch up with Cheyenne

  www.CheyenneMcCray.com

  chey@cheyennemccray.com