Sacred Places

by Mandy M. Roth

  He was keeping her secret?

  Why?

  And why hadn’t he freaked out over what he’d seen?

  She couldn’t ask any of the questions she wanted to because of Coyle. His gaze swept to her and remained there, easing over her slowly. He stood tall, his height imposing. “You are staying here tonight. This newest storm is big and I want you close after you passed out from not eating.”

  “I’m fine. Low blood sugar,” she said, a flash of Chad in her mind as she spoke.

  Coyle glanced at his cousin and then back to her. “Do me a favor, lass, can you grab the month end report? I thought I spotted an error.”

  Her jaw dropped. She did not make errors. Rushing past him, she went right for his office.

  Chapter Ten

  Coyle waited until he heard the workshop door close before looking to Korey. “I sensed magik. Is nae dark power. Was it you? Did Deri see you using it?”

  Korey pursed his lips and whistled, shoving his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “Nope. She dinnae see me usin’ anything.”

  “Guid,” snapped Coyle. “Keep it that way.”

  Korey glanced around, appearing amused, and nodded. “Of course. Wouldnae want her knowin’ we’re druids or anything. I mean, her knowin’ we’re magiks would be totally out of the question.”

  “Did you hit yer head on something hard?” asked Coyle. His cousin tended to be weird, but this was too much, even for Korey.

  “Nope. I’m fine.” He flashed a wide smile, looking much like the cat that caught the canary. “Better than ever. Say, you should claim Deri. I know you want to.”

  “Claim her?” Coyle replied. “Are you a blatherin’ idiot? I cannae claim a mortal.”

  “Right. Mortal.” Korey walked past him and bumped him shoulder to shoulder. “What will you do when another swoops in and takes her for his own?”

  Coyle saw red, his power rippling up and through him, bursting free without warning. It slammed into a bench he’d been working on, shattering it into a hundred pieces.

  Korey laughed. “Thought as much.”

  Coyle groaned.

  His cousin paused near the door that led out to the parking lot. He clicked his fingers and Coyle sensed more magik.

  “What are you doing?”

  Korey grinned widely. “You’ll see. Enjoy yer night.”

  The workshop door swung open. Deri appeared, her long red hair cascading over her shoulders and a pale hand on her curvy hip. Her green gaze landed on him. Confusion turned rapidly to anger. “You know, if you don’t want me in your desk then you really shouldn’t give me the combination to the locked drawer. Pinning up idiotic, threatening phrases that make little sense is beneath you, Coyle. Cute. Did you put this there last night? I don’t know how I missed it earlier.”

  “What?”

  The slight roll of her eyes and huff she let out told him she didn’t believe him. “Come on.” She held up a piece of aged parchment and began to read from it, “Take thee from this spot. The follower of imbas shall not find peace. Shall not find the other half of their soul. I call on thee—”

  Follower of imbas? Other half of their soul? Coyle’s breath caught. The ancient druid in him kicked into action as the sound of words sacred to them passed over Deri’s lips. “No! Deri, stop reading the spell!”

  “Spell?” Deri glanced at the parchment and then up at him. It was clear to see she had more than a hefty dose of skepticism—or was that shock? He couldn’t blame her for either. It wasn’t as though she knew who and what he was. To her, he was just a man. Not an immortal sorcerer.

  He rushed across the bar, needing to see for himself that she was unharmed. It was just like his enemies to sneak in a spell that Deri would read and cast upon herself, forever dooming them to walk alone on the path of life. He scanned the pub with his magik, searching for any signs of a threat but found none.

  The second he was within two paces of Deri, Coyle lifted her off her feet and pressed his mouth to hers. The feel of her warm lips and shocked breath of air assured him Deri was, for the moment, safe. She didn’t feel of anyone else’s magik, so he was confident his enemies weren’t waging a mystical attack on her, and that allowed him to exhale a rather shaky breath. Though if she’d continued to read the spell, she would have no doubt brought to fruition the ill intent it carried. They would have been forever separated, longing for a peace they would never find.

  Chapter Eleven

  Taking the parchment from her hand, Coyle stuffed it into his pocket and went back to concentrating on Deri’s pouty lips. He claimed her mouth, thrusting his tongue into the dark recesses, needing to sample all she had to offer.

  She fisted the back of his hair and, for a moment, Coyle thought she might try to tear his mouth from hers. Instead, Deri did something he didn’t expect. She returned the kiss with every bit of passion he’d put into it. Their tongues danced together, darting in and out, slow then fast, fast then slow, as they ravished one another.

  Time seemed to come to a standstill as Deri cupped his cheek with her free hand. The gesture was intimate and signified she just might feel more for him than animal lust. At the moment, he’d take either, for once he spilled his seed into her, their bond would be assured. Nothing would come between them. As he thought about the parchment in his back pocket, Coyle swore to destroy whoever thought to take her from him. A chill ran up his spine as how close he’d come to losing his chance with her struck him full force.

  He tugged gently at first on her shirt, but he couldn’t figure it out nor did he care to waste precious time on it. Taking hold of it, Coyle ripped it in two down the back. Deri drew back from their kiss, touched her swollen lips a second before her green eyes lit with fury. “Coyle, I happen to have loved that shirt.”

  “I’ll buy you another one.” He bent his head to command her mouth again. She artfully dodged him. He growled. “I’ll buy you thousands of them, Deri.” Still, she looked furious.

  Deri slapped his face hard enough for it to sting, and that surprised him to the point he set her down on her feet. “You arrogant son of a bitch.”

  “Och, now that’s awful presumptuous of you considering you’ve never met my mother. She is a lovely woman who will no doubt be pestering you for grandchildren. And lots of them.”

  Coyle was hoping for a smile. What he got was another smack across the face. “I actually feel bad for your mother. I can’t imagine raising such a…a…” She waved her hand in the air, and for a split second, Coyle thought he felt foreign magik surge around him. “…a you!”

  “A me?” he asked, egging her on, his shaft getting harder with every second of her annoyance. He could easily picture those impish lips wrapped around his cock as he spilled his seed down her throat.

  “Yes, a you!” Deri took a half step back and what was left of her shirt fell to the floor.

  The sight of her pale, plump breasts and pert, pink nipples left his dick digging to break free of its confines. She crossed her arms over her chest, only serving to press the tempting globes together in an even more tantalizing way. He wanted to lay his cock between them and fuck her breasts. The very thought of shooting his come on her smooth skin left him adjusting himself yet again and snarling in frustration.

  “Woman, yer killing me here.”

  “Oh, I’d like to kill you.” Her next action, pulling her arms in tighter, offered her breasts up even more. He moaned. She hissed. “Stop looking at me and give me your shirt.”

  Putting his arms out wide, Coyle grinned as he raked his ravenous gaze over her. “As luck would have it, I’m nae wearing one.”

  “I know that, but you had one on earlier, you…you big galoot!” Deri stomped her foot and her hissy fit left her breasts jiggling and his cock throbbing. If he didn’t come in his pants it would be a miracle.

  His mouth dropped. “You just called me an idiot.”

  “Yeah, I know exactly what the word means.” Her green eyes blazed. “I heard you call Korey
one before.”

  The fact that Deri not only listened to words he used to chaff his cousin, but bothered to learn their meanings, made his heart swell. She did care. Granted, she was livid at the moment, and he’d much prefer she learn more than insults in his native tongue, but she still cared. He eased his magik out and over her with the intent of soothing her.

  Deri shivered and then glared at him. “Get the damn thermostat fixed in here. It’s freezing.”

  “Could be because yer nae wearing a stitch of clothing on yer upper half but—ouch, what did you do that for?” He glared down at the shin she just kicked, amazed that Deri was immune to his magik as well as his charm.

  The edges of her rose-colored mouth twitched and the second she flashed her pearly whites, Coyle had to bite back his own smile. “I didn’t hurt you and you know it. Stop being a baby.”

  “Yes, but it wouldnae be verra gentleman-like of me to ignore the fact you were trying to inflict pain, now would it?”

  Deri laughed and the sound moved through him, causing his blood to flow faster, and the lust he’d tried so hard to command spiraled out of control. “Deri, lass, if you do nae want me to take you and fuck you against this very wall, I strongly suggest you tell me to go. And nae a moment too soon, I might add. Seems my willpower is nae worth a damn where yer concerned.”

  Something flickered through her eyes and he wasn’t sure how she would respond to his proclamation. As she bit her lower lip and did a rather long, dramatic, cock-hardening blink, Coyle closed the distance between them. He could wait no more to claim his mate.

  Deri dropped her arms from her chest and Coyle instantly cupped the mounds of sweet flesh as best he could. His hands were large. Her breasts were larger. “A fine fit, indeed, Deri. They were made for me. You were made for me.”

  Her breath came in the form of a sharp intake. Capturing her saucy mouth with his, Coyle ensured that Deri’s next breath would include him. He pinched her nipples enough to get a response from her, but was careful to cause her no pain. Her ripe flesh called to him on a carnal level, as did everything about her. Needing to taste her, Coyle lifted Deri high into the air and licked a sweet peak before burying his face in her lushness.

  “Coyle,” she whispered, taking hold of his head. “We shouldn’t do this. People could walk in on us. We have to work together and I—”

  He nipped gently at her breast before looking up through hooded lashes at Deri. “No one will walk in on us, a ghrá.”

  Deri trembled under the weight of his touch. “Coyle.” His name fell from her lips with a hushed whisper.

  He knew he would die if she dared reject him. He needed her. “Deri, do you want me near as much as I want you?”

  “You want me?” she asked, clearly shocked.

  “Aye, I want you more than life itself.” He bent quickly. Running his tongue over her taut berry, he stared up into her eyes, refusing to let her see anything but the raw passion and need he carried for her. She moaned. He smiled. “Can I take that as a yes?”

  Deri nodded and Coyle’s heart rocketed. Soon, she would be his.

  “Mine,” he ground out, as he lifted her in his arms and kicked the office door open.

  Chapter Twelve

  Deri sat on top of Coyle’s oversized mahogany wood desk, still in awe over what was happening. He’d cleared everything off his desk in a matter of seconds with the swipe of his arm. Her sexy Scotsman stood before her, naked and in full glory, his jeans long since cast aside, as were hers.

  His cock bobbed from the center of a thatch of black curls. It looked velvety smooth, and every bit of Deri wanted to test that theory with her tongue right before she used her pussy. It was finally happening. She would finally have Coyle in her.

  Coyle fisted his thick, long shaft and stroked it. Each pass he made, he took a step closer to her. His grey gaze raked over her, looking as hungry as she felt. The part of her brain that kept telling her to stop—to not let herself be hurt or get Coyle hurt—was thankfully silent, having long since realized she would only ignore it. Her body, her heart and her soul wanted this man and she was about to have him.

  “Look at that pink, shiny pussy,” Coyle said, his voice husky, hoarse. “It’s wet, isn’t it?”

  Tracing a line down her stomach, Deri slowed as she reached the tiny strip of auburn hair she kept on her mound. Already, her fingers met with dampness. Coyle jerked as she slid a finger into her slit. Feeling bolder than she’d ever felt before, Deri parted her folds and eyed him closely. He looked as though he were straining to keep from pouncing on her, and oh, how she wanted him to leap.

  “Tell me how wet you are, Deri.” He stroked his cock methodically. Each swipe made her body quiver with thoughts of him ramming into her, taking her for his own. Never had she wanted a man to claim her more.

  “I’m soaked.” She eased a finger into her heated core and it made a damp, sucking sound. “Come see.”

  I’ve said that exact thing to him in my dreams before.

  As Deri stared up at Coyle, she realized that his nudity, the massive size of his cock, the fact she was spread out like a submissive present on his desk, was not a shock to her. It was as though her dreams of being with him had been preparing her for this very thing. This moment when they would finally join.

  “That is the most beautiful pussy I have ever laid eyes on, Deri. All pink, wet and welcoming.”

  His words made her shudder. “Ah, Coyle, yes.” She fingered herself, adding a second digit to the mix and moaning as she smoothed past her clit. “It most certainly is welcoming. Please.”

  “Please?” He gripped his cock in one hand. Rubbing his pre-come over the head, he made it glisten.

  “Oh, Coyle, please. I need you in me.”

  Coyle bent before her and she whimpered in frustration. A lazy smile covered his sexy face. “No, you will let me taste of you.” With that, he kissed a path along her inner thigh, causing her legs to spasm involuntarily. Reaching her cunt, he spread her legs open wider and pressed his face to her pussy, inhaling deeply.

  His grey eyes rolled back in his head as he seemed to savor her very scent, making additional cream seep from her already wet core. “Coyle.”

  He licked his way over her swollen clit and she tried to scoot away from him. Sliding his hands up and under her ass cheeks, Coyle held her in place and swirled his tongue out and over her bud. He parted his teeth and took her clit into his mouth, sucking gently, sending Deri over the edge of the abyss.

  She clawed at the desk, needing something, anything to ground her. Finding nothing substantial, she cried out as pleasure shot throughout her lower body. “Oh, Coyle!”

  Coyle dug his fingers into her ass cheeks as he continued to work wonders with his mouth. The moment he began tracing figure eights over her sensitive clit, Deri took hold of the sides of his head, assuring he wouldn’t go anywhere until she was good and thoroughly face fucked. He didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he increased the speed of his licks, throwing her closer to culmination.

  “Coyle, yes. There. There.”

  He chuckled into her pussy. The vibration brought on another surge of pleasure as an orgasm tore through her, leaving her legs clamped around Coyle’s head.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Coyle lapped up her sweet cream, savoring every bit of it. Deri tasted as good as she smelled, like berries in a whipped, sinfully delightful cream. A cream made especially for him. It was divine. As was she. “Mmm,” he murmured into her drenched folds.

  She bucked beneath his touch, trying to get away from him, no doubt in an attempt to regain her composure, but he refused to let go of her. No. Deri would not be permitted to regret what she had begged him for nightly these last three years.

  Each time he’d entered her dreams, Deri had opened to him willingly, begged him to take her, fuck her, make her his. He could wait no more to claim his mate.

  Eyeing her pink pussy, Coyle ran his tongue over it again, tracing every silken crease. The need to unite
with her was great, but seeing that she was good and pleased took precedence.

  Inserting a finger into her, he groaned, his cock reacting violently, jerking and almost spilling come. “Yer so tight, Deri.”

  “Sorry,” she whispered, stroking the side of his face.

  “No, do nae apologize for allowing me to sample paradise, a ghrá. It is a gift I will cherish for eternity.” He placed a chaste kiss on her palm as he stared into her emerald green eyes. “You are a gift I will cherish for all eternity, Deri.”

  “Don’t.” She shook her head. “No promises of anything more than here and now, Coyle. I know what kind of man you are and I know better—”

  He stood abruptly and stared down at her, unable to hide the hurt on his face. Her opinion of him mattered, more than he cared to admit. “And what kind of man am I?”

  “Pfft,” she snorted as if he already knew the answer to his own question. “The kind of man who has a steady stream of women in and out of here.” She pointed around the room. “The kind of man who never seems to lack for female companionship. The kind of man who—”

  Coyle shook his head and clenched his fists as rage tore through him. He wanted to let his magik loose, let it wreak havoc on the land around them, but he knew better. He knew Deri could turn him into an unstoppable monster or a gentle giant with nothing more than her words. Only she wielded that type of power over him. Thank the goddess for that. “I am the kind of man who has wanted to fuck you since the moment I laid eyes on you.”

  “And now you can,” she said, as if what he said did nothing to sway her rather low opinion of him.

  “I do nae bed the women that come through here, Deri. They come for other reasons. Reasons I do nae wish to go into with you at the moment. But I do promise to tell you all about it verra soon.”