“I wasn’t willing the other night with you.”
“That’s not fair. I didn’t know that you didn’t know the rules. I thought you were willing. Besides, you said you wanted me. Don’t you dare compare me to him.”
“I know.” She opened the door wider.
He scrubbed his fingers through his hair. “I’m so sorry about how I acted in the car. I thought you were going to mate with him.”
“Why would you think that? They’re foul beyond words.” She shut her eyes and hid her face behind the frozen bag, then cringed and pulled it off. “It hurts when I do that.”
He placed his hand gently over hers and placed the peas back over her eye.
“You were going to share yourself. I saw your vortex.” He tried to keep his tone soft, gentle. Still, the words came out harsher than he’d intended.
“I didn’t want him. He hit me. Tried to force me to fight.” Zoe’s hand shook.
“I know that now. I screwed up.” He tilted her chin with his thumb and forced her to look at him. “Forgive me?”
“Yes.” She fell into him, tiny shakes amplifying to a crescendo of full-bodied sobs. Words of anguish poured out like an awful crossword puzzle. He tried to make sense of it. Who was finger-gun-man? What awful nightmare was she reliving? Some words sounded like tonight but some held the weight of an older issue. In between tormented cries, her body struggled to rasp in air.
He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed, laying down beside her. His throat tightened and his eyes watered while he listened to her litany. Finally, her sobbing turned into little hiccups. What nightmare had this woman lived through?
“It’s going to be all right. I won’t let them hurt you again.” He brushed her damp hair away from her tear-stained cheek.
She reached up wide-eyed and touched where he hadn’t been able to hold back a tear. What had this woman done to him? He was supposed to convince her to mate with him and save his family for another generation, not cry for her.
Jack took her hand away from his face and kissed her fingertips. “I think there’s a lot going on in that head of yours. Who was the warlock, Zoe?”
“I don’t want to talk about it now.” She wrapped her arm around him, while they lay side to side, and clung to him like a lifeline.
He captured her gaze. She was so beautiful, even all puffy and red.
Her eyes focused on his mouth and she inched forward.
“Zoe.” He lowered his lips and brushed the top of hers. He could do this. Hold back the mating. For her, he could do anything. He kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose. He needed her to understand how much he cared. That’s what she needed—to feel safe.
She opened her eyes, dark and dilated, and he moaned. He tried to move away but she reached behind his head, tangled her fingers in his hair, and rested her plush lips upon his. He tried to notch his attraction down. This was all about her. About comfort. Not sex. Her mouth moved on his and he shared a chaste close-mouthed kiss. The sweetness mixed with the solstice lust had to be the best and worst torture ever.
“I have to leave now.” He touched a lock of hair that had fallen into her eyes.
“Don’t go.”
Goosebumps shot down his spine and blood rushed to his cock. Her lips pressed against his. When he gasped, her tongue raked across his teeth, then pushed into his mouth.
His balls tightened painfully, the tormenting ache increasing. Her hips jerked towards him, begging for more. He clenched his teeth, but he couldn’t hold back the groan that rumbled from his chest.
Around them, the air electrified.
God help him, he couldn’t let her go. But he needed to get out of there before he destroyed them both. She wasn’t strong enough to fight him, especially not after tonight.
“Jack,” she moaned, when he drew back from the kiss.
He let his lips linger on hers a moment longer, then gritted his teeth, and unlocked his arms from around her.
“Get some rest,” he said from the door. They’d both need their strength for what he had planned for them tomorrow.
Chapter 12
With coffee in one hand, Zoe tiptoed out onto the old wrap-around porch and sunk into a cushioned wicker chair. It creaked into the silence with a warm welcome. Beyond the dunes, gulls soared and screeched over the muted thundering of the waves. Down at the end of the block, the sun poked its head between the tall houses and long blue shadows striped the quiet street.
She sucked in the energy surrounding her. It was so good and so right, and now she knew why. She was a witch. The elements were her balm. She stood, facing the ocean, and closed her eyes. The beach, the wind, and the water soothed her soul as bits of thoughts darted in and out.
What was she going to do about Jack? He didn’t love her and she couldn’t blame him. They’d just met. No doubt the sex would be mind-blowing, but there were all those screwed up rules.
There was an awful lot on the negative side of the balance sheet.
And yet, he’d come for her last night. No one had ever rescued her before.
The old screen door cracked open. Balancing an overly full mug, Jack hooked a foot so the door wouldn’t slam. He sat down and frowned into the sun.
“What’re you doing out here alone? Until we figure this thing out, you need to be guarded. Always.” He downed his coffee like a sports drink and scowled.
“Good morning to you too.” She gave a small, almost silent snort and leaned on the railing, coffee cup in hand.
“Sorry. Rough night sleeping,” Jack said, his tone low. “You said last night that Kyle tried to…” His lips drew up in a sneer. “Force himself on you.”
Zoe swallowed hard and nodded.
“If Kyle tried to mate with you, then he didn’t find a woman to augment his powers.” He stretched his legs in front of him and tilted his head back, eyes closed. When he opened them again, his expression was hard, unreadable. “If he wants to dual, I’ll win, just like last time. We don’t have to have sex this solstice. Understand?”
A wave of disappointment flooded through her. Was he serious?
“What about the other guy? The one with the accent–”
“I don’t know.” He stared off into the distance. His knuckles whitened around his coffee mug. “I have a team working to identify him.”
“When he got close to me last night, he smelled of the same evil that almost killed you.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket and went to the picture she’d captured of the stalker on the subway. “I didn’t tell you. He’s been following me for weeks.”
Jack took her phone and snarled at the photo.
“You should have told me about him. Did you know he was down at the shore?” He handed her phone back. His dark eyes sparked with anger.
She nodded and chewed on her lip.
“How long?” His voice was clipped.
“I saw him yesterday morning. When you made me promise to come with you.” She placed her coffee cup on the bannister and turned back to the ocean. The last thing she needed this morning was another lecture from him.
The swing creaked when Jack stood.
“I don’t get you Zoe. It’s like you walk into danger eyes wide open. That’s really screwed up.” He paced the porch, his expression darkening with every step.
Suddenly his hands were on her. His fingers curled around her upper arm and he jerked her to him. The soft brown of his eyes darkened, shining with need. Zoe swallowed hard.
“I’m putting a twenty-four-seven protection around you. I won’t let anyone else claim you. You’re mine.” His voice was hoarse, his breath tickling her cheek. “Understand?”
“Yes,” she whispered. His? The thought both excited and terrified her.
“Good.” He released her abruptly and stormed back into the house.
Zoe let out the shaky breath she had been holding. There were two choices. Run or stay and fight.
Would either option ever make her happy?
Dealing with Jack wouldn’t be easy, but if they could learn to work around their insane physical chemistry, they could help each other. Maybe even learn to care, to love. Zoe squashed the thought immediately. Jack had made it clear that mating wasn’t about love.
A gull landed on the railing a few feet from her, squawked, then flew off.
If she ran, finger-gun-man would still be after her. With Jack, she was safe. His family would be hers. Finally, she would belong somewhere, to someone. But if that was ever going to happen, she needed to learn how to control her powers.
Air. That was the element that Kathy had told her she was to call upon. The basic element that governed her powers. Zoe lifted her palms and focused her thoughts and energy. A small vortex appeared, pinks and purples danced in her hands like a mini-tornado.
A small laugh escaped Zoe’s lips and the vortex went spinning across the lawn, hitting the neighbors’ mailbox. Metal and wood splintered and popped.
“Shit.” Zoe clenched her fists and stopped the flow of energy. She still had a lot to learn if she was ever going to fight Jack and not kill them both, but for the first time, hope blossomed in her chest.
Zoe knew what she had to do.
She would stay and fight.
Chapter 13
Zoe moaned, and rubbed her sore, stiff muscles. She closed her eyes and let the warm spray of water gently wash away the stress of the day. She’d spent the entire day working with Jack’s sister. Fear, mixed with sexual frustration was a good motivator, and by mid-afternoon, she had started to feel a bit more confident that she might actually live to see her next birthday.
Now, as day turned to night she actually had hope that she could be the mate Jack believed her to be.
Smiling, she turned off the shower and reached for a towel. A couple more days and she would be able to fight him, then they’d have nothing to fear. Jack could draw upon her powers and protect them both.
She dried herself off and placed the wet towel in the laundry bin. As she turned around to grab fresh clothes from the closet, the door to her bedroom swung open. Surprised by the sudden invasion, she let out a small gasp.
“I made pasta, if you’re–” Jack froze in the doorway, his lips parted and eyes went wide, then darkened.
For a split second, she swore her heart stopped, just before it began pounding like a jackhammer in her chest. A hard rush of adrenaline pumped through her veins. Never in her life had she so willingly exposed her body to a man, but there was no shame standing in front of him, only undeniable need.
He inched towards her, his gaze devouring her body. His eyes gleamed with a wicked, sensual hunger that had her aching for his touch.
Desire and fear flashed through her. She didn’t move. Couldn’t. She was trapped by an overwhelming need to be with him. To mate–become one.
He didn’t touch her, though she swore his energy reached out and began caressing her skin, making her body shiver in response. She wanted him more than she’d ever wanted anything.
“Fight me, witch, or get the fuck away. Far, far, away. Run. Now.” His voice was a harsh, broken whisper. He clenched and unclenched his fists, and the small knot on his jaw twitched.
Every cell in her body screamed to make love, but another even stronger desire took precedence.
It was time to fight for what she wanted.
“I’ll fight.” She licked her lips and jutted her chin. “For you, I’ll fight.”
He inhaled sharply and took another step closer. Close enough that she could feel the warmth of his body, the intoxicating energy that flowed around him. He gripped her hips, pulling her hard against him. The tips of her breasts tightened as they brushed against the rough material of his shirt. Adrenaline surged, racing through her.
“If we start this–”
“I know.” She placed her hands on his chest. The need for his touch overpowered all rational thought. “I’m ready.”
His hand slid slowly over the curve of her breast, and his gaze locked on her, sending flares of exquisite pleasure racing across her skin. His head dipped towards her, capturing her mouth with a kiss. This time nothing was held back.
Her hands were in his hair, pulling her to him, desperate for more. His tongue met hers. Licking. Stroking. Caressing. His kiss was pure energy. She shivered and arched towards him.
His body exuded his essence in a wild electric current that surrounded them both.
She was on fire. Ecstasy laced with lust took over every rational thought.
“Fight me,” he growled against her lips.
She whimpered when he pulled back. She conjured a tennis-sized ball of energy and thrust it into his midsection. He didn’t even flinch.
“That’s not going to do it, Zoe. Don’t toy with me. I’m hungry. I need you. All of you.”
He placed a palm blast just below her belly and she gasped in pain and pleasure. Damp heat spilled between her thighs.
She inhaled deeply and gathered the electrons around her, then threw a blast into his chest.
Wind and energy blew around them. A photo fell off the wall and crashed to the floor. The curtains blew and tangled as the wind picked up.
“Holy fuck.” Jack stepped back with a shocked expression and she laughed. He paused with a little grin. “Oh, you are so going to pay for that.”
He strode over, cupped her breast and his heat poured into her. The energy was like a magnet. Her core opened wide for him, calling to his thickness to end the madness. She throbbed so badly it was hard to stand.
“Do you want me, Zoe?” Jack smiled arrogantly, his eyes blazing and dark.
“Yes,” she whimpered. More than she had ever thought possible.
“Then stop holding back.” He kicked his power up to full and sent a searing bolt straight into her core.
She stumbled back. Heat infused her body, an inferno of sensation that completely overwhelmed her. She gasped for air.
“Fight me, Zoe.” His voice stroked over her senses. He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor.
He formed a perfectly round ball of fire, and tossed it at her. It exploded over her body.
How could she fight him when every nerve ending in her body screamed for more?
She sucked his electrons into her, and covered them with her own. In her mind’s eye, she pictured how she would sink onto his beautiful shaft. How he would fill her, stretch her, bring her the release she so desperately yearned for. Her thighs clenched, and she could feel the throbbing need in her clit. She took the emotion, the desire, the hunger, and manifested it into a vortex. It left her body and grew to encompass him completely.
Jack’s eyes closed and he groaned as the huge violet spinning body of energy encircled him. His head arched back and the muscles in his shoulder and neck tensed. Her name left his lips in a soft growl.
She reached her hands through the energy and caressed his body. She’d trapped him. A sense of power surged through her. She had full control. She placed her hands on his muscular chest and sent another surge of energy through him. His muscles bunched and rippled and she felt his heartbeat racing under her palms.
“Release me,” he growled, his breathing rapid, rough.
Her lips quirked. Not yet. Knowing she had authority over his body, was both empowering and erotic.
“I want to touch you.” She reached for his belt, unbuckling it. “Taste you.”
Her fingers flicked the button of his jeans. His cock strained against the fabric. She tucked her fingers into the waistband of his boxer briefs, and his hips jerked when her fingers brushed against his engorged head.
“Zoe,” he breathed out harshly. The blaze of lust in his eyes seared her.
She eased the material over his erection. His cock was long and thick, the heavy crown engorged. She wrapped her fingers around the swollen flesh and knelt in front of him. The power was hers. She could take and give what she wanted.
She looked up at him and licked her lips.
“You’r
e not playing fair.” Hunger flared in his eyes.
“You should have explained the rules better.” She chuckled and held the base of his cock in one hand, and cupped his balls in the other. She rubbed the swollen head against her tongue, her lips, and licked the bead that formed at the tip. “Mmmm.”
“Holy hell.” A rumble echoed from his chest.
She caressed the engorged crest, then took him further into her mouth. He hissed when her tongue stroked the underside of his head.
“You’ve undone me, Zoe,” he panted, his body rigid, his face contorted in blissful agony. “Stop. Please. I am going to come too soon.”
She’d been forewarned that this was the final test. He had to verbally concede that she had trapped him. She flicked her tongue.
“I win.”
“No more. Release me.” His eyes were dark with lust. “You win. I’m yours.”
Instead of releasing the vortex, she stepped into it with him and gave up all control. She needed him more.
His lips covered hers and his tongue swept into her mouth. She inhaled his scent, tasted his kiss, took everything he gave her.
The hot flesh of his erection pressed into her stomach. His hands gripped her hips and jerked her closer. Her knees weakened, and the sensitive flesh of her sex throbbed.
“Jack,” she whispered his name with an edge of desperation.
The rough pad of his finger slid across her clit, and she jolted in response. His fingers stroked the sensitive flesh, parted the folds, and pushed into the depths, sending an ecstatic rush of sensations surging through her.
Whimpering in pleasure, she begged, “Don’t stop.”
“Now you yield, witch.” He raked his teeth over her neck, while his palms slipped up her belly to cup her breasts.
She gasped and felt herself sinking into him.
“You know I already have.”
Power coiled through him. Roughly, he hauled her to the bed. Her back met the mattress and he positioned himself above her. He spread her thighs wider with his knees. She curled her hands over his broad shoulders, feeling the muscles clench and tighten under her palms.
Dark Vortex: Mated by Magic Page 8
