Aeromancist, The Beginning (SECOND EDITION): Prequel (7 Forbidden Arts Book 2)

by Charmaine Pauls

  They worked until Alfonso came to tell them lunch was served on the pool deck. Martina and the rest of the staff ate at the big table in the kitchen. Kat enjoyed the grilled chicken breast and butternut salad, having found her appetite again. They didn’t linger over lunch, and she was grateful. She wanted to get back to her task.

  She was bent over her laptop, her lip caught between her teeth, when she became aware of Lann’s stare. She stopped typing and looked up. He stood at the light table, and when their eyes met, he smiled.

  Her heart did a backflip. That smile was so damn disarming. He looked sinfully hot, especially with those glasses. “What are you working on?”

  “Restoration.” He motioned at the books. “I’m going through them, assessing what needs to be done to either maintain or repair them.”

  Her interest was piqued. “How come you know so much about this?”

  “It’s a passion. This collection was falling to pieces. It was a shame to let it go to waste because of a lack of government funding.”

  “Is that why you bought it?”

  “Yes, and I wanted to make it accessible to the public. These works belong to everyone, not only to theology students and monks.”

  “You’re right,” she said, admiring his obvious dedication. She got up and walked to him. “So what are you looking for when you pour over these books?”

  “Come here.” He moved aside, making space for her next to him. “I’m looking at the binding, and the ink and paper quality. See there?” He pointed at a colored border. “Fading. This needs a touch-up. Everything is noted, and then Martina draws up a report on each book, after which she makes the necessary arrangements to get the needed work done.”

  Placing her palms on the desk, she lowered her head for a better look.

  “See there?” Lann pointed at a section. “There’s a difference in the hue of the color.” As he spoke, he cupped his hand over hers, his broad, warm palm burying her smaller one.

  She loved the subtle show of affection. Her heart gave a start. No. She shouldn’t start craving affection outside of the physical that was taking place in the bedroom. Yet her defenses didn’t stand a chance when he released her hand to drag his fingers up her arm and down her spine. She craved more, and she couldn’t help it.

  With his other hand, he swept her hair over her shoulder and whispered in her ear, “I can’t stop thinking about you being naked under this dress.”

  She looked up quickly, wondering if Martina had overheard him. The librarian was staring at them, but when Kat met her eyes, she looked away. Kat’s cheeks turned hot. She pulled away from Lann, not because Martina had been looking but because of the disconcerting realization that she liked the idea of Lann’s tender touches going beyond sexual, and took her place by her desk again.

  His smile was amused, but his golden eyes heated when he rested his gaze in the general direction of her knees. Smirking at him, she shut his face from her line of vision with the angle of her laptop screen.

  They worked until five and, when her brain was tired from thinking, she put on a T-shirt and yoga pants, and told Lann she was going for a run.

  To her surprise, the driver from yesterday followed her in the Jaguar. The man riding shotgun was someone she recognized from Lann’s security detail.

  Back at the monastery, she changed into her bikini and went for a dip in the pool. She lounged in the sun for half an hour, took a shower, and dressed for dinner in an off-shoulder blouse and a pair of jeans. Lann had been locked up in his office since she’d left, but he joined her for a dinner of lobster and baby potatoes tossed in parsley butter before he excused himself to go for a workout in the gym.

  She went to her room, got undressed, and slipped into bed. The weight of the ring rested heavily on her finger where her hand lay on top of the covers. It was weird to live with a stranger, yet she already felt a sense of familiarity. It seemed to happen quickly for them, maybe because Lann had a cunning ability to set her at ease.

  She was still awake when she heard Lann’s bedroom door open. The water in his shower came on. A few minutes later, he opened the door between their rooms. She knew he would come, and now that he stood there, naked and aroused, her heart did a crazy dance while every inch of her skin heated.

  He carried something in his hand that he left on the dresser. “This is yours.”

  The silver box caught the light from the lamp. The hairclip. “Are those real rubies?”

  “Yes.” He said it like her question surprised him. “Like the color of your hair.”

  “I can’t accept it.”

  “Why not?”

  He walked to her, pulled the covers off her naked body, and stretched out on top of her just like the night before. His skin was cool. He smelled of soap and his spicy cologne. He brushed his hand down the side of her body, over her breast, hip, and thigh.

  “Because it’s too valuable,” she said. “I could never give you anything in kind.”

  He slipped a hand underneath her body to cup her ass. “I didn’t give you a gift because I expect something in return.”

  “It doesn’t seem right.” She gasped as he slid his other hand between their bodies and cupped her sex.

  “You have a strange idea of what’s right and wrong.” He rubbed his thumb over her clit. “When a man gives you a gift, say thank you and kiss him.”

  Too engrossed with the feelings he was stirring in her body as he slipped a finger inside, she didn’t argue.

  “So wet for me.” He lifted his head to look down at her as another finger joined the first.

  The stretch made her whimper. The intensity of the sensation made her close her eyes.

  “I’m going to fuck you with my fingers, Katherine, just a bit, and then I want to make love to you with my cock.”

  Her moans grew louder as he started doing exactly that, but moving too slowly. It was delicious torture. She lifted her hips, seeking more, but he was taking his time. She was panting, her body craving the pleasure he’d bring. He kissed her, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth and giving it a nip.

  When her eyes flew open at the bite of pain, he said, “Keep those beautiful eyes open for me. I want to watch you come.”

  He pulled out his fingers and positioned himself between her thighs. She expected him to take her hard, like the night before, but he entered her slowly, stopping after every inch to give her time to adjust to his size. He didn’t move, simply stretched her, observed her, until she started squirming underneath him in frustration. When she gripped his hips, trying to make him move, he took her hands and lifted them above her head.

  “Tonight, I want to make love to you, krasavitsa.”

  Their eyes remained locked as he inched deeper, making her gasp.

  “I love watching your eyes when my cock stretches you,” he said in a low voice. “Your lashes flutter ever so slightly every time I move. And when I do this…” he pushed deeper, “…your pupils dilate. Yes, just like that. Do you know how expressive you are?”

  She only whimpered as he tortured her further by giving her more, but not enough.

  He took his time to enter her, and when her body had adapted fully, he started moving slowly.

  She locked her knees around him. “Please, more.”

  Tonight, he refused to be rushed. He kept his weight on one hand while the other found her clit again, rubbing the nub that ached with need. He started a massage that matched the pace of his body—long, deep strokes that brought her to the edge but left her hanging.

  She gripped his hair, trying to bring his head down to hers, but he pulled back.

  “I can’t kiss you, krasavitsa. I want to look at you.”

  She shook with need. “Please, Lann.”

  “Please what?”

  “Please let me come.”

  “Soon.”

  When he increased his pace slightly, her body tightened with her pending release. The buildup was unrushed and torturously intense.

  Satisfac
tion bled into his eyes. “Right now, I’m the only one who can give you what you need.”

  She twisted under him. The pleasure engulfed her, a wave that swept through her body and mind.

  “Tell me,” he said.

  “Only you,” she whispered before an intense orgasm stole her words and what was left of her breath.

  She tightened her legs around him until the aftershocks ebbed. Only then did Lann let himself go, moving with deep, unhurried strokes that kept her body hovering in the afterglow of her climax until it was building again.

  “I’m too sensitive,” she said. “I can’t.”

  “You’re capable of much more than you think.” Her eyes fluttered closed, but his voice brought her back to him. “Look at me.”

  She tried to focus on him. Her body was a mass of sensation. She gripped his hips, but he lowered her arms and pinned them next to her body. He was in control.

  Her voice shook. “Lann.”

  “I’m here, krasavitsa.” He groaned. “Fuck. Katherine.”

  A growl sounded deep in his chest. He threw back his head and slammed into her as deep as he could. He clenched his jaw while his body shook over hers. She wanted to wrap her arms around him, but he was still holding down her wrists. It was only when she pulled gently to free herself that he released her, and she could stroke her hands over his back.

  He nuzzled her neck. “You’re always beautiful, but even more so when you come for me.”

  He rolled off her and draped her body over his. She needed a shower, but she couldn’t make herself move, because he was kissing the top of her head and whispering tender words to her in Russian.

  “That word you always use,” she muttered as sleep started to claim her. “Krasavitsa. What does it mean?”

  “It’s a term of endearment. It means beautiful.” He pressed another kiss to the crown of her head. “It’s a word that was made just for you.”

  Chapter 6

  It was easy to fall into a routine in the monastery. It was exactly what Kat needed to get her work done. She had no cleaning or cooking duties, and she used the bonus time productively. During the day, she worked in close proximity of Lann, except when he withdrew to his office. They shared a light lunch, and in the late afternoon Kat went for a jog while Lann worked out in the gym. Sometimes he joined her for a swim before dinner, and after retiring, he always came to her room. How he took her depended on how she asked. Sometimes it was hard and fast, and at other times slow and easy. Once her body was accustomed, he claimed her often, at least twice a day, and she could never get enough.

  The first week, she didn’t leave his home, except for her runs, although he was out often to take care of business. What his business was, he never said. Like everything else in his life, this remained a mystery.

  Marianne Sullivan almost swallowed her false teeth when Kat called to let her know she didn’t have to pick her up the following Thursday. She couldn’t get around an explanation without lying, so she simply told Marianne the truth—that Lann had asked her for dinner and she’d never left.

  “I was wondering when you didn’t call after your meeting with him,” Marianne said, “but I didn’t want to pry. So, he asked you to stay behind to have dinner with him?”

  “Sorry I didn’t call before,” Kat said. “I just didn’t know what to say.”

  “Do you know what you’re doing?”

  “Please don’t mention this to Charles. I know he’ll worry and tell my parents. I prefer to break the news to them myself.”

  Marianne spoke after a short pause. “Is this relationship affecting your studies?”

  “I’ve never worked better. I’m making wonderful progress. I’ll show you on Thursday.”

  “All right, then. I suppose you’re a big girl. As long as you know what you’re doing.”

  She didn’t explain that her arrangement with Lann was temporary, and that it would end in another few weeks’ time. There was no way of justifying that kind of arrangement to Marianne.

  On Friday morning, a week after her arrival, Kat walked into the library and took her place by her desk. Martina was already in. They exchanged a quick greeting. Kat had done plenty of electronic research the week before, and wanted to go through her notes and type up what was relevant before the end of the day.

  Lann was still in his office, as it was his habit to do some work in the morning before he came downstairs to examine the books. Her lover was an early morning person. He woke up before sunrise, and by the time the first daylight entered her room, he’d already taken her once or twice. Her body heated at the thought. He’d leave her to sleep while he swam a few laps in the pool, took a shower, had his breakfast outside, and went upstairs to work before joining her mid-morning in the library.

  She blew out a wistful sigh. She liked the pattern their days had adopted. The only thing she missed was socializing. Aside from the staff, they never saw anyone. Lann didn’t invite friends over. Surely, a man in his position and with his power had to have plenty of acquaintances.

  “You’re daydreaming,” Martina said.

  Kat looked up to see the librarian staring at her from over the computer they used for cataloguing books.

  Smiling, Kat said, “And here I was just thinking how productive I am.”

  “If you don’t mind my asking, what’s going on between you and Lann?”

  “Actually, I do mind,” Kat said, not unfriendly.

  “It’s just that he’s never told us why you’re here or what role you’re playing in his life—if we can expect to see a lot more of you or not.”

  Lann often touched Kat or used terms of endearment. Sometimes he had his hands all over her, and he didn’t care who was watching. Martina had seen him caressing Kat plenty of times. She obviously knew they were having a physical relationship. However, Martina was Lann’s employee. It wasn’t Kat’s place to tell her they had a thirty-day contract. Maybe Lann would never say anything, and Martina would assume that their relationship didn’t work out.

  “Why don’t you ask Lann about that?” Kat suggested gently.

  “Is that because you don’t know how to define what you’ve got with him or because he made you promise not to tell?”

  Kat uttered an uncomfortable laugh. “Why the curiosity all of a sudden?”

  “I just wanted to say you’re the first woman he’s ever invited here.”

  “Oh.”

  Kat ducked her head behind a book. How many women had Lann invited to wherever he’d lived before? She didn’t have time to think about it because the subject of their discussion walked through the door wearing dark jeans and a linen shirt. His hair was tied in a ponytail.

  “Morning, Martina.”

  He shot the brunette a reserved smile, then walked to Kat’s desk and kissed her. His tongue parted her lips, stealing her breath and her reason. When Lann finally released her, her cheeks turned warm under Martina’s stare.

  “Never be shy about your affection,” he whispered in her ear before saying, “I hope your work is up to date, because I’m taking you out today.”

  Kat beamed at him. “Really?” The prospect of having him to herself for a whole day was just as exciting as getting out for a change.

  He eyed her jeans, sandals, and tank top. “That’ll do just fine.” Offering her a hand, he said, “Let’s go.”

  “Where to?”

  “Surprise.” On the way out, he called to Martina, “See you on Monday.”

  This time, Lann didn’t make use of his driver, but led her to a black Pagani that was parked in the garage. He took the highway north to the Pacific coast and drove to Valparaiso.

  She enjoyed the hour-long drive, looking at the passing landscape while Lann held her hand. He only let go when he needed to change the gears, and she didn’t allow her mind to dwell on the reason why she liked that constant, gentle touch so much.

  When they arrived in the city, he took the road to the harbor and parked inside a private garage.

 
; “We’re going on a boat?” she asked as he helped her from the car.

  “My beautiful, curious, Katherine.” He took a picnic basket and blanket from the back. Kissing her neck, he whispered, “And so responsive.”

  Before she could reply, he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the quay. She looked around, but didn’t see any yachts or speedboats. There were only freight ships and fishing trawlers.

  He lifted her hand and pointed her finger to the end of the quay. “There she is.”

  Kat looked in the direction he indicated, and then stopped dead. “Oh. My. God.” A seaplane! Lann’s smile was so obviously pleased, she felt like hugging him.

  “Have you ever been in one of those?” he asked.

  “Never.”

  “Then I’m happy to be your first.”

  She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. “You’re amazing.”

  He laughed when she let him go. It was a foreign sound, uncharacteristic for him. Since she’d moved into his home, she’d only seen him either serious or sensual. For once, he seemed carefree.

  “First put my flying skills to the test,” he said, “and then decide if I’m amazing.”

  He helped her into the passenger seat of the aircraft, and secured the safety belt before taking the pilot seat. He did the pre-flight check, exchanged a few words with a control tower, and started the engine.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  She nodded enthusiastically. He steered the plane away from the ships. A little way into the ocean, he picked up speed, and a few seconds later, the plane lifted into the air. She could hardly contain her excitement.

  “I love this,” she said over the noise of the engine. “Can you go wilder?”

  His expression warmed. “You don’t know how much I wanted you to ask me that.”

  She didn’t know what he meant, but flying with him was exhilarating. “This is better than sex.”

  He lifted a brow. “I’ll have to change your mind about that.”

  She looked at the view of the sea below. They were turning inland. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.” He squeezed her hand. “It’s good to see you happy.”