9781618851307WitchsBrewShayNC

by Unknown

  Talon froze. “You’re frightened of me?”

  “At least my objects talk back to me,” she said and retreated.

  “Yeah. So? Quit backing away. I’m not going to hurt you.” He shook his head. “You’re not making sense.”

  “I’m not making sense?” Her voice rose with disbelief.

  “You’re driving me crazy, Saylym!”

  “I think someone beat me to it.”

  “Devil’s toenails,” he shouted. “Try to understand. I’m a witch!”

  “I thought I was the witch.”

  “You are a witch. I’m a witch, too. A male witch. A waken. We-are-witches.”

  “You’re really starting to scare me, Talon.” Saylym covered her ears with both hands.

  Oh, boy. Talon’s brows snapped together in a scowl, but the fact was, it did little good, since she had her eyes squinted shut and was humming at the top of her lungs. Off-key, of course. “You have to accept the fact we are witches,” Talon yelled over her humming.

  Saylym swiped at the tears sliding down her cheeks. “You’re scaring me, and I want you to stop now. Please? Stop it!”

  Talon stared at her. There was no reaching her, and all this bungling on her part was going to get both of them into a lot of trouble. He was fresh out of ideas, and fresh out of patience. She was leaving him with no choice. They would bond and get the deed done. He couldn’t allow her to choose and that was wrong.

  The scary thing was she hadn’t meant to turn on the sprinklers in the first place. She’d merely been attempting to prove to him she wasn’t a witch.

  Where in Samhain did she get the idea she wasn’t a witch?

  And why didn’t she know any chants?

  He needed to find out more about her. But then, she wasn’t exactly forthcoming with information about herself. Things were just not right where this particular witch was concerned.

  Talon cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “Saylym…La-Scheme,” he said gently. “Please stop humming.”

  She stopped and opened her eyes. “What?” she asked warily.

  “You said you lived in England? Did you grow up in the illumrof realm or the Ru-Noc realm?”

  Saylym leaned back against a counter and folded her arms beneath her breasts. Shaking her head, she wiped the tears from her face. “Don’t. Please.”

  The triple colors of her eyes swirled with frustration. “For heaven’s sake, Talon, can we for once have a serious conversation? Forget about your fixation with witches and wakens. There is no Ru-Noc. There is no world of witches and wakens. We live in the real world, and I’m in serious trouble here!”

  “You have no idea how serious,” he mumbled, edging closer to her.

  Saylym watched him with a wary stare. He shrugged and touched her hair, brushing a wet curl behind her ear. “How old are you? When were you born? Who is your mother? Your father? Your mother must be a witch. Is her spirit intact? Where is she?”

  “Is her spirit intact? I have no idea what you’re asking me.” She slapped at his hand. “You’re asking me dumb questions when thousands of dollars worth of merchandise are being ruined?”

  “I’ll fix it for you. I told you that.”

  “Right. And just when are you planning to do it? After everything is soaked beyond repair?”

  Talon puffed out a deep breath. “I need you to answer my questions. There’s something not right here. There’s something wrong with you. You aren’t normal.” He glared at her, his frustration getting the better of him. “What am I saying? Of course you aren’t normal, you’re a half-breed. I can’t believe I’m involved with a freakin’ Impure.”

  She flinched.

  He heard her soft gasp, saw the pain reflected in her eyes. The devastation he saw on her face punched him hard in the chest. Damn. He hadn’t meant it like it came out.

  “And when did you come to the decision you couldn’t be involved with me? Before or after you removed my underwear and had your way with me?”

  “Saylym, I…didn’t have my way with you.” Talon caught her by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. “You’re not listening to me, because you don’t want to believe.”

  She jerked away, ignoring his last remark. “Or maybe it was when you caught me talking to the book that first day, or when I told you a different book said I was its mother? Or…or when you decided I was a bit of blonde fluff that lacked a brain—”

  “I don’t think you’re a bit of fluff. I didn’t mean you were a not normal, crazy half-breed. I meant you’re an abnormal witch—”

  “I think I understood you, Talon. You really know how to make a woman feel special. I’m as normal as you are. And I’m not a freakin’ Impure. Whatever the hell that means?”

  “No, baby, you aren’t normal, and yes, you are. You’re a half-breed. Half-illumrof. Half-witch. An Impure. Your blood is tainted.”

  “Uh-huh. Well, at least I don’t go around claiming to be something I’m not. You’re the demented one, Mr. ‘I’m-a-waken.’ If I’m so damn tainted, does that mean I’m not good enough for a prince?”

  “Exactly. That’s exactly what it means. Can’t you understand? I shouldn’t be anywhere near you.”

  “Then take your princely ass and get out of my shop!”

  Talon felt like kicking his ass as tears tracked down her face. “Saylym…I can’t do that. It’s not that easy. And damn it, stop crying. That’s just one of the things that make you abnormal. Witches cannot cry. And yet, you do. You—”

  She held up her hand to halt his words. “You can’t find the main valve, so therefore something is wrong with me? Hah!” She pushed herself away from the counter and snapped her fingers underneath his nose. “I said, hah!”

  “I heard what you said.” Talon locked his fingers around her arms and yanked her back to him. “Blast it, don’t snap your fingers. It’s dangerous! You might turn me into a damned toad or something worse.”

  Saylym snorted, jerked away from him, and wiggled her fingers beneath his nose. “Wooo-oo-oo, careful I don’t change you into the nut you are!”

  Talon backed up a step. “I’m not kidding,” he yelled. “You don’t know your own powers. Stop wiggling your fingers at me!”

  “Go to hell!” She whirled away.

  “Hey,” he shouted. “Not so fast.” He latched onto her arm and turned her toward him.

  She looked up at him, violet sparks filling her eyes. “Let go of me. Let go or I’ll punch you in the eye.”

  He grinned. “I don’t think so, La-Scheme.” Talon shook his head and drew her closer until she was flush against his thighs.

  Her gaze widened when she felt his hardness throb against her belly. “Well,” she said, peeved. “That’s not playing fair.”

  “I never play fair.” His eyes settled on her mouth. “It’s rather disconcerting for a waken to have such an immediate response to a witch who is mad as hell at him. Everything you do or say turns me on.”

  “I do?” Saylym shook her head.

  “Oh, yes. You do.” He pressed her hands against his zipper. “See. I’m already hard as stone.”

  She pulled her hands away, and tried pushing against his chest. It was like trying to move a rock wall. She couldn’t budge him. “Look,” she said, frowning. “I know you think you’re a witch, and I’ll admit to some strange things happening in my house and here at the shop, but none of it proves you’re a waken or I’m a witch. Truly, Talon, there’s no such thing as witches and wakens, werewolves or vampires.”

  “Yes, darling, there are. We all co-exist here in this plane, just in different realms on Ru-Noc, except for vampires. The rules for them are a little different, but we’re all magical, just different species.”

  “Think about it. This should prove to you you’re wrong. Why, if you were truly a witch, you could change me into something dreadful.”

  Talon smiled, shaking his head as he slowly dipped his mouth closer to hers. “Uh-uh.”

  She licked her lips, before sta
mmering, “A-a…waken would…be powerful. You haven’t shown me any kind of powerful…umph —”

  Talon put an end to her rambling by framing her face between his hands and resting his mouth over hers. There was nothing gentle or easy about the way he claimed her mouth or devoured it. It was the best way he could think of to shut her up, and the spell had ended. It was safe to kiss her. And damn, but he wanted that. He touched his tongue to hers, tangled his around it and sucked. She tasted hot, like a rich, exotic spice. He wanted the taste of her to remain on his tongue.

  Without releasing her mouth, Talon turned her and pressed her against a section of bare wall. All he could think was that it was never going to be enough. No. One kiss, this one simple taste of her exotic, spicy flavor, was never going to satisfy him. A lifetime of kissing her would never be enough. He wanted more. He wanted forever.

  And he knew without doubt, when it came to her, he was always going to want more.

  He wanted to strip her naked, lift her bare bottom in his hands, and thrust deep. He wanted to feel her legs wrapped around his hips as he came inside her. He ached to feel her pulsing around him as she came—to feel the tiny quivers of aftershocks as she settled with sated heat around his cock.

  He cupped her bottom and lifted her against the heavy ridge of his hardness, then held himself nestled there, snug between her thighs. So close…not nearly close enough. So tight… not nearly tight enough. So incredibly warm and intoxicating…but not enough.

  And he thoroughly ravaged her mouth.

  Saylym parted her lips, moaning as she locked her arms around his neck, drawing him closer. He felt her heart pounding. Her scent enveloped him, hot and heady. Yet, he couldn’t get close enough.

  She made a sound, a frantic whimper of need. He recognized the little mewling cries coming from the back of her throat. He hadn’t meant for this to happen. Not this soon.

  He’d never titillated a witch into complete readiness before the season fully reached its peak. It was still over a week before Beltane reached its zenith, yet, with a kiss and a few thrusts of his hips, her body had shot full speed ahead. Inviting. Welcoming. Fertile. By the gods, he could smell the ripeness of her womb. She wasn’t infected with the virus.

  He shuddered, knowing she was ready to breed, and wanton in her invitation to take him.

  She was so damned responsive. So explosive, touching her was like handling TNT. He had to mate with her soon, not only to satisfy her needs, but to ensure every waken knew she was his.

  She arched against him, rubbing against the hard length throbbing behind his zipper, then panted, wild and desperate for completion.

  The uncontrolled, frenetic sound of Saylym’s whimper jerked Talon back to his senses. In another second, he knew he’d have her stripped and slamming inside her. His cock throbbed with the urgent need to be inside her hot channel. No shallow fucking. He wanted to be buried to the hilt inside her silken glove.

  Groaning, he eased back, giving them both the space they needed to gain control. Saylym cried out, trying to pull him back against her. Talon nibbled at her bottom lip, drawing the pouty fullness into his mouth then slowly releasing it.

  She shuddered, resting her head against his chest.

  “Easy, sweetheart,” he whispered, lifting her chin with his fingertip. “I hurt, too.” Gently, he rubbed his thumb against her mouth. “I’d rather kiss you, Saylym Winslow,” he breathed, “than turn you into something nasty.”

  A strangled laugh escaped her. Hectic color stained her cheekbones and her breathing sounded ragged. She cleared her throat. “That’s a relief.”

  “Will you bond with me, Saylym?”

  “What? Bond? What does that mean?”

  “Bond. Belong to me for the rest of your life and mine. Will you give me your heart for safekeeping as I will give you mine?”

  Saylym swallowed hard. “I don’t know. Things are so complicated. We hardly know each other.” She searched his eyes. “I…don’t know what to say. And…you said you couldn’t be involved with a half-breed. I’m not good enough for you.”

  “It’s a risk,” he agreed. “But I’ll get past it, somehow.”

  Angry color suffused her face. “You know what? You can go straight to hell. How can you kiss me like I’m the best thing since peanut butter, then act like I’m a charity case? Don’t do me any favors!”

  His fingers tightened on her shoulders. “I don’t know what peanut butter is, sweetheart, but if it tastes like you, then it’s wonderful. Look, it’s complicated because I’m royalty but never, never have I thought of you as a charity case. I want you, Saylym. So, I’m asking you again. Will you bond with me?”

  “I have to think about it. I need time.”

  “Time is the one thing we don’t have. You will give me your answer tomorrow. Understand, La-Scheme,” he said huskily. “I’m asking you as a courtesy, but make no mistake, you are mine. We will finish what we just started or else other wakens will pick up your mating scent. We will have a public bonding ceremony with a high priestess joining our lives together. Don’t think to deny me. I will have you.”

  “Don’t think you can order me around just because you have some cockamamie idea you’re a prince!”

  “Cockamamie? Did you just give my cock a name?”

  Saylym snorted. “No. I think that’s something only males do.”

  Talon lips twitched. A becoming flush stained her cheeks. He wanted to eat her up, to feast on her until he was engorged on her sweetness. One day soon he’d smash through her defenses, claim her, take her, and own her.

  Damn straight, he was going to dominate her—in every sense of the word. She would never doubt she belonged to him.

  “My mating scent?” Saylym picked up the thread of their conversation. “Half the time I have no idea what you’re talking about. No, I won’t bond with you or mate with you or whatever the hell your term is for having sex. I want you to leave. Go!”

  Looping his hands together behind her back, he drew her closer. “The word sex works just fine.” He grinned. “I’ve wanted to make you mine since the first moment I saw you. I’m not leaving, Saylym. You need me here, darling, more than you know. You better get used to having me around.”

  Talon saw the glint of anger in her eyes at that, but he didn’t have time to dwell on her sensitive nature or worry about her displeasure with him or candy-coating his words. They were running out of time. He had to bond with her or the choice would be taken from both of them.

  He hadn’t thought she’d had one, but he was beginning to realize his soft, gentle, bit-of-fluff witch, possessed a temper. “Anzus Gevo,” he whispered, and rubbed his mouth against hers. It worked as a way of distracting her from her fit of pique.

  “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing,” she said as he released her mouth.

  He grinned. “Did it work?”

  “Maybe. What did you say?”

  He hesitated, then whispered hoarsely, “Divine gift. You’re my divine gift.”

  She gave a strangled moan as her blouse drifted apart beneath his questing fingers. He cupped her breasts, gently kneading, circling his thumbs in a delicious spiral over her taut nipples. “Say you’ll bond with me,” he whispered, stroking her breasts through the white silk of her bra.

  Slowly, he dipped his head and suckled her through the thin lace of her bra. Leaning back, he blew lightly on the damp material. Her nipple tightened. “Say it, Saylym,” he commanded, before drawing the other nipple deep inside his mouth.

  She squirmed restlessly against him.

  “Say it,” he ordered. “Say you’ll bond with me.”

  She shook her head in refusal. “No. I won’t say it.”

  His fingers slipped beneath her skirt, edged the silken thong to one side and slipped deep inside her. His thumb teased the little nubbin into a hard spike. She wiggled against his hand as he stroked her to the point of orgasm, then slowly, slowly, eased back, teasing her with the shallowness of his finger, l
eaving her wanting, leaving her whimpering for more, desperate for his penetration, desperate for him to bring her to completion.

  “Say it,” he whispered against her ear. “Say you will bond with me.”

  She shook her head wildly, refusing to obey his command. He locked her wrists over her head with one hand and dipped his fingers deeper, teasing the sensitized inner muscles, brushing against the nub until she screamed with need. She rode his fingers, bucking and squirming as he set a smooth rhythm.

  “Say it,” he said hoarsely. “Say it, or I’ll leave you on the brink of orgasm, unsatisfied and hungry. Say it!” He pushed deeper, teasing and tormenting the tender, sensitized flesh of her velvety channel. “Say it!”

  “I’ll bond with you,” she agreed in a strained voice, a whimper escaping her as he stroked his fingers roughly in and out, finally giving her what she needed. Talon moaned, strangling with urgent need of his own as she shuddered. He knew he would not find release this time.

  Talon kissed her, taking her mouth with long, deep strokes of his tongue in time to the rhythm of his stroking fingers until he sent her careening over the edge. “Gods,” he whispered, when he at last stopped kissing her. “You’re killing me.”

  “It was my choice and not because you seduced me,” she said breathlessly.

  He drew back. His chest heaved. With hands that weren’t quite steady, he pulled the edges of her blouse together and slowly buttoned it. “I don’t give a damn whose choice it was. If I have to finger-fuck you all day to make you consent, I will. You agreed to bond with me and we will Handfast, as soon as I can make the arrangements.

  Saylym searched his face as he rested his forehead against hers. “I want you for real.” He pressed her hands against his aching cock. “Don’t think I don’t need you, too. I do.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You cheated,” she accused.

  “Yes, I did.” Talon arched a brow, not the least repentant. “You have to bond with me, darling. Put me out of my misery. I need you so much. I don’t want to take you here, against a cold, wet wall. And if I keep kissing you, if I touch you intimately again, I will. Your scent is damned alluring. It compels me, as strong as any spell you could ever chant.”