The beast wavered, its body swinging forward. Then back. Forward again.
With a bellow that rang through the chamber and caused more rock to fall, the giant slammed to its side on the rock floor.
Even as the blind giant tried to push itself up, the Drow slit its massive throat. It took several warriors to hack at its neck. Deep brown blood spurted and gushed from the wounds.
Copper’s stomach churned and she held her hand over her mouth. She could barely hold back the bile rising in her throat.
All the while the giant struggled, knocking Drow from their feet with its huge arms and sending them flying. One of its fingers nearly hooked Tiernan, but he swung his sword down in a huge arc and cut the giant’s finger off.
Finally, the giant gave one last shudder and stilled.
For a moment the Drow, Tiernan, and Copper were silent, watching blood flow from the giant’s throat like a river gushing over a waterfall. Eventually the bleeding lessened until it was but a trickle.
Garran and Naal climbed over the rubble and approached Tiernan. The Drow king had a stoic expression on his face. When he reached Tiernan, Garran held out his arm, and they clasped one another’s forearms at the elbow in the handshake of old.
“Thank you, brother,” Garran said with a deep nod. “You are free to go.”
“You better believe he is,” Copper grumbled from above. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
After the Drow helped to free the passageway so that Tiernan and Copper could leave, Tiernan was so angry with Copper he did not speak to her until they were through the Drow door and out into the sunlight.
He was sweating and covered in blood. Dirt streaked both his and Copper’s clothing and faces. His breathing was harsh and his blood pumped in his veins like fire, from the rush of adrenaline that continued to flood him.
The moment the door closed behind them, Tiernan took her by the shoulders. “What in the gods’ names were you thinking? First of all, you could have been killed by that giant, and secondly, you could have been bespelled by the Drow king.”
Copper pushed his hands away and glared right back at him. “I was doing just fine till you arrived. I would have been out of there before that giant attacked if you hadn’t come down and caused a freaking scene and delayed us.”
Heat blazed through him. “You were kissing a gods-damn Drow.”
He swore he saw the corner of Copper’s mouth quirk, as if she were amused. “Jealous?”
Tiernan scowled. Jealous? Of course not, not with this maddening woman. Yet the sight of her kissing the Drow had sent fury through him, fury that he could not explain. Even the thought of it made him want to punch the bastard.
“Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?” he shouted instead of voicing the thoughts raging in his mind. “You could have been spelled. Then you could have been kept by the Dark Elves forevermore!”
“I was.” Copper placed her hands on her hips. “Spelled, that is. At least a little. But I’m a witch and it had little effect on me. Not that it’s any concern of yours.”
Tiernan growled. He found himself wanting to shake her again.
That or kiss her.
The thought of kissing her again, the image of his lips on hers, chased every other word out of his mind. He was almost relieved when she whirled and strode back around the stone outcropping until he couldn’t see her anymore.
He sucked in a deep breath between his teeth. Testing the barriers while trying to find a way out of this prison must have roasted his brains.
Twelve
By the time a couple of weeks had passed, Tiernan was certain he was stuck with the most illogical, maddening, impulsive, fiery being he had ever known. Worse than her sister by far.
From the beginning she had vexed him. Her impulsivity toward the Drow and not taking them and their actions seriously; her use of gray magic that far exceeded Silver’s; the fact she would throw herself in the line of fire to save others, as she had when she used her shield to save him; the way she unintentionally teased him sexually, yet denied him what they both wanted; the way she argued with him about most everything.
And that damnable bee familiar had stung him no less than six times in the ass since he had been trapped with Copper.
His need for her was driving him out of his mind. To wake with her every morning in his arms, yet not actually be able to touch her the way he wanted to, was the most incredible torture.
His need to get back to help the other D’Danann became more intense every day. He wished he knew what was happening. He had to assist them and rid that world of the damned Fomorii before the demons and the warlock accomplished their goal and freed Balor.
And he sincerely wanted to unite Copper with her sister because it was so important to Copper.
This day he had just finished testing the barrier again and had tied his hair and Pixie creation back away from his face. It was close to noon. He was hungry—there was never enough food in this damnable place and he was heartily sick of apples—and had the desire to slam his fist into something. Gods, would they ever make it out of this prison? What he wouldn’t give to be back in his home in Otherworld.
He frowned. His handfasting with Airell was not long in coming, and he had yet to determine a solution that would be to everyone’s satisfaction.
It was not possible. No matter what choice he made, someone would suffer.
Yet, how could he wed a woman heavy with another man’s child? But he would not allow her to be disgraced, marked, banished from the Fae realm.
Somehow, someway, he would work this out.
When he came back to the center of the meadow after tying his hair and braids back, he saw Copper climbing up and disappearing into the branches of the apple tree.
“What in the name of Underworld are you—” he started as he stood under the tree and looked up.
Tiernan couldn’t speak anymore. He couldn’t even think. He was directly under Copper and could see clearly beneath her vine-and-leaf dress.
As she climbed up the tree, her ass and her sex were bared for his eyes. Her smooth, curved buttocks and the copper-colored patch of curls between her thighs.
His mouth grew dry and his cock swelled against his leather breeches. His hands itched to touch her. His body ached to slide between her thighs again, to drive his cock deep inside her warmth.
He shook his head. Being trapped with this woman was definitely making him addled. Yet every minute he spent in Copper’s presence made him want her even more.
Lust, he told himself, it is merely lust.
He forced himself to move away from beneath the tree so that he could no longer see her. “Get down,” he commanded, folding his arms across his chest. “You could fall and injure yourself.”
“Oh, get a grip,” came her muffled voice from inside the tree.
He had to resist the urge to go back under the tree where he could watch her make her way farther up and then down again. He broke out in a sweat, unable to stop visualizing her buttocks, the tender flesh of her folds, and the soft red curls between her thighs.
He’d take her from behind, gripping those ass cheeks in his hands as he watched his cock slide in and out of her wetness. And then he’d turn her over, slide between her thighs so that he could suck her nipples as he fucked her until she climaxed over and over and over.
Tiernan’s cock throbbed beneath his tight leather breeches, and he cupped himself, trying to ease the discomfort. His need to take her again had increased tenfold. He gritted his teeth. He did not know how much more he could take of being around this beautiful, sensual, maddening woman.
He heard a rustle coming from the tree, two thuds and a damn as two of the reddest, most perfect apples fell to the ground. A few more rustles and Copper swung down from a lower branch one-handed and landed easily on her feet.
She gripped her wand tight in one hand as she scooped up the two apples. She’d taken to carrying her wand everywhere with her, afraid that on
e of the mischievous beings in the bubble would make off with it. As she retrieved the apples, her dress hiked up and showed her upper thighs.
“Better eat these now.” She straightened and presented Tiernan with an apple.
He scowled as he took the apple, focusing on his anger instead of his cock. “Do not climb the tree again. You could have fallen.”
An annoyed expression crossed Copper’s face. “Get over yourself, Tarzan.”
She tried to brush past him, but he dropped the apple and caught her by her arms. “I am quite serious, Copper.”
Annoyance turned into an outright glare. She yanked her arms away. “You don’t tell me what to do. That’s it. That’s all there is to it.”
She pushed past Tiernan, grumbling all the way to the shelter, and he heard the words arrogant, controlling, and jerk.
He didn’t know what made him do it, but something burned within his body, something more than anger, more than concern for her safety.
In a few strides he reached her at the rock outcropping. She whirled around with fire in her eyes, but he backed her up against the wall of smooth boulders. He braced his hands on the rock to either side of her face. She dropped her apple and placed her free palm against his chest, as if to shove him away—
He took her mouth with a rough and angry kiss.
Copper caught her breath in surprise and her mouth parted, giving him the opportunity to slip his tongue into her warmth as he assaulted her with his kiss.
In the next second Copper was kissing him back with the same fiery intensity, putting her own anger, her own frustration into it. She slid her hands from his chest to his shoulders and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her wand poked him in the back of the head.
She tasted so sweet and smelled of apples, cinnamon, and woman. Whereas before his kiss was punishing, now it grew into something passionate, sensual, and needy. He groaned as she slipped her tongue into his mouth, demanding as much as he was taking.
Copper clamped her legs around his hips and pressed herself tight against him and his erection. His cock was raging to thrust into her right up against this rock wall, to take her now, to take her hard. To possess her. To own her.
He grasped her buttocks, turned them both away from the rock, moved to the center of the clearing, and sank onto his knees in the thick grass where he laid her on her back. She dropped her wand and it rested in the grass beside her.
He braced himself above her, his breathing hard, sweat dripping down his face, his erection pressed tight between her thighs. She was so beautiful beneath him, her mouth slightly parted, lips swollen from his kiss, her eyes heavy-lidded with desire, and her beautiful hair tousled.
A glint was in her cinnamon eyes as she looked up at him. “I can’t help it, but I want you so bad,” she said in a husky voice. “Is it really okay to do this? What if you can’t find a solution and you have to marry Airell?”
Tiernan pressed his lips to her forehead. His arms trembled with the passion wound up within him and the force it took to control himself. He gently brushed his mouth over her soft skin, and she sighed.
“I will find a way, little fire.” He pressed a kiss to her nose. “I will find a way.”
He raised his head, and his gaze met hers. He saw nothing short of raw desire—and need. Need for him.
“All right.” He was powerless to stop her as she took one of his hands, brought his fingers to the lower edge of her leaf-and-vine tunic, and pressed his palm against her bare mound.
All thought fled his mind as she moved her lips to his, kissing him with such intensity that he groaned into her mouth. She slipped her soft tongue through his lips and he couldn’t stop himself from sliding his fingers deep into her wetness at the same time.
Copper moaned and moved her hips, riding his fingers as he rubbed her taut clit and then delved into her wet channel.
His head was spinning from the incredible kiss, from the feel of her soft body against his, the scent of her woman’s musk. Had it been like this the first times they joined? This time seemed even more passionate, more fiery.
Copper grew wilder in his arms. She bit his bottom lip and he groaned again. She brought her palm to his shoulder and pushed him flat on his back. She ended up on top of him, straddling him. She pulled away from the kiss, rose up, and rode him, her bare folds pressed against his leather-clad cock. At the same time, she pulled her vine dress over her head and tossed it aside on the grass beside the apple tree.
He held her slim hips as she arched her back, her face tilted to the sky, her hands on her breasts as she tugged on her nipples. He’d never seen a more beautiful sight. Her breasts were small and firm, her body smooth and taut. Her copper-colored hair brushed her shoulders as she rode him through his breeches, and the sun made soft gold highlights in her tresses.
Copper lowered her face and looked at him, her cinnamon eyes devouring him. She released her breasts and braced her hands to either side of his head.
She kissed him again, a hungry kiss like she’d never get enough. He was certain he would not. He had to have her, all of her.
Copper stole her lips from his, dragging her mouth along his stubbled jaw, shimmying down his body as she gently bit the skin at the place where his neck met his shoulder, then licked the spot with her tongue.
She moved down farther, kissing the hollow at the base of his throat, then the skin visible through the loose ties of his tunic. “Goddess, you taste good,” she murmured, her voice husky and needy.
Tiernan wanted his clothing off, wanted bare skin against bare skin, but he sensed her need to be in control, and he would indulge her—this time.
Copper eased her way down to his breeches and began unfastening the ties. She released his cock, and her small fingers wrapped around it. Her lips slid over his erection.
“Gods,” he nearly shouted as he felt the heat of her warm mouth sheathe his cock.
He grasped her hair in his palms, feeling the silky strands slide through his fingers as she moved up and down his erection and moved her hand in time with her mouth.
All blood, all thought, all awareness, was centered on his cock and the woman who was driving him out of his mind.
His orgasm began to build and build within him and her eyes urged him on. Gold bubbles rose up from her and floated down to seep into Tiernan’s body to become flickering flames of desire that traveled straight to his cock. The intensity of the magic was too much. He gripped her hair, his bollocks tightened, and his hips bucked against her face.
He came in a long hard rush. His orgasm was beyond comprehension. Black spots danced behind his eyes along with the gold bubbles of Copper’s magic. His body jerked against her face as she continued to suck him, drawing all of his seed into her mouth.
He grasped her head in his hands, forcing her to stop. “Are you trying to kill me, witch?” he managed to get out between each breath.
Copper raised her head and licked her lips, that mischievous spark in her eyes. “Is it working?”
Tiernan raised himself just enough to grasp her under her arms and draw her up so that he could kiss her. Gods, how he loved the way she kissed.
Another moan rose up in Copper’s throat as she slipped her tongue between Tiernan’s lips. He’d tasted so good when he came in her mouth. She’d wanted him and wanted him, and goddess help her, she had to have him.
Her mind whirled as he rolled over and she found herself on her back in the damp grass with Tiernan between her thighs, his hands braced to either side of her body. He smelled so good—of male musk and leather. She felt his still-free cock against her pussy. To her pleasure, he was hardening again. Damn, but these warriors had incredible stamina. And damn, how she ached to have him deep inside her.
Tiernan continued to kiss her, his leather-clad body rough against her naked skin, the stubble on his jaw chafing her face. It felt naughty and sexy that he was still clothed while she was entirely naked. She squirmed beneath him, needing him, wanting him.
He released her mouth to trail his lips along the line of her jaw to her ear. He flicked his tongue inside and she shivered when he bit her earlobe.
“My little fire,” he murmured in her ear. “You drive me insane.”
“Then take me.” She gripped his soft leather shirt in her fists. “Fuck me.”
“When I am ready,” he said as he moved his mouth to the sensitive spot just behind her ear.
Copper shivered as he worked his way down and his tongue danced between her breasts.
She arched her back. “Suck my nipples. Now.”
He gave a soft laugh and brought his hands to her breasts and squeezed them, causing her nipples to rise into high peaks, so close to his lips.
Instead of taking one taut bud into his mouth, he blew warm breath over her nipple. She gasped at the sensation and he moved to her other breast and released his warm breath over it.
Copper linked her hands behind his neck and tried to force him closer. The maddening man only raised his head and looked into her eyes. His gaze was hungry, fierce, and she bit her lower lip at his feral expression.
“If you don’t behave I will make you wait, woman,” he growled in that deep Irish brogue of his that made her so hot.
He commanded as if used to wielding authority. Well, she might let him this time, because she needed him so badly, but next time. . .
She couldn’t think anymore because Tiernan started circling one of her nipples with his hot tongue. The rosy skin puckered beneath his touch and she dug her fingernails into his shoulders and squirmed beneath him.
“Please.” She could barely catch her breath as she begged him. “Please!”
A growl rose up within Tiernan and he finally captured one of her taut buds in his mouth.
He sucked hard, causing her to cry out at the incredible feeling. That animalistic part of him that she had witnessed in his expression came out as he bit her nipple and pulled it with his teeth.
Copper pounded on his shoulders with her fists, wanting the pain and pleasure to continue. Goddess, how she liked it.
Seduced by Magic Page 15
