by Milly Taiden
“Yes, dear.” Her mother patted her hand.
“Where’s Zahir?” Shar already knew the answer, but she asked anyway.
“He’s gone. I’m sorry.”
She swallowed at the lump in her throat, and tears filled her eyes. “Don’t be. I’m not sure why I keep letting that man get the best of me, but no more. That was the last time he’ll ever hurt me. I’m filing for divorce.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Her mother held her hand. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret later on.”
“I already regret marrying him. He has never loved me, never wanted me. I’m tired of it. I want out.” It hurt to say the words, but she knew it was true. She needed Zahir completely out of her life.
“I know I don’t speak of this often, but your father was very similar to Zahir.” Her voice turned wistful.
“How do you mean?” She had always tried not to pry.
“I was seventeen. I’d seen him in a dream, knew he was the one for me. Apparently, he had some kind of supernatural in him. When I tried to make a move on him, he told me he’d wait until I was of age. He was worried I was too young to be a military wife. Since I knew he was it for me, I took matters into my own hands. I gave him my first charmed kiss.” She laughed. “After that, he was all mine.”
“What happened?”
She gave a sad sigh. “Oh, we married and you were born. He was deployed when you were two and never came home. I knew the moment he died. It felt like someone had ripped a piece of my heart from my chest.”
How horrible. Whenever she brought up her father’s death while growing up, her mother had gotten so upset she’d just stopped asking. She was lucky though; her mother had been the best parent she could’ve asked for. Both strong and sensitive. Her mom had made sure to always say nice things about her dad. Spoke of him so often and in such detail, Shar swore she knew him. She shook her head. Her mom had suffered so much and still had such a positive outlook. “I’m sorry.”
“No, sweetie. I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad. You have to understand that something is making Zahir wary of being with you. He loves you. I am positive he does. When your father thought my age would put me in danger he tried to break things off. I have a feeling something similar has pushed Zahir from you.”
She thought about it for a moment and shook her head. “No. He’s never admitted to loving me.”
“Love is not always shown with words. It’s in the actions people take.”
Was her mother right? He’d never spoken of his feelings, but he’d done things to let her know he cared. What made her breath hitch was the memory of the soft words and kisses when she fell asleep in his arms. He’d shown her he cared, but then he stomped over her feelings by dropping her.
“I’ll get you some tea. It’ll help ease your throat.”
“Thanks.” She turned on her side and winced when pain racked her skull.
“Anytime, sweetie. Just remember, everything I do, I do because I love you. Sleep now, darling.”
“I know. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be OK.” She yawned.
“Of course you will, baby.”
Shar yawned again and fell back into sleep.
Chapter Eight
“Can I help you, beautiful?”
Anahid smiled at the flirtatious demon. “Maybe you can. Do you know where can I find Zahir Darkrath?”
The demon gave her a wicked grin. “You don’t want an old stick in the mud like him. I’m much more fun.”
She lifted her brows in question. “Really?”
His gaze raked down her body. Her white sheath flattered her toned figure. The boy winked at her. “Oh, yes. The things I’d do to you are probably illegal in most states.”
What could he know that she didn’t? She knew a lot more about sex than most men did. A deep voice filled her head just when she was about to ask the young man what he meant.
“Focus on the task at hand and don’t make me come over there and show that youngster what a real man will do to with your body.”
Oh, hell. Heat crawled across her skin at the sound of Luthian’s voice rumbling through her.
“Yes, well as fun as that sounds, I really do need to see Zahir.”
He smiled at her again. The boy was certainly persistent. “Who’s looking for him?”
“Tell him it’s his mother-in-law.” She grinned at the shock on the demon’s face.
“You sure know how to put a damper on a man’s libido, darling.”
“Oh, shush. Just for that, you’ll get to deal with one angry demon all on your own.”
“Bring it on, baby. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Anything you want—just ask me.”
There lay her main wet-dream-inducing problem. Unless she suffered some kind of emotional or psychotic breakdown, she would not be asking. He was her junior in years and her senior in powers. Damn. Where was the justice in the world?
Zahir walked into the waiting room, cutting short her pondering. She hid a smile at his worried frown.
“Has something happened? Is Shar OK?”
Doing her best acting job, she gave him a sad smile. “She’s doing quite well. I’m here because Shar has decided to move on with her life.” She let the words hang for a moment to draw out his curiosity.
“In what way?” The demon looked ready to destroy something.
“She’s seeing someone and wants a divorce from you.” Anahid pulled out the fake divorce papers from her bag and passed them to Zahir.
“What? Who?” His anger made the floor vibrate.
Red tinged his dark eyes. Would smoke would come out of his ears too?
“Oh. I’m sure you’ve heard of him. Luthian Nardborn. Big, powerful warlock. I know he’s strappingly sexy too.”
“Oh, you do?” Luthian’s laughter filled her head.
“Shush! Let me work. In a moment he’s coming for you. I hope you’re ready.”
“I’m always ready.”
“Luthian? You’re sure this is what she wants?” His anger was dissipating, and Anahid didn’t like the look of that.
“Well, I’m not sure. I mean for all I know he might just want to screw around with her and then dump her.” Good, he looked downright livid again. “Where are you going?” Her voice was soft and concerned.
“Luthian needs to answer some questions before I kill him.”
She stood in the empty waiting room, gave herself a mental pat on the back, and smiled. It was Luthian’s turn to work on Zahir.
* * *
Zahir focused on controlling the surge of anger at Anahid’s words. He arrived at the warlock’s house to an open door. The man in question stood in the middle of the room as though he’d been expecting him.
“Come in, Darkrath. I know why you’re here, but do you know why you’re here?” He walked out to the yard without looking back.
Zahir was forced to follow if he wanted to continue the conversation.
He waited until the warlock turned to look at him. “Let’s cut the crap. What do you want with Shar?”
“I want a lot, but not with Shar. She’s yours and will always be yours. The question is why don’t you want her?”
The anger he’d been feeding disappeared, leaving him wary. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s obvious you love her. She loves you. What’s stopping you from being together? And don’t try to lie to me. I might be your age or about, but I know a lot more than you know. I can help you if you only talk.”
Zahir stood motionless for a moment. Could he trust the warlock or not?
“You need me, Zahir. I can and will help you if you allow me.”
“I have power, a lot of power. It’s sometimes hard for me to control. When I’m angry I destroy things. When I was with Shar in the past, I destroyed entire buildings. I never want to leak to the point where she’s in danger.” The angry beats of his heart made him lightheaded.
Luthian walked around the yard and then turned to him. “I can hel
p you. Do you want me to?”
“Yes.” Hope surged that the warlock knew a way to fix his leaking dark powers.
“Consider it done.”
Everything became lighter in Zahir’s mind and body. Lightness overcame the darkness inside him.
“There is something you’re going to need to do to keep the darkness at bay.”
“What?”
“You’ll need to open yourself up completely to Shar’s love. It’s the only way the light will reign inside you. That link you share with Shar? It’s not one way. When you left, her magic leaked. However, if you open yourself to her, that same link can help you.” Luthian’s face bore concern. “Oh, one more thing, what are you going to do about Shar?”
He’d been fighting the urge to run back ever since her mother healed her. There was no need to fight it any longer.
“As you said, she’s mine and will always be mine. I’m going to find her.” Some groveling may help him back into her arms. He never wanted to be away from her again.
Chapter Nine
Shar nibbled on her lip and paced her bedroom. It was now or never. Lifting her hands up, she used the spell her mother had given her and decreed her wish. A soft glow surrounded the surface of her bed until a body appeared on it. Using her newest bit of magic had allowed the spell to work. She grinned and stared at the naked man chained to her bed.
“What the— Shar?” Zahir frowned and looked at her. He glanced around and realized where he was. “What am I doing here? Why am I naked? And why am I chained?” His frown dissipated. He could have easily remove the chain with his power, but he didn’t try to.
Her eyes darted to his growing erection. Apparently he wasn’t averse to being tied down. Good to know. She needed to focus on her task or she’d never get any information out of him.
“I have some questions, and I want answers. You’ll be free to go after we talk—if you want to.”
He paused and then gave a quick nod. “OK. Whatever you want to know, ask.”
She took a deep breath. Where should she start? “Why did you leave me five years ago? You knew I loved you.”
“Shar—” Sorrow filled his face.
“You led me to believe you had feelings. Deep feelings like me. But then you walked out and not once looked back. Did you care that I suffered? That it broke my heart for you to leave me like yesterday’s trash? Why did you do that to me?” She wiped at the tears with the back of her palms. This was harder than she thought it would be.
“I’m sorry, baby. I only left you because it would ensure your safety. My powers were unstable, have been for a long time. I tend to destroy things when I’m under strong emotions. Rage, jealousy, lust, and frustration have all enhanced the destruction. Didn’t you see your shop after we were there? The inside was almost ruined because of my lack of control.”
“All I saw was evidence that we shared a moment that made us both a little crazy.”
“No. I wasn’t going to let my lack of control harm you in any way. Even if it meant leaving you, I would never hurt you.”
“You hurt me more by leaving than any physical pain that’s ever been inflicted on me!” Didn’t he realize his choice had only given her five years of loneliness?
“I’m sorry, but it was the right thing to do. I would leave you again if it meant you’d be safe from harm.”
“Why? Why is it so important that I remain safe if you don’t want to be with me?”
“Because I love you more than my own life. I can’t stand by and hurt you with my out-of-control powers.”
Elation and frustration filled her. He finally admitted to loving her but also thought he was a danger to her. Her gaze flickered over his face. He clenched his jaw. There wasn’t going to be any chance he’d change his mind. She sighed and walked up to the bed. If her words wouldn’t change his mind, maybe her actions would.
She dropped the short robe she wore to the floor and stood naked before him. A smile played on her lips. He gave her a worried look.
“What are you doing?” The rumble of his deep voice sent pricks of lust straight to her cunt.
“Changing your mind. I don’t want you to leave me.” He was her husband, and, damn it, there wasn’t going to be any more separations between them.
“Shar—”
“Shh.” She grinned.
On the bed, she sat between his thighs and stared at his thick erection. Her mouth watered, and the need to taste pushed her actions. She lifted a hand and firmly gripped the base of his cock. His sharp intake of breath made her jerk her eyes up to his face. His face appeared set in stone. The fallen angel beauty was overpowered by the raw animal lust in his eyes.
Moisture dripped from her pussy just as she lowered her mouth to taste him. Her tongue flicked over the bead on his slit, and he groaned. Enthralled by his enjoyment, she wrapped her lips around the head of his cock and sucked.
“Fuck. That feels fucking amazing, baby.”
His hips thrust into her mouth, and more of him went down her throat. He was so thick it was hard to fit him. Her throat muscles relaxed around him, and he slid further into her mouth. She pulled back and took him in and out of her mouth while she sucked on the velvety length. His groans urged the lust driving her. She bobbed her head over his slick dick, hollowing her cheeks to tighten her hold on him.
“Shit!” His words were swallowed by another groan while his hips thrust wildly into her lips. “Shar, stop!”
She pulled him out of her mouth. What had she done wrong?
“Ride me, baby.”
She moved up to straddle his hips and moaned when his cock stretched her pussy walls. Her sleek sex allowed for a smooth glide down his shaft. He jerked his hips under her, and his dick hit the neck of her womb. Bracing her hands on his abs, she dug her nails into his muscles while she moved.
“Oh, gods!” Her pants increased. She wiggled and lifted off him and slammed down with more force.
“Fuck, yes! Again!” Zahir’s encouraging groans further enticed her to lose control.
He gripped the chains while he lifted his hips off the bed to thrust deeper into her. She slid down his dick. Their tempo increased until all she knew was the rise and fall of her body over his.
“Play with your clit, and come for me, baby.”
Her gaze met his right when she moved a hand between her thighs to flick a finger over her swollen nubbin. She curled her nails from her other hand into his stomach, and they bit into his skin. She tensed and moaned, a burst of pleasure flooding her system. A loud scream tore from her throat.
He used his power to break off the chains, holding him down as if they were made of paper. His strong arms went around her waist, and he rolled them on the bed. She snapped her eyes open to stare into his face. He was still fully imbedded in her and still rock hard. His eyes had gone full black, and she could feel the energy radiating off him.
He lifted one of his hands to caress the side of her face. The emotion in his eyes was enough to make her heartbeat race.
“I love you. I never want to be away from you again.”
Joy spread through her. “So you’re not going to leave me again?”
“No, baby. I’m not going anywhere, ever.”
“How will you deal with your lack of control over your powers?” She watched the black eyes she’d fallen in love with so long ago glitter with lust.
“Luthian helped me and will continue to when I need him, but there is a catch to his help.”
“What’s that?” She frowned. Luthian had never helped someone half way.
“To keep the darkness at bay, I need to open myself fully to you. Your love will overcome my darkness.”
She stared at him for a moment. “Really? My love is that strong?”
“Apparently our link isn’t just one way. Your magic leaking fixes my darkness.” He smiled.
She pulled his head down for a kiss—something to seal the powerful love she knew existed between them. Their lips crashed and melded.
Their tongues danced in a frenzied mating. A soft whimper escaped her when he pulled his hips back and slammed her pussy in quick thrusts.
He licked and bit the skin of her shoulder. She moaned when he splattered wet kisses over her chest. He sucked hard on her breast. The flutters in her pussy grew. He scored the nipple until she was panting in desperation.
“Harder. Fuck me harder.”
His cock jerked inside her. He fucked her as if they were two animals out in the wild. Her body accepted every harsh thrust and begged for more. Heat built inside her until fire flowed through her veins. A molten river started when his lips touched her nipples, ran down to her womb and straight into the cunt grasping at his driving cock.
Sweat glistened over their skin and made the slide of their bodies into a sensual rubbing of flesh. He rolled his hips and hit her pussy at an angle. The air left her lungs in a rush. A tightening tension wound itself inside her womb. He rubbed his pelvis over her swollen clit, pushing her straight into a delicious orgasm that stole even the ability to breathe.
She grasped and tightened her pussy around his shaft, sucking him deeper into her. He held her tightly while he came and groaned when he thickened inside her still fluttering cunt. Warm jets of his semen filled her womb with every jerk of his cock.
He turned on the bed until she was sprawled over his chest. Their harsh breaths and the loud tattoo of their heartbeats were the only noises in the bedroom. He rubbed a hand up and down her spine, and she smiled.
“Are you really not going to try to leave again?” She needed to be sure before she went any further.
“No, I’m not leaving.”
She lifted her head and peered into his dark brown eyes. “We figured out the problem with my magic.” He lifted his brow, urging her to continue. “Apparently, when you and I made love the first time, we bonded.”
“What do you mean—bonded?”
“Our powers. It seems they bonded, and when you left me, it was as though a piece had been torn from me, leaving a hole. Nothing but bringing our energies back together would give me back my magic. The hole was there and could only be stopped by merging our powers once again.”
