by Marie Mason
Just as she reached for her jeans, a loud knock sounded on the door, making her jump. “What!”
It opened and she let out a squeal, instinctively clutching the jeans to her chest. “What are you doing?” she gasped as Roark pushed open the door. A locked door, she realized.
He took one step and was inside the small space. She backed up until her legs hit the toilet seat. Suddenly, she couldn’t breathe in the steam-filled room.
“I brought you some clothes.” He held them out to her.
“Did you conjure these?” Seeing him in action tonight, she wouldn’t put any ability past him. She tucked one side of the jeans under her arm and reached for the clothing, keeping her eyes averted.
“Yeah.” The word sounded strangled.
“Conjuring for personal gain has a way of backfiring.”
“I know. These were for you. Not me.”
“Oh, thank you.” She gathered the courage to lift her head.
As she did, she noticed his eyes weren’t focused on her face. They looked lower. She followed the path his gaze took and cursed. The top of her jeans covered her breasts fairly well, but as her gaze fell, she realized most of her body below the waist was on full display between the splayed legs of the jeans.
Her soft, rounded belly. Her healthy thighs and — heavens, above, the small patch of curls on her mound.
“Get out,” she cried, bringing the legs of her jeans together. The move revealed the hefty curve of her hips, but covered her vulnerable middle.
He sat the clothes on the vanity, but didn’t make a move to leave. His eyes continued to devour her, or so it seemed.
“Roark.”
Her breathing accelerated and she clenched her legs together to dispel the ripples of desire swelling low in her belly. She wanted him. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Oh, how she wanted him.
The soft click of the door made her eyes fly open. The room was empty. For one insane moment, she wished he’d closed the door and stayed on this side. With her.
With trembling hands, she let the jeans fall from her nerveless hands. He’d given her pajamas bottoms and an oversized t-shirt. He’d also thought of underwear — she cringed when she saw them and realized they would be the perfect fit. Fingering the soft flannel of the pants, she wondered at his thoughtfulness.
And when he would be ready to send her home.
A cloud of steam escaped the room as Kayley stepped out. “It’s, umm, free.”
“I’ll take one later. Come here and eat.” He watched as she walked the short distance between the bathroom door and the small set of table and chairs under the window. White boxes of Chinese take-out covered the top. “I didn’t know what you liked.”
Roark could have kicked himself at the inane remark. He shouldn’t care what she liked. He grabbed a box and leaned back in the chair, tilting it up on two legs. She’d put on the clothes he’d conjured for her and he felt a swell of satisfaction she wore something he’d provided for her. He’d had to leave the hotel room to get the food. He’d yet to master that ability completely. Now that he had a woman to feed — Shit, he was not going there.
She’d dried her hair and it hung in loose waves around her face. It was dark, an astonishing shade of deep auburn. Combined with her gray eyes she was utterly fascinating to look at. She wasn’t perfect and she had a streak of independence that needed disciplining. His body hardened thinking of being the one to provide that discipline.
He shook away the thought. Hell, no. Hell, hell, no.
CHAPTER FOUR
KAYLEY FELT THE weight of Roark’s stare as she sat down opposite him at the small table. Looking through the containers of food, she picked the one holding sweet and sour chicken. She grabbed a plastic fork the restaurant had sent along with the chopsticks. With her lucky streak, if she used the chopsticks, chicken would fly all over the place.
She moaned as she took her first bite of food. She hadn’t known how hungry she was. Glancing at the radio clock on the bedside table, she realized it was late. She frowned, wondering why her parents hadn’t tried to contact her. But then, she remembered what she’d almost interrupted and decided they might be enjoying their time in the house without her in it. When this was all over, she really was going to have to get an apartment of her own.
She took another bite and moaned again.
“Stop that.”
Her head snapped up at Roark’s low growl of disapproval. “What am I doing wrong now?”
“As if you didn’t know.”
“Look,” she started to reply. She was tired and hungry — not to mention horny — and she didn’t want to deal with his shit now. Before she could, he was on his feet and she was in his arms.
His mouth find hers and Kayley knew she was lost. His kiss burned through her. His lips were hard and hot, demanding in their taking. In seconds, they were both breathing heavily, the sound competing with the whir of the air conditioner.
“Tell me you want me.”
Kayley panted as Roark drew away.
“Tell me you want me.”
Each low syllable vibrated through her body and landed directly in her womb. His eyes flamed with lust and echoed the demand of his words. The golden fire that seemed to constantly burn in his eyes intensified as if he could sense her body’s reaction.
“I want you.” I have always wanted you. Kayley couldn’t say the last words. Not yet. Maybe never. He was a man who wanted sex, not a happily-ever-after. She repeated the words silently as they stared into each other’s eyes and felt them marking her soul.
She realized she had a life changing decision to make. She could play it safe, keep the feelings bubbling up inside to herself. Hide behind her insecurities and her fear of being rejected.
Or she could embrace this moment.
Roark no longer remembered why it wasn’t a good idea for him to take this woman to his bed. The palms of her hands burned into the skin of his chest and he felt her indecision to either pull him closer or push him away.
“Let me in, baby. Let me taste your sweetness.” He licked at the seam of her lips, being gentler with her than he’d ever been with another woman. He deepened the kiss slowly until the rigid line of her body relaxed against him.
Her hand slipped around the back of Roark’s neck, tangling in his hair. Her touch made him shiver with need. His cock jerked beneath his zipper as her fingers stroked the silky strands. He wanted her. Wanted to plunge his tongue into her mouth. Fucking fuck her mouth with his tongue. He wanted to get naked and have demon-hot sex with her. Feel her wetness close around him as he pumped inside her curvy body and coat her womb with his seed. He dragged his lips along her jaw, down her neck before moving back up to thrust his tongue deep inside her mouth and slide his tongue across hers. Her hips bumped against his, teasing his engorged cock, turning it into a solid pillar of granite.
He was so fucking hard and wanted her so fucking much.
She placed her hands on his chest and lovingly smoothed them across the bronzed surface. He’d taken off the ruined vest and was bare-chested. Nothing to hinder the heat of her touch. Lower and lower, her fingers traced down his body until they found the long length of his erection. The tips skimmed across the leather of his pants, caressing him from tip to base and back again beneath the supple fabric.
He returned the arousing touch, cupping her beautiful breasts and squeezing them. Her whimper of need almost destroyed him. He lifted her and placed her on the bed. He crawled in after her, supporting himself above her body.
Tugging down the neck of her top, he discovered she’d worn the bra he’d given her. It was black lace and not much of anything else. The ivory color of her breast contrasted sharply to the darker color. Her areoles were large, just the way he liked them. Her nipples were thick and hard. Just the way he liked them. Lowering his head, he took one in his mouth, sucking her to him. Kayley arched into him with a cry of wonderment.
He pulled back, having one last flicker of consci
ence. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, yes,” she all but screamed. “Touch me. Take me.”
The raw pleading in her voice convinced him of her need. He bent his head and licked her pebbled nipple. He continued to feast on her breasts as he moved his hand down the center of her torso, touching her wherever he could. She stilled beneath him for a moment, then clasped his wrist and moved his hand back to her breast. If he hadn’t felt that betraying moment of disquiet, he would have thought she was telling him what she liked.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
He kept his hand where it was, kneading the flesh of her breast and pulling sharply on the nipple. Capturing the tip between his teeth, he bit down on the swollen flesh.
“Nothing.” She avoided his gaze. He liked puzzles and this woman was a big one. Contradiction after contradiction. He moved his hand down her body again, stroking the soft cushion of her stomach and sides.
She stiffened again.
He stopped touching her. “What’s wrong, Kayley? Don’t you like me touching you?”
“Yes. No. I.”
He raised her chin with a finger. “Tell me,” he demanded.
She sighed. “I don’t like people — men — touching my stomach.”
He was the one who stilled now, for once out of his element. That didn’t last long when he realized why she had said what she had. He propped himself on his elbows, his eyes, he knew, revealing his anger at her remark.
“Two things you need to remember, little witch. One, I am the only man who will ever touch you. And two, I will touch you wherever I want.”
One of her small brows rose. “Really?”
“Yes. Really.” To prove his point, his hand settled on her chest, right below her left breast. His hand was so large, his fingers almost wrapped around to her back. He squeezed hard. Next, he moved his hand down and she closed her eyes, unwilling to see the disdain she knew would be on his face when he realized how big she was.
“Stop it. Open your eyes.” The demand in his voice struck directly in her core.
She opened her eyes. Reluctantly.
They stared at each other as he continued to move his hand down her side, stroking and squeezing — basically playing with her fat.
She couldn’t help herself; she grabbed his wrist again. “Please.”
He knew what she was thinking and he didn’t like it. She was beautiful.
Her grip didn’t stop him. He continued to run his hand from her throat to the top of her thighs, touching all the curves and valleys that made her who she was. He splayed his fingers over her stomach, holding her gaze as he moved back and forth. “I love this about you, Kayley. I love this softness.” He leaned down and whispered in her ear as if they were in a crowded room and he only wanted her to hear what he had to say. “I want you to cushion my cock as I ravage your sweet mouth.”
And he did.
His mouth took hers, his tongue fucking in and out of her mouth. The solid ridge of his cock bumped against her stomach and the strength of his erection never wavered. He traced kisses across her throat and down to her breast, nipping sharply at the pulse beating in her throat. For a brief second, he wished he were a shifter so he could mark her for the entire world to see.
Mine.
“You have on too many clothes.” Easing away, he pulled her into a sitting position in the middle of the bed. Straddling her legs, he lifted the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. A slight wince gave away her discomfort. His conscience warred with this cock. He wanted her so badly. Needed her so much. His cock won.
“Tell me if I hurt you.” He undid the front fastener of her bra and eased it over her shoulders. His hands glided across her back. He looked for any signs of discomfort as he caressed the tiny imperfections left by the flying debris. Maybe it was better if he didn’t see the damage to her skin. If he did, he’d be off the bed and after Rafe in a heartbeat.
“Sssh,” she murmured, pressing her hand to his face. He realized he’d been emitting a low, steady snarl. “It’s okay. I’m okay. I promise.”
For the second time that night, he wished he were a shifter. If he were, he’d turn her over and attend to her every wound, soothing each hurt with his mouth. He couldn’t do that. He couldn’t heal her with his touch. He could however, make her feel very, very good.
Easing her back down on the mattress, he thrust his hands beneath the waistband of her pajama bottoms. He’d thought conjuring her such a nondescript outfit would help control his hunger. It hadn’t. Nothing could. Not tonight. Maybe never.
In seconds, she was naked before him, a feast for his eyes. She was perfection in itself. A balm to his soul he realized.
Roark wrapped his hands around her thighs and splayed her legs, revealing all of her secrets. He touched her moist folds, reveling in the low moan she gave as his fingers found the wetness of her core. He slid his finger into her. She was so tight.
She was his.
“So ready,” he whispered as he made room for his shoulders between her spread legs. His breath flowed over her center and she shivered. He did it again, drawing another deep moan from her pouty red lips. He didn’t know how he’d managed to wait this long to take this witch. He’d been hard since he’d seen her in Rafe’s arms standing on the edge of the portal. His fingers tightened on the plump flesh of her thighs as he thought of his brother’s hands on what was his. That was two things he’d make him pay for. Later. Much, much later, he thought as the scent of her desire rose up to greet him. His temperature flared. He knew the only way to extinguish the fire burning within him was to feed the flame. Burn himself up.
“I want to taste you, baby.” He licked his lips already imagining the sweet and spicy flavor of her desire. He saw the flash of hesitation in her eyes. “Easy now. Just let me love you.”
Roark lowered his head and put his mouth on her clit. Her hips bucked up against him as he swept his tongue up her slit, getting his first taste of her sweet pussy.
Perfection.
He took another taste. Then another. And another.
One hand traveled up her body and he squeezed her nipples with expert pressure, making her cry out. He didn’t want to hurt her this first time he took her so he had to make sure she was more than ready for him. He used his fingers to open her to him as he devoured her. Devoured the sweet, slick flesh that tasted so fucking good. She moaned and shivered and Roark knew she was close.
“That’s it, Kayley. I want you to come all over my tongue.” He thrust his tongue into her hole and his thumb pushed down on her swollen clit and she came, jerking beneath him.
Pulling back a few inches, he shed his pants, allowing his arousal to spring free. He rubbed his erection against the slightly rough fabric of the comforter as he continued exploring her body with his mouth, watching her, waiting. Waiting until her body told him she could wait no longer. That she needed him. Deep inside.
Then she was there, crying out for his possession. “Roark, please. Please take me.”
He moved over top of her. The soft flesh of her pussy rubbed against his cock. He could feel the slick wetness of her sex against him. More. He wanted so much more. He moved his hips, causing the tip of his cock to nudge against the wet folds of her pussy. Her moans were music to his ears. He wanted in. He wanted all of her.
Her hips escaped his hold and he felt his engorged tip sink inside her tight heat. She pushed back against him, taking him even deeper. Pushing to his knees, he draped her legs over his forearms, keeping her open. Her lashes lifted. She stared back at him with glistening eyes and flushed cheeks. “Ready?”
She nodded her head and he pushed forward. Her greedy, wet flesh sucked him in. “Oh, yeah, that’s it.” He moved again, watching more of his cock disappear inside her. He wrapped his hands around her thighs, and pulled her toward him. Her pussy stretched around him, straining to accept his width. Another pull and he was buried halfway inside her.
“Roark,” she whimpered.
“Jus
t a little more.” He grunted the words. One more thrust, deep and hard, and he was driving inside her, buried to his balls. He changed positions until he was once again arched over her. One hand gripped her hip to hold her still for his claiming. He thrust hard and steady. In and out. Her breasts beckoned to him and he bent forward, taking one of her distended nipples in his mouth. He pulled hard, and then bit down on it. He felt her pussy clench around him and knew she was close. He let her breast slip from his mouth and lifted his head because he wanted to watch her come.
He allowed his body to take over, moving faster, harder, mindlessly striving for completion. One final lunge and his cock was buried so far inside her, he knew he hurt her. But again, he couldn’t seem to care. There was something more to this coupling. Something he’d never felt in his long-lived life.
“Take it, baby. Take my cock.” Five more thrusts and he felt her convulse deep inside and heard her scream his name. He tightened his hold, pressing them together. An incredible rush of power flowed through him and he took what he wanted. Her. Hard. Thrusting inside her wet cunt like there was no tomorrow. He took her. He fucked her. He — loved her.
No, wait, that wasn’t right. He pounded harder, pushing away the flash of feeling. He was a demon of the highest level. He. Did. Not. Have. Feelings.
Especially for a plump witch whose powers were more than a little wonky.
Roark let his own release flow free.
“Your eyes.” Her soft whisper made him refocus his attention. He knew what she was seeing. Sharp bursts of gold filling his normally dark eye color. His eyes changed colors when he was angry — or aroused. From what he was feeling, he knew they were solid gold, the black completely obliterated.
