by Mary Winter
Laura sighed. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. “What do you want for breakfast?” She thumbed through the flyer.
“Eggs, bacon, whatever. I’m going to take a shower.” Reid shrugged and disappeared into the bathroom.
Laura stared at the closed door. Not exactly the heart-to-heart she wanted to have with him. And frankly, she needed a shower too. Her thighs were sticky from Reid’s loving, not that she minded, but she did want to clean up. The water pattered against the wall as she ordered room service.
Not too much later Reid emerged from the bathroom wearing a pair of jeans, nearly unbuttoned and little else. He ran a towel over his hair and he looked freshly shaved. “Food should be here in about ten minutes. Did you leave me hot water?”
“Think so. Want me to sign for breakfast?”
She nodded and closed the door, their positions reversed. How easily they’d slipped into a domestic arrangement. She could get used to this. The steamy bathroom smelled like him, a woodsy scent that she realized must come from his after-shave. She stepped into the shower.
Just as she stepped out, she heard the door and smelled breakfast. Hastily drying off, she wrapped the hotel’s robe around her, and emerged into the living room to see Reid setting the low table with breakfast. She sat.
They ate in silence, with her mulling over what she wanted to say and wondering if it was overkill. She’d told him what would happen if she went home. She had told him her father was a hard man. Did it matter that he knew what else? Sure, they could go in with a plan, but her father could blow it to pieces with a single command. She noticed Reid ate, lost in thought, and soon, the plates sat empty between them.
Reid leaned back in his chair. “So tell me how this is going to go down.” He rested his hands behind his head and stretched out his bare feet.
Laura struggled to keep her attention above the unbuttoned waistband of his pants. She licked her lips, reaching for her empty glass of orange juice. Standing, she went to the alcove and started one of the complementary pots of coffee. “Something like this,” she said as the coffee brewed. “I’m going to arrive. My father will chastise me for running away, will most likely segregate me in my old rooms, and you, well you’ll be subject to the third degree and maybe no small amount of magical persuasion. You’re not going to be good enough for me. Your Conclave isn’t powerful enough. He may even offer you money to leave. He may not, if he decides that my being with you has compromised how much prestige my arranged marriage could bring him. Either way, I doubt we’ll be allowed to see each other ever again.”
She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down, painfully aware of Reid’s stunned silence.
“That’s harsh.” He sucked in a breath. “So why go back?”
“Because if I don’t, I’ll be living under his shadow for the rest of my life. I have to do this if I want to be free. I want to be with you, Reid. This is the only way.” She could tell he believed her, even as her news rocked him back on his proverbial heels. “If you want, you don’t have to go through with this. I can go back to Brazos by myself.”
“And what would happen then?” He spoke calmly, evenly, though she saw the storm brewing in his blue eyes.
“Pretty much the same, except I’d probably be immediately married off to whoever my father believes would make a good match. And, I’d never be allowed out of his or my husband’s sight ever again.” Her chin dropped to her chest.
~* * *~
Reid stared at Laura. Though he knew the truth. She hadn’t sugar-coated it when she had convinced Te and Jacy to offer StarMyst’s protection and him to accompany her. Hearing it in those blunt words shifted something inside him. She sat in the chair across from the couch where he lounged and he wanted her there, with him. He patted the cushion beside him.
Laura looked longingly at the place. She scooted to the edge of her chair, then with a heavy sigh, stood and crossed the space between them. Sitting next to him, she appeared careful to keep to her side of the couch. Reid moved closer, but as she moved away, he realized she wanted, no probably needed, the space between them. He knew he did. This close, her warmth tempted him. The scent of her shampoo and soap called to him, reminding him of what it had been like to nestle his face against her pussy.
Reid swallowed hard. “You can’t scare me away, you know?” No matter how many times he needed to say it, he would. Over and over again until she understood that he was in this for long the haul, not fame or glory. He doubted he’d receive either once they arrived at Brazos.
“I’m not trying to scare you away. I’m trying to be honest,” she whispered. Rubbing her palms over her eyes, she shook her head.
Reid reached for her, curling his fingers into a fist when he realized that she probably didn’t want to be held. Not since she sat so far away from him on the couch. Letting his hand drop into his lap, he stared at it. “Honesty is good.”
“I just…” Her words trailed off as she turned to face him. “I’m scared. I had thought Edwin could protect me from my father forever. Even when I knew how serious Edwin’s cancer was, I lived in denial. He’d live forever. I’d never have to return to Brazos. Now, I am, and it’s not how I imagined it being.”
Reid rested his hand on her knee, yearning for greater contact. “How did you imagine it?”
“Not like this. Oh, I don’t know how I imagined it. Forget I said anything about it.”
“No.” Reid curled his fingers into her thighs, feeling her stiffen beneath his touch. “I’m not going to forget about it. You’re trying to scare me off for a reason. Do you, or don’t you, want me to go to Brazos with you? I said I’d go. I think, before we arrive, we should be of one mind about this. Don’t you?”
“You have a point. I’m sorry. But now that we’ve finally put our past behind us and decided to move on, I’d hate to have my father tear us apart.” She reached for him, tangling her fingers with his. Squeezing his hand, she brought it to her chest.
Reid snuggled closer to her. He wrapped his arm around her, tucking her against his side. Resting his chin on the top of her head, he closed his eyes. “It’ll be all right.”
“How can you say that?” Tears threatened in her voice.
Because I love you. Because I’ve seen what the power of love can do through Jacy and Te. He pressed his lips together, not wanting to give away too much too soon. “Because I know.”
Laura laughed. “I really like that about you. Your optimism. My father isn’t going to make this easy.”
Reid leaned back and tilted her chin, forcing her gaze to meet his. “If I had a prize like you, I wouldn’t want to give you up so easily either. My birth parents may be dead, but Edwin was as much a father to us as they were. Even though Te was his own foster son, it hurt, I think, for him to relinquish Jacy into his care. I think the only thing that made it easier was that Edwin was so sick, he needed Te to come back and take his place in the Conclave, and he knew Jacy needed Te too. We don’t have that in these dealings with your father. He may not expect you to take over Brazos, but he’s going to expect you to make a match that strengthens it. I believe this does. We’ll just have to convince him of that.”
“You sound awfully confidant.”
“It’s because I am.” Reid grinned. “No more talk about what may, or may not happen. To be honest, we’re not going to know until we show up. So, let’s take advantage of this beautiful room. I’d like to head down to the workout center for a while, but I think this afternoon, we need to worry only about ourselves. Deal?”
“Deal.” Laura slid away from him. “Why don’t we meet back here in a couple of hours?”
“Sounds good.” Reid stood and went to his suitcases. He grabbed a pair of gym shorts, a pair of trainers, and a t-shirt and changed into them. He emerged a few moments later, tucked the room key in his pocket and hurried from the room. Though he could think of a better form of physical exercise, spending time working in the weight room promised to
soothe his mind. He meant what he said. They’d deal with whatever they found in Brazos when they got there and not a moment sooner.
The room door closed behind him and he headed down the long, narrow hall. He didn’t even know where the workout room was. Figured it was downstairs, maybe next to the pool. Well, it wasn’t like he had a schedule to keep and really, he figured Laura could use some time alone to figure out what she really wanted. Push him away. Pull him close. He was getting tired of the yo-yo effect. Once they arrived in Brazos, she’d have to make her decision, and he knew, by simply being with her, that he’d put himself in the cross hairs.
Chapter Eight
Two hours gave Laura a chance to go shopping and meander around the hotel and the surrounding area. Back in the room, she waited for Reid. She’d seen him on the treadmill as she had passed the workout area. Sweat plastered his shirt to his chest and back. He ran at a fast clip, and she wondered if it was his determination to get a good workout or demons that were chasing him.
Back in the room, she stared at the Jacuzzi tub. The naughty part of her wanted to strip and wait for him amid frothy bubbles. After watching him in the gym, she had no idea when, or if, he’d return to the hotel room and the thought of turning into a prune all alone in the hot tub didn’t sound appealing.
The hotel room door clicked.
Laura held her breath, almost half-afraid to peer around the corner and see if it really was Reid. No discreet knock with the announcement of “housekeeping” had come before the door opened. It had to be Reid.
“Reid?” she called in a tremulous voice.
“It’s me.” His gruff reply didn’t bode well, though just the sound of his voice sent a burst of warmth through her core.
Laura stepped around the corner to find him standing in the entryway. Sweat plastered his hair to his head and his T-shirt to his chest. A tiny droplet slid down the side of his neck to disappear into the shoulder of his shirt. His gym shorts rode low in his hips.
Her mouth watered. Her pussy flooded with moisture as it tightened and all thoughts about the hot tub fled. She wanted him here and now. Striding forward, she kept her gaze firmly on his face. She searched it for any signs that whatever drove him was gone and found none.
Each step brushed her panties against her swollen and throbbing clit. Her bra teased her distended nipples, and she swore every hair on her arms stood up with the electricity generated by the intense hunger in his stare. “I’m glad you’re back.” She hoped her words lightened the mood.
He grunted something noncommittal.
“Everything okay?”
“No. Because when you look at me like that I can’t think straight.” He dragged his fingers through his hair and water sprayed from the soaked strands.
A few droplets landed near her lips, and she swiped her tongue across them. She allowed her attention to waver down to his gym shorts where his erection pressed against the silky fabric. Unable to resist, she closed the space between them. Pressing her palm against the center of his chest, she rose on tiptoe and licked the sweat from his chin. A moan, not unlike the kind she made when devouring rich, expensive chocolate ice cream, erupted from her throat.
Reid cupped her ass and drew her against his hard body. Spinning her, he pressed her against the closet door, angling so that one of his hard thighs thrust between hers. “You make me so hot. Surely your father will sense the lussor sparking between us and know that we were meant to be.”
Laura grinned, though the thought of her father sensing her lussor kind of creeped her out. He was a Sorcerer and any Sorcerer could sense the power of the lussor. She shoved such thoughts out of her mind. They’d stopped here to get away from the shadow of her father, to regroup and bond before they headed deep into Brazos territory. With Reid pressing her against the wall, right now she thought of nothing else but the raw lust coursing through her veins.
She rose on her toes, cupping the back of his head to bring their mouths together. She kissed him, pouring all her fears, all her need into the movement of her lips across his. Stroking his lower lip with her tongue, she asked for, and was granted entrance. She claimed him, thrusting her tongue into his mouth, tasting the tang of salt and a sports drink on his lips. His wet skin soaked her clothing. She didn’t care. Not when she rode his thigh, the incremental thrusts of her hips rubbing her clit across his hardness.
Laura sank into him. Curling her fingers into the back of his head, she wrapped herself around his body. The need to meld with him, to become one, thrummed in her veins.
Reid scooped his hands beneath her rear, holding her to him. Instinctively, Laura wrapped her legs around his lean hips, and as soon as her ankles locked behind his back, he turned to the bathroom. His long strides carried them inside, where he broke off their kiss. “You’ll have to stand for a moment,” he rasped.
She did, unhooking her ankles and lowering her shaky legs to the floor. No sooner had she stood on her own, than he toed off his sneakers and stripped off his clothes. The sodden garments landed on the floor. She followed pursuit and quickly shed her clothes.
Laura drank in the sight of his muscled body as he leaned past her to turn on the tap. He adjusted the water and activated the shower. “In you go.” Grabbing her by the waist, he helped her into the huge shower stall. Following her, he drew the curtain closed. “Much better, isn’t this?”
“Yes,” she purred as once again he backed her against the wall. Reid’s body shielded her from the spray, and as her back connected with the tile, she shivered at the coolness. She burrowed closer against his chest. His eager cock thrust against her stomach.
Reid rubbed soapy hands across her ribs. He slid his fingers between them to reach the undersides of her breast. He moved away long enough for the water to sprinkle over her skin then he resumed his sensual assault with his sudsy touch.
Reid dropped to his knees before her. Starting at her ankles, with long, sure strokes he massaged her legs and calves. He paid special attention to her knees, lifting them so the massaging spray could remove the soap. Kissing the backs, he straightened her knees in turn then set his sights a little higher. His teasing strokes feathered up her thighs with wide, sweeping caresses of his hands. Watching him, knowing he came ever closer to her pussy had Laura’s breath coming in hard, fast pants.
She was wet, far wetter than she’d ever been before. She felt her cream trickle down her thighs. Felt the throbbing in her swollen clit, the ache in her labia that begged for a single touch. His dark head bowed in front of her, reminded her of a picture she’d seen once of a supplicant in front of an altar shrine. He worshipped her body, his fingertips blazing a trail over her soapy, wet skin.
Laura spread her legs. God, he was magnificent. A lump nestled itself in her throat. Right now, looking at his broad shoulders, watching his fingers creep ever closer to her folds, she knew, if she took him back to Brazos and she lost him, it would kill her. Maybe not literally, but if her father sent her off to some other Sorceress like one of StarMyst’s prized broodmares…She shuddered.
“Easy,” Reid crooned, and the similarities between his reaction to her and how he would calm a mare startled her.
“It’s too much.” She bent over and curled her fingers around his shoulders, intending to push him away. The motion dangled her breasts in his face.
Tilting his face, Reid captured one of her nipples in his mouth.
Laura closed her eyes. The spray pattered against her back and head. Letting her chin fall to rest against his head, she struggled to keep her equilibrium. The bathroom spun.
~* * *~
He’d run until he realized there was no way in hell he could get away from his thoughts. Now, kneeling between Laura’s spread legs, he believed he’d come as close to heaven as he could probably get on this earthly plane. He ignored the patter of the shower on his back and focused exclusively on the rich aroma of Laura’s arousal. He’d never get enough of her.
Nuzzling her folds, he swiped his tongue acr
oss her labia. A quick foray into her channel had her whimpering, and when he tongued just above her clitoris, her sharp cry echoed in the bathroom. Sliding his thumbs higher to part her folds, he devoured her in earnest. Reid suckled her clitoris, pausing only to thrust his tongue into her waiting pussy, he alternated attacks until her fingers dug into his shoulders and the muscles in her thighs trembled on either side of his face.
Come for me, baby. His dick pounded with the need to thrust inside her. Not until she came. There were no doubts Laura already knew he was a generous lover. The countless times he’d brought her to her orgasm before taking his pleasure should have told her that, if his very nature hadn’t. Still, he loved it when Laura came, the whimpering cries, the rippling contractions along the length of her channel as it milked his cock. Damn, nothing ever got better than that.
With his fingers, he stroked the hood of her clitoris, using the skin to gently caress the organ. Laura’s shuddered. Steam filled the bathroom, the clean fragrance of hotel soap around them. One more flick of his fingers, a slide of his tongue inside her hungry sex, and there…Laura screamed as she came. Her muscles tightened, fingers digging so hard into his shoulders he figured that she’d leave marks. Cream filled her channel, dripped over his face and down his chin. Every tiny quake of her body only made him want her that much more. Leaning his forehead against her knees, he felt the tremors snaking through her body.
“I need you inside me.” Her husky plea wrapped around his cock and tightened. He stood, his balls full between his legs, his body aching with the need to possess her.
“Hang on,” he growled as he slid a hand beneath her thigh. She leapt into his arms, making him stagger on the wet shower floor. “Easy there,” he crooned again as he backed her once more against the tile. He slid his cock along her pussy, her slick folds drawing him inside. A single thrust of his hips and she moaned, low and deep, as he penetrated her.
Now. Forever. Always. Did Laura really think that he’d walk away from what they had? Driving into her, he bent his head to nuzzle her cheek and chin.
