Blissful Agony

by Rivers, Brandy L

  He stood from the chair, dropping his pants in the same movement. Wrapping one hand around his dick, he stroked its length as he stalked toward her, a broad smile on his lips that didn’t reach his eyes. “This proof enough?”

  “I’m on top, until I trust you.” She’d never trust him.

  He sat at the edge of the bed, lying back while reaching between her legs to tease her core. “Already wet.” He grinned. “I’m all yours.”

  Gritting her teeth, she threw her leg over his hips.

  Chapter 23

  Clint watched Emily carefully as she drove to In 2 Deep. Tense, contemplative, and worried. He didn’t like the quiet space growing between them. He was tempted to call Brody and cancel tonight.

  She parked the car, and he turned to her, taking her hand as soon as the engine was off. “Hey, earlier, what were the tears for?”

  “Remember how I tried to fix James? The smell reminded me of the first months. He’d been roasted alive. The cells dying, breaking down, the toxins and gas building up.”

  “Sorry, I’m so sorry you went through hell.”

  Emily shook her head. “Regret nearly overwhelmed me. Not for Toby, but for trying to redeem James. He was a monster. And I foolishly believed there was a chance to rehabilitate him.”

  “Because you’re an amazing woman with a capacity for compassion and forgiveness most of us will never attain.”

  “He didn’t deserve either from me. It took me forever to realize he didn’t merit an ounce of loyalty after everything he did.”

  Pulling her hand to his lips, he pressed a kiss.

  A smile brightened her face. “You make that all disappear. So can we forget about the past?”

  “Of course, as long as you know you can talk to me, and I’ll try to help.”

  “You do that whenever you look at me, or better yet, touch me.”

  His eyes dropped to her lips. “How about kiss you?”

  “Mmm, that too.”

  He leaned over and caught her bottom lip, sucking gently. Her moan churned his desire hotter.

  With a groan, he sat back. “We’d better go inside before I do something completely inappropriate.”

  “Later, when we’re in your bed, you can do whatever you want.”

  A thrill ran through him. “And if I want control?”

  Her breath hitched as she nodded. “I trust you with my body, soul, and most importantly, my heart.”

  “I don’t want to dominate, but I crave my hands and mouth on you. Need to feel you, want to bring you pleasure.”

  She nodded. “Whatever you want, I’ll give.”

  “That’s my line,” he whispered.

  She giggled. “We’d better go inside before I do something inappropriate.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He saluted before taking her arm.

  They approached the table where Fallon and Devlin sat side-by-side, talking quietly. Devlin’s arm curled around Jamie. Brody was at the bar, probably ordering a round of beer and some tea for Fallon.

  Emily smiled. “Hey, everyone.”

  Fallon grinned, rubbing her belly. Another month or so and she would be a mother to twins. “How are you doing?”

  “Amazing, considering the last few days. All thanks to Clint.”

  He nudged her shoulder, smiling over at her. “Same goes for you.”

  Fallon tipped her head. “Still opposed to a tattoo?”

  Emily’s eyes widened. “I… um, yeah. Sorry. No tattoo for me, thank you.”

  Devlin came around the table and placed a pouch in Clint’s hand with a wink. “Be back in a few,” he announced, heading to the bar, probably for something fancier than beer.

  Clint pulled the pendant out, turning to Emily. He’d called Devlin that morning, while Emily slept, to discuss the perfect present and ward. “You don’t need a tattoo if you don’t want one. This will offer the same protection. I chose the necklace, but Devlin enchanted it. Would you wear this instead?”

  * * * *

  Her heart melted. He knew her so well already, and had found another way to protect her. “Of course.”

  “Remember, my offer stands. I’d create something tiny and elegant for you,” Fallon prompted Emily.

  “I’ll think about it,” Emily answered, noncommittally.

  Devlin returned with a glass of wine for Emily and himself, while Brody carried back a pitcher of beer and glasses. “Evening, Emily, Clint. I heard you two had an exciting day.”

  She nodded, preferring to forget events rather than rehashing them again.

  “Thank you, Devlin,” Emily said.

  “Don’t mention it.”

  Clint asked Fallon, “How are the twins?”

  Rubbing her belly, her scarlet brow arched. “Restless. Maybe they’ll be early.”

  Brody leaned over to kiss her temple. “They’ll come when they’re ready, Sugar.”

  “Doesn’t mean I can’t hope they come sooner. You try carrying two tiny people.”

  “I would if I could.”

  “You’re sweet like that.” She took a kiss, before turning back to Emily. “With you and Clint mated, does that mean you’re moving here permanently?”

  “Yeah. Sooner or later I’ll get movers to bring all my things over. It’s sort of weird having clothes and underwear show up on the kitchen island. Robert’s been great, but I’d rather him not show up while we’re both naked again.”

  Jamie laughed out loud. “How did your big brother take that scene?”

  Clint shrugged. “Better than I would’ve expected.”

  Emily couldn’t resist a smile when she turned toward him. “He didn’t kill you.”

  Brody frowned. “You’re like eighty-five, right?”

  “Yeah. But he heard me scream when I woke up from a nightmare. Age doesn’t matter, I’ll be his baby sister forever.”

  Fallon winced. “That had to be a fun night.”

  “We survived.” Clint slipped his arm around Emily. He turned to Devlin. “You acclimated to life as a wolf?”

  He nodded. “Other than my new diet, it hasn’t been so bad.”

  “Diet?” Emily asked.

  “I was a vegetarian. Not for any particular belief, but because I couldn’t stomach meat. That is, until I shifted the first time.”

  “Hmm. Seems a lot of healers avoid meat. I’ve never had a problem.”

  “Think it was more or less in my head. The taste wasn’t the problem. Mostly the texture.”

  Emily took a sip of her wine. Clint clasped her hand and she leaned into him, closing her eyes. Her mind wandered to the textures of his hard length in her hand, his satin skin.

  He whispered against her ear, “Whatever you’re thinking about, you’d better stop before I carry you to the car, and take you home. I intend to help you with your pool game.”

  She leaned back, biting her lip as she stared into his pale green eyes. “There’s another stick I’d rather practice handling.”

  Brody chuckled softly. “Don’t believe any of us are staying long tonight.” He gave Fallon the same look Clint gave Emily.

  * * * *

  Robert walked into their home and found Liz and Tremaine cuddled up on the couch. Liz scooted over, patting the seat beside her. Needing them both, he sat and took a kiss from Liz, before leaning across her and taking one from Tremaine.

  One topic kept rolling around his head since his talk with Slater. Excitement danced through him as he sat back and blurted out, “Would you consider having Emily heal your womb?”

  Liz grinned, then looked at Tremaine, biting her lip.

  He caressed her face. “It’s a wonderful idea.” His hand glided down her body to cover her belly as he locked gazes with Robert. “I can see our child growing right here.”

  “All of ours,” Robert murmured.

  Liz sucked in a breath and exclaimed, “Thank fuck you both agree because I already had her fix me. I wanted to tell you, but I was waiting until my period came back.”

  Robert b
linked. “That rascal didn’t tell me!”

  “Begged her not to.” Liz batted her lashes, covering Tremaine’s hand with her own. “To tell the truth, I wasn’t sure what you’d say. I mean, I don’t care who the father would technically be, but would it matter to either of you?”

  “We’d both be the fathers,” Tremaine answered.

  “Indeed,” Robert agreed.

  “You ready to try for a baby?” Liz asked, a twinkle in her eyes.

  “Bet your ass I am.” Tremaine lifted her from the couch and carried her to their room.

  Robert didn’t waste time, undressing as he followed them.

  * * * *

  After their bellies were full, Emily convinced Clint to take her home. It hadn’t taken much. She’d had too much to drink and started to fondle him under the table. He wanted her home before he lost control and let her take things too far.

  As soon as their door was shut, she pulled off her dress while weaving up the stairs. He could only gape, wondering how he hadn’t realized she’d skipped undergarments. He chased her to the bedroom and spun her around, locking his lips on hers.

  Her arms twined around his neck as he moved her toward the bed. She fell back and propped herself on her elbows with a smirk. “Tell me you’re getting naked,” she slurred slightly.

  He nodded, pulling his shirt over his head and shoving his pants and underwear down, kicking everything away before lifting her to place her head on the pillows so he could kiss down her body.

  She writhed beneath him as he sucked and nibbled at her tight peaks. His hands glided over her body, exploring every delectable inch. This woman made him crave things he thought he’d never want again.

  “Need you,” she whimpered. Her legs curled around him, her hips rocking to rub her heat over his skin.

  He had other plans. First, he wanted to devour her, focus on her pleasure. Make her come so hard she forgot every wrong ever dealt to her.

  Trailing kisses down her ribs, he fingered her slick folds and gently pinched her clit as he scooted down the bed. She cried out, her back arching.

  “Fucking beautiful,” he praised, before slipping his tongue into her heat and swirling while he thumbed her pearl. She surrendered, demanding more with the way she moved against him.

  No longer the terrified woman, but a bold, sexy siren who had ripped away his need to be dominated.

  Her fingers gripped his hair and she dragged him up. He went willingly, ready to sink into her until she screamed his name.

  “Fuck me, hard. I want to feel you against me, in me, a part of me,” she panted.

  He thrust into her, her breasts bouncing as he pushed himself up to look at her while he pounded her hard and fast. Her hands tangled in the sheets as he pulled her ankles to his shoulders, pushing deeper into her body. Her cries echoed, urging him faster, as he reached down to rub her sensitive bead.

  She came undone, her juices dripping down his balls as his cock jerked, spilling into her. Her eyes found his, a lazy smile on her lips as her chest heaved. “Love this side of you.”

  “Hmm?” he murmured, lying down beside her.

  “My sexy beast.”

  He let out a laugh, pulling her into his arms. “Told you, Em, I’ll be anything you need me to be.”

  “Just you.” She rolled over and kissed him softly. “I want all of you, Clint.”

  “I’m yours.”

  Chapter 24

  “Rise and shine, sleepyhead,” Clint purred, bouncing on the mattress next to her.

  Emily pried one eye open and winced when an invisible ice pick drove into her skull. Nausea rolled through her as she pulled the blankets over her head.

  “Gonna die,” she muttered.

  His hand smoothed over her back as he sighed. “Was afraid of that. You never drank much, did you?”

  “Shh, head hurts,” she grumbled, curling against his thigh.

  “You’re hungover. I should have thought of that, but I’ve never been.”

  “Ugh.”

  “Though I have a cure on good authority. I called Liz for her treatment. She says greasy food, a concoction Dakota brewed up, and Tylenol will fix your problems. She delivered some of her stash.”

  “Really?”

  “Yup. So get up, because I have everything you need right here.”

  She managed to scoot up the bed and lean back against the headboard. Clint handed her a glass of something strangely floral, sweetened with too much honey, and several pills.

  Closing her eyes, she threw the Tylenol back and swallowed down the brew. Her stomach settled, her headache faded. “Thank you.” She leaned into him.

  He set a tray over her lap. “And the greasy food.”

  She kissed his shoulder. “My hero.”

  Clint winked at her. “So, what’s on your schedule for today?”

  She shrugged. “Unless I’m called in, I don’t need to be at the clinic. What are you doing?”

  “Building a cabin with Mark. Or, more accurately, trying to finish it. It’s been hectic.”

  “Would it be okay if I tagged along? Maybe I could help.”

  He grinned. “You want to hang out with Mark and me? It’s going to be loud, and dirty.”

  “Please.”

  “Of course. I can better keep an eye on you.”

  “And I can keep an eye on you,” she teased.

  “That too. How’s your head?”

  “Better.” She picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite. “When do we leave?”

  “You have time. Eat, take a shower, then we can head over.”

  * * * *

  Robert paced the dining room, trying to think of a way to track the assholes from Clint’s old pack. Preston only got so far before the last of Toby’s living essence died off, leaving him nothing to follow. Why hadn’t there been an accident? Did his body die before his soul left the rotting carcass?

  “Robert, what’s wrong?” Liz asked.

  He half-laughed. “Remember how Emily used to be jealous you could cast amazing spells—ones she could never hope to duplicate? Not that anyone can use magic like you.”

  Liz frowned. “She’s over that. Right? Please tell me she is.”

  He closed the distance and caught her face gently, giving her a quick kiss. “She’s well past that.”

  She smiled, curiosity replacing doubt. “Okay, then what’s your point?”

  He drew a slow breath and let it out. “Protecting Clint, she—cursed the man who shot him. We haven’t seen the corpse, but know his body died. Whatever she did, he decayed rapidly. We don’t know where he wound up, but suspect his body was dead before his soul left, if that makes sense.”

  A smirk lifted one corner of her mouth. “Let me guess, she healed Clint, then turned around and destroyed the asshole?”

  “Yeah. She didn’t know she could.”

  Liz nodded. “She’s amazing. Always has been. But your brother broke her confidence. I’m glad she’s rebuilding it.”

  Robert nodded. “She’s happy. That’s all I could ever hope for.”

  “As long as no one mentions her and Clint getting busy,” she teased, dancing out of his reach.

  His hands smoothed down his lapels, looking away. “She’s my sister.”

  “Where you at?” Preston called, as he entered through the front door.

  “Back here,” Robert answered.

  Preston joined them, leaning against the kitchen counter. “One of Toryn’s contacts sent word that Axel’s been in touch with Jules and Anthony. They’re sending someone named Baylen, he’s part fae and a werewolf.”

  “How do you know that?”

  Preston shrugged. “Source didn’t offer and I didn’t ask. He’s never given us inaccurate intel though.”

  “I don’t understand why HARP focuses on hybrids,” Robert grumbled.

  “I’ll see you both later.” Liz gave Robert a kiss and squeezed Preston’s shoulder before leaving.

  Preston stepped into Robert’s view wi
th a serious look. “They want to break down the Silver Council so they can wrest control. The Council breeds prejudice against different Others. Yes, we’re making progress, but it’s slow, and going to take ages before most mages are willing to accept the fact that everyone else deserves the same freedoms.”

  Robert nodded. They’d both watched the world changing. Mages tended to be slower to accepting change, maybe because many could live forever if they continued to practice magic. Older mages usually had the hardest time changing beliefs and habits. “We adapted. Why can’t they?”

  Shrugging, Preston went to the fridge to get water. “Don’t know what to tell you, other than it doesn’t matter. Change will eventually happen.

  “Now, about HARP, it sounds to me like we’re going to have escalating concerns with them in our future. Whether or not Elm Wood will be an issue for long, I think it’s safe to say that HARP won’t let this go.”

  “No. Not likely.”

  “We need to talk to Tremaine.”

  “Why?”

  “I was looking through some old HARP files to glean what knowledge I could about the organization. Ninety years ago, Tremaine was eyeball-deep in investigating HARP. There’s all this information, then the files end. He knows something.”

  Robert froze and looked up slowly. “Why hasn’t he said anything?”

  “Thought you might have a better answer than I do.”

  Robert shook his head. “I don’t.” He took his phone out and sent a quick text to Tremaine. Hey, need to ask you some questions about HARP.

  His response came back, Wondered when this was coming. Meet me at the book warehouse.

  Robert looked up at Preston. “He says to meet him at the warehouse. Drive? Or go?”

  “Go. I don’t get sick anymore.”

  Robert nodded, gripped his arm, and they stood in the middle of the warehouse. Tremaine pushed the dark waves out of his face as he looked up. A cart sat beside him, piled with books and old files. “Robert, Preston.”