by Sabrina York
She wrapped her arms around his neck and levered herself higher so he could go deeper. He did.
“That’s so good. Yes. Like that.”
He withdrew but before she could complain he filled her again. She shuddered around him and rested her forehead onto his chest. Though she was trembling with the strain, she stayed aloft, thrusting her hips forward, demanding more. And more.
He gave it to her. Three fingers barely fit, she was so tight, but he was a determined man. He worked at her slowly, rotating inside her and glorying in the dueling expressions of bliss and frustration playing over her features. When he pulled out, he was slick with her cream. He could not resist a taste. But a taste was not enough.
She watched through drooping lids, her lips working, desperate to form words.
But then she apparently decided she didn’t need any words. She needed action.
And now.
She found the band of his breeches and yanked. His cock sprang free but it was a liberty that did not last long. For she encased him.
He threw his head back and howled. It felt so good. So tight. She clasped him mercilessly. Tiny little quivers, minute twitches, brain-rattling suction.
She moved over him and around him, working her way down his shaft. His toes curled as she reached the base, as the wiry hairs of her groin meshed with his.
He arranged her more fully upon him, shifting, searching…and found it. Rubbed against it, that tender spot so deep within her, and she came.
He allowed her this orgasm. He allowed her to come around him, driving him closer to insanity with every quake. And when she was finished he held her tight in his arms and allowed her to recover. But he did not allow her long.
He rose over her and gently laid her back on the bench. And then he eased himself out. Locking gazes with her, he slowly thrust back in.
She whimpered.
He showed no mercy. As soon as he was able, he eased his length from her clutching cavern once more.
And drove back in.
She came again.
Her renewed internal shivers set him off.
He lost control.
Like a madman, he pounded into her, using the base of the bench as leverage. His strokes became shorter. Faster. Harder. Her cunt cinched tighter, wept. And then…
And then his sanity fled.
Because she came yet again.
But not like she had before. This was a bone-deep orgasm that shook her, racked her, racked him, straight to the core.
Incredibly, he felt it all. His ecstasy. Hers. He could tell by the confusion, the delight in her expression, that she felt it too.
For a long, flawless sliver of time, they were one.
One soul.
One body.
One heart.
Then ecstasy flooded his being as the dam broke.
Chapter Fifteen
After they had recovered from the most amazing sex of their lives, he wrapped her in a blanket and carried her out onto the patio so they could watch the sunset in each other’s arms. Aimalee fell asleep and missed it. But when she awoke, he told her he didn’t care, that he’d come to love holding her while she slept.
The unfamiliar concept of having someone watch over her in her slumber stirred strange cravings inside her. She’d been alone most of her life, since her father died. There’d been no one to take care of her—until now.
And heavens, she liked it.
She snuggled closer to him, deeper into his embrace, his warmth, savoring the tantalizing scent rising from him. His heart throbbed against her cheek. She ran her hand over his chest, down his abdomen and—unable to resist—across his groin. She laughed at what she found.
“What?” he grunted.
“You’re hard again.”
“Naturally.”
“But so soon?”
“I always want you.”
“Ah yes.” She tried not to let that old, familiar annoyance rise. “The spell.”
He stilled. “I cannot help it, Aimalee.”
“I know. It’s just…hard.”
He swallowed a chuckle. “Quite hard.”
She rose up and glowered at him. “I’m not joking. Do you know how difficult it is for me, knowing that you only want me because of some stupid spell?”
He tried to pull her back down. “It’s not just the spell—”
She resisted. “Of course it is, Keeshan. You are in love, deeply in love, with another woman.”
“That’s not fair. I lost her. A long time ago.”
“But you still love her. Even now. Even after all this time.”
His features tightened into a mask. “I will always love her, Aimalee. But even when I am thinking about her, I want you.” He draped an arm over his eyes and sighed. “Do you know what that does to me? How it tears me up inside? She was my one true love. And my lust betrays that love every time I look at you.”
Though a dagger shattered her heart, Aimalee eased back down onto his chest. She traced the line of his cheek. “I do know, Keeshan. I do. I suffered the same guilt over Carter before I…before. I didn’t want to want you, when it was him I loved. But I couldn’t help myself.”
He lifted his arm and peeped out at her. “It’s not your fault. It’s the Dark Djinn’s magic.”
“I know. But it does not make it any easier.” She threaded her fingers and nibbled on her lip. “Do you still think about her?”
“Every day.” Silence surrounded them. “Does that bother you?”
She thought about it. “No. Not really. Knowing that someone else holds your heart is tough to swallow. But we cannot control who we love, can we?”
“Life would be a lot easier if we could.”
“And where’s the fun in that?”
He chuckled and they fell silent, simply enjoying the tickle of the evening breeze, the twinkling of the stars in the sky and the faint shushing of the sea in the distance. But there was something on Aimalee’s mind. And she had never been one to hold her tongue. So she blurted it out.
“How did she die?”
Keeshan tensed. “What? Who?” But he knew to whom she referred.
“The woman you loved.”
“Circe?”
“Circe. That’s a pretty name.”
“She was beautiful.”
Her heart pinged. Just a little. “How did she die?”
He stilled. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Tough.”
“Aimalee…” Something akin to panic flickered over his expression. She contemplated letting the subject drop but it had been on her mind for days now, eating away at her. She needed, desperately needed to know everything about Circe. And she suspected he desperately needed to tell her. Tell someone.
“Just tell me. Then I’ll drop it. Never bring it up again.”
He kissed her instead. A deep and desperate kiss.
But Aimalee was determined and stubborn and had a pretty good memory for things they’d been talking about just a second ago. So when he lifted his head, all sloe-eyed and sexy, she started again. “So tell me what happened.”
With a groan, he dropped his head back on the pillow. “I really don’t want to discuss this,” he muttered.
“I think you need to. I think it would be good for you.”
He sat up and fixed her with a dark look, as though he was making a difficult decision or fighting some inward battle. Then his expression shuttered and he drew three gentle lemniscates on her shoulder. His touch sent shards of sensation skittering through her but she ignored them.
He leaned closer and whispered, “Isn’t there something else you would rather do?”
Seriously? He was trying to seduce her out of asking questions?
Seriously?
“No.”
His head jerked back and he stared at her as though she’d just sprouted a third nipple. “What?!”
“I said no.”
He drew the shapes again and then got all dreamy again and murm
ured, “Are you sure?”
“Um. Yes?” She sat up and scooted back because his brow had furrowed and he was reaching for her again. “Stop that. It tickles.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed several times as he gaped at her in astonishment. “You really don’t want to…do…something else?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “No. I would like to talk.”
“Talk?”
Was she speaking in tongues? “You know. The exchange of words some humans partake in? To share information?”
He frowned. “I know what talking is but… Don’t you…want to…?”
“Have sex?”
“Yes!” Relief washed across his face.
“No.”
He did a double take. “No?”
“Keeshan, why are you acting so strangely?”
“Strangely?”
“Come on.” She nudged him with a toe. “Fess up.”
“Aimalee…” His lips worked. “I just-just drew the incantation on you.”
She frowned. “The sex spell? The one that’s supposed to make me fall into your arms, panting with passion?”
“Yes!”
“It didn’t work.”
“I know.” He frowned. “Aimalee, it’s never not worked. It always works.”
She bit back a grin. “And do you always use it to get out of conversations you don’t want to have?”
“Yes. No. I mean…” He shook his head, the skeins of his hair brushed against her shoulder. “I just don’t understand what happened.”
“Maybe we’re breaking the spell.”
He rubbed his lower lip with a blunt finger, deep in thought. “Maybe.”
“Or maybe I just don’t want you anymore.” She said it in a teasing tone.
He was not amused. “Don’t even joke about that.” His voice came out in a low growl.
“Sorry. Maybe it only lasts for so many spells.”
He barked a laugh. “I’ve used it way more with other women.”
She wasn’t sure why but this comment annoyed her. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared out at the sea.
“Aimalee. Why are you pouting?”
“I’m not sure. You used the spell more with the other women. Does that mean I am a slut? Or you just wanted them more?” Frankly, either option was untenable.
“Neither.” The way he sealed his lips told her he wanted to say more but thought better of it.
“Tell me.”
He sighed heavily, just like a man being forced into a conversation about feelings and emotions and all that icky girlie stuff. Aimalee smiled at the thought. But hid her smile behind her arm.
“Tell me.”
“Okay. Fine.” His square chin firmed and a muscle bunched. As though he was grinding his teeth. “I used the spell on them more because I used it whenever I wanted, while I tried not to use it on you.”
“Tried not to use it on me?” She wasn’t sure if she should be honored or offended.
“Damn it, Aimalee. I wanted you to want me for me. And not because of the spell. There. Are you happy?”
Her heart leapt. “Yes.” His questing gaze swung to her as though he hadn’t heard, so she said it again. “Yes.”
“Did it work?” Why his voice sounded so unsure, so hopeful, she couldn’t say. But that he was uncertain touched her heart. She laid her hand on his arm.
“Yes. I did want you. Without the spell. I still do.”
His eyes warmed, his lips twitched and his head began to lower. Yes. She recognized the signs. He was going to kiss her. And this time she didn’t know if she had it in her to stop him.
Best thing to do was to back away now. So she did.
He followed.
“No, Keeshan. I want to talk. Remember?”
“We’ve been talking.”
“I want to talk about Circe. I want to know how she died.” She wasn’t sure why it was so important to know. But it was. Until it was out in the open, Circe would always be between them.
Keeshan raked his fingers through his hair and sighed. “There’s nothing to tell.”
She suddenly wished she’d watched more Law & Order. “What do you mean there’s nothing to tell?”
“I simply don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“I couldn’t ask. The Dark Djinn told me she was dead. He told me I had killed her but wouldn’t say more than that. I assumed she…she…”
“Took her own life?”
“Yes.”
Aimalee lay back and gazed up at the enchanted stars. It was a lovely sky. “Was she the type to do something like that?”
Keeshan stilled beside her. “No. She wasn’t. But how else could my loving her have ended her life? He was adamant about that. The only thing that saves my sanity is the knowledge that she has moved on.”
“What do you mean?”
He glanced at her. “Moved on. The wheel of reincarnation is always turning.”
“You mean she was born again? You believe in that?”
“Certainly. She’s probably had a hundred lives by now.”
“That must be difficult for you. That she’s lived other lives without you. Been with other men. Forgotten all about you.”
“I have accepted all that. What eats at me is not knowing if…”
“If what?”
“If she’s happy. That’s all I want. I want to know she found some measure of peace in the world.”
“Have you ever asked the mirror?”
His eyes, suspiciously damp, glimmered in the moonlight. “I’ve never been able to get the mirror to reveal anything to me.”
“Nothing?”
“Not even a hint.”
Aimalee nibbled at her lower lip. “I could ask. Maybe it would show me.”
He went absolutely silent, taut. Tiny tears beaded on his lashes. “Would you?” he whispered. “Could you?”
She cupped his cheek, wiping away the tears with her thumb. “Of course.”
“Oh, Aimalee. If I could have that weight off my soul. To know what happened to her. To know she if is all right—wherever she is—that would be wonderful.” He kissed her forehead. “I would be forever grateful.”
Aimalee tossed off the blanket. “Let’s do it. Now.”
But Keeshan was immovable. “Not yet,” he said, pulling her back into his arms. “Let’s just enjoy this time.”
Aimalee understood his hesitation. She understood it completely.
He wanted to know what had happened to his beloved Circe but was scared to death to learn the truth.
Chapter Sixteen
His feet dragged slightly on the floor as he followed Aimalee to the mirror room. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to know what had become of Circe, of the love of his life. He did. But he dreaded the possibilities.
Had she moved on to a life of torment and loss? Had she suffered? Had the bright light of her soul dimmed? Because of him?
He did not know how he would handle such truths. He did not know if his heart could survive it. So many tears. So many sleepless nights filled with thoughts of her. Hopes for her.
Aimalee opened the door and glanced back at him as he lingered on the threshold. She took his hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. “We can do this another time.”
“No.” He stepped into the room. “Let’s do it now.”
Together they crossed to the large stone throne, the chair in which he had spent countless hours staring at the mirror, that heartless, unforthcoming surface. He’d never had hope before.
And hope was, he was coming to find, a frightening thing to have.
He sat on the chair and Aimalee arranged herself on his lap. He nestled her closer against him and savored his last moments of ignorance.
For who knew what he would discover?
“Are you ready?” Her voice was but a whisper in his ear, the trill of a tiny bird. But it shot through him like a bolt of lightning.
He swallowed. Nodded curtly.
> “Mirror. Please show me what happened to Circe.”
There was a long pause as though the mirror was loading a litany…or simply tormenting him. Keeshan closed his eyes but only for a second, because he didn’t want to miss a thing.
The first face to come up sent shock ricocheting through his body. His gut lurched. Pulse thrummed. Brain buzzed.
Because he knew that face.
It was Desiree. The first woman who had come to visit him in the lamp. Two thousand years ago.
He was aware of Aimalee tracing soothing circles on his arm but only just, because the second image appeared, a laughing visage with charming dimples on both cheeks. Yes. He knew this face as well. She was Minu, the Persian princess who found the lamp in her father’s storeroom. Minu had enjoyed her time in the lamp, dreading the arranged marriage the king had planned for her. When it was time for her to leave, she had cried.
And then the third vision flashed onto the screen and the fourth and the fifth and his heart began to sing because he knew them all. Brígiða, a white-haired Viking with exquisite curves. Gia, Luli and Ròs, the redheaded Scottish firebrand. Kei, a soft-spoken geisha from imperial Japan. Glenys, the Welsh warrior woman. Leah, Anna, Deborah, Natalya the Russian enchantress…he knew them all.
His pulse thudded as a mind-bending realization hit home.
Circe had come to him. In different bodies, she had come. Though her true identity had been hidden from him, she had come. Time and time again.
Every face the mirror showed him, every incarnation since she had slipped from his life. Every visitor. Every woman. Every consort.
Circe. His love.
He looked at Aimalee and his heart swelled.
Aimalee. His Aimalee.
There was no need for guilt. No need for pain. No need for sadness or worry or loss. Because she had been with him all along.
She was with him now.
“Are you all right?”
Was he.
“I am fine.” He pulled her closer and tucked her head beneath his chin and watched as the women he had loved, had always loved, continued to pass before him. He knew when they were coming to the end because he remembered them, each and every one.
At the time he had cursed himself for being unfaithful to Circe. Now he knew he was destined to love them. Because they were Circe.
