by Kate Gellar
What the fuck was happening to him?
Bullshit. It was all bullshit. The only thing that mattered was to keep that damn seal closed. To do that, he’d fake whatever feelings Sam said he’d feel naturally for the queen.
Movement in the room jerked him into an upright position.
“Abby? You okay?” he whispered. The room was pitch black except for a shadow that came toward him.
Brendan tensed. Had Abby released one spirit and brought it with her into his room? That couldn’t be. The protection spell on his room wouldn’t have allowed it to enter.
“Abby?” he repeated. The hairs on his arms stood up. “Is that you?”
His eyes focused enough for him to make out a person. Then he saw her face.
Wearing one of his t-shirts, Abby never said a word as she climbed on top of him.
“What are you doing?” His words packed little punch as his cock strained to get closer to her. He wanted it—he wanted to be buried deep inside her—but at what cost? She had the power to kill him. He’d already tasted that power.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she said, her voice soft and lazy.
She pressed her lips to his and that jolt, that spark between them, ignited into a flame. He pulled her closer feeling the heat of her pussy through a thin layer of fabric as she pressed it up against his dick. She ground her hips against him forcing a groan from his throat.
Shit. He’d had a lot of sex, but this, with this girl, felt different like she had something he needed. He tensed up when Sam’s rule came to the fore of his mind: The queen must choose him.
It felt like she had chosen him, but a little kissing and rubbing did not give him consent. She had to initiate it. Well, the first time, anyway.
His cock throbbed through the thin layer of his bottoms as Abby continued to grind up against him. This time her lips were soft, not greedy like before, not stealing power. She took a little, but she shared some of hers. His head swam from the rush. Abby swept her tongue across his lips, and he nearly broke Sam’s rule and took her right there on the sofa.
“Fuck, Abby. What are you doing to me?” He still didn’t know if she was a queen or a witch.
“What?” she murmured against his neck. “You don’t like this?”
“I like it too much.” He tried to push her away. It felt too good between them for her not to be a queen. “What are you doing? I need you to tell me.”
Consent. Consent. Consent.
Still on his lap, Abby sat back, releasing the contact between them. His skin hummed at her proximity. “I’m kissing you. What does it feel like?”
“But why? Are you under a spell? Are you feeling the way you did when the seal took hold of you? Do you want me so bad, you’d kill me for my power?”
Abby climbed off his lap and stood before him. To his relief, she didn’t leave. “I’m drawn to you and I can’t explain why. I was lying in your bed wondering what the hell to do about it. When I kiss you, it calms me, you know?”
He did, because he felt the same way. “I want you, Abby. Jesus, you have no idea, but you must understand I can’t initiate things between us. If you want this to go further, you have to say.”
Abby grabbed his hand and pulled him up. He towered over her shorter frame. He froze as her hands slid under his own t-shirt to push it up and over his head. He stood before her half-naked and dying to touch her. But he could only do what she instructed; Sam said the bond had to happen naturally. Anything else would weaken the four. But as Brendan stood there dressed in only a pair of pajama bottoms, he still wasn’t sure what Abby was.
“Take off your pants,” she ordered.
His breath caught in his throat. He wasn’t used to being told what to do. But with this woman... Her order sent a thrill through his cock. He pushed his bottoms down and stepped out of them. His cock bobbed and strained toward her.
Her eyes widened and she gasped a little—a sound that only made him harder. She stepped forward, still wearing too much, and touched him.
“Fuck.” He squeezed his eyes shut at the pleasure that ran from her fingers through all of him. She squeezed it, massaged it, and he did everything he could not to grab her and take her right there.
“Do you want to see me?” she whispered.
He nodded, like a horny teenager.
She pulled off her t-shirt and stood there in only her panties. Her breasts, medium-sized and full bounced as she lowered her arms.
“Touch them.”
Brendan stepped closer. Her eyelids fluttered closed when he grazed his fingers along the bottom of the swell. She leaned into his hand and he cupped a breast each in his hand. Her nipples pebbled beneath his touch. He leaned closer to take one in his mouth.
Abby moaned and pushed her breast farther inside his mouth. Brendan’s hands wrapped behind Abby’s back to draw her closer. Her body felt warm to the touch, and all he could think about was how warm and wet she must be down there. He throbbed painfully thinking about that discovery, but instead concentrated on her breasts, licking one nipple until it became diamond hard, then working on the other.
The noises Abby made almost made him come. It’s what he would have done with the other girls; initiated sex then take his pleasure before theirs. He was a selfish lover, but they always came back for more.
But with Abby, he wanted to wait, to give her pleasure first.
Abby slid down her panties and kicked them away. “Touch me.” She breathed out a moan.
Brendan groaned as he got to his knees and widened her stance. He looked at her pussy, pink and juicy, then gently touched a finger to it. Abby threw her head back and released a deep groan.
“Fuck, Abby. I don’t know if I can hold on. I fucking want you so bad.”
He pushed down his own urges and concentrated on her before she could answer. He used the tip of his tongue to tease her folds apart so he could access her nub. Then he swept his tongue through her juices. She almost collapsed.
He stood up quickly before she did and carried her to the bed, making sure she was comfortable. Her long curly hair fanned out around her. Like a halo.
But she was no angel.
Ask her permission, Brendan, his inner voice nagged.
“Do you want me to touch you?”
A breathy word escaped her lips. “Yes.”
He spread her legs apart as she watched him, eyes wide and dilated, pink lips glistening with moisture after she’d licked them.
Brendan got to his knees once more and lifted her buttocks up, giving him full access to her. He penetrated her with his tongue. She tasted so sweet he could stay down there all day. Her breaths came faster. He found her pussy again and stroked it, coating her in her own juices.
“Oh, shit, Brendan!”
He looked up as she curled her fists into the bedclothes and rose off the bed. He worked her harder. Jesus, he wanted to be buried in her, like right now. But she had to give him permission.
Abby’s breathing shortened until she was panting. A shudder ran through her as her orgasm rocked her entire body. She lay there after with her eyes closed.
Right about now, Brendan would be looking for his own release, but he’d felt her orgasm by proxy as she came. His body felt oddly satisfied as though giving her pleasure was enough. He stood up to get her t-shirt off the floor.
That’s when she sat up on her elbows and said, “Where do you think you’re going?”
25
Abby
Oh my God. That was the best orgasm she’d ever had. Brendan had a look of contentment on his face. That he hadn’t asked for anything in return only made Abby want to pleasure him more.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she said.
Brendan froze and stared wide-eyed at her. “I was going to get your t-shirt. You must be cold.”
She sat up and pulled him by the hand back to her. He was hard. It wouldn’t be fair to leave him in that state.
“I was hoping you’d warm me, inside and out.”
>
He smiled. “You sure?”
“Never been more sure.”
She wasn’t certain where this braver, more sexually adventurous Abby had come from—it definitely hadn’t been in college with quick fumbles and bad sex—but with Brendan it felt easy and natural. The chemistry between them was off the charts.
She scooted up the bed until her head hit the pillow. Brendan climbed up and over her. She noticed his apprehension.
“Are you nervous?”
Brendan laughed. “Strangely, yes. I’ve forgotten what to do.”
“How about you start by lying on top of me?”
Brendan pressed his body against hers. She felt him grind his thick cock a little into her sensitive clitoris. She relished the feel of his weight, like a security blanket. His power simmered beneath the surface. Brendan had said they’d partially bonded when they kissed. That must be true because she craved his touch too much and needed more of his power. She pulled his mouth to hers, careful not to take too much power from him and to give him access to some of hers.
Balance. That’s what made the best relationships.
Relationship? Abby, you only just met the guy. He doesn’t even know about your mom.
She pushed that thought aside and returned her attention to Brendan who had gone still. He appeared to wait for her to issue a command. She liked being in control, but maybe with time that would get old.
“I want your cock inside me.” She wriggled beneath him, lifting her legs so her entrance was level with the head of his thickness. He grabbed his shaft and uttered a deep groan when he stroked the head against her wetness. Her nerve endings fired and she felt another orgasm building.
He pushed into her and she tensed as he stretched and filled her. Only when he was all the way in did she relax. Then he moved.
Holy shit that felt good, like this guy was a perfect fit for her. He stroked her g-spot causing her to clench around his thickness as her body tried to take control.
Brendan grunted and sped up his thrusts, pushing her legs higher as he drove into her. She wanted more; his power was so close to the surface, she could pluck it. But the more he thrust inside her, the more connected she felt to this man. Instead of taking his power, Abby fed some of hers to him. His eyes brightened at the exchange and he grinned.
“That feels amazing,” said Brendan.
“Me or my power?”
“Both.”
Brendan increased his long strokes to short ones and Abby almost came right there. She tried to hold off but her second orgasm took over.
“Come for me, Abby.”
She grabbed his shoulders as it shuddered through her entire body. Her vagina tightened around Brendan’s still moving cock until she felt his release. He collapsed on top of her.
Through labored breaths he said, “I...have never...felt anything...like that.”
Neither had she.
She looked down at an exhausted Brendan and whispered, “Mine.”
26
Brendan
Brendan watched Abby sleep, her red hair fanned out on the pillow. She looked so peaceful he didn’t want to disturb her. He touched her face, smiling when she grunted in her sleep. How was it possible to feel so much for one person? He’d never experienced this level of lust—love?—before. He’d never felt the latter and didn’t know how to recognize it.
Brendan eased out of bed and dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Something Abby had said earlier about seeing her mother’s face in a book disturbed him. He had to know what it was she’d seen.
The castle was quiet as he crept down the two flights of stairs. The sun was rising, so it must be close to 6 a.m.
He made it as far as Sam’s office when the door opened and Sam emerged.
“What time is it?” said Brendan. Jesus, didn’t this guy ever sleep?
Sam checked his watch. “After six, why?”
“What’s got you up so early?”
“I had some work to do.” Sam stuffed his hands in his pockets and leaned against the wall. “What’s your excuse? Good night?”
“You could say that.” Brendan couldn’t hold back his grin. To talk about Abby in secret would be wrong, but with Sam it felt right. If Abby was the one for their four, Sam would have felt what he did.
“How do you feel?” said Sam, his face adopting a sombre expression.
“You mean did she drain me?”
“Well, I can see you’re still standing, so that’s good.”
“She started to, at the beginning, but then she stopped and fed me her power.”
“Interesting.” Sam nodded.
“I feel...” Brendan searched for the right words. “I don’t know how to describe how I feel.”
Sam unfolded his arms. A sad look dominated his expression. “Alive?”
That was partly true. But with that euphoric came something else. Abby’s power had given him a strength he never knew he had. It wasn’t just a physical power, but a mental one too, as though with her by his side he could do anything.
Sam waited for an answer. “Complete,” he finally said.
For the first time in a year he saw Sam smile. Not a fake smile he used to mask the stress he was under, but a real one with a little optimism thrown in.
Sam shoved his hands into his pockets. “So, is she who we’re looking for?”
“Could be.” Brendan walked toward the library. “I need to check something first.”
Sam followed him inside the room filled with books that had been handed down through the centuries. Some were history books. Most were spell books. He clicked on the light that illuminated the dark room with no windows, designed to protect the books from damaging sunlight.
Brendan perused the shelves, looking for the book with Queen Maebh that she’d mentioned. “Abby asked me why her mother’s picture was in one of these books.”
“She said what?” Sam looked shocked.
“I know. I didn’t believe it when she said it either. You think she has a real connection to this place?”
“Fuck, Brendan. Anything’s possible.” Sam paced. “This guardian thing, there are no rules to it beyond the one I know: we must all bond with a queen.”
Brendan found the book on mythology amid the alphabetized stack. “Here it is.” He carried it over to a small table set against one wall. Sam stayed by his shoulder while Brendan leafed through the book until he found a cluster of reprinted photos in the middle of the book. He found the one he wanted, suddenly glad he’d put the book down first otherwise he might have dropped it.
Staring back at him was a picture of Abby, but with black hair. The picture was dated 1861, but it was her, or at least a very good likeness.
“Abigail Quinn,” Brendan read aloud. “Shit. It can’t be. Can it?”
“What does it say?” said Sam.
“That she was a witch. A bad one.” Sam pulled in a sharp breath, forcing Brendan’s attention away from the book. His friend’s pessimism was about to hijack this conversation. “Don’t go there, Sam. Just because her lineage was dark doesn’t mean she is one.”
“But she tried to steal your power,” said Sam. “That’s what dark witches do.”
“Then she gave it back when she realized she was hurting me.”
The door opened. Liam and Murphy both entered the room dressed in pajama bottoms and t-shirts. “What’s going on in here then?” Liam yawned and glanced suspiciously between the pair. “Looks like a secret rendezvous, Murphy.”
“Yeah, they wanted privacy to get busy with it.” Murphy made a gagging noise.
“What’s got both your knickers in a knot?” asked Liam, dropping the act. “Sam looks like he’s about to puke everywhere.”
Liam’s eyes went to the open book. Brendan stood back to give Liam and Murphy access. “Look familiar?”
“Holy shit!” said Murphy. “Is that Abby?”
“Fuck, even the name’s similar. Quinn?”
“It was her mother’s maiden nam
e,” said Sam.
Liam looked at him. “What does this mean?”
“That she’s either a dark witch and really good at hiding it from Brendan, or she’s who we’ve been looking for. That was some power she gave off last night.”
Liam’s eyes widened. “That was you two? I felt it, like a jolt to the heart, but a good one.” Brendan nodded.
“Me too,” said Murphy, with a shrug. Closed off as usual.
“We all did,” said Sam. “She’s definitely more than a witch. Otherwise none of us would have felt her power.”
“Could she be a hybrid?” suggested Liam.
Brendan didn’t know if one even existed. Sam was the expert on this. “Do queen hybrids even exist?”
“In the old days, the penalty for a witch and a guardian who mated or attempted to mate was death,” said Sam. “It weakens the guardian bloodline, or so the trinity says. I’m not aware of any hybrids that have been helpful to guardians.”
Death? Brendan bit his thumb. “And nowadays, what happens to both parties?”
Sam hesitated. “Now, guardians could have their powers stripped from them, unless the trinity deems their union to be beneficial in some way to help protect the seal.”
Shit. Brendan knew this thing with Abby was too good to be true.
“By death, you mean stripped of their powers?” said Liam.
“Exactly that,” said Sam with a sigh. “I don’t understand. When I spoke to her cousin Paul, he confirmed the bloodline was not dark witch.”
“Maybe he doesn’t know,” said Liam.
“Becoming mortal again doesn’t sound so bad.” Murphy leaned against one stack. “I’m a part of this so that’s a given, but don’t youse hate being tied to this prophecy?”
“What’s the alternative, Murphy?” said Sam. “That we let the guardianship dissolve and allow malevolent spirits and demonic souls to take over this land? It would be a free-for-all buffet for the demons where the mortals were concerned.”
Murphy shrugged and looked away.
