Surge Of Magic (24 page)

He withdrew his hand and placed his cock at her entrance. She grabbed hold of the sheet in anticipation of what was to come. When he slid into her slowly, she wanted to scream at his tentative behavior. “You won’t hurt me.”

“I’m trying not to come yet,” he said, panting out his words, and she couldn’t help but smile.

Blue sparks skittered up and down her body, and between their two auras, the small space was bathed in neon blue. Teagan needed a release now and pressed her butt backwards.

Kip grabbed her hip and held her still. “You’re asking for it.”

Yes, she was. “Let me roll over so I can watch you when you come.”

Kip withdrew, rolled her on top of him, and managed to slide right back in. Teagan lifted up on her hands and drew onto her knees, all the while keeping his long shaft snuggly inside. She leaned over and kissed him. Much better. With her tits pressed against his chest, and her lips locked with his, she was in heaven.

Slowly, she lifted her rear then dropped back down on him. Seconds later, Kip was on top. He broke off the kiss. “You’re too damn tempting in that position.”

She’d have to remember that for the future. He dipped his head again and kissed her, slower this time, probably because his hips were increasing their speed. She could attest to the fact it was difficult to concentrate with all of the sensations coursing through her at once.

When he drove into her again, their blue auras combined, sealing them in an eternal glow of passion, but this time there was an outline of white. The intensity of the connection caused her to combust at the same time Kip did. Their orgasms collided and joy surrounded her. Holding himself up by his elbows, he lowered his head and nibbled on her chin and then moved to the sensitive area right below her ear.

“I wonder if our lives are cut short every time we climax?” he asked, though she couldn’t tell if he was being serious or not.

“All I know is that every bone in my body feels as if it has melted. It’s hard to even take a breath.”

Kip rolled off her. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to squish you.”

“You didn’t.”

She must have dozed, because at some point Kip had returned with a warm wet towel and cleaned her up, and she hadn’t even noticed that he’d left the cozy loft. “Are you up for some dinner and a nice night by the fire?”

“That sounds divine.”

They gathered their clothes and dressed. “Let me go down first, so if you slip, I can catch you,” he said, once more playing the role of protector.

She wouldn’t mention that she’d been climbing trees since she was a kid. No way would she slip going down. If Kip wanted to be her hero though, she’d let him.

He climbed down ahead of her and was halfway to the bottom when she stepped onto the first rung. As he neared the bottom, he stopped and wavered as if he’d become dizzy. His foot slipped off the bottom rung and faltered, but he managed to right himself.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her heart speeding almost as fast as light could travel.

“Yeah, I’m good. I was dizzy for a moment.”

She didn’t like that one bit. When she reached the floor, she turned around and clasped his shoulders. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

He grinned, looking like his old self. “I think all that sex robbed me of some much-needed oxygen.”

Teagan threw her arms around him. “You scared me. Nothing better happen to you.”

He kissed her forehead. “It won’t. Now let’s chow.”

*

The next afternoon
heading home, Teagan’s cozy little house in the Cove came into view, but she was sorry they had to end their romantic getaway. “Maybe we can go back to the cabin some other time.”

Kip pulled into the driveway. “We’ll see. I’m sure there are other places we can explore. I’ve never been to New England. I bet Cape Cod would be an experience.”

She loved that he was thinking big. “Sounds fantastic.”

He put the truck in park then jumped out. She eased out, carrying her jacket with her, as the day had turned rather balmy.

“You still up for the Lake Steakhouse for dinner?”

“I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to end our little vacation.”

He smiled, grabbed both suitcases, and headed toward the front door. After Teagan opened it, he stepped inside. While her small home was larger than the cabin, it wasn’t nearly as nice.

No sooner had he set down the cases, than his cell rang. “It’s Connor. Good timing, I guess. At least he didn’t call while we were in the loft.”

“Amen.”

He swiped a finger across the cell. “Hey.” He dipped his head, listening to what his boss was saying.

Her shoulders sagged. Connor wouldn’t have called unless it was important. Most likely, Kip had to go into work. Given he’d been away for close to two days, it shouldn’t have surprised her.

Kip covered the phone. “If I go into the office for a few hours, will you be okay by yourself?”

“Sure.”

“You can always stay at the Berta’s.”

“They’re both at work.” She ran a hand down his arm. “I’ll be fine. I refuse to live my life afraid.”

Kip drew her into his arms. “Did I mention that I love you?”

She looked off to the side, loving to tease him. “I don’t believe you did.”

“That was a gross oversight on my part. I love you.”

She giggled. “I love you too. Now do your job and come home quickly. Remember, you promised me dinner at the Lake Steakhouse.”

“I most certainly did.” He returned his attention back to Connor. “Sorry about that. I’ll be right there.”

Kip hurried out, and she locked the door after him. Once he left, she decided to work around the house for a bit. Since she had the day off, she wanted to take advantage of her free time. Laundry would come first, followed by some light cleaning. If she had time, she’d reward herself with a good book.

Two hours later with the bed sheets in the dryer and the house vacuumed, she settled down to read until it was time to change for their dinner date. Teagan hadn’t even read one chapter when someone knocked on the door.

She nearly jumped. Wanting to be cautious, she peeled back the living room curtains and spotted Randy’s car in the drive. Letting out a big breath, she rushed to the door to open it.

“Hey. Come in. I didn’t expect to see you. Kip’s not here though. He had to go into work.” He was wearing another pinstriped suit, though he appeared a bit more frazzled than she’d last seen him.

“We don’t have time.”

The urgency in his tone drenched her stomach in acid. “What do you mean?”

“The hospital just called. Kip had a heart attack.”

Her legs weakened and she grabbed the doorjamb. “How is that possible?” He was only thirty-six.

“We’ll ask the doctor that question when we get there. Kip is asking for you.”

Her hands shook as she tried to think what she needed. “Let me get my purse.”

Teagan dashed inside and grabbed her keys, purse, and a sweater. Hospitals were always so cold. After she locked up, she practically ran to Randy’s car and jumped in the passenger seat.

The drive through town was a blur. “I still can’t believe it.” She remembered him rowing her around the lake, which was then followed by wild sex. He’d seemed so strong.

Remembering the incident on the stairs, Teagan twisted to face Randy. “When we were together at the cabin last night, Kip was going down a ladder from the loft and he missed a step. He said he’d been dizzy.”

Randy shook his head. “That’s the first sign. Damn stubborn man.”

She wouldn’t bring up how much stress he’d been under from retrieving Randy’s powers. As she counted down the minutes until they arrived at the hospital, Teagan’s leg bounced a million miles an hour, and her heart rate matched it.

A few minutes later, instead of turning left on Oak Avenue, he continued straight. “You missed the turn.”

“It’s faster if I take Maple and double back on Pine Avenue.”

She didn’t think so, but most likely his mind wasn’t thinking clearly. Glancing out the window, she tried to enjoy the day—anything to keep the bile in her stomach and not in her mouth.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Randy slip a hand inside his jacket. When she twisted around and saw the hypodermic needle in his hand, she choked out a sob. “Randy? What are you doing?”

She never heard the answer as he jabbed it in her arm. The pain from the stab was brief. It was the fire racing through her veins that made her stiffen. Teagan tried to ask him again, but then her head lolled to its side and her eyes shut.

‡

K
ip was working
with Connor on a case he’d been assigned to before he’d had to divert his attention to retrieving Randy’s magic. Yesterday, Connor had taken over the surveillance while Kip was with Teagan at the cabin. Now that his blood pressure had finally returned to normal after taking that wonderful boat ride around the lake and then making love with her, he was ready to get back to work.

The only black spot on it all had been that terrible image—the one that had made him miss that bottom rung of the ladder.

“You okay there, buddy?” Connor asked.

He jerked his attention back to his boss. “Sure.” Kip waved a hand. “Actually, not really. I had this strange picture race through my head this morning. It was so intense I nearly tripped.”

“What kind of image?” The worry in his voice convinced him Connor wouldn’t laugh if he gave him the details.

“I saw Teagan tied to a chair in a dark place.”

Connor’s brows rose. “Was she dressed?”

Anger rushed through him, but he managed not to blow a gasket in case it was a legitimate question. “What do you mean?”

“Easy there. Just thought it might be a fantasy image. Trust me, I’ve had plenty. After all, you stayed in Jackson’s dad’s cabin for the night.”

He hadn’t thought of that possibility, but he wasn’t into that kind of sex. “No. This was too dark. I got the sense Teagan had been tied down against her will.”

“Visions aren’t necessarily a predictor of the future, or so I’ve been told.”

Teagan’s were. “Maybe, but it still creeps me out.”

Connor picked up his pencil and twirled it on his knuckles. “You just left Teagan, right? And she was okay?”

“Yes, so it’s probably nothing.” He debated calling her just to hear her voice when Jackson strode in from his office.

“Look what I found.” He had a piece of paper in his hands. “I’ll admit I was goofing off by surfing the net, but this is something fun.”

“Another treasure hunt?” Connor asked.

Kip chuckled. Jackson must have been a treasure hunter on a big ship in his former life.

“Yes, but this time it’s in our own backyard. Don’t ask me why I even read the article, but when I saw the name Silver Lake, it caught my attention. Apparently, a Ralph Demont originally owned the property where the Donaldson building used to be.”

That arson case had yet to be solved. “What did it say?” Kip asked.

“There used to be a well on the property, and by well, I mean the kind that had a bucket. Anyway, when he sold the property to a Scott Newlander, Demont said he could build on the property only if he retained the well.”

“I’m guessing Scott didn’t honor his promise?” Connor chimed in.

“No. And rumor has it there was treasure down there.”

Kip leaned back, loving Jackson’s sense of adventure. “So are you thinking of buying the Donaldson property so you can dig it up and discover this treasure?”

“Don’t mock me. No, but the cute young thing that I’m dating is a realtor. She said one of her clients was asking about the property.”

“I didn’t know it was for sale.”

“It isn’t.”

Kip didn’t know what it was about this story that intrigued Jackson so much, but he’d let him have his fun. “Keep us informed when the treasure is unearthed.”

“You mock me now, but I’m saying the warehouse was burned down to force Donaldson to sell. That treasure is valuable. I can feel it in my bones.”

“Sure it is.”

Jackson stood. “I’ll get back to work and leave you two to your boring surveillance job.”

As soon as he left, Kip returned to the real case and tapped the photo. “So are you saying you think Mr. Arnold’s not cheating on his wife?”