Indigo Spell (11 page)

Sticking the key into the ignition, she cranked the engine. “I’m not even going to feed your ego by answering that.”

With another kiss, he backed away. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

He waited until the lights of her brakes glowed red in the dark before he slid behind the wheel of his sports car.

“Damn you, Falcon.”

* * * * *

Jaxon flung the metal door open with a wave of his hand and crashed into the warehouse, the blackness of his rage obliterating common sense and reason. The fury dominated and for the first time in a long time, he felt the edge of his control slip. “Falcon! Where in the hell are you?”

From out of nowhere, the white-haired man glided across the floor. He waved his hands in front of him to ward off the approaching storm. “Now I know you are upset but there is no need to come storming into my home like an out of control tornado. We should sit down and talk about this.”

“You warned Tess to stay away from me.”

“She is not your destiny,” the wizard responded with a simple shake of his head. “She would not understand your world.”

“I will choose who will be in my life and who will not. Not you. You do not know my destiny. You are not to ever come near Tess again.” Jaxon slipped into the more formal speech of his ancestors.

Falcon frowned, looking affronted. “I would not have harmed her.”

“You scared her. I saw it in her eyes.”

The leader of the Assembly looked positively dismayed. “Well, that certainly was not my intention. I will rectify it immediately.” He was, if anything, a gentleman.

Jaxon barred his path. “No. You will stay away from her. I mean it. We are friends. You are like a father to me but you will not come between me and Tess.”

“There is nothing between the two of you. You have made no promises to her.”

“She is not ready for that.”

“You have told her nothing about who you really are. How can you be so sure what she is ready for? And you expect me to believe you are not ready for a family of your own? You are beyond ready. I would not oppose such a desire on your part should you have chosen a more proper consort for your affections. If you insist on having this woman in your life, I will be forced to call a meeting of the Assembly.”

Jaxon’s shoulders stiffened at the unspoken command, the warning behind the words. Nearing five hundred years of age, he didn’t consider himself a child to be forced to follow the dictates of his mentor. A powerful wizard in his own right, he had little difficulty moving obstacles in his path and he used his powers with the knowledge and wisdom he’d amassed through the years. Every fiber in his body rebelled at the control Falcon exercised. Just as everything inside him, those fibers that made him who he was, accepted the domination. Falcon was more than just his friend. At nearly fifteen hundred years of age, he was the oldest living wizard in the universe, the most powerful and, if the situation called for it, the most deadly. And Jaxon had been raised to fear and respect the age of his elders but mostly to reverence the wizard who had taken him under his wing three centuries ago when Jaxon had just tasted the headiness of his powers.

He had been on the verge of losing control, of giving into the dark forces that allowed him to guide people at his whim. He could have had this place called Earth as his personal playground, commanding the unsuspecting as his puppets. Then Falcon had stepped in, confronting him with the truth of his power and the consequences of its frivolous use. Jaxon’s powers were a gift, meant to be treasured and used wisely, not for personal gain or pleasure. And he should be grateful the leader had cared enough to save him from himself. But gratitude wouldn’t win over desire.

“Then call your meeting.” Jaxon’s voice vibrated with fury.

The wizard rose into the air, his booted feet dangling. “You know, you really irritate me when you do this. When was the last time you spoke with your mother?”

Jaxon didn’t blink at the change of subject but the studied casualness in his mentor’s voice unnerved him a little. Falcon had always been the picture of decorum, never wavering from his chosen mission and never dropping his propriety. “Mother knows where I am. We keep in contact.”

“Jaxon, I have given my life in service of the Assembly. We are a powerful people and with our power come certain responsibilities. We cannot force our way of life on the mortals. They would not, they could not, understand.”

Turning his back on his mentor, Jaxon walked toward the door. “Times like these make me wish I was mortal.”

“But you are not and no amount of wishing can change that.”

“Would you have me turn my back on this chance?”

“You can have no proper chance with a mortal.”

“That is for me to decide.”

Breath hissed out of clenched teeth as Falcon absorbed the information. “Then I have no choice but to call the Assembly together.”

“Do as you must. I will answer the summons.” He knew he could do no other.

* * * * *

“Jesus. Another fucking hurricane.” Belinda switched off the television atop the armoire in Tess’ bedroom. The monster storm was approaching the coastline, drawing closer with each passing minute.

“I’ve already started packing,” Tess said around a mouthful of toothpaste as she stood in the doorway of her bathroom.

“Ed and I are heading to Tennessee. You’re more than welcome to come along.” Belinda assumed a lotus position in the center of Tess’ bed and stuffed her hand into the bag of caramel popcorn.

Tess smiled even as her thoughts strayed. She searched for some unknown connection with Jaxon. She didn’t think she’d actually be able to touch him, to reach him in her mind but there was always something there, a soft whisper telling her of his safety. The mental contact should have bothered her. Instead it reassured her. “I’m not sure where I’m going this time.”

Bringing her knees up to her chest, Belinda grinned. “Oh, I think you know. I wouldn’t be surprised if your luscious contractor whisks you away to some fantasy island.”

“Please.” Though she tried to appear nonchalant, Tess couldn’t hide the chill that danced along her shoulders.

“From what you’ve told me, it wouldn’t come as a surprise.”

Nothing would surprise her when it came to Jaxon. “I think I’ve told you too much.”

“Hey, I’m not judging. He sounds like one hell of a guy and from what I’ve seen, well…” Belinda faked a shiver. “Anyway, do you think he’s going to evacuate too or is he one of those macho types who will stick it out no matter what approaches? I hate that.”

“We haven’t talked about it since the warnings were just issued a couple of hours ago.”

“Well, you’d better get cracking. This storm is a doozie and I, for one, intend to be sitting on a mountaintop slurping on a margarita when this thing blows in. You would do well to be thinking along those same lines.”

Tess snapped her suitcase shut and tugged it off the bed. “I don’t need to be reminded, thanks. But I don’t intend to go anywhere until I know what Jaxon’s going to do.”

Belinda swung her legs over the side of the bed and hopped to her feet. “Are the two of you really that serious? I mean I know the sex is pretty serious but now you’re talking about waiting to find out his itinerary before you think about saving your own ass. Sounds pretty dedicated to me.”

“I’m not sure. Sometimes I think we are but then I remember it’s only been a few weeks. I shouldn’t rush into anything but…he’s different, Belle.”

“Different as in he brings you flowers and chocolates every day or different as in he has a laboratory beneath his house with a potential Frankenstein on the table?”

Tess laughed out loud. “Your imagination works overtime.”

“Usually. It’s what makes me a good writer. I really would like to meet this guy close up, face-to-face.”

“I’m sure you will. It’s still kind of new.”

Belinda strolled toward the door. “Well, Ed and I are heading out at first light so give me a call on my cell when you get to where you’re going. And please don’t even think about staying here.”

Tess waved away her friend’s concern. “That’s not going to happen. I’ll be leaving soon. According to the forecast, we’ve got at least twenty-four hours before we’ll actually know where this thing is going to land. And there’s still a good chance it will turn but either way I’ll be long gone by then.”

And hopefully on a different mountaintop with Jaxon.

After a long hot bath that left her skin tingling, Tess crawled beneath fresh cotton sheets. She closed her eyes only to open them a second later when she caught the scent of Jaxon’s cologne.

Had he returned to her again? Propping up on her elbows, she searched the room, almost relieved to see nothing but the usual furniture and decorations. Chalking it up to another mental invention, she collapsed back against the pillow.

But she could still see Jaxon’s face, feel the touch of his fingers as they slipped between the lips of her crease. Her legs moved underneath the sheets, as restless as the night winds.

She didn’t know whether to curse or thank Jaxon for reawakening her sensuality. She’d been content with her life before he’d arrived…hadn’t she? Sure, she made occasional use of her trusty vibrator but now it paled in comparison to even the slightest touch of Jaxon’s lips. Her body humming, nipples peaking, Tess shivered in agony.

She wanted him. Right here. Right now. So where in the hell was he? Surely her imagination could conjure him again. With a groan of regret, she slipped her hand beneath the covers, lifting the edge of the worn cotton T-shirt she wore.

Her nipples were pebble-hard, aching almost. She gave them a hard pinch, wincing at the quick bite of pain. Her breaths became shallow as the excitement increased. With frenzied movements, she yanked her panties down over her hips, kicking them to her ankles. Allowing her legs to fall open, she sought the wetness of her cunt.

Her clit pulsated, engorged with blood, and Tess knew her fingers wouldn’t be enough to assuage the ache. Inside the top drawer of the bedside table, she kept her stash of toys but that knowledge only frustrated her. They would be inadequate. Nothing compared to what Jaxon could do to her body.

What in the hell had he done to her?

Feeling almost deflated that she would have to settle, she tugged open the drawer, leaning over to search the contents. Her eyes widened and her hands began to shake. A long black velvet box lay nestled in amongst her old toys, a note taped to the top. As her fingers curled around the softness, her heart beat a faster rhythm.

The note was simple.
Enjoy
.

Heat rushed to her face as she opened the lid. A vast array of sex toys lay arranged in artistic fashion, some of which she’d never even seen before. Her fingertips glided over each one. Excitement built as she lifted a long, silver clamp with glittering diamonds hanging from white ribbons.

She didn’t know where the knowledge had come from but she knew how to use these toys and use them she would! Digging back into the box, she retrieved a small round mirror with curved feet. She set it on the bed, angling it so she could see her pussy.

Almost quivering with delight now, she slid the clamp around the outer edges of her clit and watched the tiny nubbin fill with even more blood. Had Jaxon searched inside her drawer, saw that her toys were woefully inadequate or had he merely gifted her with such treasures so she would think of him? She didn’t care right now. Right now only one thing mattered.