Magick Marked (The DarqRealm Series) (37 page)

She needed more heat. Needed more of him.

Reaching behind him without breaking the kiss, she tugged his shirt higher. He took her cue, thrusting his hips forward to pin her to the wall. With one swift motion, he yanked his shirt off and threw it across the room.

Capturing her mouth again with urgency, he ran his hands up her sides and pulled her body forward. His tongue swept across her lips and she invited him in, parting to allow him access. With a quick turn of his wrist, he unclasped her black bra and tossed it into the same abyss as his shirt.

Her breasts sprang free and he pulled away from her mouth. He glanced down and closed his eyes slowly, then opened them again. “You’re beautiful.”

Rho smiled. “So are you.”

And he was. All soft skin pulled against lean, stacked muscles. His shoulders were broad and his arms were thick, the muscles rippling along his abdomen giving way to twin gentle dips at his hip bones. He was a beautifully made male.

He shifted her weight higher, lifting her as he kissed each swell then pulled her away from the wall as he moved his lips to her neck. “How about somewhere more comfortable?”

She nodded, lost in the smell of him, spices and clean sweat. The scent was entirely male and entirely him, growing stronger by the second.

With Rho clutched against him, he lowered her to the ground, laying her body on the floor with care. “Sorry, no bed in here.”

Like she gave a shit. She reached up and tugged at the button on his pants.

Eldon dropped his head for a second before lifting it again. His eyes were so blue she swore they were glowing. “Rho I want all of you. Right now, that’s what I want. If we start, I…” His voice trailed off.

She knew what he wanted. What they needed. Placing a hand on either side of Eldon’s face, she pulled his body on top of hers and brought him to her lips. “Then take me.”

He didn’t waste time.

Her pants joined the pile of discarded clothes, her socks following shortly after. He kissed her thoroughly, his tongue dancing with hers as she tried to absorb every detail of his beautiful mouth. His soft, wet lips were unlike anything she’d ever felt or tasted, a strange new addiction she couldn’t deny.

Eldon pulled away from her and stared down at her face. She reached a hand up and stroked his cheek, savoring the weight of his body on top of hers. Arms flexing and muscles rippling, he repositioned himself before lowering a kiss to her stomach. Then a little lower. And then—

Oh, God.
His breath was hot against her core, her body even hotter. She felt like her skin was on fire, the heat of his body all around her, devouring her. Slowly, he drew her panties off her bare legs.

Another item tossed to the pile.

Parting her legs, he hovered over her, his wide shoulders and firm body towering over her with a raw strength she found intoxicating. He was beautiful like that. Dominant. Masculine.
Hers.

With gentle care, he entered her, filling her completely in one swift motion. His breath left him in a rush. Rho arched against the hard ground, the invasion a sweet sting. He became completely still, his eyes closed.

Something passed between the two of them. Their connection reopened and flooded them both with the pleasure of the other, the sense of absolute purpose. This was right.

As he opened his eyes again, Rho gasped. She’d thought she’d seen it before, but this was different. They positively glowed.

He stared at her as he rocked his hips, his eyes penetrating her soul the way his body penetrated hers. Slowly at first, he built a rhythm, taking her faster and faster as he increased the tempo of his movements. She lifted her hips to accommodate all of him, groaning in satisfaction as he dug his fingers into her hips to hold her still.

Ignoring his hold on her, she brought her lips to his neck. She wanted to taste him. Needed to taste him.

She struck quickly, his blood hitting her tongue like a fine wine. One drag was all it took.

Rho shattered, melting into him as her body came apart, her brain unraveling into a million blessed fragments. Eldon stiffened. She moved beneath him, working him with her body until she took him over the edge right along with her. He shuddered, riding the waves of her pleasure.

His heavy body gave out, crushing her beneath him. She gladly accepted his weight, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders and pulling him closer. Sweat glistened over his skin, the smell of him permeating her nose and making her want him all over again.

“Sorry.” Eldon pulled back after a long moment and rolled off of her. “I didn’t mean to crush you.”

“I don’t mind.” She stared at the ceiling for a moment before shifting around to look at him.

He smiled and craned his head, locking his gaze on her breasts before lifting them to meet her eyes. “You’re amazing.”

“So are you.” She drank in the sight of him and ran a finger along the healing puncture wounds at his neck. “We just made things really complicated, didn’t we?”

“Does it matter?”

Watching him as he lay next to her, the light casting shadows along the ripples of muscle under tight skin, she asked herself the question. No way would this be easy. But that was nothing new. And like Eldon, she didn’t give up without a fight.

“No. It doesn’t.”

“Jess mentioned they’d talked. She told me his theory.”

So everyone knew by now. “Great,” Rho muttered, pivoting on a heel and aiming for the door.

“Not so fast.” His hand caught her elbow. “Come here.” He pulled her against his body and peered down at her. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, except for being a freak.”

With a frown, he settled his hands on her shoulders. “You’re not a freak. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you.”

“Right. That’s why I’m some crazy rare half-breed.”

“Nothing that has happened to you in your life was your fault.” He shook her shoulders gently, but his eyes were hard. “None of it. You’ve had a different set of life circumstances than most people, but you’re perfect the way you are.”

“I’m not—”

He set a finger over her mouth. “Nope. I don’t want to hear you talk like that.”

“But—”

“Stop.” He tilted his head and leaned in closer. “Or I’ll have to figure out another way to keep you quiet.”

The sexual threat hung in the air between them, and she couldn’t help but smile at the challenge in his voice. She loved that he challenged her, even when it irritated the hell out of her. He leaned down and nudged her nose with his, then kissed her deeply. She gave in instantly, wrapping her arms around his waist. She may have a fucked-up life and no idea who or what she was, but this… this she could handle.

He pulled back then tilted his head toward the door. “We have company.”

“How do you know?”

He met her eyes. “Wards tripped. No need to worry, though, it’s just a vampire.”

No need to—vampire—what? What the hell was a vampire doing here? She cursed and glared at the door. Just one quiet moment. That’s all she wanted. If one more person tried to kill her this week, she’d go ape shit. “Who is it?”

Eldon squinted, as if to concentrate on something she couldn’t see. “Not sure, but judging by the way he misted here and the authority of his movements, I’d venture to say it’s your boss.”

Oh, God. The last person she needed to see right now was Frederick. So much had happened in the past few weeks, she’d completely forgotten to call him. Surely by now someone told him about what happened.

She spun toward the door, but Eldon’s warm hand gripped her arm. “Ouch!”

He released her immediately but stepped forward and pushed up the sleeve on her—his—white button-down shirt. “Does it hurt? I didn’t even ask, did I?” The green mark sat proudly, centered on her arm as it had been the night before. At least she didn’t feel any worse.

“No pain so far.”

“I still can’t believe you did that,” he said, tracing a finger lightly over her skin.

She yanked the shirt sleeve back into place. “And I can’t believe you can’t believe it. Don’t you know me at all?”

A smile touched his lips but didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I know you very well.” He leaned down to kiss her neck then spoke into her ear, “We’ll find a cure.”

“I know you’ll try.”

“I’ll succeed.” His eyes narrowed as he brushed a hand across her cheek. “I promise you. You won’t be forced to bear my burden. I’ll find a way.”

She lifted up on her tiptoes to brush a kiss over his lips.

His stomach growled and he shot her a sheepish smile. “The things you do to me, woman.”

“Go get something to eat while I get the door. I’m sure Frederick wants to talk to me alone, anyway.”

“You’re probably right.” He took her hand and guided her out of the office and toward the kitchen. “He doesn’t seem happy.”

“What, you have mood sensors on those wards?”

“Something like that.”

Seriously? She eyed him suspiciously then shrugged. “I’ll deal with him.”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead and bee-lined it for the kitchen.

Rho sauntered over and yanked the front door open. Frederick stood patiently on the porch, the smell of burned pine needles pouring off of him in waves. He’d been worried.

“Frederick?” Rho stepped aside and motioned toward the house. “Come on in.”

He stepped inside and studied the space. “Where is everyone?”

She shut the door and roamed into the living room, motioning for him to follow. “They’re eating and sleeping. It’s been a long few days.”

Still tired, she plopped on the couch. When she turned her head, she found Frederick still standing in the entryway, staring at her.

“Frederick?”

He didn’t move, frozen as he hovered there, his face contorted into a strange sort of recognition. As if he’d realized something vital.

Rho shot to her feet. “Frederick? What’s wrong?”

“You—your—his scent, it’s—” he stuttered.

Oh, no. She’d slept with Eldon. Oh, no, no, no. His scent would be all over her skin, marking her, telling the secrets she’d wanted to keep hidden. She couldn’t bother denying it, especially to a vampire. The evidence covered her.

Frederick had kissed her before she left for this mission, telling her how he cared for her. He knew she didn’t bring home lovers, how she’d fought against the lust that came with feeding. She might as well slap him across the face, visiting with him while stinking of another man. Eldon wasn’t even one of her kind.

Amazing how she could become so thoughtless so quickly. She spent only a short time away from vampires and already she’d forgotten their proficiencies.

Frederick shook his head, as if trying to knock away his thoughts. “Sorry, I shouldn’t pry. It’s your life.” The words were cold, somehow creating a wall between them that hadn’t existed before. He took a step into the room but didn’t sit down. “I won’t be long. I just needed to tell you about something important.”

“Are you sure you won’t sit down?”

He shook his head. “I shouldn’t be here, but I couldn’t call you.”

“Why not?”

“Too risky.”

This didn’t sound promising. “What’s going on?”

He finally met her stare. “Rhyannon has come forward, accusing you of stealing her Kamen. Said you attacked her at nightfall and stole it.”

So Rhyannon wasn’t dead.

Rho gaped. “She’s a liar.”

“Not to the Council.” His expression was grave. “She’s the queen of the fae. You think they’d trust your word over hers? You’ve barely been inducted into our world.”

“But—that’s not fair! They trusted our team to retrieve the Kamens. That was our job.”

“She didn’t accuse the team.” He pointed a finger squarely at Rho. “She’s accused you. Personally.”

That green, fire-throwing cow. Rho had only lifted that Kamen off of Alexander because
he’d
stolen it, and then…

Wait. “What happened to Alexander?”

“He’s been taken into custody for questioning, but Rhyannon is willing to vouch for him. Says the team attacked him on your orders. That you want the Kamens for yourself.”

Rho threw her hands up. “What the hell? I didn’t even
know
about the Kamens a few weeks ago! Why would I want them?”