Spiritbound (11 page)

***

By the time Grace was ready for bed it was near three a.m. She looked around the room at her wall of crazy hats and the quilt that she and Elena had sewn in their first year together, and wondered if this was what her life was going to be—this room, this house, this sense of being unfulfilled.

Admittedly, losing her virginity to Declan Mallory was bit of an achievement. She couldn’t say that he had not fulfilled her as the tenderness was a tangible reminder. She sent some more healing there, even though it was kind of a cool reminder of their hot encounter. She chuckled to herself, recollecting her mother’s joy and Elena’s incredulity as she had related and embellished her first sexual encounter. As she flipped back the quilt and climbed between the sheets, she sensed her world was on a precipice—that she was going to fall and fall hard, or she was going to take off with wings into the sky and float and glide to a glorious future.

‘You’re being ridiculous. He said it was a one-night thing. You have to respect that.’ She huddled into the pillow and stared at the wall, her eyes trailing from the picture of her father to the one with her and Elena with Declan in the background, from when they were young. She struggled to find that thirteen-year-old girl inside of her as she studied the innocent faces, her dark eyes and her bright smile.

Her focus shifted to Declan, looking at the child and comparing it to his adult face. His eyes were still dark in his high-cheekboned face and his smile, too, was reminiscent of the boy she had known. Yet he was tall and broad and a man now. His life experiences had shaped him, had changed him. One thing, though, was the same—the essence of him. That was an amazing realisation—that he was still that Declan, and if that was the case, she was still that Grace, even though she had been through so much, had borne so much from others. How could that be?

She’d survived years of being shunned, of being ignored and overlooked, and in some cases despised. It was because she had love—the love of her mother and father. She had a very close bond with Elena.

Other than that, Grace had love for the world, had love for herself and for the goddess who lived in all things. That was her anchor, her true protection. She had been born with talents and her parents had encouraged her to explore them. She had an affinity with spirit. She could sense people; she could sense illness, evil and spells that affected them. Although she was not free to use this power whenever she chose; she had to seek permission, or be requested. That was how she’d spent the last nine years—learning, being drilled, so that her talent was bounded by the rules.

The clock displayed 4.30 a.m. She was exhausted and yet her mind was still alive with feelings and ideas. Yet, she had to lie there and try to sleep because her family would not appreciate it if she got up and started moving around.

Grace sat up suddenly. A ripple in the house ward sent shards of electricity over her skin. Then there was a sound outside her window; someone was there. One of the coven who was allowed to pass through her mother’s wards. She was about to send her senses out to find out who when there was a tap at her window. Grace flung off the quilt and padded over. A shadow loomed and then resolved into the familiar face of Declan. She undid the latch on the window and opened it out.

‘Is something wrong? Is everything all right?’

‘Everything is fine. I just wanted to spend some time with you.’

‘With me? Right here, right now?’

She caught the outline of his shrug. Momentarily speechless, she could only step back from the window and nod. It was probably not the right time to quibble about the ‘one night’ thing. Obviously, he was upset about something.

He climbed in through the window, knocking a few hats off the wall. Grace repositioned them without taking her eyes off him. He was in the bike leathers. They made him so much bigger, broader, and hot as all hell. His dark brows knitted together.

‘What is it?’ she asked.

‘Stuff,’ he said with a grunt.

‘Okay. So you didn’t come here to talk.’ She stepped back to give him room.

‘No,’ he said with a growl, and drew her to him. He nuzzled her neck and she went all weak and floaty, edging up on her toes for more and revelling in his delicious bite. The switch had flipped and her clitoris was throbbing like a beacon within a minute. Who needed talk?

His lips brushed across hers, and she moaned at the excruciating, teasing friction. She didn’t want gentle and restrained. She wanted hot, demanding and all-encompassing passion. She caught his soft bottom lip between her teeth and tugged gently. Declan growled louder and she released it.

‘You must be tender,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘I thought we should go slowly.’

‘Slowly? We still have our clothes on. Nothing fast about that. Besides, I fixed myself. I feel fine.’

He chuckled and held her face between his palms, gazing into her eyes. ‘You’re amazing, you know that? Cheeky too. You should respect me more. I’m a battle master.’

‘Ha.’ She kissed the end of his nose. ‘You’re a puppy. A big, sweet—’

Being unceremoniously tossed on the bed cut her off. Declan had his jacket off, and his boots were undoing themselves as he approached.

‘Eep,’ she said, edging further up the bed. His eyes glittered and he had a devilish grin on his face, the sight of which made her belly turn over and her toes tingle. He stopped at the edge of the bed, undoing the buckle on his leather pants.

‘Take off your clothes,’ he said gruffly.

Raising herself up on her elbows, she replied, ‘Make me.’

His pants were gone, his boxers soon after. Before she could draw breath, she had six-foot four of large male covering her and a rather convincing erection nestled between her thighs. ‘Now, you were saying?’

‘Make me?’ She was less cheeky and more awed.

He lifted himself up on all fours, her lying between his legs. She was wearing an old pyjama set, shorts with a top. ‘These a favourite of yours?’

She shook her head, her heart somewhere between her breast and her throat. The buttons pinged as they ricocheted off the walls. He moved down her body and grabbed her shorts with his teeth and ripped, leaving her naked. Grace nearly fainted with desire. What a turn on. With a growl, he lunged his tongue between her labia with rapid strokes that had her arching her back before she could draw breath.

‘Goddess!’ she cried out, so close to coming, she didn’t need her erotic mind picture. She was in the moment, feeling every stroke of his tongue. Her hands gripped the bed covers and her breaths were loud. Whimpers leaked out of her mouth and then the moment came and she couldn’t stop the yell as she cried out in ecstasy.

Declan’s mouth sought hers. Grace was mush. She surrendered. She kissed him; she sent her tongue so deep she thought she might swallow him whole.

A mental query came from her mother.
????

Grace couldn’t even engage. Her mind was full of Declan, Declan, Declan.

She sensed the amusement from her mother. Elena knocked on the bedroom door. ‘Grace. Are you okay?’

She clung to Declan’s naked chest, panting. After swallowing to give her time to find her breath, she called out, ‘It’s okay. Just with Declan. Sorry.’

‘Okay.’ Elena walked away.

Declan chuckled. ‘So much for secrecy and sneaking around. You woke the neighbourhood.’

She slapped his chest lightly, then turned it into a caress. ‘It’s your fault. You made me come so loud. Next time give me warning when you leap from the shadows. I could have mentally prepared myself for the onslaught.’

He laughed then and flipped her onto her back. ‘Not on your life. I love how you are so open, so real. Don’t change it.’ She lifted her hands, palms up, and he rested his against them. ‘This thing we have is amazing, addictive.’

Grace nodded. ‘What are you waiting for? I believe Randy Roger is getting twitchy in my bedside drawer.’

With a growl that thrilled her to the spine, Declan angled himself for a quick entry. ‘I’m afraid Randy Roger might never do the job again.’

‘Promises, promises.’

He slid slowly inside her, holding her hips in his hands and angling to maximise the ease of entry. Grace was yelling again, not quite aware of how loudly. It was all blood-pumping, heart-thudding and soul-stroking awesomeness. This man could fuck.
Oh goddess
.

The initial thrusts had her climaxing again, but Declan wasn’t done. He rode her hard. The old bedhead banged against the walls. Grace reached up and clung to it while being pummelled so delightfully.

Sweat beaded on his skin. Grace let go the bedhead and ran a hand along his smooth chest, leaning up to lick his saltiness. Declan nearly lost a hold of her. She ran her thumb over his right breast and licked it too, stopping to suckle a hard nipple. Declan cried out, and with a roar, held her hips tight while he ground himself against her. He folded himself over her carefully, leaving a trail of kisses along her neck and capturing her mouth for a soul-wrenching kiss that sent her spirit spiralling to the heavens.

Wow! This sex thing is really awesome. Much better than self-pleasure, no matter what they say
.

‘I’m glad you think so.’

Grace stilled. ‘You heard that?’

‘Yes, clear as a bell.’

‘But I didn’t say anything. I thought it.’

He blinked at her, uncomprehendingly at first, then the light dawned in his eyes. ‘We’re connected.’

‘A little,’ she said, frowning. ‘I didn’t mean to project to you. I didn’t mean to breach your boundaries.’

‘No, no, don’t. It was a lovely moment. Please don’t try to apologise. I was open. You were open. It just happened. No need for apologies.’

Grace relaxed, relieved that she hadn’t transgressed.

Grey light outside flowed in through the open window. Dawn was not far away. ‘Now, do you want to talk about it?’

Declan lay back and gathered Grace into his arms. His forehead rested against hers. ‘Not really. I had a “discussion” with my parents.’

‘About me?’

‘Sort of, but it was more than that. Do you remember your uncle, Elroy?’

‘No. I have an Uncle Elroy?’

‘Had, apparently.’

Grace chewed her lip. ‘That’s odd. I mean, mother has not spoken of him. Why, did he do something bad?’

Declan stroked the hair from her shoulder. ‘It’s not good; not a nice story. It’s best you ask your mother.’

‘I will when she wakes up.’ She refrained from mentally signalling her mother right then. Declan was still opening up. She couldn’t get distracted now.

‘And…’

Declan sighed. ‘Look, it’s not a biggy. It’s me trying to get some space between me and my parents. They’ve got my life laid out for me. I want to choose my own path. I can’t seem to reason with them. They come up with all these reasons why I must do my duty, follow their direction and I can’t abide it. I love them. I don’t want to hurt them, but the need in me to be free of their restraint is too powerful.’

She reached up and stroked his hair out of his eyes. ‘It must be difficult.’ There was a noise at the window. The ghostly outline of Fel, the cat, pranced along the sill.

‘That’s her, isn’t it? Elena’s cat.’

‘Yes, Fel.’

He shook his head. ‘What an amazing thing. You don’t do anything to sustain it?’

‘No. I don’t do anything. It has a life of its own. Mother thinks the cat had supernatural ability before I…you know…helped it. It talks, you know. Sends little snarky barbs into your brain.’

He looked askance at her. ‘No. You’re joking me, right?’

‘I am not, Declan Mallory. I would not joke about something like that.’

Fel purred.
He’s grown into a big tom
.

‘See? She just said you’ve grown into a big tom. She’s not wrong there.’

‘I didn’t hear anything.’ His eyes were wide, eyebrows raised.

‘I’m not lying.’ Grace tried to get off the bed, suddenly miffed at his incredulous look, but he brought her back easily. ‘Let me go, you big oaf.’

‘Don’t be angry with me, Grace. It’s just a cat.’

‘That’s the problem, isn’t it? It’s not just a cat.’ Her face was screwed up with anger. She wanted to punch him.

‘Oh Grace, I’m sorry.’ He sat up, held her face in his hands and kissed her gently, shifting to touch his lips to her eyelids one by one.

Declan’s expression froze and he turned and faced the cat. ‘It said I was a nice, gentle tom.’

Grace gaped at him. ‘She did?’

Declan let Grace go. She went to the window and stroked Fel as she looked out into the yard. Grey wisps of mist were dissipating rapidly. Her gaze passed over Declan’s bike, parked in the driveway. She remembered what he’d said. No gossip. Her eyes rolled. She had blabbed it all to her mother and Elena, but hey, he didn’t own her and he’d never tried not telling Elvira anything, so bad luck.

‘Um…I think if you wanted to keep this secret you might have blown it. I mean, we might have blown it.’

Declan laid back on the bed, his head resting on his folded arms. ‘Yeah. Who can keep sex with you secret? I’m sure they heard you in Marrickville on the other side of Sydney Harbour.’

‘Hey, you made a bit of a commotion yourself.’

‘I did at that.’

‘So, are you up for breakfast? Mother has already sent her request in. Pancakes on the menu.’

‘You got bacon?’

‘We sure do.’

He rolled off the bed and started searching the floor for his clothes.

‘Are you sure you’re up to this? After all, it’s my mother.’

‘Sure, I can cope with Elvira. Elena and I are buddies from way back. So no problem there.’

‘Fine. I’m going to clean up and start breakfast. You can make the coffee. Elena takes tea in the morning. And if you change your mind and feel like slinking away, I’ll leave the window open.’

She ambled to the door, a smile plastered on her face. Declan for breakfast was a nice thought.

‘Grace?’ He swivelled his head from her to the window. ‘I’m not a coward.’

She laughed at his wounded expression. ‘We are talking about meeting my mother over the breakfast table, after you climbed in through my window and rooted me senseless throughout the wee, small hours of the morning—noisily. If you think she’d let that go by without a comment or two, you’re out of your senses. I’m just letting you know if you need an out, there is one and I’ll forgive you.’