The Air Singer (The Cantors) (15 page)

Roland put his head in his hands
. “We told you! They know Kate is the person you’d try to contact. They will trace any call to her phone. How could you put us all in danger like this?”

Tally
stood from the bed, letting the bag of ice fall to the floor and limped to the bathroom, ignoring Roland’s question.

Roland looked up. “Answer me.”

Tally maintained her silence and leaned against the vanity letting her head fall.

“Answer me!” He commanded.

Tally jerked her head up, shocked that Roland would take that tone with her. “I don’t have to answer you! I’m a singer. It’s your job to protect me. Remember?”

“Did you think I wasn’t challenged enough
? Why the hell would you do this?”

“I just wanted to talk to a friend
. Is that so horrible?”

“You have friends
. Oliver and I are always here for you!”

Tally wiped her face dry with the sleeve of her dress. “I wanted to talk to someone who was my friend because she wanted to be, not because it
is a job requirement.”

Roland looked at his singer. “I’m not your friend because of some job requirement. Neither is Oliver. Where did you get this idea?”

“I know you lied to me! What I’m feeling isn’t some side effect of being a singer. I talked to Anna! The elements don’t mess with our feelings like that.” Tally decided to lay it all out. “What did you think? You could just blame the elements for my little crush and I’d get over it? I heard you talking to Oliver earlier today. You said you want boundaries. You said you don’t want to be alone with me! Well don’t worry! I won’t do anything to make you uncomfortable! If you don’t like me, that’s fine, I’m sure you will learn to tolerate me soon enough, it’s part of the job description.”

“Tally, I…
” Roland tried to interrupt but Tally had the floor and wasn’t giving it up just yet.

“I’m not done
! You want to know why I called Kate? Kate is the one person in my life that I trust to be with me because she cares about me; not because she wants free readings, not because I can play guitar, not because I’m a singer, and not because it’s her job!”

“I’m not here because it’s my job. I’m here because I care about you.”

Tally turned her head away from Roland. “You are here because you don’t have a choice. You told Oliver you don’t want to be alone with me. You said we need boundaries. Well don’t worry, you’re safe over there. I can’t outrun you so there is no threat from me!”

Roland burst
from his chair, crossed the room in seconds and stood inches from his singer. He cupped her face with both hands and forced her to look at him. Her eyes sparkled with tears that he caused. He lowered his face to hers and caressed her lips with his. 

Tally’s heart jumped as his lips parted and
his tongue played with hers. Her hands found their way around his neck so that her fingers could play with his hair. Chills ran through her body as she lost herself in the kiss she’d been dreaming about since he’d walked into her life that night.

Roland
began to pull away, but Tally wouldn’t allow it. She leaned her body toward his and let him catch her weight against him. His hands left her face and traveled down to her hips as his gentle kiss became stronger, fiercer. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he lifted her against him and without leaving her lips, guided their bodies back to the bed.

He laid her on the down comforter and crawled on top of her,
careful to keep his weight supported on his forearms. His kisses traveled up and down her neck as his hand traveled to the hem of her dress. Tally inhaled sharply at the sensation of his hands on her skin. Roland began to pull his hand away, but she grasped his arm and guided it back to her thigh. His hand was warm as it traveled under her skirt and cupped her rear. 

She busied her hands trying
to remove his shirt. Frustrated with the lack of progress, she pulled at his collar popping the first button. Gentle puffs of air tickled her ear as Roland chuckled just before lifting off her. “I’m going to need this shirt in the morning.”

He unbuttoned the next few just before pulling it over his head and throwing it against the chair
. Tally brought her hands to his chest and let them slide down the rigid muscles. He grasped her hand and brought it to his lips and lay down next to her as he placed a gentle kiss in the palm of her hand sending shivers through her body. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of his fingers gliding down her arm to rest on the bare skin below her collarbone.

Roland took a moment to admire his singer
. Her soft hair splayed across the pillow while her cheeks flushed against her fair skin. Her lips, slightly parted, begged to be kissed again. His training told him to stop this. He’d gone too far. His heart and mind didn’t care. She’d occupied his every thought since he’d seen her on stage that night in Tempe. He’d dreamed of this very moment and relished her touch. Her eyes fluttered open and met his gaze. He stared back at her in silence trying to see what was behind her blue eyes. 

Tally could see the struggle in Roland’s face. She let her shields relax and felt his desire, his aff
ection for her, and his apprehension. Did he doubt her feelings for him? She reached up and stroked the side of his face, the stubble on his cheeks gently scratching her fingertips.

“I don’t need my paladin tonight
. I need you, Roland.”

She smiled at him, waiting to see if he would pull away from her again
. A small part of her prepared for another rejection.

His name on her lips drove any doubt from his mind and replaced it with a burning
need to hear her say his name again. He covered her mouth with his as his hand slid down, searing a trail around her breast, along her waist until he reached the knot at the side of her dress. He deftly released the fabric, pealing it away to allow him access to her supple skin. Tally moaned as his hand continued to explore her body. It returned to her breasts, this time only separated by the black lace of her bra. Her breathing became shallow at the anticipation of his touch. He tenderly cupped her breast as his thumb teased its peak through the thin material. Tally wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to pull him even closer. His hand left her breast, wrapping around her as she arched her back. He skillfully released her bra. Tally never let his lips leave hers as he dragged the straps off her shoulders. She pulled the lacy material from between them and let it fall off the side of the bed. His hand returned to her breast as her body responded to every touch. Her hands retreated from his neck and found their way to his waist. Removing his belt, she worked the zipper and began to push his jeans down when he pulled away. Tally looked up, confused that he had brought everything to such a quick standstill. Roland smiled reassuringly.

“Are you sure you want this?” he asked.

Tally never answered. She reached for his arm and pulled him back on top of her. Roland helped her work his pants the rest of the way down and settled between her legs. Tally raised her hips rubbing herself against his hardness. Roland responded in kind, lacing his thumb through the lace of her panties as he guided her to match his rhythm pressing against her most sensitive area. She ran her fingers down his back until she reached the waistband of his boxers. As she slid her hands beneath the elastic and grasped his firm backside, he continued the accelerating rhythm bringing an eruption of primal sensations from her center. She smothered her own cries of passion, pressing her mouth to his shoulder. When the fire within her died down, she let her head fall back to the pillow. Roland rose off her and slowly pulled the black lace down her legs, careful not to hurt her ankle. He stood to remove his boxers and grabbed the condom stashed in his wallet. Standing next to the bed, Roland took a moment to appreciate the woman lying naked before him.

Under his gaze, Tally
felt self-conscience until she was struck with the sight of Roland above her. His tan skin covered strong muscle that flexed with every movement. Her body trembled as he lowered himself on top of her and his warm flesh met hers. His fingers resumed their ministrations to her breasts and pert nipples. She wrapped her fingers around his solid erection and stroked it slowly. Roland brought his mouth to her ear and whispered, “Hmm, I won’t last ten seconds if you continue to do that.”

He reached down and removed her hand, but rather than return to her anticipating chest,
his hand found its way to the small mound of neatly trimmed dark hair. Tally gasped as his thumb traced gentle circles around her nub.

“
Shh.” Roland nipped at her ear lobe. Slowly he pushed one finger inside her, marveling at the moist warmth awaiting him. Tally pushed against his hand and he obliged with a second finger sliding next to the first. Tally squirmed under the intense sensations coming from between her legs. Roland continued to massage her as she bucked her hips against his hand. The slow constant pressure finally overwhelmed her and Tally cried out when Roland covered her mouth with his. 

Roland felt her body clenching against his fingers as
she climaxed and quickly pulled them out only to be replaced with his own hardness. Tally’s body reeled as it stretched to accommodate him. Slowly he entered her pushing deeply. He stopped and pulled up from Tally’s kisses. Looking in her eyes, he pulled almost completely out and thrust back in watching her eyes roll back in her head with pleasure. He continued this slow torturous carnality, watching her expressions alternate between decadence and desire all the while, fighting his own need to release.

Tally
seized Roland’s arms as her body came to grips with the feelings that began to overwhelm her. Without warning, her shields dropped completely and she felt a wave a ecstasy that merged with her own. 

“
Whoa!” Roland groaned. He froze mid stroke as every feeling exponentially grew. Staring into her eyes, his energy merged with hers and every nerve tingled. She stilled beneath him as the gentle gold and green energy envelope her. Emotions, sensations, thoughts flooded her. She couldn’t distinguish between those that belonged to the man inside her and her own.

Roland adjusted to the intensity of feelings, both physical and emotional that came to him
. He slowly slid back into her and they both struggled not to cry out at the magnitude of sensation. He reached around her thigh and held it up to allow him deeper penetration as he quickened his pace. Tally trembled as the fire burning in her abdomen grew to an inferno. 

Roland lowered himself to her ear. “
Don’t hold it in, baby. Let go one more time.”

So close to the edge, Tally dug her fingers into his back
. Roland continued to pound against her trying desperately to fight against the wave of pleasure that would ultimately end this moment.

Suddenly
, Tally was overwhelmed as heat exploded from her center to the rest of her body. She screamed in ecstasy as any semblance of control was shattered. Her body constricted and tightened around Roland shredding his restraint and he roared into the pillow as he sunk himself deeply into her one last time as he found his sweet release. He collapsed next to her but kept his arm wrapped protectively over her chest.

Tally and Roland lay motionless as their bodies recovered from the onslaught of sensations
. Any doubt Tally had of Roland’s feelings for her vanished and she rolled over to bury her head in his chest. Roland enveloped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head.

“I’ve never experienced anything like that before.” Roland admitted.

“Me neither.” Tally began to play with the few hairs that grew on his chiseled chest.

“
Tally, things are going to be complicated.”

She laughed quietly. “Have you been paying attention lately
? Everything in my life is complicated.”

“I’m serious
. Paladin’s and singers are not to become involved romantically. It’s an unwritten rule.” He lightly stroked her hair sending chills down her back. Tally cuddled closer.

“Trust me, Anna has ensured that I study every rule written and unwritten, and I’ve never
come across anything that says we can’t be more than paladin and singer.”

“Anna will separate us if she finds out
,” Roland whispered.

“
You were chosen to be my paladin by the air element. I don’t think even Anna herself can challenge that.”

Roland took in a deep breath and let it out. “If anyone could, it would be Anna.”

“Why?” Tally asked. “What is so wrong about this? We made love and while it was amazing, the world is still spinning and the sun will still rise tomorrow. No gales, no lightning, no tornadoes. Nothing catastrophic happened.”

“It was amazing wasn’t it?
” Roland laughed.

Tally rose up. “Do you think
we could top it?”

Roland smiled and began to answer when Tally put a finger to his mouth and placed a trail of kisses on his neck up to his ear where she nibbled just before whispering, “I know I’d love to try.”

Smiling he let her play relentlessly. She was right, the sun would rise tomorrow, and he’d have to deal with the consequences of tonight. Better make it worth it. Grabbing her hips, he flipped her under him and kissed her deeply.