Through a Crimson Veil (18 page)

“And you let me jump to my own conclusions? If someone didn’t call you, then how did you get out of Orcus?”

She could feel his stare as he waited for her answer. Taking a deep breath for courage, Mika said, “I don’t need anyone to call me. I’ve always crossed the veil at will.”

Conor rolled atop her, his arms supporting his weight. “Can anyone who’s half demon and half human go back and forth whenever they want?”

Damn it, she’d known that would be his first question. Mika wanted to tell him that there was no way in hell she was allowing him to go into Orcus to hunt his father, but she knew better. “I don’t know,” she said, her voice clipped. “Until you, I’d never met anyone else with my mixed heritage.”

He nodded, and she didn’t like the speculative look on his face. “You’ve never had a problem in the demon world?” he asked. “I’ve read that humans can’t survive there.”

“This is why I led you to believe my father summoned me. You can’t go to Orcus.” The words escaped before she could stop them. His jaw clenched, and a stubborn expression settled on his face.
Hell.
“You’ll stand out,” Mika explained. “We read energies, remember? No one pays attention to me because I’ve lived there my entire life, but do you think a stranger who’s half human is going to pass unnoticed and be unremarked upon? You’ll never survive.”

Conor sat up and started to get out of bed. Mika went to her knees, wrapping her arms around him from behind. She couldn’t let him walk away now. She kissed his nape, then the place where his neck met his shoulder. “You don’t know that world—I do.” She kept her voice soft and nonconfrontational. His tension eased and Mika bit his shoulder lightly.

“I’ve read humans can’t survive in the demon world,” he repeated.

She bit him harder. “That’s right, humans die in Orcus,” she agreed.

“But some humans have made it in.”

Though it wasn’t a question, Mika answered as if it were. “I’ve never seen any. When I asked why my dad never came to visit, my mom told me he couldn’t.” She shrugged, her breasts moving against Conor’s back. “I checked around after that and was given the same information everywhere I turned. No humans can survive in Orcus.”

Conor didn’t speak, and after a brief internal debate, Mika opted not to push. Raising herself higher on her knees, she leaned forward and ran her arms over his chest to his belly. Turning her face into him, she kissed and nipped at his jaw.

“Mika.” His voice held warning.

“Don’t try to tell me you don’t like this.” She used her teeth on his collarbone. “I know better. I even have visible proof.” She looked down at his body.

“You’re not going to dissuade me with sex.”

“That wasn’t my plan, but if you want me to try, I’m willing to give it a go.” She was practically falling over his shoulder, trying to reach more of him, but she didn’t miss his meaning. McCabe had made up his mind to travel into Orcus. But she still had time to work on him. He wouldn’t try anything while he was protecting her.

Showing his incredible strength, Conor reached for her and pulled her around his body. Mika squeaked in surprise
but didn’t fight. When she safely straddled his lap, she scolded, “Next time warn me before you do that.”

“Sorry, honey.”

The twinkle in his eye belied his apology, but she didn’t call him on it—she adored that gleam. He was far too serious most of the time, far too intense; and this was a happy change. Mika nuzzled his throat, kissing, licking and nipping upward to his ear. If only he didn’t feel such hatred for his father. If only he could understand how normal demon physiology had affected what happened the night he was conceived.

Mika froze. Wait a second, that might work. Conor’s hands tightened at her waist and she nipped his earlobe. If she could show McCabe that his father wasn’t necessarily some cold, pathological rapist, maybe he wouldn’t be so fanatic about hunting him. What she had to do was work Conor into a sexual frenzy and then point out a few things. Maybe that would get him to look at his conception from a different angle, get him to see that his father wasn’t a monster. McCabe was part Kiverian, and they had the vishtau bond. The edge was off his need because they’d already had sex so many times today…but it could still work.

And she knew just how to start—with encouragement—something she doubted he’d heard enough of in his life. Mika ran her tongue around the outside edge of his ear, then murmured softly, “I haven’t told you how gorgeous you are.” She straightened, smiled at him and wrapped her hands around his left arm. “Look at this—my fingers don’t even meet. Do you know how hot that makes me?”

“Cut the bullshit, Mika,” he groused.

But she didn’t miss the half-dazed look in his eyes, and it made her wonder if he’d ever been told anything positive about himself. That derailed her from her plan for a moment. He needed to hear how special he was, and she put her arms around his neck again. “No bullshit. Every compliment from me will be one hundred percent true. My
promise on it. And you know a demon never goes back on her word.”

After waiting to see if he had anything to add, she continued: “It’s more than your looks, McCabe.” She purred his surname like an endearment. “It’s you. I love your stalwart honor, your determination, your intensity. I even love the way you grumble when I’m prodding you. I get wet just thinking about you.”

She leaned forward and kissed him. As she tried to pull back, his lips clung to hers. There was a hopeful look in his eyes, a hunger, though she had to stare hard to see it. Stroking his nape, Mika weighed her alternatives, but it didn’t take long to decide that he was more important than protecting herself. “There’s a reason. I love you, Conor.”

Her words seemed to hang suspended in time. Mika didn’t expect him to return the sentiment, but she had thought to get a response. Still, she couldn’t regret saying it—not when McCabe needed to hear this truth something fierce.

Before she could become too uncomfortable, his hands tightened at her waist and he growled low in his throat. “Consider this your warning,” he said. Using incredible speed, Conor lifted her off his lap and put her on the bed, flat on her back.

Well, she
had
asked for advance notice when he planned to shift her, but she’d hoped for more than a split second. Mika laughed quietly over his haste before his mouth covered hers.

Humming with pleasure at his eagerness, she raised her knee, resting her thigh against his hip. Conor was in control again, but that was fine. He was already half wild, and she hadn’t done much. Yet. Let him hang on to his sanity while he could; by the time she was done with him, his iron command was going to be a thing of the past. The thought made her smile against his lips.

She could feel his sex growing hard, nudging more and
more insistently against the inside of her thigh with every passing moment. Mika wriggled, trying to center him, but Conor didn’t cooperate. Raising and lowering her heel, however, made him slide against her leg, and their kiss became less measured. Conor dragged his mouth from hers, licking and nipping his way to her throat. And he turned her own methods against her; he nuzzled her neck, then pinched her pulse point with his teeth. The bite made her gasp and arch her body into his. But as Mika began to throb, she refused to lose sight of her goal.

He didn’t make it easy for her. With one last stroke of his tongue, Conor lifted his head. His eyes blazed red fire, just as she was pretty sure hers did too. Knowing she lay with Conor, the Kiverian she loved—her vishtau mate—was enough to make her wild with happiness.

His smile was pure, smug male, and she knew his pleasure was in how aroused he’d made her. Reaching out, he trailed a finger around the areola of her right breast, circling until the nipple drew taut. He moved to the other breast, repeated the motion.

“Stop teasing,” she growled.

Mika should have realized Conor would take that as a challenge. He moved, straddling her hips and pinning her to the mattress. Using both hands, he cupped her breasts, pressing them together. As he stared at her chest, he reached full tumescence. Lowering his face, he abraded her sensitive skin with the stubble on his chin. Mika fisted her hands in the blanket beneath her and let him do with her what he wanted.

“Conor,” she protested breathlessly as he continued teasing.

Finally—finally!—his tongue flicked one nipple, was there and gone so quickly, it left her gasping. The man was merciless as he played with her, not taking her into his mouth until she writhed beneath him. His erection rubbed against her, and Mika shifted so that she received stimulation
every time she undulated. She didn’t think Conor had any clue how close she was to coming. Deciding it was in her best interest to keep him ignorant, Mika did her damnedest to limit the noises she made, and to keep her hips from rocking at a frantic pace.

She was right on the cusp when he bit her nipple. With a strangled groan, Mika dug her fingers into his butt and arched into him. Hard. Conor froze for an instant, then worked to plummet her completely over the edge.

A part of Mika realized she was gasping that damn vishtau pledge again, but she didn’t care. Her body’s only concern was enjoying the ecstasy screaming through it. She finished her portion of the binding ritual at the same time the ripples of pleasure eased.

When she regained her senses, McCabe was leaning over her, his eyes burning into hers. “You weren’t supposed to come yet,” he said.

Unrepentant, Mika grinned. “Sorry. Why don’t you start over and I’ll try to hold out.”

It took a moment, but Conor smiled. “Have I mentioned that you’re trouble?”

It sounded like a compliment, so she ignored the question. She’d failed miserably so far in her attempt to destroy his control, but now that she’d had her fun, she should be able to stay focused. Without warning, Mika shoved Conor on his back.

“Uh-uh,” she said, pushing on his shoulder to hold him in place as he tried to rise. “It’s my turn.”

He made one more effort to get up, but it was halfhearted at best. McCabe wanted to see what she was going to do to him.

Kneeling at his side, Mika took his hand and brought it to her lips. She teased his fingers, running her tongue over each and biting the base of his thumb, before sucking his middle finger into her mouth. Deliberately, she repeated the same technique on his finger that she’d used while going
down on him hours earlier. The flare of his eyes told her he remembered, and that he recognized what she was doing.

Conor’s body was rigid, his teeth clenched hard enough to make a muscle jump in his cheek. Satisfied, Mika moved to his palm. “I love your hands,” she said between bites. “Your wrists too.” She gently ran her index finger across his pulse point. “So strong and capable, yet these long fingers make me wonder if you have an artistic side.” With a moue to make her meaning clear, she added, “You do have a very talented touch.”

She nipped at his wrist and moved to his forearm. “I’m turned on by a man’s arms, his shoulders—and, McCabe? You have the sexiest body I’ve ever seen.”

After nuzzling the inside of his elbow, she continued her exploration. Though she was lying close to him, Mika kept her weight on the bed, hoping that position wouldn’t trigger Conor’s Kiverian need to hold the dominant position.

“I’ve already told you how I feel about your arms.” Mika bit his biceps muscle, then kissed her way to the inside of his upper arm. He shuddered as she licked the skin there.

She made a brief stop at his shoulder, before moving down to his collarbone, then his chest. McCabe had great pecs, and she told him that as she kissed and touched him. She bit the muscle around his nipple and licked that small nub. His entire body went rigid, and she studied him for a moment. He definitely liked this, and she smiled before shifting to his other side. To add to his torment, Mika dragged the tips of her breasts over his stomach.

Conor managed to stay mostly quiet, although she did surprise an occasional grunt from him as she did her best to arouse him. It was a shame he was so contained, but that only inspired her to work harder.

Running her mouth along his sternum, she began chanting the words to the rauthima ritual, her voice softer than a whisper; but instead of making it random, she substituted Conor’s name. Mika knew the summoning part of the
rite wouldn’t affect him, but the phrases that incited sexual frenzy should. She kept herself attuned to him, and saw his hands fist as he struggled to remain still. His body jerked, his breathing became ragged and then he groaned.

Mika moved further down his torso, tracing the ridged muscles over his stomach with her lips. “Damn, McCabe,” she said, interrupting the ritual. “I don’t know how much weightlifting you do, but it’s worth it.” She rimmed his bellybutton with her tongue. “You’re incredible.”

And he was. His abdomen was absolutely perfect. Mika clenched her thighs, trying to control her arousal. She nipped at the flesh below his navel, and looked up at him through her lashes. Conor stared back and, when their eyes met, the world seemed to shift. Or at least her portion of it.

He was her mate.
Hers.

As she moved her mouth down the line of hair beneath his belly button, Mika reached out and cupped him. He’d recoiled again, and she smiled against his body before resuming the rauthima rite.

His arousal rested against her cheek, but although she gave it a few strokes with her hand, she didn’t take him in her mouth. Instead, she sat back on her knees and evaluated him. Still contained. But she hadn’t finished the ritual yet. “Make room,” she ordered, tapping his inner thigh.

McCabe obeyed with an alacrity that was startling, given his usual disposition. Mika gave a smile she hoped he found sexy, and crawled over to kneel between his legs. Cupping her breasts, she rolled her nipples between her thumbs and forefingers. That earned her a loud, low growl. She spoke the last phrase of the spell she was casting.

It was slightly harder than she expected, but she bent over him without losing her balance. She took his erection between her breasts and used her hands to push herself more tightly around him. Then she started to move. Between the light sheen of sweat on her body and the moisture of his lust, he was able to slide smoothly across her flesh.