Page 18 of Beautiful Soul

She pulled in a sharp breath as his words sunk in. Tilting her head back, she found herself looking up at the man whose smile sent a warm flutter straight through to her heart. Be with him all the time?

“But we barely know one another.”

“I’ve known since the moment you stepped into the café that you were the woman I’d been searching for for a long, long time. Close your eyes and ask yourself if you could stay here with me, loving me, and learning to fully embrace the magic within your beautiful soul. Together we can help the world.”

Lena frowned. “I’m not magic. I’m just me.”

Kingsley’s laughter shook them both. When he shifted her on his lap, she felt his erection, long, hard, and thick press into her hip. “Yes, you are magic. Pure, untapped, and not tainted by others’ wants and needs. I should know. I’m a mage and have trained hundreds of magical beings over the years.”

“You’re a mage?”

“Yes, my sweet love. I am a mage. A wizard. A warlock, if you wish.”

“Harry Potter kind of wizard?”

“Oh, so much more than Harry Potter, or any other movie or book or television series made. I am one of the most powerful mages in history, second to Merlin and a few others whose stories have been lost to history. I believe you may be even more powerful than I am, though I can’t pinpoint what kind of magic you hold. I also don’t understand how you stayed hidden all these years. You should have been brought up and trained to take your proper place in the world of supernaturals.”

“The world of supernaturals? You mean there’s more than just mages?”

She knew her questions were probably the equivalent of a kindergartener’s, but she could not help herself. Every new bit of information he shared with her brought more questions to mind.

Kingsley took a deep breath and snuggled her closer before speaking again.

“Yes, there are more than just mages. There is an entire world of supernatural beings that blands—or humans—don’t recognize, though we walk the streets beside them. Vampires, shifters, fairies, LWarves, and gargoyles are just a few species of supernaturals that live here in the city.”

“Livingston and Jefferson?”

Kingsley nodded as he looked into her eyes. “Yes, sweetling. They are supernaturals, though I hesitate to divulge their species until after the signing tonight. I’d like you to be there, if you would, to send a flood of peace and harmony through the crowd. Would you do that for me?”

Lena blinked, not sure what to say. After a moment she nodded. “Sure, if I can help, I’ll be glad to be there.”

Kingsley gifted her with a quick brush of his lips on hers. Then he came back and the resulting kiss turned deep, wet, carnal. Lena’s body tightened and dampened and prepared for Kingsley.

****

Kingsley could smell her arousal, and his cock throbbed with every heartbeat, but now was not the time to take his woman to bed. There was much to do before the ceremony.

He stood with her in his arms before giving her a squeeze and setting her on her feet. They needed to get out of the apartment.

“Before we lose ourselves in loving once again, we need to buy you an appropriate dress for this evening. After that, I’d like to take you to dinner so we can talk some more without sex clouding our brains. Then, when the café opens, I’d like us to visit with Mystic as I believe she can give us some answers as to who you might truly be.”

“Is Mystic a mage, too?”

Kingsley chuckled. “No one is really certain what Mystic is, other than she is powerful, mysterious, and no one wants to get on her bad side. Now, give me five minutes and I’ll be ready to go.”

Lena nodded and settled back into his recliner.

Stepping into his bedroom, Kingsley waved a hand and the lounging pants he had slept in disappeared, replaced with his usual clothing choice of black cargo pants and a black V-neck t-shirt. Black socks and boots finished the outfit. Though it had only taken a moment to dress, he stayed in the bedroom for the full five minutes. The rest of the time he willed his cock to soften and the arousal that hummed in his every cell to settle. Until the contract between the vampires and shifters was signed, he needed to keep his focus off his mate.

Finally, he felt calm enough to step back into the great room. The instant she looked up from the book in her lap, his cock ignored his brain and stiffened once again.

He was so fucked.

Chapter Eleven

“So, have you figured it out yet?” Mystic demanded when they entered the café just after the twinkle lights flickered on a half hour after sunset.

Kingsley had taken her to a dress shop. Before they entered, he quietly explained the shop was owned by a pair of fairy sisters who dressed all the supernaturals. As soon as they entered, the sisters went all atwitter and brought out a dress unlike anything she had ever seen before.

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