Page 180 of Magic of the Damned

“Luna,” he murmured with reverence, carrying me through the suite until we made it to his bed where he laid me down. Closing his eyes, he inhaled a slow breath and took even longer to exhale. When he opened them, there was a roiling of heated emotions. As he completed removing my shirt, his nails grazed my skin. I shivered at the contact. He delivered the same treatment to my pants, delivering erotic tantalizing kisses to the sensitive area around my thighs and between my legs. My body became a coil of heat that missed the contact of his skin when he moved from me. Hastily, he tugged his shirt off, sending buttons sprawling. He discarded the ripped shirt. He showed little regard for his pants, but they stayed intact as he ripped them from his body. Dominic reared back, a ravenous roving of his eyes taking me all in, like a feast he was ready to devour.

Claiming my mouth with another kiss, he settled between my legs, guiding his cock into me with a groan of satisfaction. His movements slow and deep, my fingers digging into his back. Meeting his intensified movements, more rapacious. A desperate need to find that sensual pleasure. Each thrust and movement brought me closer. My hips rocked against him, frenetic energy moving between us. Pulling him to me in a ravenous kiss, I found that pleasure with a shudder and a groan against his lips. With fervent desperation, he inched deeper until he climaxed. Easing out of me, he rested his head against my stomach.

I was starting to drift off in a blissful satisfied nap, when Ileana walked into the bedroom with a flourish of movement, extinguishing my post-orgasmic quiescence as I jolted into a panicked grab for something to cover my body. Unbothered by our nudity, her attention jetted from me to Dominic, who only had curled some of the duvet over him.

“I hope your dalliance sated your frustrations and cleared your head. Have you rethought your plan?” Ileana asked.

“It remains the same.” He ran his fingers through his hair, mussing it more than I had.

Her lips pinched. “Do you think it is wise for me to keep the Book of Umbra and not have it under the same protection?”

There was an emptiness on his face, but his eyes were expressive, snagging his mother’s attention which had drifted toward me as I made a spectacle of myself gathering my clothes and trying to make an inconspicuous escape to the bathroom. I failed. I slumped next to Dominic, my discarded shirt pressed against my chest but barely covering the areas I wanted covered.

Her eyes fluttered with annoyance. Yes, I quickly discovered I wasn’t as oblivious about people seeing me nude as I thought. Even though it was just a body, I didn’t want his mother seeing mine.

“No. If Areleus manages to get hold of it, I’m confident it will be returned so we can proceed. Let’s not worry about that. He wants Helena back and the Casters dealt with.”

I couldn’t understand how he could assert that with such a level of unwavering confidence.

Ileana held Dominic’s gaze, her look eerie, making me feel as though they were having a silent conversation. There was definitely an understanding that I’d never know. From one look, could she decipher his plan? Admittedly envious of the connection, I reminded myself I had committed to trust him and his plan, although it would have been easier if I knew all the details. He seemed to be withholding some aspects from us all.

“Fine. I’ll return to my room and wait.” There was an underlying meaning to her response. I figured it was to wait until Areleus tried to get the book. “I suspect he will try to charm me into looking at the book, since he’s never had a chance before,” she said. “I guess I should allow that to happen.”

Dominic offered a small nod. They both held a cunning dark smile that highlighted the familial similarities.

With a small, satisfied chuckle, she left the room.

CHAPTER 14

Dominic’s eyes were drawn to my image in the full-length mirror. The mid-length bodycon dress, one-sleeve style, and modal fabric accentuated the curves of my body and Dominic had taken notice. His gaze trailed from the simple heels, my legs, the fabric stretching over my hips and ass, to my breasts and exposed shoulder, where he placed a kiss before continuing his exploration to my hair, which was pulled back into a loose twist. The dress complemented his gunmetal button-down shirt and black slacks.

“What’s with the frown?” he asked. I hadn’t noticed the deep creased expression. I relaxed it and turned to face him.

“Why are we dressing for dinner? It has a last meal feel to it,” I admitted. When I left Emoni, who’d decided to return to her room, Dominic had asked me to choose between four dresses for dinner. It reminded me that I hadn’t eaten.

“Or it could be a new beginnings dinner.”

I didn’t want to be doom and gloom and tried to let his optimism ease my worry.

The dress and a formal dinner brought to mind memories of Areleus threatening to kill me when I was used as a pawn to force Dominic’s hand. I had no desire to return to the scene of the incident.

“We’re eating in the other dining room.”

I slid my fingers over the front of his shirt. “Was it that obvious?”

He leaned down and kissed me. “I’d prefer a restaurant, but I don’t want to take any risks until tomorrow.”

Seated next to him, I was delighted to see Emoni and Anand already at the table. I bit back my laughter when Emoni stood up to greet me with a hug and whispered, “I’m keeping this dress.”

Dust pink satin skimmed the delicate curves of her tall, slender body. The cinched waist and draping cowl neckline accentuated her body and complemented her height and long lean legs in a way that was difficult to ignore. Anand seemed to be having that problem.

Hungrier than expected, I cut my admiration of the stunning room. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view outside. The dark backdrop wasn’t as depressing while I devoured beef tenderloin with Périgourdine sauce, potato au gratin, and sautéed mixed vegetables. My hunger wasn’t making the food taste more exceptional than it was, because Emoni was taking slow appreciative bites of the meal, occasionally giving me a worried look that she tamped down with sips of wine.

“This is delicious. One would think it’s a last meal,” she said nervously, a slight tremble in her hand as she brought the wine glass to her lips.

Dominic looked across the table at her and then back to me. “I’m constantly provided with reasons why you all are so close,” he said. “Don’t see it as an end but rather a beginning.”

“What a beautiful sentiment,” said Areleus, entering the dining area from the opposite end of the room. Areleus’s presence was a surprise, but Callum, the tattooed Seer, next to him was shocking. The ease with which these people switched sides was off-putting.

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