Page 189 of Magic of the Damned

“I don’t want to lose you,” he admitted, “but it’s impossible for me to completely leave this.”

“I don’t expect you to. It won’t be easy, but we’ll make it work. Somehow.”

He studied my face. “Little Luna,” he whispered. His lips curled into a smirk. “Humans.” He still had a hint of disdain for the magicless. “They will never know how hard you fought for their safety.”

“Wasn’t just theirs. I don’t want to be subjugated.”

“I would never let that happen.”

“I know you wouldn’t. But why subject the world to more fighting and you to more challenges of trying to keep me safe? I prefer not to be the exception. I want safety to be the rule. Living alongside supernaturals, ignorant of their existence, is the best option. My motives weren’t that altruistic. You would have done whatever was necessary to achieve the same outcome.”

“No, I wouldn’t have,” he responded curtly.

Do I respect the candor or be appalled by it? He leaned in and kissed the tip of my nose.

“I wish that I could. I wasn’t lying when I said we lose some of our humanity to continue to live. I need you because you are an anchor that will keep me tethered to it. I love you because of who you are but also because you have that unique ability to do that for me.”

I blinked back the tears, but a few managed to escape. He swept them away with his thumb.

“I love you, too. I want to be that person for you.” I was confident we would make it work and that it would be difficult at times, but it didn’t matter. I wanted it to work.

“Will you stay today?”

“Of course.”

His soft lips feathered over mine before he sighed into a chaste kiss that quickly heightened into a devouring kiss. His tongue parted my lips and teased and taunted me with the promise of more. I welcomed the enveloping heat of his magic and the sensual caresses that accompanied it. With each second gaining a new appreciation for the mastery and the magnetism of it as it drew me to him.

Easing me to my back, his body melded over mine as he nestled between my legs. Then he pulled away, leaving me breathless and panting.

He flashed me a devilishly alluring look that sent shivers cascading over me, then pulled his shirt off me and tossed it aside.

Mischief glinted in his gaze as with effortless sinuous movement, his nails lightly grazed my skin along the same path as his tender kisses. He took my nipple into his mouth, teasing it with his tongue, the taunting grazes of his teeth coaxing a smile from me, then a moan. Continuing his tantalizing journey, he positioned himself between my legs, kissing my inner thighs before spreading them farther apart. His tongue flicked over my clit, sending shivers of pleasure through me as I fisted the sheets and moaned his name. The warmth of his breath when he chuckled sent a tremor through me. His tongue delved deeper, bringing me to an overwhelming climax. I couldn’t help but cry out as waves of ecstasy and pleasure pulsed through my body, leaving me completely pliant.

Dominic removed his pants and slithered into his dominant position over me. His kisses were filled with a desperate need and primal lust that pushed me again into the depths of desire. As my fingers slid down his back, my nails lightly grazed over his skin. My hand continued its trail until I held his cock. As I stroked his hardness, his groans of pleasure caused his chest to reverberate against mine. Dominic pulled from the kiss and held my gaze as I guided him into me. The rhythmic thrusts of his hips started off slow, gradually building up to a frenetic pace. I wrapped my legs tightly around him, matching his intense movements, both of us seeking our pleasure.

An unexpected gasp escaped my lips when Dominic lifted me, still kneeling, pushing himself even deeper inside me while he held me up. In response, I released a desperate moan of satisfaction into the passionate kiss we shared. The sensation of his dark magic danced over my skin, intensifying our connection. His movements were dark and feral, relentlessly chasing the climax that awaited us. I came first. The aftershock of my pleasure wracked my body. I pulsed and tightened against his hardness, coaxing him into an explosive release that elicited a low, primal growl.

His voice, laced with a rough edge of need and desire, alternated between whispering deliciously naughty details of what he longed to do to me and declaring his deep affection. It was an intoxicating combination that gave me a profound sense of contentment as I clung to him, reveling in the raw intensity of our union. Our bodies remained connected, locked in a fierce embrace. In that moment, our chaotic and complicated world faded away and it was just the two of us.

CHAPTER 18

Dominic’s request for today became three days. The day the Dark Casters and Areleus had been divested of their magic, we’d spent in his room together, enjoying the gentle ache of pleasure as Dominic found reprieve with me. We left the room only for food and the bed for showers. The second day, I didn’t see him that much because he was dealing with the aftermath of that day. I spent time in the library, finding books that would hold my attention and devising a story to tell others that was believable enough but wouldn’t reveal the existence of shifters, vampires, witches, and other magic wielders and would garner enough compassion from Cameron to allow me to return to work at the cafe. Four hours into the task and I had nothing. Telling her the truth would either have her seeking psychological help for me or in such complete awe of my mere survival that it would warrant my job back. I couldn’t tell her the truth.

In the afternoon of the day I’d decided to leave, Dominic and I were walking through the garden with its peculiar black flowers. I gently touched the petals of the roses, feeling the weight of Dominic’s eyes on me and the dark surroundings prophetic.

“Why don’t you want to live here?” he finally asked.

“Because it’s not where I belong. Without magic, I’m a human in the Underworld. I’d have to leave my friends and family. My life. I liked my life.”

“You’re free to leave. You wouldn’t be imprisoned.”

“I know, but I wouldn’t be really free. I’d be reliant on you or the Trapsen to travel between the two worlds. And we run the risk of my possession of the Trapsen being discovered and someone taking it. You can’t believe that others wouldn’t desire something so valuable. Even if not for nefarious purposes, it would be wanted out of sheer curiosity. Areleus could try to take it and use it as a way to return. Or I could accidentally misplace it. It’s not that I dislike it here, but me living here and trying to hold on to my life would be difficult.”

At the mention of his father’s name, he looked away from me. Forty-eight hours after the loss of his magic, Areleus had gone through the first stage of grief and was lingering in the stage of anger, demanding nearly hourly to speak to Dominic.

“If anyone can make this arrangement work, we can. Things are different for you, too. You could easily do like the others and live among the humans unnoticed.” Or maybe not. His looks commanded attention. Despite his ability to mask his eyes, he possessed a distinct aura. He’d never go unnoticed, although no one would ever determine the reason why.

“When will Areleus leave?” I asked.

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