Page 15 of Joined By Magic

I looked up into Leo’s face and reached my hand up to stroke his cheek. His fingers wrapped around mine.

“What the fuck am I doing here, Liv?” His voice was soft but laced with a bitter edge. “This isn’t what I wanted. I don’t want to be here at all.”

Irritation flared in my stomach. “I don’t either, but most of us don’t get to choose where we want to be. We make the best of things.”

Leo’s eyebrows rose and he tore his gaze from the window, focusing on my face. A hint of a smile touched his lips. “I was hoping for sympathy and commiseration on how hard my life is. Looks like I’ll be disappointed.”

“Looks like it.” I softened my words with a smile and stepped closer to him, our bodies pressing together as he brought his arms around my back and bent his head close to my ear.

“That was a disrespectful comment.”

I shivered at the dangerous note in his voice, my only warning before he picked me up and strode to the front door. I squeaked, clutching uselessly at him as he flipped me round. “Hands against the door.” I hesitated, and he gave my ass a hard smack. “Now.”

He tapped the spot he wanted, and I obeyed. He bent me over, pushing my face against the smooth wood, then secured my hands and body in place with a snap of magic. My ass stuck out toward him, legs splayed. An undignified position.

He lifted my skirt up high over my hips. Something about the casual way he handled me, stripping away my autonomy in a matter of seconds, sent a rush of heat to my core. “What are you doing?”

“Whatever I want.” His hand slid over my ass and between my legs, exploring me slowly. He pulled back the elastic of the plain white cotton panties I wore and let it flick against my thigh with a snap. “Why are you wearing these?”

“What do you mean?” A tremor of nervous amusement ran through me. “Don’t you like them?”

He flicked the elastic again. “No. You know what I expect.”

I did. Wispy scraps of silk and lace. “But I can wear what I like now. We agreed.”

“In public,” he corrected. “In private, you wear what I want. And this”—I felt a tug and a moment of heat, and the fabric of my panties tore away, leaving me bare—“is a private area. Is that clear?”

It should have infuriated me, but it didn’t. In the morning, I might feel differently, but right then, I loved the authority in his words. Even over something so small. “Yes.”

“Good.”

Buzzing magic rolled from his fingertips, over my clit and deep inside me. An ache grew at my center, and I moaned as he pushed two fingers into my entrance. My body relaxed, and my eyes closed.

A knock.

“Your Highness? I’m here to escort you to your meeting.”

I jumped and tried to pull back from Leo, but he held me firm. “You’re not going anywhere,” he whispered.

“But they’re right outside!”

“Stay quiet, then.”

He increased the intensity of the vibrations. I clamped my lips together to keep from moaning as he called out, “I’ll be a moment. Wait there.”

My body knew what to do. Relying on Leo alone for pleasure meant I was always primed and ready to take it when offered. I couldn’t hold back a small strangled whimper as he pushed me over the edge and my release seared my nerves. My body clenched and my limbs loosened as Leo reduced the pressure on my sensitized clit, leaving me panting and satisfied.

He pulled my skirt down to cover me and released his magic so I could turn and face him. A wicked smile tinged his lips as he smoothed down the wrinkles in my dress. “You’re my toy. Don’t forget it.”

The word still made me cringe and blush in equal measure. I smiled up at him. “You’d better hurry.”

“They can wait.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I wish I could stay here with you. What will you do for the afternoon?”

I shrugged. “I might see if someone wants to go for a walk in the gardens once it cools down a bit.”

He frowned. “Take Damien if you’re heading out, and call me before you go. Don’t leave the grounds, of course.”

“I know.”

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