Page 8 of Which Witch Is Wicked?
Traitor, she thought with a hiss. “I want to know what you’ve done to my power. Did your source tell about that as well? It was pure when you took it. It’s not the same now. You’ve tainted my essence.” The rawness, usually so apparent, had been soothed.By his presence, she realized. Molded by something older and stronger than her powers.
Feeling suddenly vulnerable, she glanced around, wondering if she’d make it to the stairwell before he caught her. Leaving the house unescorted had been a bad idea at best. Following him inside the building, walking straight into his trap for all she knew, may have been a deadly mistake.
“‘Taint’ is a harsh word, Claire.” He took a step toward her, his body coming up hard against hers, leaving her no room to run.
His thighs molded to hers. Heat swirled, combining with an energy source radiating from him that she didn’t remember from before. Familiar, yet masculine. Hot, potent masculinity that she ached to climb all over. But, upon their last encounter, she’d discovered her seductive powers didn’t work on him.
She tried to breathe, but each attempt pressed her leather jacket tighter against his chest. Having him so close stole more of her oxygen, leaving her trapped in a vicious cycle.
He dropped his gaze to the swell of her breasts, and she couldn’t help but inhale. “I have a theory, love.”
“What? What theory?” She slipped her hands between them and flattened her palms against his chest, trying to focus on his words instead of the excitement and pleasure he generated inside her. They’d had such a short time together before the world had collapsed around them. Damn him. Damn this whole prophecy.
She shoved against him, but he didn’t budge.
Slippery heat welled inside her, quickening her pulse. “I need to go.” Run before he completely owned her.
He lifted a hand and traced a finger down her cheek. “You don’t want to hear my theory?” She shook her head.
He stilled her movements by cupping her chin. Heat licked at her skin, and she fought to retain her current focus. “You scarred me,” he said fiercely. “With your Fire. It burned a hole deep in my heart. Left traces of you inside me.”
“No.” She couldn’t, wouldn’t accept that. Her Fire was hers alone.
He leaned close, his lips a breath away. “I feel you,” he whispered.
“Always. I hear you in my head. I want to touch you and take you…”
Her brain screamed for her to knee him in the nuts again and run, but this time, her heart, bolstered by the power of fire, firmly had control.
Her lips sparked when he brushed his mouth against hers, igniting a scorching sizzle that rushed through her. Cinnamon on his tongue burned her mouth as he teased his way inside. She wished to refuse him entrance, but she couldn’t get past how much she wanted him. How much she ached for this.
She lifted a hand to stop his sweet assault, but instead of pushing him away, she slipped her fingers over his exquisitely carved chest and up the corded muscles of his neck.
He fisted his hands into her hair, bending her further to his will. She allowed it. Craved it within the depths of her soul.
Something inside her recognized him. Yearned for him more than life.
Horsemen, sisters, curses faded into the background as he wove a web of delicious desire around her. Crimson need turned black. She melted against him, shoving her resistance into a dark closet somewhere in the back her mind. Her body warmed and softened, and something powerfully older than time awakened inside her.
“Is this real?” she whispered when they parted for air.
He caught her gaze, his penetrating deep into her soul. God, he could have her so easily, she realized. Right here, right now. Anywhere, any time.
“It’s real, Claire. This is as real as it gets.” His eyes promised he spoke the truth, but an unwanted grain of doubt reminded her she’d believed him once before. He cupped her face and claimed her mouth, washing away any objections she might have had.
“What the fuck?” he said as he jerked away from her and glanced downward.
Surprised, Claire followed the direction he’d flung his curse and found Kai with his teeth firmly implanted in Dru’s pants. He lifted a hand to strike.
“No. Stop!” Claire screamed as she dropped to her knees, pulling Kai protectively against her and away from Dru. She closed her eyes and braced for impact, but it never came.
“Claire.” Dru pulled her to her feet, and she clung to her little fox. His gaze darkened as the sound of others approaching drew her attention. The rest of the Horsemen breached the exit of Sirens and advanced rapidly.
“Is this what I fear it is?” he asked as though she’d somehow betrayed him. He held her with a powerful grip. “Your familiar?”
Fear exploded inside her. She couldn’t get away. Not from all of them.
Kai squirmed in her arms. They would hurt him too, she realized. If Kai truly was her familiar, he’d be a threat once she learned how to use him to enhance her powers. She jerked in Dru’s grasp trying to get away.
