Blood Magic (Dragon Born Alexandria Book 2) (16 page)

“Yes.” He inhaled deeply. “That’s the one.”

She cleared her throat. “So, about that plan.”

“We’re finished for now.” He shoved his computer aside, standing. “We need the corrosives. And we need to wait until dark to carry out the plan. That’s the safest way.”

“Right.” She pushed back from the table, also standing. “We wouldn’t want to be reckless.”

“Alex.” His gaze trailed up her body, as sensual as any caress. “You look absolutely stunning in that outfit.”

“Oh? I wasn’t sure you noticed.”

“I definitely noticed. It’s been making it hard for me to concentrate. When you walked down the stairs this morning wearing that, it took everything I had not to throw you down onto the table.”

“Naomi and Marek would have liked that,” she teased.

“I don’t care.”

He pulled her against him. Then, resting one hand on the small of her back, he slid the other down her side with excruciating slowness. As it just graced her breast, her breath caught in her throat. He shot her a wicked smile, then plunged his hand deeper, down to her thigh. He plucked a knife from her, then peeled the band from her leg. He tossed them onto the table. His hand returned with a vengeance—removing her weapons piece by piece, exploring every dip and curve of her body. He took his time, drawing out the seduction. She’d never thought removing a few knives could be so erotic.

Raw, unbridled need popped beneath her skin. She had to touch him. Band by band, she unfastened and unbuckled black straps of knives from his body. While his caresses were soft and light, she tugged roughly—desperately—at his weapons.

“Careful, love.” Amusement rumbled deep inside his chest. “You wouldn’t want to cut yourself.”

“I have a lot of experience in handling…” Her gaze drifted downward. “…weapons.”

He lowered to his knees, his hands trailing her skin, following it all the way down. Quick as a flash, his deft fingers darted into her boot and removed the knife inside. He repeated the motion with her second boot, then rose back up again. His hand brushed the inside of her thigh, his fingers tracing the seams of her jeans as he unlatched the final knife.

“Logan,” she moaned, pushing herself against him. She wanted him to touch so much more than her knives.

His fingers caught on the edge of her shirt, pulling it over her head. “This is long overdue.”

“Yes.” She gasped as his thumb brushed across her thin lace bra. “It is.”

She pulled his shirt off. Her magic darted out, tasting his aura. It was heavy with sweat and orange spice. She kissed him, drowning in the thick, intoxicating throb of his desire. His movements rougher now, he removed the rest of her clothing. His hands were less calculated, much bolder.

“Alex.” He was breathing heavily now, his breath hot against her mouth.

She nipped his lip, licking off the crimson drop that broke the surface before his body healed the wound. She swallowed hard, pushing that delicious drop of his blood down deep inside of her. A river of pure ecstasy cascaded through her body. Logan’s mouth crashed against hers. His tongue pushed past her lips, ravaging her mouth with savage appetite.

“So this is what the great Slayer looks like without his brakes on,” she rasped.

“Am I hurting you?” he asked.

“No.” She kissed down his hard stomach, tracing the ridges with her lips. She reached his belt and worked it free. His pants fell to the floor.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his eyes rolling back as she relieved him of the rest of his clothing.

“Yes.” She slammed him against the wall. “Now don’t pussy out on me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

The only warning she had was the delighted flash in his eyes. He pushed hard against her, flipping them around. Now it was her back against the wall. Smiling, he took a long, leisurely look at her.

“I was worried about losing control because of what I am. Because of what they did to me,” he said.

“And now you’re not?”

“You can break any spell.” His hand stroked down her side. “Like you did earlier. You’re someone I can trust to have my back.”

“And you’re someone I can trust to have mine,” she replied.

He paused for a moment, then said, “Do you really trust me?”

“Of course.”

A satisfied, happy smile slid across his lips. “Good, because I’m about to test your resolve. Again. And again.” His lips caressed her neck. “And again,” he whispered into her ear.

“Promises, promises.” She smirked at him. “How about you put your money where your mouth is, assassin?”

“Oh, Alex.” His eyes burned into hers. “I thought you’d never ask.” His hand slid between her legs with liquid ease. “You won’t regret it.”

Overwound, uncontainable, her magic burst out of her, crashing into his. The impact of the blow threw him back onto the table. “Oh, I know I won’t,” she said, climbing onto him.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Monster

ALEX SMILED DROWSILY, sweet contentment warming her from the inside as she turned over. She dug her toes into the soft mattress and pulled the covers over her face. A light chuckle drew her back into consciousness. She opened her eyes to find Logan beside her, leaning comfortably on one side. The expression on his face pretty much summed out how she felt.

She’d woken up enough to remember she was in Logan’s bed. After trashing the kitchen table, and the sofa, and the hot tub in the bathroom, and…well, a lot of other things, they’d finally moved into the bedroom. Boy, that man sure had stamina.

Alex stole a peek at the window. Darkness and city lights lay beyond the gauzy drapes. “How long was I asleep?”

“Not long.”

She yawned and stretched out, trying to put some life back into her muscles. Sometime in the last few hours, they’d all gone to jelly.

“Were you watching me the whole time?” she asked him.

“Most of it.”

There was something about the way he said it—something distant—that gave her the feeling there was something else.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

His aura was agitated, nervous even. Well, that was new. She’d never seen him nervous before.

“Tell me.”

He tapped his fingers on the mattress. “You said you trusted me,” he reminded her.

“Yes,” she said slowly. “But if you’re looking for us to consummate that trust again, I should tell you that I’m a little sore.” She winked at him.

“No, this isn’t about that. Not that I wouldn’t be open to it,” he added with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. The twinkle didn’t last long. His face grew serious again. He took her hand and looked at her, as though he were afraid she’d bolt.

What was going on with him?

“Spit it out, Logan.”

“I got something for you.” He reached back. “A gift.” He set a big book down in front of her.

“Oh.” She glanced down at the book. It was thick and heavy with a dark leather cover and spine. In terms of style, it looked like one of those old magic books that was centuries old, but besides some minor fraying around the edges, it was in nearly pristine condition. “It’s beautiful. But I didn’t get anything for you.”

He stared at her in silence. Ok then. She looked down at the book again. Oddly, there was no text on the cover, but there was a myriad of decorative swirls and other whimsical designs.

“What is it?” she asked, tapping the book.

As her finger brushed against the cover, magic flared up from the book. Potent and ancient beyond belief, she’d never felt anything quite like it. Whatever magic the book held, it was a powerful one.

As though awakened, the decorative designs on the cover took on an unearthly glow. They shifted and slid around, rearranging before her eyes. In place of the nonsensical shapes, magical symbols and pictures sprang to life, including the signs for mage, fairy, vampire, and ghost. She also saw representations of the various flavors of elemental magic. And a dragon. Finally, the title appeared: ‘Dragon Born’. She turned to look at Logan.

“I know,” he said.

“I kind of got that,” she replied quietly. “But how?”

“All the signs are there. You just have to look for them.”

Panic, that old, cold-clawed fiend, flooded her. Her head spun as every instinct in her body—twenty-four years of hiding what she was—flared up, crawling at her skin. The sudden urge to flee hit her like a truck, but she fought the urge, staying still.

“I was going to tell you,” she said, reminding herself as much as telling him. “I just didn’t picture doing it like this.”

A hint of humor glinted in his eyes. “Did you imagine wine and chocolate?”

“No, but I did expect that I’d be dressed,” she replied, drawing the blanket around her body.

He laughed. “Suffering from a case of sudden modesty, are you?”

“No, just cold.” She grinned at him. “Want to come over to warm me up?”

“Yes.” Mischief speckled his aura. “But you’re still sore.”

“I’m sure you could persuade me to forget about that little inconvenience.”

“Shall I?” he asked.

“Only if you promise me you aren’t going to turn me in for a reward.”

“No.” His face went completely serious. “You know I won’t.”

“You aren’t upset to find out you’re sleeping with a monster?” she teased.

“Technically, I knew what you were long before we slept together. But, no, I’m not. Because you are not a monster. In fact, if anyone here is a monster, I am.”

“Logan, you’re not—”

“I was conceived to be a living weapon, Alex,” he cut her off. “There are no two ways about it. But you are only an ‘abomination’ to the Magic Council.”

“And all the supernaturals under their rule,” she muttered.

He ignored the comment. “The Council is condemning you for being born different, but they don’t even know you. I do. And I know you’re not a monster. You help people. You try to save them from the real monsters in this world. Besides, the Magic Council members are not my rulers. And as for sleeping with you, you know how long I’ve been waiting for this. The circumstances of your birth—no matter how spectacular—do not change who you are. And there’s no amount of money that could compel me to kill the woman I love.”

“I…”

He kissed her quickly on the forehead. “It’s ok. You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted you to know.”

“I do,” she said. “Love you,” she added.

The look he gave her made her heart stutter. He lowered his head to her, kissing her lips softly. He pulled back to meet her eyes, then, smiling, kissed her again, deeper this time. By the time he pulled away again, she’d already forgotten her soreness.

“Now,” he said, lifting her hand to his lips. “If we’re truly being open with each other, tell me about your dreams.”

“I told you already.” She smirked at him. “You’re always running around with your shirt off in them.”

“Not those dreams. The nightmares.”

The heat rushed out of Alex, leaving her cold. She tugged the blanket closer. “How did you know? Was I tossing?”

“Not this time. You slept soundly.”

She gave him a playful poke in the chest. “You might have had something to do with that.”

He caught her hand, wrapping his lips around the invading finger. “I would be happy to help you sleep soundly every night.” He released her hand. “But I fear it’s not as simple as that. I’ve heard you many times, almost every night. Whatever is happening in your dreams, it’s not just me without my shirt on. Though I’d be happy to do that for you as well.”

“You’d best not. You’d create mass hysteria. Women everywhere would faint.”

“Funny.”

She chuckled, then sighed when the insistent look in his eyes did not fade. “Ok, fine. The nightmares are about vampires.”

“They’re chasing you?”

“At first, but then I turn the tables on them. I kill them all.”

“And then?” He was too smart for his own good.

“And then I drink their blood,” she told him. “Sometimes, you’re there, and I drink your blood instead. Then we have sex on the battlefield.”

“It doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Unless I’m woken up before we get to the good part,” she muttered.

“I meant the part with the vampires.”

“It’s not about the vampires, Logan. It’s about the blood. I’m craving blood. That’s messed up.”

“You were bitten by a fairy-vampire hybrid,” he said.

“Yes, and supposedly my body nuked the vampire venom. One of the perks of being Dragon Born.”

“And yet you crave blood.”

“Only in my dreams and, um, sometimes your blood when I’m awake.”

“Your dreams are merely your mind working out your worries,” he told her.

“Thanks, professor.”

“And you’re obviously craving my blood because you’re craving me.”

She grabbed his pillow and smacked him with it right in the middle of his smug face.

“It’s true,” he said, snatching a hold of his pillow. He fluffed it up, then leaned back onto it, cupping his hands behind his head to show off his sculpted—and completely naked—torso.

“Stop flexing. It’s distracting,” she told him, looking away. Looking at anything. Her gaze fell upon the Dragon Born book, and she began to flip through it. “Where did you get this book?”

“I got it in Cologne when we were there.”

“Ah, so that’s where you disappeared to for nearly a day,” she said.

“I’d hoped to be back within a few hours, but the book was more heavily protected than my source had indicated.”

“Maybe your source was trying to get you killed.”

“No. He’s crazy, not stupid.”

“Well, you didn’t miss much,” she told him. “Marek had a heated discussion about beer with some local mages.”

“By heated, you mean—”

“More than just words were exchanged,” she said. “Fireballs too. But by the end, they were all drinking and laughing together, so they apparently resolved their differences.” She shrugged. “It must be a local custom.” She flipped to a page that showed an illustration of a mage standing beside a dragon. “Hey, this one looks interesting. It’s all about the link between a Dragon Born’s mage and dragon halves. It says only when our magic is fully unlocked—only when we’re completely linked up—will the dragon side be able to take corporeal form. Oh, cool. She’ll like that.”