Chosen Destiny (8 page)

lifted her chin maintaining eye contact with the vampire. “Besides it’s not going to take

long for them to bring the food up to us.”

A knock sounded on the door. Jaeson shot her a narrow-eyed look, but she just

shrugged as he let the young man into the room. A lot of the higher level witches came

here to eat instead of the sect house when they needed a change. She knew that they

fixed one huge meal and normally didn’t make the food to order. All they’d had to do

was fill the platters, grab a bottle of wine and arrange bread in a basket. He waited until

the waiter had left.

He gestured to the table. “Let’s eat, but truthfully my scent’s not a drug. It can’t

make you do anything you don’t want to do. It will heighten your arousal or soothe you

if you’re tense.”

She took the seat on the opposite side of the table and watched as he slid into his.

“That’s something I’m going to have to confirm myself.”

They ate in silence, but Meagan didn’t find it uncomfortable. He didn’t look as if he

found it that way either. When they both had finished, he stood and walked over to

stand by the bed. She knew from the look he gave her that he was only doing that

because she’d said she wanted space and to be free of the effects of the scent.

“Now that we’ve both relaxed a bit, we can talk. As for your comment about

finding out that my scent’s not a drug, I’ll make sure you have ample opportunity.

Were there any questions you have now that you didn’t earlier today?” He sat on the

bed.

Meagan watched him. He looked a lot more comfortable than she felt in the hard,

straight-backed wooden chair. The green blanket set off Jaeson’s dark clothes. She just

didn’t believe he was as relaxed as he seemed to be. He hadn’t suddenly come to the

decision to give her all the time she needed. The man wanted her. She could see it in the

way he watched her. His entire attitude was that of a man on the hunt. She’d have to

watch him and make sure she didn’t let things get out of control. She was more than

tempted to relax and let the attraction take the lead, but knew that he wouldn’t consider

it just sex. She wasn’t willing to think about anything more. Two mates. Just thinking

about it made her nervous. The thought was great as a fantasy, but the reality came

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Rebecca Airies

with a lot of questions. And she knew only time and being close to them would give her

the answers.

“Your questions, or are you just going to stare at me for the night?” He grinned and

she could see the humor in his eyes.

Meagan felt the heat rush into her cheeks. She hadn’t realized how much time had

passed. Rising from her chair, she began to pace a bit. “I know that you two were telling

me the truth earlier about a
Tiria
having two mates. I’m still not sure it’s necessary and I

can’t see much to recommend it aside from having someone always near to help with

the power levels.”

“Was there a question in there that I missed?” Jaeson’s tone was openly provoking.

She glared at him. He didn’t seem at all worried about staying on her good side.

She’d have loved to put him in his place but couldn’t think of a way just yet. Walking

around the bed, she tried to put her thoughts in order. The chaos in her mind was

making her restless. She stopped when he was directly opposite her. He moved to the

end of the bed so he could turn to see her without bringing his boots onto it.

“You and Samiel, how will it work? Won’t someone get jealous? I’m not agreeing to

anything. It’s just something I wondered about.” She titled her head and bit her lip.

That was only one question of many.

“Samiel and I will each want time alone with you, that’s natural just as we’ll make

time to be with each other. We might feel envy, want to be part of it because we know

just how good it feels, but no real jealousy, because we all belong to each other.” Jaeson

smiled, his voice turning a little husky.

She gaped at him. They’d want to be with each other. She hadn’t even thought

about them having anything other than a friendly relationship with each other. She felt

utterly stupid for a moment, but that feeling was pushed aside as her mind began

supplying her with details. An image of the two men in each other’s arms kissing

flashed through her head. It was disconcerting and arousing at the same time. She

hadn’t even thought that they might be lovers. She might just be the one who would be

jealous. She’d never even thought about sharing a lover.

“You didn’t realize that Samiel and I were lovers, did you?” He smiled obviously

enjoying her surprise.

“No, I didn’t know. There wasn’t anything about the relationship in the books. As

far as I know, you two could have just met.” She shrugged.

“We’ve been together for years.” He brought his knee up and rested the ankle on

his thigh. He was utterly relaxed and at ease.

“If we have sex, are you going to immediately assume that we’re mated?” She sat

on the bed across from him, one leg tucked under her.

“We are mates. Having sex or not having sex isn’t going to make it any more or less

true.” He angled his body a bit more so that he was fully facing her.

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Chosen Destiny

She shook her head. That really wasn’t what she’d meant. She had been thinking

more about his attitude than his philosophy. Apparently, she was going to have to ask

in another way if she wanted an answer.

“Are you going to be all possessive and expect to act like my mate if we have sex?”

She sighed. “I’m not just going to jump into something permanent. To me, having sex

will just be sex. Is it going to be more to you?”

“I’ll undoubtedly be possessive. So much that you’ll object to it? I don’t know. You

are my mate. I’m not going to pretend that you’re a woman for only a night.” His intent

golden stare didn’t waver from hers.

She didn’t have any doubts that he was absolutely serious. She couldn’t change his

attitude, not even dent it. Running her fingers through her hair, she exhaled slowly. She

suspected that even if they didn’t have sex, he’d be possessive. So she’d have to deal

with his attitude regardless.

“Have we dealt with all of your questions?” He raised an eyebrow and looked

significantly at the bed.

“You may consider me your mate but I don’t consider myself bound in any way.”

She clenched a bit of the blanket in her hand. “I don’t have any other questions at the

moment, but there will probably be more later.”

“Good. Then come over here. I wanted to kiss you when I walked into the library.”

He held out his hand.

She smiled. The man had a one-track mind. She had to admit that she’d been

thinking about having sex with him too. Her questions had managed to distract her a

little. She still had doubts about having sex with him, but it wasn’t going to stop her.

She was going to take the chance. It would probably complicate things, but she knew

the desire building between them wasn’t going to disappear. It was too strong. She was

enough of a realist to know that it was going to happen. Samiel and Jaeson wouldn’t

just ignore the attraction between them. She wanted to make the choice, not have it

made for her. Also, she had to find out if the pull between them was entirely physical or

some sort of binding spell wrought by the blades to keep them together.

She stood and walked around the bed and took his hand. He tugged her into his

lap. The move caught her by surprise and she lost her balance. She braced her hands on

his shoulders as she fell. He caught her and settled her across his thighs. She looked up

and found his beautiful eyes locked with hers.

“As much as I would love to take this opportunity and make love with you, I don’t

want you to regret it.” He drew his hand down her back. “Are you sure this is what you

want?”

“I’ve made my choice. I want you. I suspect you knew before I was ready to admit

it. I’m ready to have sex with you. I’m not ready to talk about anything permanent. This

is my home. I’m needed here.” She lifted her chin. No matter what they thought, she

would have a say in this.

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Rebecca Airies

He frowned. “You can’t think that you can just walk away from us after this battle

is finished. You belong with us.”

“I’m not going to talk about that right now. We’ll deal with it later. Now do you

want me or should I go back to my research?” She pushed against his chest, putting just

a little distance between them.

“You’re not going back to your research.” His hands tightened on her hips. “Not

tonight.”

Her hands stroked over his chest to his shoulders relaxing against him. His scent

swirled around her. It seemed to intensify with every breath she took. Her need rose to

an even higher level. He leaned down and his lips brushed over her cheek. She turned

her head and met his lips. Her mouth opened beneath his. She licked at his lips when he

did nothing more than brush his mouth from side to side. He laughed softly. His

tongue stoked into her mouth. She relaxed against him and let the hot sensation sweep

through her, but she wasn’t passive. Her tongue tangled with his. She wanted to draw

him as deep into the kiss as she was. His groan and the tightening of his arms only

spurred her to do more.

She hooked an arm around his neck lacing her fingers through his hair. The feel of it

amazed her. It was so soft and she loved running her fingers through it. She couldn’t

help wondering what it would feel like trailing over her body as they made love. His

hand slid down her back and under her shirt. She drew in a gasping breath. His hand

was so warm and she wanted to feel more. She pushed back into his touch.

“I want to see you naked. Let’s get you out of these clothes.” He drew back and

looked down at her shirt.

“Only if we get rid of your clothes too. I’m sure you’d be much more comfortable

without them.” Her eyes trailed down his chest and stopped at the close-fitting pants.

She traced her hand down his chest and to the hard ridge of flesh below his waist. She

wanted to touch and explore just as much as he said he did.

He froze as her fingers slid up and down over his cock. His breath sounded raspy

as he drew in a quick breath. She loved the quick, intense reaction to her touch. Only

the fabric of his pants separated her fingers from his cock. She wanted that barrier gone.

Her fingers moved up, seeking buttons or laces. She found laces that fastened his

pants, but the ends seemed to be knotted. She frowned as she looked down at the

jumbled mess. It looked like it would be impossible to untie. How did he get out of

them? His hands covered hers, pulling her fingers away from his pants.

“Let me do that. You start on your own clothing. Start with your pants. If you’re

slow I’ll finish your shirt. You might just take my control, if I let you.” His voice was

harsh, but he was smiling. He didn’t look as if he minded the idea at all.

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Chosen Destiny

She wanted to take his control. The idea that she could sent a rush of excitement

through her body. She got to work on her clothes so that she could get back to touching

him. Her hands went to her pants. She unfastened the buckle of her belt and then

unfastened the small row of buttons on the right side of her pants. The loose fabric slid

down to mid-thigh. She kicked out of her loose slippers and then her pants. She began

working on her shirt. His hands pushed hers away and began pulling the laces free on

her shirt. He tugged the material over her head. When it cleared her head, she looked

up, surprised. He was completely naked. Lady, he was fast. Her eyes roved over the

light golden tan expanse of his skin. The muscles across his chest and shoulders rippled

as he tossed her shirt over his shoulder. She let her gaze drift lower. His stomach was

flat, defined, but it was the hard thick shaft rising from between his legs that held her

attention. She licked her lips and felt the muscles in her stomach and pussy clench.

“Like what you see?” He stepped close, his hands sliding over her hips. “I definitely

do.”

His fingers flexed on the curve of her buttocks. She nearly laughed. Like his body?

The question was ridiculous. She didn’t know if she’d ever seen such a gorgeous naked

man in her life. She wasn’t going to ask if he liked her body. She didn’t need to do it.

His eyes burned with hunger, even if she had been able ignore the hard cock pressing

against her stomach.

“I’ve been wanting to get my hands on these curves ever since I saw you.” He

guided her backward until her legs touched the bed.

His body pressed against hers. She slipped her arms around his waist. The tips of

her breasts tingled as they came into contact with his chest. She wanted more than that

light sensation. She wanted everything. Hunger rose and she felt a warm, slick liquid on

her thighs. Power stirred within her, building.

Meagan tensed. That was strange. Her power had never been linked with her

arousal before. Her hands froze and she tore her attention away from the hands roving

up her back. She wondered what was happening.

“Is something wrong?” His hand tipped her chin up so that she was forced to meet