MagicalMistakes (8 page)

Brushing her lips over his, she whispered, “On your knees.”

For a moment she thought it was too much, too humbling for
her proud warrior to kneel before her, but with his gaze holding hers, Ciar
sank to the ground.

He slid his hands up her calves to rest against her knees.
She couldn’t look away from the intensity of his gaze. He watched her like a
hunter who knew surrender was imminent. Though he was the one on his knees, it
was her heart fluttering wildly. Ciar traced small circles over her sensitive skin
as he waited.

She should be the one holding the power. She should be
bending him to her wishes.

But as always, her lover kept her off balance. The need to
have him touch her was more important than her wish for control.

Almost despite herself, she let her legs spread in blatant
invitation.

A small smile tugged at his lips. In reward, he ran his
hands higher up her legs, taking the time to draw his fingertips lightly over
her thighs.

Mikayla bit her lip when he reached her black panties. Never
breaking eye contact, he hooked a finger around the straps and tugged the
material down.

She wiggled a bit to help him remove the scrap of material,
uncaring where it landed.

He pressed hot hands against her thighs, inching them apart.
Her breath caught in her chest as he spread her to his view. For a moment he
just looked at her, his gaze searing. Mikayla had to choke back the words that
threatened to burst from her. He might be on his knees but she was the one
ready to beg.

“So pretty,” he purred, pressing a kiss to her inner thigh.
“So mine.”

She nodded eagerly. How she longed to be his in all ways.
Forever.

A dangerous desire.

But logical thought fled when he pushed her legs farther
apart and pressed forward into the space between them.

Mikayla fisted her hands on the cushion from the window seat
when Ciar sent her a wicked grin before lowering his head.

His mouth touched her aching clit and she nearly leapt from
the seat. He drew his tongue along her slit in smooth strokes, seeming to know
exactly what she wanted without needing to hear the words. Every lap of his
sinful tongue sent her spiraling higher into ecstasy. She’d say this for
demons, they definitely lived up to their reputations.

He traced her contours in languid strokes. Mikayla threw
back her head with a gasp. She knew she should be trying to regain some control
over her pleasure-muddled mind but with Ciar’s tongue torturing her, there was
no clarity to be found. When he found her most sensitive bud and nipped, she
was beyond words.

“Ciar,” she gasped.

He thrust his tongue into her, wringing more cries of
pleasure from her.

Nothing she had ever dreamed of had prepared her for this.
Ciar pleasuring her. Ciar on his knees before her. Ciar with her.

It was her most secret fantasy come to life.

“Yes,” she shouted, craving more of his silken tongue. “I’m
almost—” Her words broke off with a breathless gasp. So close. Just a little
bit more and she would shatter in pleasure.

He stopped, wringing an agonized cry from her. He couldn’t
stop now, couldn’t leave her hanging.

A kiss was pressed against her throbbing flesh but he held
back. She groaned, slamming her palms against the wooden walls.

“Ciar,” she begged.

She felt a smile against her thigh and knew exactly what he
was doing. Even in a position like this, he was the one in charge. It rankled
that she was about to explode while he still maintained his cool control. One
of these days, she vowed, she would turn the tables on him. She would make him
wild for her, force him to give up his precious power.

“Please,” she said, giving in. “I need you. Only you.
Please, Ciar.”

“Perfect,” he purred before rolling his tongue over her
clit.

Mikayla cried out, writhing beneath his mouth. Yes, this was
what she craved. It didn’t matter how he played or which of them held the cards,
the only thing she cared about was the sinful things he was doing with his
mouth.

She tunneled her fingers through her hair as she rocked
against him.

“Almost,” she breathed, throwing her head back.

“Come for me,” he murmured against her flesh.

“Yes,” Mikayla promised, painfully close to her fulfillment.

“Ciar?” Alina called out. “Ciar, where are you?”

Icy water dumped over her. Alina.

Ciar froze, his clever tongue stilling. For a moment neither
of them moved, caught in the horror of reality intruding on their perfect
embrace.

Mikayla knew the thoughts running through his head. No doubt
they were the same as hers. Their games were fun, tempting, demanding.

But they didn’t give Ciar the answers he needed.

“Ciar?” Alina called again.

“Don’t,” Mikayla begged, barely able to think past her
desperate need but knowing what would come next. “Please, stay with me. Don’t
leave me like this.”

Ciar looked up and their gazes clashed. As intimately
pressed together as they were there was no mistaking his desire to stay. But
desire did not trump the steely look of determination that entered his eyes.

“Tell me the truth,” he demanded. “You know I want to finish
what we’ve started. Tell me the truth and I’m yours.”

Pain slashed through her. All she wanted to do was whisper
the words that begged to be spoken. But she knew without a doubt that her
selfishness would only hurt him more.

“Ciar,” Alina called again, her voice less patient.

Ciar stroked his thumb across her folds. She bit her lip to
keep from crying out.

“Everything you want, Mikayla. Any way you desire it. You
know the price.”

When he touched her once more she nearly cried out whatever
he wanted to hear. Her release was so close. Surely nothing mattered but
shattering beneath his touch.

“Can’t,” she said with a gasp.

“Can,” he argued. “Tell me. Why is Alina here?”

She shook her head, her hips rocking against his hand
despite herself.

“I’ll be yours,” he said in a silky voice. “Is it so much to
pay?”

She remembered the steel in his eyes and knew his words were
merely a temptation. He didn’t want her forever. Didn’t need her the way she
needed him. He might desire her body but he wanted his answers more.

A small, pained moan escaped her before she could bite back
the sound. Silently, she pushed her skirt down.

An inhuman growl rumbled from his chest before he shot to
his feet. Mikayla nearly cried out at the loss of his touch. But she didn’t
have time to deal with the need throbbing through her. Not when her lover
stared at her with fury in his eyes.

“How can you do this?” he charged. “How can you bring us
this far and deny us both?”

“All I deny are answers,” she tried. “You restrict the
rest.”

He bared his teeth before striding back to her. Dropping his
hands on the window seat on either side of her body, he pressed his face inches
from hers. “You want me in your bed,” he hissed. “Your lover but not your
confidant. Not someone you will trust.”

“I do trust you,” she tried, fighting the urge to reach for
him. “And I’m begging you to trust me.”

For a moment neither moved. His gaze dropped to her lips and
Mikayla wanted nothing more than to cross the distance between them and claim
his mouth. But though he was close enough to feel his breath on her cheeks, he
was further from her than ever.

“Damn you,” he snarled, whirling away from her. Without
looking back at her, he stormed from the attic.

Mikayla pressed a hand to her mouth to muffle her cry of
unfulfilled need. She knew she’d made the right choice but in this instant, all
she felt was defeat.

* * * * *

Unfulfilled desire pulsed through Ciar as he strode away
from Mikayla.

Bloody
witches, he thought with a growl. She was the
most infuriating female he had ever met. The last thing he wanted to be doing
was walking away from her, but he couldn’t stay with someone who lied to him.
Not again. The logic was cold comfort when he’d seen the plea in her eyes. He
felt like a bastard for leaving her as he had, and he wasn’t a man who believed
in regrets. How could she be so damn stubborn? Didn’t she understand he was
offering far more than a rushed embrace in the attic? If she would just tell
the truth he’d be hard-pressed to ever leave her side.

Stepping off the last stair he saw Alina peering into a
bedroom, her back to him. There was a time when it would have been this woman
he vowed devotion to. Looking at her now, the old desire did tug at his heart.
He had loved her once, probably still did in some dark recess of his heart. She
understood him. Was one of his kind.

Forcing a smile, he strode forward to meet her.

“Alina,” he said in greeting.

She turned with a bright smile but Ciar saw her eyes narrow
as they took in his natural form.

“I suppose you were with the witch,” she said, gliding
toward him. “Or do I have even more competition?”

Ciar crossed his arms when she reached him. “Who could ever
be your competition?” he asked lightly. The teasing words tasted bitter on his
tongue.

“Exactly.”

Staring at the woman who should have been his wife, Ciar
knew he should be happy to have her back. The day he’d lost her he’d thought
life would never again be worth living. Here was his second chance.

Except Alina felt short beside him. Her black hair was too
dark, her eyes nothing like the clear green that haunted his dreams.

She stepped closer and rubbed her body against his in
invitation. Ciar gritted his teeth as she brushed her hand over the erection
straining to burst free of his jeans.

“Someone’s happy to see me,” she murmured.

Ciar bit back his instinctive denial. Why not take what
Alina offered? They’d always been incredible together in bed. Perhaps losing
himself in pleasure could help banish Mikayla from his mind.

But even as he considered it, the urge felt hollow in his
chest. How could he kiss another when Mikayla’s taste still lingered on his
lips? He wouldn’t be able to stand it.

“Let’s go back to our room,” he said instead. “We have much
to talk about. I want news of my kin.”

Alina blinked, clearly surprised by his refusal. Her eyes
flicked to the attic stairs before she forced a smile back to her lips.

“Of course,” she said, taking his hand. “There’s much to
tell.”

As Ciar followed her, he couldn’t help think of the woman
he’d left behind.

Trust me
, she’d begged.

He shook his head. Demons didn’t trust.

And they never loved.

Two days sped past before he knew it. Ciar had hoped the
sisters would find a solution but so far there had been no new revelations.
With one day left to go until his ultimatum expired, Ciar wondered what his
next move should be.

He’d seen the trio of witches working round the clock, noted
the dark circles under Mikayla’s eyes. She was trying her best for him, of that
he had no doubt. But he needed to understand why she kept so many secrets.

They hadn’t spoken since their interrupted embrace in the
attic and her absence ached like a wound. But every time he weakened, ready to
go to her, Alina was there. She was his constant companion, telling him tales
of their homeland. In his weakest moments he found himself longing for the
world she depicted. He knew, however, that there was no future for him there.
There never had been.

But was there one here, with a woman he shouldn’t want?

He’d seen her sneak out back minutes earlier. She’d be
alone. He could…

What? Fight her, throw more angry words about, or far more
dangerous, kiss her?

He shouldn’t seek her out. They still had one more day to
fix this mess. He could confront her tomorrow.

Except this time there was no Alina to hold him back.

The need to go to Mikayla clawed at him. He wanted to close
his eyes and wrap his arms around her. The only time anything in his world had
made sense in days was when she’d stared up at him with pleasure-glazed eyes.
Despite her lies and tricks, he needed her in a way he’d never craved another.

Surely there would be no harm in checking up on her? Just a
quick glance to assure himself the exhausted witch was fine and he’d disappear.
She never needed to know.

He knew the desire was foolish but found himself already
slipping out the door.

The backyard was shadowed and dark. From the porch he looked
out over the spacious garden but couldn’t see past the rose bushes. The garden
was a perfect place to hide from prying eyes. Mikayla would be assured of her
privacy here.

He jumped down from the porch steps, stumbling only slightly
when he landed on four paws. The grass was soft beneath his feet as he went in
search of his lover.

He shuffled past the rows of herbs and flowers and rounded
the massive rose bushes that provided the back of the garden with privacy.
There she was, stilling on a stone bench exactly where he’d thought she’d be.
Her head was tilted back, eyes closed. Even as the magic rushed through him to
begin his transformation Ciar noted the sad look on her face. He wanted to
growl as the black smoke surrounded him. Mikayla should never look that way.

His perspective changed as he grew to his natural height.
The garden that had been so monstrously large just seconds ago shifted into
proper proportion. A wave of dizziness swamped him the moment he was back in
his body. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the lingering weakness.
It had been happening more and more of late. Any time he changed back, the
transformation took more out of him. Who knew if it was a good sign or not.

Ciar waited for the world to right itself. As he did, he
allowed himself a few stolen moments to study the woman who had landed him in
this mess. He shouldn’t have come out here looking for her. Seeing her now
drained any will to fight. Tomorrow they could battle. Tonight he just wanted
her in his arms.

He knew he should walk away, shouldn’t put them both through
another encounter, but his body refused to obey him.

Instead he stepped forward, a twig snapping under his foot.

Mikayla’s expressive green eyes opened at the sound. He knew
the second she saw him. Noted the flare of joy in her gaze followed by the
wariness.

For a moment neither spoke.

“Go away,” she said finally. “I don’t want to fight.”

A sentiment he shared. He kept silent, waiting to see what
she’d do.

“Ciar.” She pushed from the bench. “I just need a minute of
peace.”

She needed peace, this woman who had turned his life upside
down. He hadn’t known a moment’s respite since he’d first laid eyes on her and
now she asked him for the mercy she’d never shown him? The thought brought a
slight smile to his lips.

Mikayla shifted from foot to foot. “Where’s Alina?”

He didn’t know. Didn’t particularly care right at the
moment.

Green eyes dropped from his. “Fine,” she said, as if his
silence had given her answers. “You stay, I’ll go.”

When she tried to brush past him his hand shot out to
capture hers. Mikayla stiffened, turning back to look at their interlocking
fingers.

“Let go.” Her command was breathy and soft.

Never.
The word echoed in his head, stunning him with
the vehemence with which he approved the notion.

“I don’t want to fight either,” he said, breaking his
silence. “Not tonight.”

She looked up at him with luminous eyes. “What about your
answers?”

“Maybe we can stop caring about them for a few minutes.”

“Tomorrow—”

“Is tomorrow,” he said, cutting her off. “I meant what I said.
You need to tell me the truth or I’m done, but right now…” He used her hand to
pull her closer. “Can we forget about everything else?”

“A time-out?”

“Exactly.”

“It will make things more complicated later,” she protested
even as she stepped into his arms.

“I don’t give a damn,” he replied, resting his chin on top
of her head. She fit so perfectly into his arms. “Staying away from you has
been torture.”

Her arms wound around his waist to embrace him back. “I know
the feeling.”

He’d never been a demon prone to sentimentality but standing
there with Mikayla in his arms, Ciar felt complete in a way he’d never
experienced before. The troubles around them didn’t matter so much when he
touched her. Somehow she’d become someone he didn’t want to live without.

“We don’t have long,” she whispered. “They will notice we’re
missing.”

“Then we need to make every minute count.” His lips touched
hers before she could utter another word.

* * * * *

Mikayla clung to her lover. She knew there were a hundred
reasons to push him away. Sleeping with him now would make fighting with him
later so much harder. But when he touched her, all rational thought drained
from her mind.

She parted her lips and flicked out her tongue to tease his.
He pulled her against his body as he kissed her. Mikayla shared the desperation
evident in his touch. These days without him had been torture. Every time she’d
turned around the man of her dreams had been with another. The two demons made
such a striking pair with their dark hair and silver eyes. It was hard to think
of ever coming between them.

But here he was, in her arms. He’d sought her out. Maybe he
cared more for her than he let on. She sure as hell did. He’d been a challenge
at first but now the thought of him walking out of her life cut like a blade.
She needed him in a way she’d never needed another man.

He tugged at her sweater, pulling it swiftly over her head.
She reached behind herself to unclasp her bra. The night air was chilly but she
didn’t mind the cold. Not with Ciar beside her. She burned with every brush of
his fingers.

“Off,” she whispered against his lips, tugging at his shirt.
He tore the t-shirt over his head in seconds, only to claim her mouth once
more.

Mikayla ran her hands over the exposed skin. He had the body
of a warrior, all hard muscles and toned skin. He had no weaknesses.

Except, perhaps, her.

It was a heady thought, that this powerful demon was able to
forgive her sins he’d never let stand with anyone else. Every time he should
have hurt her he’d protected her instead. And she wanted to protect him just as
badly.

Her fingers flew over the clasp of her jeans before she
shimmied them down her legs. Ciar steadied her as she kicked them off. He laid
her down on the grass and she shivered until he joined her.

He was quick to strip away his remaining clothes before
covering her with his body.

“Just how private is this garden?” he asked, nuzzling her
throat.

She snapped her fingers, a privacy spell locking into place
around them. “No one will hear us,” she assured him. “And an alarm will trigger
if anyone comes near.”

He drew back enough for her to see his eyes. “There’s a
spell I can understand the use for.”

She grinned as he kissed her once more. Ciar cupped her
breasts, flicking thumbs over her hardened nipples. Mikayla moaned against his
lips. She undulated against him, parting her legs to lodge him more firmly
between them.

He was perfect on top of her. Even if he disappeared from
her life forever, she’d never forget the way their bodies fit together just
right.

She pressed her lips against his collarbone in a light
touch. With one hand she found his cock and wrapped her fingers around him.
Ciar’s groan was guttural as she stroked him, rubbing him against her wet slit.
She couldn’t imagine seeing him and not feeling this consuming, pressing need.
She wanted him inside her. Now.

His mouth closed over one nipple and she arched from the
ground. Even knowing her spell should be strong, she bit her lip to keep from
crying out. Ciar played with her with expert touches. He knew exactly how to
touch her, when to be gentle and when to tease her with a light scrape of his
teeth. She stared blindly up at the night sky and knew this was a man she
wanted to be able to touch for the rest of her life.

“I need you,” he growled against her skin.

She nodded her agreement, wiggling against his cock.

His hands dropped to her waist. One finger teased along her
folds, delving into her.

“You’re so wet,” he breathed.

“You have that effect.”

He smiled against her breast. “Good.”

With a last playful touch he withdrew his hand and fitted
his cock against her opening.

Mikayla spread her legs eagerly. “Now,” she pleaded.

Gripping her hips, Ciar surged into her.

This time there was no stopping the cry he wrung from her.
Ciar withdrew to the tip before thrusting into her again. Mikayla arched under
him, ready to meet each stroke. Wrapping her arms around him she moved to his
rhythm.

His hot breath burned against her throat as he sank into
her. Mikayla bent her legs to pull him deeper, groaning at the sensation. She
tightened her inner muscles on him and heard his growl of pleasure.

“Again,” he ordered against her ear.

She was more than happy to comply. They moved together in
synchronized motion, as if each could predict how the other would move. She
wrapped her arms around him as he drove into her, each thrust taking her
higher.

Mikayla wanted to beg for more, wanted to tell him how close
she was but there were no words. Nothing mattered but the rocking of their
bodies.

So close
, she thought, her teeth scraping against his
shoulder.
More, more, more.

With a last strong thrust she shattered. Mikayla’s cry rang
through the night as her orgasm crashed over her. She heard his answering roar,
felt his body stiffen above her. The sight of him, his head thrown back in
pleasure, was seared into her memory.

He collapsed on top of her, breathing hard. She wanted to
speak but her body was still riding the aftermath. All the tension, the worry
she’d been carrying around washed away. Now her body was languid and relaxed.
She’d had no idea what she was missing.

“You are incredible,” Ciar said, dropping a kiss on her
naked shoulder.

She turned to meet his black-eyed gaze. “We’re incredible.”

A soft smile curved his lips.

Mikayla twisted to her side to face him. She trailed one
finger along his lips. “Don’t you see that? We’re incredible. Together.”

His gaze met hers and he didn’t deny the words—she was
acutely aware that he didn’t confirm them either.

“Why do you hate my kind?” she whispered. It wasn’t the
question she’d meant to ask. She’d wanted to bathe in the peaceful glow of
their embrace a little while longer. But now the words were said and she
couldn’t go back.

Instead of the anger she’d expected, pain washed over his
face. “Teivel died a few weeks before I moved into town.”

She frowned, wondering what that had to do with his disgust
of her kind.

“He was a strong warrior, my brother. No demon could
challenge him. So one of his enemies hired an outsider to do the job.”

Her breath froze in her chest.

“Witches killed my brother.”

The words were said simply, without any damning anger, but
she knew what they meant. Knew the final nail in her coffin when she saw it.
They had no chance. In the heat of the moment she might have been able to
pretend they belonged together, but if witches had killed his brother it was a
crime he’d never forgive. One of her people had done something terrible to one
of his. He had a good reason to loathe what she was.

She dropped her gaze, her heart cracking. She should have
left him alone all those months ago, should have thought that he might have a
valid reason to despise her. How could he have stood being with her these few
days? How could he hold her now?

“Hey,” he said softly, tilting her face back up to his. “It
was not your crime.”

“I’m a witch,” she whispered. “How can you move past that?”

His fingers traced over her cheek. “I didn’t think I could.”

She tried to draw away but he stopped her once more. “Then
you cast this infernal spell on me.”

“I must have confirmed all your worst suspicions.”

His gaze dropped to her mouth. “You know what I’ve seen
these past few days? A family willing to do anything to protect each other.
I’ve seen how hard you fight to right your wrongs. Nothing about you is
malicious or evil.”