The 13th Guest (6 page)

He pulled her onto his lap so they sat together with their legs dangling over the edge of the cliff. “You have your own love in your life. Sometimes it just depends on how you look at it.”

She shivered in his arms. “Not really. My patients don’t love me. They need me, but it’s not love. I don’t even have a fish. I have nothing in that apartment to make it feel like a home.”

“You have a warlock.” She turned, nearly slipping off his lap, and he pulled her closer against him. “I’ve got you. You’re not going to fall.”

She stared into his eyes, her brown depths holding the rest of his life’s happiness in them. “You can’t mean what you say, Damek. We’ve known each other one day.”

“Does it feel that way to you?” If it did, he’d readily admit that it seemed quite different to him. “Does anything here seem like it’s only been a day?”

She swallowed, and her neck muscles clenched. His sensible lady was having trouble with this. Amelia could accept the paranormal, no problem. But her own empathic abilities? She’d yet to say she had them. Maybe she couldn’t deal with the things that were hard for her. Maybe her own happiness proved to be the thing she couldn’t easily handle.

If she needed more time, she’d get it. He’d wait forever.

She clasped her hands together. “It seems like I’ve known you my whole life. Like I already know your soul. Even though I couldn’t tell you what your favorite food is. Yet.”

He smiled. “I like barbecue shrimp, the kind you can get in New Orleans and nowhere else. I get to eat it very rarely.”

“You’re living in the northeast when you really want to be eating Cajun food?”

“You’re not really in the northeast anymore. This place is magic. Your point, however, is taken. What is your favorite food?”

“Chocolate. What else?”

He kissed her nose. “See, now I know that. That’s not really what’s important. Not when I already understand your heart.”

“How could it work? I’m in New York City. You’re here. Or back and forth, anyway.”

He’d forgotten he hadn’t let her in on the plans he’d made while he stomped over here afraid something had happened. “I’m coming to New York. If you want me.” Maybe he was moving way too fast, but he didn’t care. Life was short, and he wanted her. “I used to be a potion maker. I could do that there. I won’t ask you to uproot your life.”

She launched herself at him, kissing him hard. Heat rushed through his body.

She grabbed onto his shirt as she pulled back to look at him. “I would if you wanted me to. I’d stay here and we’d figure it out. Maybe I’d ride the ferry with you and see patients over there. They don’t need my services here. They do a much better job of it than I do.”

“I’m sure that’s not true. They have their talents, and you have yours. And you seem to know enough to say when someone should come here. It must be the empath in you.”

She shook her head. “I’m not empathic.”

“Amelia.” He cupped her cheeks. “Stop being in denial.”

“All right.” She bit down lightly on his finger.

His cock jumped.

“Let’s deal with that another time. What do you think about the idea of having sex right here? In this clearing, near this cliff?”

He looked left and right. Most people in the Haus were probably just now rising. They’d likely not get caught unless Cemil came back, which he probably wouldn’t.

Besides, life was an adventure. She wanted quasi public sex? He’d give it to her.

“Take off your shirt.”

Chapter Six

A
melia sighed when he laid her down on the ground. In a million years, she’d never have imagined herself having sex on the ground in the open where anyone could stumble upon them. Still, her heart rate galloped, and her pussy was soaked. God, how she wanted Damek, and heavens, how she wanted him right then and there.

“We have to be quick about this.” He bit down on her neck.

Pleasure surged through her veins. Could she get any hotter? Not without exploding. If the night before indicated anything, Damek would accept nothing less.

“I can do quick.” She could do that very instant if he’d pull off her pants and thrust inside her, giving her his big dick as soon as possible.

“And the other thing is that I don’t have a condom.” His dark eyes were hooded. “So we can stop. I can pleasure you without going inside of you, which would be truly enjoyable for me, or we can see about making you that baby.”

His words penetrated her haze-filled brain.
Make. The. Baby.
What she wanted above all else. With two years left until she turned forty, she didn’t have much time left before it would become complicated. Some of her friends already faced infertility.

Now this man—this wonderful, incredible, magical man—offered to make a baby with her. He loved her. Her soul connected to his—like a key coming into a lock. He was coming with her to New York so she didn’t have to give up her life.

“Will you marry me, Damek?” Her head whirled. Had she just said that?

“Isn’t that my question?” He smirked.

“Answer it.”
Please.

“Yes, of course we’re getting married. That wasn’t obvious from the ‘let’s make a baby’ question?”

“Maybe you didn’t require marriage to do that.”

He leaned down on his elbows, bringing his head closer to hers. “I love you, Amelia. I want to be with you always. Marry me, will you?”

She kissed him. This couldn’t be happening. This was someone else’s miracle of a life, not hers.

“Yes, of course I will.” She laughed when he rolled his eyes.

Who knew everything could be so much fun?

Damek stroked her bellybutton. “So on the subject of having a baby…”

She smiled. He sounded so nervous right at that moment, his voice shook a little. He had as much on the line as she did.

“Let’s give it a try.” She grinned. “Who knows? We might have to try a very long time until we get it right. Over and over again.”

“I love that thought.” He licked the side of her neck.

True to his promise to keep things fast, he rid her of her clothes. She tugged at his.

She shivered when he moved over her and placed a finger inside of her pussy.

“You’re already so wet for me, Amelia.”

“I’m soaked every time I’m in your presence.”

“A man likes to hear that.” A predatory grin crossed his face. “Because I’m so hard around you, I might come in my pants.”

Amelia snickered. “I’m not worried.”

With a moan, he pushed his cock inside her. Her muscles stretched, still deliciously sore from the night before. She closed her eyes.

Damek moved slowly inside of her, drawing each thrust out until she couldn’t stand it. She opened her eyes. He stared down at her, his eyes shining with emotion.

When he thrust, she squeezed him closer. He moaned, the muscles in his neck straining.

“Don’t hold back,” she whispered.

“The same goes for you.” He reached between them, flicking her clit.

She exploded. Stars passed in front of her eyes in colors she didn’t know existed while Damek slammed inside of her, spilling himself deep against her womb.

She closed her eyes. He’d just made her come in less than five minutes. She stroked his hair, pulling him down on top of her. Would it always be like this between them? Maybe it would change, but she knew it would never lose the intensity. Not with Damek.

His head shot upwards.

She opened her lids to stare at him. “Something wrong?”

“I hear someone coming.” He darted upwards, pulling her against him. She pushed out of his way. Her knees wobbled, but she didn’t care. They dressed quickly. She had no idea if she looked okay or not. Damek looked great, but he always did.

He turned and in two strides reached her side. With a flick of his hands, he brushed dirt out of her hair. “Breakfast?”

She laughed, covering her mouth with her hands. “We just had sex on the ground.”

He picked her up. “Yes, we did.”

“Well, it’s nice to see the two of you smiling.” Rekkus entered the clearing. “We still don’t have your shooter, which is driving me crazy and making Myron lose her hair. But as long as you two—the people actually being targeted—can laugh, I suppose all is well.”

“Did you need something?” Damek set her down on the ground.

Rekkus’s reminder of the danger brought her straight back to earth.

“Cemil said we weren’t at risk this morning.” She fisted her hands.

“And how quickly those fates change their minds.” Rekkus rolled his eyes. “I would feel better if you guys would stay indoors. Play a board game. Have a massage.”

“How about breakfast?” Damek squeezed her hand.

“That would work too.” Rekkus pointed toward the Haus.

“Are you escorting us?”

“Think of me as your personal guard until you get to the house.” They walked for a few minutes before he spoke again. “I take it you’re going to make me hire a new captain?”

Amelia’s heart stuttered. How had he known they’d committed to each other?

“Yes. But I don’t know if you need to. The twins can clearly navigate the boat.”

Rekkus cleared his throat. “There was an incident.”

“An incident?” Damek’s voice rose an octave. “With my ship?”

Yes,
his
ship. Amelia had meant it when she’d said she’d find a way to make it work. If he wanted, or needed, to stay, they would.

“They hit the dock on the way back to the mainland. Whack. A big old dent. It’s being banged out and repainted before the ship has to come back for all of you.”

“Really?” Damek scratched his head. “Then I guess you’re going to have to rehire. Find another down on his luck warlock and get him to navigate the fog.”

“We’ll never replace you.”

“Sure you will.” He patted Rekkus on the back. “And you know it.”

Even as a psychologist, she didn’t understand male bonding. She stopped trying.

Damek spooned the food into Amelia’s mouth, watching her take a bite and swallow. He loved the way she did everything.

I’m becoming obsessed
.

That was fine.

Her eyes narrowed, and she stood abruptly.

“What’s wrong?” He stood, goosebumps appearing on his arms.

“Daniel,” she called out. “What are you doing here?”

“Who is Daniel?”

The other man, small and blond with his mouth hung open, paled as they stared at him.

“You can tell it’s me?” His voice quivered.

“Why wouldn’t I be able to tell?” Amelia looked between Daniel and Damek. “There’s nothing wrong with my memory. It’s not often I turn down a client. Or have to call security to get him out.”

Damek pointed to the man who stood shaking. Rekkus moved behind the stranger who Amelia knew. How had she not recognized him at dinner? Had she been that distracted?

Damek’s skin tightened, and his hands itched. Had this been the person threatening Amelia? He ached to take the man’s throat and squeeze it until the life vanished from his eyes. “Where were you at dinner last night?” Damek demanded.

“I was here.”

Rekkus nodded. “Everyone got counted. A full number.”

“He’s paranormal.” Amelia stood and took Damek’s hand.

He squeezed her fingers.

“And he’s dangerous. He pulled a knife on me during our first session. Daniel had some strange ideas about my helping him get through some portal. I didn’t know what he wanted. But he scared me.” She took a deep breath. “If he’d been here yesterday, I would have noticed him.”

“Yet he got counted.” Rekkus grabbed Daniel on the shoulder. “How is that possible? What are you?”

“This is your fault.” Daniel pointed to Amelia.

Damek moved in front of her. No one would hurt her.

“I had everything planned and then you showed up here. If I had killed him, the one no one can get to, I’d have been a hero to millions. You ruined me. Again.”

“I didn’t ruin you, Daniel. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Amelia sounded perfectly calm.

Damek wanted to leap across the room and pound on the man.

“He’s a chameleon shifter.” Myron walked into the room, Cyrus on her heels. “And he’s wanted in several dimensions for theft. Apparently he tried to add murder by taking out Amelia. But he’s not a good shot. And his shifts are sporadic in this realm. He had no idea that he stood here in his
Daniel
suit right now.”

Rekkus turned to Daniel. “Well, I’ll be damned. I haven’t seen a chameleon before. I wasn’t entirely certain your kind really existed.”

“We’re hunted like dogs. Used for our skills. I just wanted to get away. I would have, but I can only hold human shapes here, and I keep shifting to this. I can’t seem to stop.”

Amelia stepped aroundDamek. “It’s probably the stress. It does awful things to our systems. I imagine it screws up the shifts as well. Maybe if you took a few deep breaths.”

“He’ll take lots of deep breaths.” Sarka rushed into the room. “After he drinks this.” She raised a glass of a pinkish liquid. “I’m going to suggest you drink it unless you’d like to feel the full force of my brother, Rekkus, and the pissed off warlock who is usually a pacifist.” She eyed Damek.

He didn’t look away. She’d spoken correctly. He wanted to beat the hell out of the guy. In fact, he shook from wanting it.

Daniel yanked the potion from Sarka and drank it down.

Rekkus nodded. “That’s good. Now we won’t have to hurt you.”

“This whole thing.” Amelia walked forward. “You shot at me because you didn’t want me to expose you? I would never have done that. If you’d just approached me and not been frightening, I would have been happy to see you getting help.”

“Amelia.” Damek took her hand and tugged her to him. “Come with me. Let’s get out of here. They’ll handle it.”

She nodded, following him from the room. When they stepped outside, she took a deep breath.

“I guess I should have been more frightened this whole time, but I just never felt very much at risk.”

“Well”—he brushed her hair out of her eyes—“you’re either crazy, or you just had the good sense to know everything would be fine.”

“Maybe you overwhelmed me. All I could handle was falling in love with you. Everything else, even life or death matters, had to come in second.”

He smiled. Fate had given him a second chance at happiness, and he’d never take it for granted. They had days left to enjoy the Wiccan Haus.

Then he’d take her home and never, ever let her go.