The Phoenix Charm (27 page)

“Are you coming to make love with me, Michael, or are you just going to stand there and watch?”

Her words broke his trance. He dumped the lamp on the beach, and ripped his T-shirt over his head. He toed off the heels of his shoes, before kicking them away into the shadows, and made short work of his jeans. He was already aroused, but when her gaze dropped to his groin with a naughty little twitch of her lips, he hardened even more.

“You’re a temptress,” he said, his voice thick with yearning.

“I aim to please,” she whispered through the sultry night air. “Tonight, I’m going to let my water nymph instincts take over.”

Michael groaned when he stepped into the water and walked into the shimmering sensual aura of her allure. His belly quivered, the small of his back so tight with need he could hardly put one foot in front of the other. “Sweet Anu. What’re you doing to me?”

“The water magnifies my allure.” She crooked a beckoning finger and licked her lips. His legs moved faster toward her.

“You’re in my power tonight, Michael.”

In the back of his mind, he knew he could easily break her hold over him. But why resist every man’s fantasy?

As he paced toward her, she backed away, keeping some distance between them. His breath strained in and out with lust while he waded through the deep water.

Finally, she halted when the water reached the bottom of her rib cage, her breasts bobbing temptingly over the ripples. Images flashed through his mind of him and her tangled together, their bodies joined in different positions, in various places. He shook his head, but the thoughts continued
sliding through his mind, heating his blood until it burned beneath his skin. He rubbed his face. “I’m seeing—”

“My fantasies,” she whispered.

“Cordelia.” Her name broke from his lips on a moan. He reached for her and she stepped into his arms, her hands sliding over his wet body as though she were sculpting him. He kissed her hungrily, broke away and sucked salty water droplets from her neck and shoulders. One hand slid underneath her bottom, holding her tight to his aching erection, the other caressed her breast.

Then suddenly she was gone, dropping from his grip beneath the water’s surface, leaving barely a ripple. He stared, half crazed with lust, unable to comprehend how she’d slipped from his arms. Before he had a chance to move, fingers glided up his legs, stroked the sensitive skin on his inner thighs, then moved higher.

His eyes rolled back and his eyelids fell as, first her fingers, then the warm suction of her mouth closed over his erection in the cool water. He spread his arms, let the sea take his weight while she stroked and licked him, driving him half mad.

A moment before he came undone, she released him and rose, water streaming from her head and shoulders. Her eyes glowed like moonlight on the sea. When he recovered the ability to think, he realized she had been under the water far longer than one breath would last.

“Cordelia—”

Her wet lips covered his, wiping out his thoughts. The seduction of her allure curled around him and through him like teasing fingers.

She broke the kiss and stroked his face. “Oh, Michael, I love you so much. You’re so powerful, yet at heart you’re still just a naughty boy.” With a tug on his hand, she said, “Come back to the beach now.”

He followed her out of the water, keen to see what she had
planned for him next. She led him to a rocky nook at the back of the beach, glowing with warm light. The sheltered spot was the size of two king-size beds, covered with towels and blankets.

He threw himself down, pulling her with him, then rolled over her, trapping her beneath him. “Now I know what you’ve been up to today.”

Grinning, she whispered, “I wanted everything to be perfect.”

“Anywhere is perfect, providing I’m with you.”

“Sweet-talker.”

“Guilty as charged. But this time ’tis true. I love you, Cordelia.”

They fell silent, staring into each other’s eyes. His chest filled so tight with emotion, his breath caught and his stomach fell away. He stroked the wet hair off her face and ran a fingertip over her lips. “I really need an orgasm after what you did to me in the water.”

She batted him on the shoulder. “You’re incorrigible.”

“I’m burning up with wanting you.” He feathered his lips over hers and cupped her breast, stroking the nipple with his fingertip.

When she wriggled to get free, he eased off her, so she could reach to the side and grab something. She held out a silver box engraved with the Celtic symbol for the sea.

He propped himself on an elbow and opened the box with a flutter of apprehension. He knew she was giving him her mind and spirit stones, and he wanted them. But he wasn’t sure he’d ever get rid of the mental image of Tamsy regurgitating them.

He lifted the box lid, stared at the contents for a beat and burst out laughing. Inside was a red cat collar with Cordelia’s mind and spirit rings attached beside the tiny bell.

“Tamsy wanted you to have them,” Cordelia said, trying to keep a smile off her face and failing. “What you saw this
morning was a figment of your imagination. They’ve been on her collar all along.”

“If you’re wanting me to forget, sugarplum, you’re going to have to do a lot better than that.” He leaned over and nipped her breast. With a squeak, she dissolved into giggles as he nibbled her.

While he stroked his tongue across her nipple, desire rolled over him again in a hot wave. He dropped the cat collar back in the box and moved to lie on top of her.

“Not yet.” She pushed him away. He flopped on his back with a disgruntled huff as she plucked the collar out of the silver box. “When we make love, I want us to be completely bonded.”

She quickly released her two rings from the collar, then borrowed Michael’s leather thong to thread the other rings on beside her body stone. Then she kneeled up, facing him and he joined her.

The humor fell from her face as she held up the leather loop bearing her three translucent stones. “After you put this on, Michael, you’ll know all my secrets.”

“Only if you invite me to.” He stroked his fingertips over the back of her hand soothingly. “I’m not going to barge in on your thoughts and pry.”

She blinked rapidly, and her cheeks flushed. “I used to watch you in my divination mirror…watch you with other women.”

A little burst of shock blossomed inside him, growing hot and arousing, spreading to fill his body. His erection throbbed in time with the beat of blood in his ears while he imagined her watching him, getting all hot and bothered in her prim buttoned-up dress. Maybe he should be annoyed, but sweet bejesus, the thought aroused him so much he could hardly think. His fingers reached for her knee, slid up her thigh. “Gods, love. You’re going to sizzle me brain.” He ducked his head. “Put that thing over me head, quickly.”

Once the leather strip dropped against his nape, he looked up, catching her wide-eyed expression of uncertainty.

“Are you angry?” she asked.

He growled in his chest, the primeval need for his mate stealing his power of speech. Wrapping an arm around her, he threw her down on her back before stretching out on top of her.

“Just horny,” he whispered and sealed his mouth over hers.

Her arms and legs enfolded him, pulling him close. As he slid into her welcoming heat, the crystalline wave of her spirit showered over him, banishing the last traces of Dragon’s darkness. Her allure danced through him, sparking every nerve, while her spirit softened the effect, smoothing the surges of almost unbearable pleasure. He rode the swell of bliss for as long as he could before crashing with her over the edge of ecstasy.

“Michael,” she whispered against his ear.

He had no idea how long he lay insensate on her before he roused at the sound of her voice. Her presence surrounded him, bringing his world into focus. The earth breathed beneath him. Tiny sparks of life penetrated his consciousness all around, from the tiniest worm in the sand to the piskies in the manor up on the cliffs. Through the lens of the spirit, he sensed the mighty power of the sea feeding the earth and drawing energy in return.

Taking his weight on his elbows, he raised his head and stared into her eyes. Then he noticed her shoulder and throat. Her previously scarred skin was smooth and unblemished. “Did you heal yourself?”

“No.” Her fingers skimmed her neck, and she gasped with surprise.

“I must have healed you.” With a flash of soul-deep relief, he knew he wouldn’t lose her, no matter what Troy had said.
He had the ability to repair anything wrought of the earth, including her body.

Her fingers stroked his hair. “I thought you’d swamp me with your power, Michael, but I feel as though…as though you’re focusing your energy through me.”

Seeing himself through her
eyes,
his path suddenly became dear. Although in the last few days, he’d changed forever, his life did not have to alter. He could live the life he’d always enjoyed, while using his power to help those he loved.

His father might cope by walking away from those he started to care about, but that would never be Michael’s way. The people he loved
were
his life.

The jaunty beat of Irish music lifted Cordelia’s heart as she peered through the excited crowd of piskies. In the far corner of the great hall, Michael slid from his storytelling stool, accepting the applause for his tall tale.

Michael’s presence simmered tantalizingly in her mind, his thoughts never more than a whisker away from sex. She eased between members of the crowd, who stepped aside respectfully when they saw her. A wicked grin spread across Michael’s lips and sparkled in his blue eyes as he came to meet her. He wove between the tables and chairs, holding out his hands when she drew near.

She blushed beneath the curious stares. The piskies must be wondering at her sudden wardrobe change. She’d searched everywhere to find a dress exactly like the one Michael had imagined in his fantasy of them dancing. The silky blue fabric slid around her legs like water, and the spaghetti straps revealed her smoothly healed neck and shoulders. When Michael’s appreciative gaze skimmed down her body and back to her face, she didn’t care what anyone else thought.

With one hand behind her back, hiding her gift for him, she took his outstretched hand, and he pulled her close for a
kiss. She twisted aside when he tried to peek over her shoulder.

“You keeping secrets fromme, sugarplum?”

“Would I dare?” She threw up her arm and flourished the green trilby. “Ta da!”

“Me St. Paddy’s Day hat.” He gripped the brim and, with a grin, set the hat at a rakish angle on his dark wavy hair. “Where did you find it?”

“This is a new one. Thorn helped me buy it on eBay.”

“You’re too good to me, love, so you are.” As the music changed to a haunting ballad, Michael wrapped his arm around her waist and led her to the small dance floor. She hooked her arms over his neck and stared up at the mischievous look sparkling in his blue eyes.

“Bet you never thought the fantasy we shared in Wales would come true, did you?” he whispered in her ear.

“No.” But she was thinking about far more than the dance.

Loving Michael O’Connor was her ultimate fantasy.

“Taylor’s wonderfully creative and lusciously sexy debut will cast its own magical spell over readers.”

—
Chicago Tribune

“This book is so well written that it’s hard to believe it’s Taylor’s first novel, as well as the first in a promising series of contemporary fantasy romances.”

—
Booklist
, Starred Review

“Taylor’s debut reads like a romance inside of a fairy tale. It’s a fast story that weaves together the lives of two characters until they are bound by mind, body and spirit. It’s sure to be a hit with a wide variety of romance readers.”

—
RT Book Reviews

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The Magic Knot
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The Magic Knot
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“Ms. Taylor has written a story filled with love, magic, and adventure. I began reading this book in the morning and remained captivated until the very last page.”

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The Magic Knot
is a thrilling love story…Helen Scott Taylor weaves magic of her own in telling this tale of a love meant to be…The plot moves quickly and doesn’t let up…I just can’t wait to see what she writes next.”

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The Magic Knot
is a fresh and sexy entrée into paranormal romance…Taylor creates an engaging and believable fantasy world peppered with an intriguing mixture of magical creatures. It is beautifully written and fast-paced enough to keep you on your toes.”

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“[An] enjoyable fantasy romance between two great, but emotionally scarred characters.”

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—Romance Reviews Today

“Funny, romantic, magical and simply breathtaking, this densely plotted and wonderfully written paranormal romance will have you counting down the days until the next novel by the whimsical, quirky and captivating pen of award-winning author Helen Scott Taylor!”

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“Taylor paints vivid pictures with her words and has the reader using all senses to bring places and scenes to life…I highly recommend this book from the talented Taylor.”

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