“Are you okay, Taz?”
Matthias. She could hear him.
“Yes.”
What if Matthias couldn’t tell what Rafael was doing? Like an IM, could she be communicating independently with both of them, neither knowing about the other?
She walked a few minutes more, found a spot to sit on the boardwalk out of the way of traffic.
She cleared her mind and took a deep breath.
“Matthias.”
She was afraid she hadn’t sent it strongly enough when she felt him.
“My love.”
She smiled.
“He is a lucky man.” That was Rafael.
And there he was. She felt Rafael, not probing like earlier, but a gentle caress, a tease—
An invitation.
“Anastazia,” Matthias came to her. “Talk to me.”
“I’m sitting here with Moe staring at me, thinking to myself that it’s a beautiful day.”
She heard his laughter.
“Any chance I can talk you away from him?” Rafael again.
Was Rafael teasing or serious?
“I love him,” she sent back, hoping Rafael would stop…and part of her not wanting him to stop.
Matthias came to her next. “Try to see through my eyes.”
“I’m afraid to do that alone.”
“You have to learn sometime. You’re safe.”
She took a deep breath. Moe stood a few feet away, watching for any sign of trouble. Taz sent her mind out, locked onto Matthias, and stepped inside. Then she saw through Matthias’ eyes, watching Rafael looking at her—him—in a peculiar way.
“Very good. Don’t wear yourself out.”
She stepped back from the windows in the mental room she built for this and felt Rafael’s mental touch again.
“You are an amazing woman.”
“Quit flirting with me.”
Was that laughter? “Do you really want me to? He expects it from me.”
Talk about a three-way call from hell.
“Anastazia, I want you to try to take over Rafael the way you did me.”
She froze. “No, I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. Trust me.”
She was afraid to. Matthias, that was one thing. But Rafael? If it wasn’t for the attraction, that…something she couldn’t put her finger on…
“I can’t, she thought to him. Please don’t make me.”
“Anastazia, you can do anything you put your mind to.”
When she didn’t respond, she felt Matthias again.
“Please, my love.”
She sighed. She didn’t want to and was annoyed he wanted her to. Okay, he wants it, he gets it.
“All right, fine!”
She slammed into Rafael’s mind.
Teach the bastard to flirt with me.
She used the image of a room but changed it to better suit her impression of Rafael’s mind. Cooler colors, differently shaped windows, more modern furniture.
She felt Rafael try to push against her and she smiled. “Okay, buddy, you want me? Here I am. Come and get me.”
Just like that, he was up and walking.
With her in control.
She felt him trying to resist, unable to keep her out. Even if he’d had time to erect a mental block, she knew now she could break through it. Now that she’d already found the way in, he couldn’t keep her out.
And it felt good.
She watched Matthias’ stunned expression through Rafael’s eyes as Rafael robotically stood, then walked away. She looked through Rafael’s eyes and followed the boardwalk. She saw herself in the distance, watching.
“Anast—”
“Shut up, Matthias. You wanted me to do this, so fine. I’m doing it.” She could multitask! She ignored Matthias’ further comments and focused on Rafael. She didn’t feel bad because this was what they wanted, right? To test her powers? And he had been flirting with her.
“So how do you like me now, buddy?”
She sensed Rafael’s confusion. Obviously, he’d never been in this position before. She turned his mind around in her mental hands like a crazy puzzle box, examined it, felt the edges and contours, his thoughts and fears and loves and hates.
She could own him. It thrilled and frightened her. Rafael tried again to erect barriers against her, which she gently pushed down. He couldn’t resist her—she was already in residence. It was weird watching Rafael walk toward her and seeing through his eyes at the same time.
Moe tensed a little when Rafael strode past and stopped before her. Once Moe realized they were fine, he turned and walked a few yards away, giving them privacy. Anastazia studied Rafael for a long moment then released his mind and body.
“What do you think about me now, Rafe?”
He looked at her, considering her with new respect. He’d obviously underestimated her abilities.
And that was an understatement.
She stood, started to turn away, and Rafael grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, kissing her.
It happened so fast he caught her off guard. Then she responded, putting her arms around him and welcoming his tongue in her mouth, pressing her hips against him, feeling his sudden hard bulge pressing back, his hands on her body. Matthias felt passionately tender. This man was intense, heated passion, a centuries-old hunger in him Taz sensed only she could sate.
It felt like she’d kissed him before, like a long lost love. She didn’t want to stop. Hot, roiling passion pulsed through her as he ground his hips against hers, backing her toward the handrail. She wrapped her legs around him as his hands slid down to her hips, lifting and pulling him against her.
Screw it, she needed him. Taz grabbed his hips and pulled him against her. She eagerly devoured him, wanting him, wanting more.
Not to mention the control! She owned him, could own any man she wanted. She had to taste him, feel his teeth sink into her skin. She felt his lips on her neck, his teeth grazing her flesh, and she moaned softly against him, licking him, ready to—
Matthias was in her mind like a splash of cold water. “Anastazia, are you okay?”
She gasped and jerked away from Rafael. He watched her, his eyes narrowing.
Had she done that? Had it been Rafael kissing her, or had she made him do it?
On shaky legs she turned away from Rafe and squeezed her eyes shut.
“I’m okay, Matthias—he’s okay. We’ll be back in a minute.”
She turned to Rafael. He stood with his back to her and leaned against the handrail for support.
Breathing heavy, she reached out and touched his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Rafe,” she whispered. “Are you okay?”
His voice sounded anything but—hoarse, ragged. “Yeah. Just give me a minute. Okay?”
“Okay.”
After several minutes he faced her. “I’m sorry, Taz.” He frantically worked his right thumb over his ring, twisting it around his finger, apparently unaware he was doing it.
She snorted, more to break her nervous tension than with amusement. “I don’t think you had much choice.”
“I did. I’ve been goading you all day. I’m sorry. You’re so strong, it’s just I—” He blocked the thought from her, and she didn’t press him for it. “I keep forgetting you’re really new at this. I’m sorry, baby girl.”