Are you kidding? Are you so hard up you’ve got to bed a witch? Think of the consequences, idiot! She’s nuts now, so how much worse will she be after you’ve slept with her? What if she didn’t want things to end after the sex was over? What if she tried to punish him again?
“Uh, hello?” she said, exasperated.
“What?” he asked more harshly than he’d intended.
She crossed her arms over her chest, drawing the material of her gown tight over her breasts. And nipples. Which were still hard. She was killing him. He could make out the edge of the pen between her fingers, but he couldn’t make himself care.
“You mentioned the incident,” she said. “Well, what about it?”
He’d had a point, hadn’t he? Oh, yeah. “You were aroused when you came to me.”
A huffy gasp left her. “No, I was not! I was going to give you a chance to arouse me. That’s all.”
“Please. You flashed me, and baby, you were already glistening.”
Her cheeks heated to the same shade as her hair, making her all the lovelier. “You are very close to losing your favorite appendage.” Scowling, peering at him hotly, she jerked the hand holding the pen forward and poised it just below his nose.
“Wait, wait, wait,” he rushed out. Damn her and her powers! He lost his erection as every reason he hated witches flashed through his mind. “I’m sorry.” But not as sorry as you’ll soon be. “You were cold as ice that night.” You nearly singed me. “You weren’t turned on at all.” The scent of your desire is still imprinted on my brain.
Slowly, she lowered her arm, expression mollified.
The limbs binding him began to loosen their grip, and he blinked in surprise. Was it possible? With a twist of his wrist, he was free. That easy, that simple, as if he’d never been bound. He had to hold on to the limbs to keep them upright. He blinked again, doing his best to hide his elation.
Glory was going to pay. Oh, was she going to pay. First, he had to claim that fucking pen!
“Com’ere,” he said as gently as he was able. “Please. I want to tell you a secret.”
She shook her head, red curls flinging in every direction. “What kind of secret?” Suspicion danced in her eyes.
He tried to look troubled.
“Tell me like this. No one can hear us.”
“I don’t want to say it aloud. It’s . . . embarrassing.”
Several moments ticked by, and she remained in place. Then she sighed and stalked to him, hands fisted on her hips. She was so sure of her prowess—and his weakness. She’d learn . . .
“What?” she said.
Her feminine fragrance wafted to his nostrils, the same aroma she’d emitted that night on his porch. In the cell. She still desired him. He took a moment to simply enjoy. Savor. Crickets chirped a lazy song, and locusts rattled an accompanying, faster rhythm. In the distance, a dog barked. Around them, pink flower petals floated through the air, warm and sweet, each laced with a strong aphrodisiac. He’d heard that Glory had cast a love spell over the entire town, and since that day the petals had fallen from the sky like summer snow.
“What?” she demanded again.
“This.” He grinned, and snapped his arms closed around her waist.
She yelped.
“Got ya,” he said.
Four
Shock coursed through Glory, and it was mixed with an insidious thread of desire. Falon had her locked against his hard, hot body so tightly she could feel the frantic beat of his heart. Or maybe that was her heartbeat. Her breasts were mashed into his chest, her nipples like hard little points, and every time she breathed, she sucked in the scent of strength and soap and dark spice.
“Nothing to say?” Falon asked smugly.
“Let me go. Now.” Trying not to panic, she attempted to lift her arms, attempted to flatten her palms against his chest and push him away from her, but her arms were glued to her sides.
“None of that,” he said, latching onto her wrists with one hand and shoving them behind her. With his free hand, he grabbed the stick. Clearly, he assumed it was the pen, because his grin widened.
“Mine now,” he said, and stuffed it into his pants pocket.
Do not smile. “Give it back.”
“Make me.”
Not knowing how to respond, she ran her tongue over her teeth.
His gaze followed the movement, his pupils dilating.
“What are you going to do with me?” she demanded. Or rather, meant to demand. Her voice was breathless. Again. Her body was trembling—and not with fury. How did he do this to her? Make her want him despite everything that had happened between them?
“I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “I need to think about it, consider my options. Because I can’t allow you to run wild, using your powers against everyone who pricks your anger.”
“Yeah, well, before you, I didn’t use my powers for bad things.”
“So I’m just special?”
“Of course you’d think so.” Good. Her voice had substance now. “But the real answer is that you’re simply the most irritating person I’ve ever met.” Kiss me. Let it be a terrible experience so that I never crave it again.
He leaned down and traced the tip of his nose along the curve of her cheek, leaving a trail of decadent fire. Glory tried not to arch her hips and rub against his erection, but she did and, oh, Goddess, was he ever erect. Long and thick, hard and smoldering.
He groaned, his eyelids fluttering closed. “Again,” he commanded.
Stop. Don’t do this. Don’t travel down this road. A kiss is one thing. But this. . . Ceasing her gyrations was the most difficult thing Glory had ever done, but she did it.
And suddenly he was eyeing her again, lashes casting menacing shadows over his cheeks and electric gaze piercing her soul. “I’m going to kiss you.” It was a promise. “And you’re going to kiss me back.” It was a rough demand.
“No, you’re not.” Please, please, please. “And no, I’m not.” Impossible.
“Yes, we are. We have to do something to end the madness.”
“Fine. Whatever. Do what you want.”
“This doesn’t change anything.”
“I’m glad you understand that.”
“Try to take the pen, and you’ll regret it.”
“I’ll regret it anyway.”
He arched a brow. “Do you always have to have the last word?”
“Why, yes, I—”
His lips smashed into hers. Her mouth opened automatically, welcoming him inside. He thrust deep, and his flavor filled her mouth. Drugging, addicting. White-hot. A tingling ache sparked to life in her stomach, then spread to her chest, her limbs. She melted into him.
The iron lock on her wrists loosened. Rather than shove him, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer. Her fingers tangled in his silky hair. His hands were free now, too, and they fastened on her waist, urging her forward and backward, mimicking the motions of sex.
Waves of pleasure constantly speared her. This was what she’d dreamed of since going to him that night, so long ago. His mouth on her, his hands all over her, his body straining against hers.
“More?” he whispered.
She nibbled on his bottom lip. “More.”
He reached between them and palmed one of her breasts. His fingers plucked at the hardened nipple. “So perfect.”
Moaning, she arched her hips. Exquisite contact. Her head dropped backward, and her long tresses tickled her overheated skin. Had Falon not been holding her up with that arm around her waist, she would have fallen.