Chapter 21 - Kira
Kira’s heart twinged to see Joshua so clearly exhausted still. His golden hair was greasy with the efforts of his day, and then the potion she had generously slathered over almost all of his body.
“Do you need more healing?” she asked.
“Nah. I’m just a little tired.” He gave her a smile that turned into a grimace.
He was lying. Kira straightened her shoulders. “Let me give you a bit of healing energy.”
“That’s not—”
“Let me,” she interrupted softly.
Joshua hesitated but slowly nodded. “Alright. Just a little, though. I don’t need a lot.”
Kira held her hands out, and he stepped toward her.
It felt awkward to touch him, even just putting her hands on his shoulders.
She reached inside of herself, looking for the healing magics that she’d tapped into.
It felt like golden streams running through her body, and she carefully took the edges and redirected them, pushing the magic through her palms into Joshua’s body.
His eyes slid shut, and he let out a soft sigh.
As the energy moved from her to him, she felt a faint glimmer in response.
Strands of a similar color, golden, echoed in his body.
Kira repressed a gasp as she pushed slightly, trying to trace them.
Was it magic? Or something else. But even as she tried to explore the lines of gold in his body, something trickled over their connection.
Something spiky that filled the pit of her stomach with dread.
It was as though those golden lines were covered in thorns. They pricked at her, causing her magic to waver. With a gasp, she withdrew.
Joshua’s eyes snapped open. “Are you okay?”
Kira kept her expression smooth as she nodded.
She had felt those thorns the previous night, too, when she was healing him.
At the time, she thought it was the demon’s energy lingering in him.
Now, though, there was no sign of demonic energy lingering near him.
Which only left one possibility. The witch hunter curse.
She didn’t know how she knew, only that she was certain.
It was real.
Which meant it had even more danger to her unborn child. Was her baby already bound in those same thorns? It made her shudder.
Joshua saw. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”
She poured a cup of orange juice, wishing she could do more.
Her secret stayed buried in her chest. It was easy enough to tell herself she wasn’t going to tell him about her pregnancy when it was brand-new for her, but now?
Now, seeing him, she wanted to tell him.
She wanted to tell him about the thorns.
If she could feel the curse, it meant they had to be able to break it, right?
And she was certain she felt magic in his veins.
Maybe once they broke the curse, he could use magic, too.
So yes, she desperately wanted to tell him that she was pregnant. Even though she knew his reaction would be the opposite of what she wanted.
“Do you want some coffee?” she asked, pouring a mug. She’d made it for herself, but then remembered something about coffee maybe not being good for pregnancy.
Joshua stood. His head came up, and his golden gaze pinned her to the place.
He stared at her, his expression hungry as he moved his gaze up and down her.
Goosebumps broke out on her arms, and she held her breath.
Her stomach quivered, her heart beating faster.
A chill stole down her spine as he stalked toward her, showing no signs of exhaustion.
Heat pooled between her thighs. She clutched the mug between them, holding it out slightly as though that would stop him from coming closer.
Goddess, all she wanted was for him to come closer.
“I want you,” he growled.
Her mouth went dry. “I…” She couldn’t say she didn’t want him, and if she tried to lie, he’d see right through it. “You need to rest.”
He caught her hand and took the coffee, setting it on the counter.
Then he stepped closer and turned her hand toward him, putting it on his chest. She felt the drum of his pulse beneath her palm.
His golden gaze searched hers as he cupped her face in his hand.
Her breath came in quick gasps as she tried to remind herself of all the reasons why this was a bad idea.
“Last night, my nightmares were about you. About losing you,” he murmured. “I need to feel you close, to know you’re okay.”
Fuck! How was she supposed to stay strong when he talked like that?
She melted into his arms, hating herself for giving in so easily.
But the night hadn’t been easy for her, either.
She’d slept next to him, but it was a restless sleep.
She kept waking up to check on him, terrified that he would have slipped away while she wasn’t looking.
This pregnancy was only going to push them further apart, and right now she wanted to be close, too. She wanted to feel that he was okay.
His arm wound around her waist, pulling her tight, while his other hand combed through her hair. He let out a shaky breath as he pressed his forehead against her temple.
“Thank you,” he breathed.
Every nerve of Kira’s body seemed to be alight. “F-for what?”
“Helping me recover. Staying with me through the night when you didn’t have to. For caring.”
“I’ve always cared, Joshua. That’s the problem, don’t you see?” She pressed her body closer to his, feeling the way his breathing hitched. “Why do you think it hurt so much to think you hated me? It’s because I care. It’s so hard to do what I know I need to do, because I…”
She couldn’t bring herself to tell him that she loved him, not when she carried such a secret within her. What would he do right now if he knew? Would he release her? Or would he fly her to the mainland to—
She cut off that thought instantly. The demons had targeted him. The last thing she wanted was for him to leave the protection of the town.
“I must stink,” Joshua murmured, his muscles stiffening. “I meant to shower last night. But…”
Kira inhaled the woodsy scent of him. The resinous salve bit into her nose, but it wasn’t unpleasant. But he didn’t smell like himself, and she didn’t like that. “You should shower. But I’m not sure you’re strong enough to do it on your own.”
Joshua let out a shuddering breath, tightening his grip.
Her body flared with his closeness, the heat burning her inside and out.
He stepped back, his hand dropping to her wrist. His golden gaze remained hot and intense on her face as he led her back up the stairs.
He brought her to his private bathroom. There, he pressed her against the wall and kissed her.
Kira moaned, undulating her body to press more fully against him.
His cock met her core and hardened between their bodies.
Her clit throbbed, wanting to be touched.
She made herself move slowly, letting him set the pace of their kisses as she moved her hands over him.
He was still practically naked, wearing only the boxers he’d had on the previous night.
The contours of his muscle felt warm and alive under her touch.
His chest and neck turned pink, and she thought it was the most beautiful shade she’d ever seen.
“Condom this time,” Joshua said as he pulled away slightly. “I have a box in the medicine cabinet.”
“We don’t need it,” Kira said automatically. She held her breath, wondering if he’d understand the reasons why.
Joshua ran his thumb over her lower lip, making her moan as she leaned into his touch. “I’m not putting myself inside of you without a condom on.”
His words were firm, but his tone was tender. There was a war in his eyes. Kira was certain that all she had to do was say ‘please’ and he’d change his mind. That sort of power was heady—and terrifying. She took a deep breath, wishing she could know exactly how he would react.
“I have secrets, too. A secret. A big one. I’m afraid it will change how you feel right now,” she told him, hedging like a coward. But her body was on fire, and she didn’t want that warm glow in Joshua’s eyes to dim.
He touched her lip again. “Then don’t tell me.”
Was it fair to keep the secret from him?
On the other hand, what would it change? It would kill the desire between them with fear. And he told her not to tell him… She nodded once. “Condom.”
As he retrieved the condom, she stripped off her clothes and turned the water on.
Her back was to him, listening to the rustle of the wrapper.
Her breasts felt heavy and full, needing touch.
She quickly got the water to the right temperature and turned back.
Joshua stood in all his glory, the condom rolled onto his erect cock.
He appeared like a Roman statue, all hard muscle and soft skin.
Smooth, perfectly formed, with a smolder in his eyes that made all the air leave her lungs.
“You are so beautiful,” she managed, holding her arms out to him. “Come here.”
Joshua smiled at her. He stepped into her embrace, his arms circling her waist. The feel of his skin against hers sent sparks exploding beneath the surface of her skin.
He dropped his mouth to hers, and all thoughts disappeared.
The taste of him burst on her tongue, and Kira whimpered, drawing him closer to her.
He cupped her ass with one hand while his other moved to her jaw, holding her in place against him as he moved them back into the spray of water.
There, he lifted one of her legs over his hips and pressed her to the tiled wall, sliding his hand between them. He tested her, groaning when his fingers entered her easily.
“You’re so wet,” he moaned into her mouth.
Kira ran her hands up his back, tilting them slightly to catch the water in tiny pools. “So are you.”
Joshua chuckled, then pressed the tip of his cock against her. “I don’t want to hold back. But I will. Tell me what you want, Kira.”
“I want you inside of me. Right now.”
He entered her in one thrust. Her back slid against the slick wall, their bodies slippery against one another.
Kira braced herself on the shower door, her one foot still on the shower floor, feeling precariously balanced.
Joshua moved his hips, rocking in and out of her.
His golden eyes were dark as he gazed into hers.
“Is this alright?” he asked, strained.
Kira nodded. “More. Please. Joshua, I want you close.”
He pressed up against her, thrusting hard.
His cock nudged her inside at just the right angle to make her tighten and heat all over.
Soon she was crying out, helpless against the pleasure as it pooled in her core.
The delicious feeling slowly unwound in a way she’d never known, almost as though the orgasm was creeping over her in waves, claiming little bits of her body and growing more powerful with every new burst.
“Closer,” she groaned, her face against his slick shoulder.
His arms tightened. She lifted her other leg, braced against the slick wall, and pressed her heels to the glass behind him. She flexed her feet, locking herself into place as Joshua moved with such fervor she could think of nothing else.
Her core tightened, on the brink of orgasm. Kira held her mate closer, wishing this moment could last forever.
Mate.
Oh, she wished he could be her mate. But was her wolf even strong enough to have a mate? She hadn’t shifted in years. Not since—
Joshua nipped her neck. He thrust into her again, his movements growing jerky.
His breath against her was hot, and Kira let the pleasure take her.
It washed over her, stealing her strength and leaving behind warmth that filled her, completed her.
The water washed down Joshua’s back as he panted, then groaned.
They stayed like that, wedged into their small, impossible paradise, until Kira’s legs started to shake from holding against the glass door.
They washed each other’s bodies in silence, and afterwards dried off and returned to the bed.
Kira laid down a clean quilt to stop them from getting sticky with the potion.
Joshua nestled his head against her breast as they lay together, warm and cozy in the quiet.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Kira said after a while, brushing her fingers through his hair. “I was so afraid when I heard that you’d been attacked.”
Joshua turned and kissed her collarbone. “It’ll take more than a demon to take me down.”
She laughed softly, even though his words knotted her stomach. Would it really? He had a curse wound throughout him. So there was more than demons working against him.
“Last night… I had dreams. Nightmares. Over and over again, I saw you in danger,” Joshua continued, his voice turning somber.
“It was so terrifying. And it felt so real. It was so dark, and I couldn’t reach you, no matter how hard I tried.
It felt like prophecy. If I had any magical aptitude, I’d say it was a vision. ”
The air left her lungs. He did have magical aptitude.
She felt it in him, even as choked as it was by the curse.
His mother was witch-descended. The witch hunters possessed some form of magic to counteract the witches’ magic.
He was able to make potions; yeah, it was mostly following a recipe, but not everyone could actually make the potions. He could.
So maybe it was prophecy after all.
And to see her in danger? Right at the same time that Gwen sensed she was pregnant? After everything that had happened on the island over these last few months, Kira doubted it was a coincidence.
Joshua must have felt the change in her.
His arms wrapped lightly around her, and he propped himself up on his elbow, pushing himself up to look into her eyes.
“I know I messed up, Kira. I’ve acted on my fears before, being controlling.
I’m still afraid, yes. But I will do whatever it takes to make up for my mistakes. ”
Did he really mean that? Or rather, could he follow through when he knew the truth?
Fuck it. Secrets didn’t help. She took a deep breath. “I told you I had a secret before we had sex.”
His golden gaze darkened. “You don’t have to—”
“I do. I… I’m pregnant, Joshua. With your baby.”
Maybe he’d see it as good news. Maybe they’d be able to work together to find the truth. He only had hearsay to know that he was cursed. She hadn’t found anything in her research to support witches and witch hunters being unable to have children. Maybe—
Joshua jerked away from her. “What did you just say?”