Chapter 27
Roishin
I f I’d have known a man could get mesmerized by a woman wearing nothing but a dagger…well. Bear hadn’t taken his eyes off me. Even as I circled the foot of the bed, he tracked me.
I halted on his side. The light from the bathroom silhouetted me from behind, casting him in shadow.
I stepped closer so I could see him better.
He was weary yet still so strong. He’d left so quickly and been gone so long I worried he’d been hurt, or worse.
But here he was, whole, and looking like he’d stepped out of a very sexy nightmare. One where the monster wins.
And he gave me a knife so I could win, too.
I loved him. Every inch of him. From his thick eyebrows, to the tattoos snaking around his skull.
The piercings, the warrior braids, his mighty neck and shoulders, all the way down to his black boots, which were damn hard to get off.
But once they were, I pushed him backwards so he was half on the bed, under me, and submitting to my power.
The leather vest he wore had a special spot over the back of a chair next to the bed. I placed it there with reverence. While I’d been turned, Bear pulled off his shirt and tossed it to the floor. He’d reached for his pants. I stopped him to unbutton them myself.
Before I did, I traced the line of black hair that ran from his chest to his groin.
My fingernails were long enough to scratch his skin and dig in slightly.
He wanted an armed woman? I intended to prove I didn’t need weapons.
I had a sword for a tongue and claws for fingernails.
And sharp teeth to bite with. I leaned in to lay my open mouth on his tender stomach.
He sucked in a breath. “ Careful .”
I bit down lightly just because I could.
He flinched, but then moaned my name. I licked the spot where I might have hurt him and watched his face. All I could see was beard and chest. But with patience, I got what I wanted. He curled to look at me. “ Whatcha waiting for?”
I smiled. Then licked his stomach again. His mouth dropped open and his eyes fluttered shut.
That . That was what I wanted to see.
Him , losing control, forgetting how to feign indifference, a man falling under the spell of lust.
And to keep him mesmerized. I kept the tip of my tongue on his skin as I finished loosening his pants.
I had to sit up to help him tug them off, then straddled him again low on his thighs. I curled like a cat to nibble on a hip bone, lick that trail of happy black fur, and inhale deep as I soaked in his glory.
His dick was too heavy to stand straight up. But it was hard. The veins bulging in ropey purple ridges that twisted like the roots of a tree. Their paths snaking over one another, appearing and disappearing into his flesh. I traced those with my mouth.
Bear groaned. The tip of his cock leaked precum that I sucked off him, only to have to devour more as he shifted under me.
“ Rose , you better get a condom out of that drawer, or suck me dry. I can’t wait much longer.”
That wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to edge him into insanity.
I stood up, stepping back from the bed, hand on the knife hilt.
It fit perfectly. The natural fall of hand aligned with the handle.
And with a twist of the wrist, I could grip the pommel, flip the catch and tug it free.
The knowledge that I stood a meager second or two from murder thrilled me. And scared me.
If someone had given me this gift years ago, I would have followed them forever. I almost did. But back then the scales weren’t balanced. I was a pawn.
Was I fooling myself to think Bear treated me like a queen? His queen. I lifted my hand, but didn’t move.
Bear sat up. His dark eyes took in my hesitation. Then with a grim smile he raised his hand, curled his fingers against his thumb and with only his index finger free, silently ordered me to step closer.
I did.
One step, then another. And a third that brought my legs in contact with his. He swept his hands down my skin from ribcage to hips and finally landed on my ass with a finger-tightening squeeze. “ You’re mine.”
“ I’m yours.”
With less grace, he trapped me one-handed and reached for the drawer, coming up with a condom held between two fingers. “ Fuck or suck?”
“ Fuck , please?” How could I resist?
He set it on the bed next to his leg. “ What’s going on in your head, Rose ?”
“ Power . Shame .”
His eyes focused sharply on me. “ There’s no shame in wanting to be strong.” With that spoken he swept his hands down my arms as if to punctuate exactly how brutally different we were. I had barely any definition tapering from thin biceps to even thinner fingers. Yet even his fingers were burly.
Those interlaced with mine.
“ Strength is nothing without speed, agility, and most importantly, will.” His eyes sought mine.
“ Your will is stronger than mine. I know that. It’s stronger than anyone’s I’ve ever met.
And you wear it like armor.” He blinked.
“ A knife just makes you more dangerous. And frankly, I’m an idiot for giving one to you.
You could kill me easily. I saw it in your eyes.
You wanted to. You have the desire to do that. Not many do.”
I swallowed.
“ It should scare you, but it doesn’t scare me.” He slipped his hands around me to squeeze my ass again, then caress it. “ Maybe I’m lying. Maybe I’m a fool. But you are perfect just the way you are. Don’t be frightened of that.”
Without thinking, I bent toward him. My hands tangled in his hair and my fingertips rubbed his scalp so I could pull his face close. “ I’m yours.”
“ So am I , sweetheart. We’ll own each other, okay?”
I nodded against his nose, relishing the feel of his skin against mine. Balancing against him, I slipped one knee, then the other onto the mattress until I straddled him.
He reached under me to retrieve the condom and get it placed before I lifted up so he could position at my entrance.
I sank down, feeling him stretch me wide. As turned on as I was, I was still lacking a little lubrication, and the movement sent a tiny twinge of pain, but I ignored it because even that felt exquisite.
Bear grunted as I tilted my hips to get him as deep as possible in this position.
“ You’re killing me, Rose .” His breath came quickly, his eyes were shut tight.
I arched my back and used my thighs to work along his length. “ I need you alive,” I whispered against his ear.
His eyes shot open. “ I’ll show you alive.”
With a heave and a mighty lift, he flipped our positions.
I was the one on the bottom, my back resting on the mattress and my hips and legs cradled in his grip.
The flex of his body hammered into me with intense passion.
I met him with every thrust and tense arch.
My fingers clawed at his arms because I couldn’t break his grip.
Nor did I want to. I wanted him to merge with me. To pound so hard that we fused as one.
My body was just a vessel for him to shatter against so our fires could merge as one flame.
“ You . Are . Mine .” He thrust with each word, the strain in his voice making his neck muscles bulge and his skin red.
Then he seated deep.
I cried out. “ Mine !” The orgasm broke free and the walls between us shattered as he pulsed into me and I gripped around him.
My heart beat wildly and I breathed shallowly to lengthen the moment into a trancelike state where my spirit form slipped into that other realm that shadowed the real world.
Once there, I touched him. He was a being of red power, not quite flame, but an essence of something caught between forge and hammer. Glowing like a molten god.
My essence was ghostlike, lit with white blue, ethereal and as solid as smoke. Were there cracks I could find to slip inside? Could I give him a piece of myself to carry under that iron hide? Would I burn?
I didn’t care. I loved him. Trusted him.
My lips met his in that world. He inhaled and I sent a tendril of life into his.
He’d carry me with him until the end of time.
Yet that piece clung to my conscious mind.
Almost screaming that I’d abandoned it. I caressed his face.
Take care of that piece. Don’t hurt m ?—
His eyes snapped open, and I was in my body again.
The fear hung between us. “ What did you…?”
I shook my head. I couldn’t tell him. He’d never believe me.
He glanced at our bodies, still interlocked.
He smiled and slid free. “ I’m beat.” He tapped my hip to get me to move to my side of the bed.
Instead of joining me right away, he took care of the condom and brought a towel back from the bathroom.
“ Here . I’m going to crash for about a day or fucking three.
” He face-planted onto the mattress, but still had enough energy to wrap a hand around my leg.
His fingers loosening as he lost the battle with Morpheus .
I cleaned up and sat beside him.
That glowing god was just a man.
I stroked down his broad back. One hell of a man.
He fought battles daily. Maybe not always physically, but always dominating others. He would never be fully happy unless he was at the top of the food chain.
There were few others who could beat him physically. And he’d proven he was able to see beyond appearances and view the intent under the surface. He could sense magic. That was dangerous. Without the power to thwart it, it left him open to be exploited.
I gently laid my palm on his back, right between the shoulder blades.
With it in place, I called to the piece of me I’d left.
Grow . Glow . Protect . Keep him safe from those foes.
Make him stronger. Give him my will and my intent, and most of all build the walls he needed to keep the spirit realm out.
I kissed him there to seal any openings I’d made through the connection.
Then I went downstairs to put my own brand of security on the house. If Carl wanted to mess with us, he’d leave himself open to me.
I started with the besom over the door. The round broom was mostly symbolic. I studied it. It was dusty and brittle. A fakery sold for aesthetic value.
That had to change.
I searched the woods, gardens, and the banks of the river nearby for the right items. With luck I found two snail shells, some animal bones, dried hydrangea flowers, and a nasty wild rose briar with sharp thorns that demanded ten minims of my blood before yielding to my blade.
From the kitchen, I dug out rosemary and the bag of turnips I’d bought on the last grocery trip.
I worked at my altar, carving, pulling thorns, filling the snail shells and sealing them with wax, then binding the spell into the besom.
Bear came down some time in the midst of my work. He watched for a moment, but didn’t interrupt. Instead opting to make a late breakfast before dressing in his usual uniform of black Destroyers shirt, jeans, vest, and leather coat.
He kissed me before leaving. “ Heading to the shop. You good?”
I nodded, still focused on my work. But then realized that he was about to leave.
“ Wait .” I quickly tied a red string around his wrist. “ There .” I smiled at him.
He glanced down at the bright color twisted over his usual black leather wristbands. “ Cute . What’s it do?”
“ Keeps you safe.”
“ So … don’t take it off?”
I nodded again. “ Not until it breaks. Then I’ll give you a new one.”
He slid a hand under my loose hair. “ You’re something else, Roishin Black .” He pulled my face close for a dangerously hot kiss. I almost forgot everything as his tongue wound around mine. Except an underlying current of doubt that made me push against him.
“ What do you mean, something else?”
He licked his lips. “ I mean… I don’t think I’ll ever not be surprised by you. And that’s a good thing. I’m working until eight. Call Hammer if you have trouble. He should be next door on kiddie watch.”
I blinked; it wasn’t like him to forget the schedule like that. “ Zoe’s at school. Jackson’s home.”
He scrunched his eyes, thinking. “ Right . Make sure Hammer’s with you.
I’ll confirm who’s tailing Mini Me after I get to the shop.
Jackson and Kate should be home all day, but don’t bother them.
They’ll probably be doing what we did last night.
Anywhere in that goddamn house, so don’t peek through any windows, and ignore the screaming. ”
I laughed and shoved him to the door. “ You’re awful. Go .”
He eyed my altar with a little trepidation. “ Don’t get in trouble.”
I motioned to the pile there. “ All this? It’s meant to keep trouble away.”
Bear wasn’t convinced. “ Well , Skinner or Hickey should stop by later to beef up security. Let them in and don’t… hex ’em or anything.”
“ What if I put a seeing spell on them so they can find answers quicker?”
He winced. “ Yeah …no. Skinner might shoot you. Play nice, please?”
I gave it a second or two of thought. “ Maybe .”
He kissed me again, harder but shorter. When he broke free, he said one word before slipping out the door. “ Witch .”
“ Grumpy -ass Bear .” I said to the wall after he drove away. Why was he so infuriating and so damn cute while doing it?