Chapter 29
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
S ydney’s breathing picks up speed. “Why do you want me?”
“I think of you. Constantly. For once in my life, I’m not in control. I shouldn’t do this. I know that. Yet I can’t stop.”
That’s the complete truth.
“I think of you, too.”
My heart twists. “I never meant to hurt you. I wanted to help my brother, but then I got caught up in you. I’m sorry I wasn’t always honest. But I can’t tell you I don’t want you. That would be the biggest lie of all.”
Sydney presses her lips together. Her expression says she’s staving off tears. “I’ve never had serious feelings for any man. In the blink of an eye, you’ve changed everything. Letting you leave here Tuesday morning was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, but I refused to fight for something you didn’t want. Now you’re back. What’s changed?”
Even in matters of the heart, she whittles away the crap and asks the tough questions.
How the bloody hell do I answer?
I’ve had more dreams of Sydney. My magical instincts and admiration keep growing stronger, as does the fucking ache in my chest for her. “What I feel is too strong to ignore. I tried, but I’m helpless.”
I edge closer until she fits under my arm, and I lose myself in her heat and her scent. My energy, which has flagged all day, shoots up. Unfortunately, so does my need.
“I can’t fight it, either.” Her breath hitches on a sob.
“You’re smart, sexy, ambitious, tough, compassionate…and brutally honest. I adore you for it.” I’m an instant from losing all self-control and pressing my lips to the red paradise of hers. “But I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You will, if you spend the night and leave again come morning.”
“I’m not sure I can. My connection to you is stronger than my will.”
God, if I’m going to confess that, why not just kiss her? Issue the Call that’s instinctually bred down into every wizard’s bones and be done? I’ve never known or paid attention to the words of the Call until meeting Sydney. Now, they slide through my head with frightening regularity.
Because it could well mean her death.
“You truly want me?” Her voice trembles.
“I don’t think I could leave, even if you tossed me out.”
“Kiss me.”
Yes. God, yes. This is happening. It’s going to be transformative. Life changing.
Perfect.
I’m not thinking consequences as I lean closer—a breath away from the swollen temptation of her lips.
My mobile phone rings. Cursing, I tear free from Sydney and glance at the screen. Duke.
Damn it all.
“Don’t answer that,” Sydney begs.
Desire darkens her eyes. My body tightens, and my cock jerks in response. Fuck, she deserves better than me. But if I go through with Bram’s scheme, she’ll likely never speak to me again. And the knowledge is killing me.
Tonight is all we have.
At least she’ll be safe…
Yes, and likely miserable, too.
“You’re certain?” I caress her face.
She gives me a shaky nod. “I may regret this tomorrow, but you’re right. I’m honest, and I want you.”
With a press of my thumb, I silence the phone, then set it on the table.
Bloody hell, I want to kiss Sydney. So damn badly. Those parted rosy lips are mere inches under mine, moist and enticing. Already, the Call is a constant chant in my head.
Become a part of me…
I press my mouth to her jaw, the side of her neck. Then I nibble at the shell of her ear, breaths harsh. She shivers, especially when I find the buttons to her little attention-getting blouse. I undo the first, the second, none too gently, then slide my hand inside, beneath her bra, to cup her breast.
Under my palm, her heart beats like a wild drum. She presses closer, lips sliding across my jaw, and moans.
As I become a part of you…
I shove the words from my mind and focus on dismantling the rest of the buttons. They part for me in a fluid unveiling of skin, sighs, and desire.
After I peel the garment away, I can’t keep my hands off her velvety, cinnamon-freckled skin or lace-covered breasts.
She gasps. I smell her fruity-jasmine scent, which has haunted me for two days. But now there’s something more. Musk. Desire. I can smell her arousal. Because of my coming transition? Or am I simply more attuned to her?
Doesn’t matter. Her scent kicks more blood straight to my cock. I’m bloody dying to fill her up and be one with her.
Sydney reaches up to unfasten her bra and eases the cups from her breasts. Grabbing one strap, I tear the lacy annoyance off and toss it across the room. Then I fill my hands with Sydney’s bare tits, the little beaded nipples scorching my palms.
God help me. I’ve always adored women, but this…this is beyond understanding. Beyond control. Sydney sets me on fire, pushes me past restraint, amazes me every moment I’m with her.
She wraps soft, feminine arms around my neck, which presses her breasts even deeper into my hands. Words keep popping into my head.
And ever after, I promise myself to thee.
I roll her nipples between my fingers, and she moans. My body shakes. Fire rages inside me, barely in control. I want—no, need—more from Sydney. Everything. Now.
Together, we lurch to our feet in a frenzy. I lower my hands to the curve of her waist and encounter the side release of her skirt. I could easily lift it, but if this is the last time I’ll touch Sydney, I want her completely bare for me.
I yank her zip down, then shove the garment past her hips. What she wears beneath—black, lacy, small—is easy to shred with my hands.
Now she’s naked, all warm flesh and breathy sighs, arched, exposed.
Mine—at least for now.
Moments later, I peel off my shirt. Sydney tilts her head, giving me the naked flesh of her neck and the soft curve of her shoulder. I put my mouth to her, dying for any taste of her I can afford.
As I do, I rip into my jeans, discarding them and everything beneath. I lave my tongue across her skin and savor the hint of her addicting flavor with a moan. She shivers against me.
“Sydney?”
“Yes,” she breathes. “Now. I can’t wait another moment.”
That’s all I need to hear.
Right or wrong, I lean her over the back of the sofa. If I don’t, I’ll kiss her, and that’s a risk I can’t take. Not thinking about anything but her, I cradle her hip in one hand and guide my cock to her slick pussy with the other. Slowly, I press in. She’s so tight, like an amazing glove fit just for me. So perfect.
Each day we share, I will be honest, good, and true .
I shake my head, trying to dislodge those dangerous words that keep dive-bombing my brain. Tonight is about savoring our last touch, not claiming her forever. But Sydney’s hot grip short-circuits me. Instead, I sink in to the hilt with an audible groan and give myself over to pleasure.
Beneath me, Sydney pants. Her body softens. The smell of her arousal grows so strong I swear I can almost taste her. Every instinct I possess urges me to kiss her—her mouth, her cunt—any part of her. Every part of her.
I fight the urge, clenching her hip in one hand and wrapping the other around her body until my fingers find her hardening clit. Draped over her back, I work the delicate bud of nerves. Grazing, circling her with slow caresses designed to drive her mad as I fill her with deep, possessive strokes.
Soon, she tightens on me. Her fingernails dig into my wrist. Her pants become groans, then wails. My body tenses, dying to feel everything about her, release myself into her completely, give myself, body and soul.
If this you seek, heed my Call.
The words no sooner cross my mind when Sydney clamps down, cries out, and she comes with screaming intensity, surrendering to me completely.
God, I want to see her face, watch her expressive dark eyes as pleasure overtakes her, kiss her mouth, and claim her as I come.
Even the thought sends me straight over the edge, into a white-light abyss that burns into my brain brighter than anything I’ve ever experienced. Ecstasy jolts me, an unrelenting vise of need I’ve strangled since I was last inside her. Now freed, the pleasure claws down my spine, up my cock. I shout, mesmerized by her feel, her smell. I drink her in, as if I was destined to know her above all others. Remember her only.
From this moment on, there is no other for me but you .
Sydney pants hard. “That was…”
Straight from my heart.
“It was.” I breathe hard, too.
Now that the time to part has come, I’m desperately searching for some bargaining chip that would allow me to keep her. If I tell her the truth, let her decide whether she wants to deal with magickind and the war and…
No. I can’t risk her. I have to let her go, try to forget her, and know I’ll never mate.
I hate coming to that realization while I still have my arms around her, while I’m still buried inside her. But spending my lifetime with her isn’t reality. The phone vibrating on the table beside us is. Duke, again. No doubt wondering where the hell we are.
Cursing, I withdraw from Sydney, then pick up the phone. I don’t bother with pleasantries. “We’ll be there in ten.”
I don’t wait for a reply, simply hang up.
“Are you all right?” I caress her shoulder, down the line of her spine, admiring the sleek curve of her waist, then pull her body against mine, my front to her back.
She gives me a shaky nod. “What happens after this meeting? With us?”
Putting distance between us would be best for her, but can I truly stay away?
“After this meeting, we’ll talk.”