Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
T he spark within him in that instant turned dangerous; it turned greedy.
More. He wanted more. He stopped for a second, then plunged forward, capturing her mouth with his. A gasp escaped her lips, and he deepened the kiss. Finally. Liquid fire trickled through his body and set every inch of him ablaze. His hands roamed down from her face to her neck. He ran his hands over her body, committing her shape to his memory. This instant was every midnight kiss and desperate caress wrapped up in one moment. Sound dropped out, and all that he could hear was them breathing and gasping for air in between their wild, frantic kisses.
Her scent—of warm hearths and bonfires—stirred all his base desires.
He pinned her lightly against the dining room table. She smelled smoky and inviting, like a stone hearth filled with fire. Gus wanted to lay himself before her light. Their bodies were pressed together. He watched the play of emotions—desire, uncertainty, and anticipation—on her lovely features. His heartbeat picked up. He’d seen that same look on countless audience members’ faces, but never on a woman he was about to kiss.
His heart flipped backward. He slipped his hands up her arms, feeling the heat of her body underneath the thin fabric of her dress. Gods of fire, how was she so blazing hot? Gus lowered his mouth and captured her lips in another kiss. She let out a low gasp. He ran his tongue over her full bottom lip, tasting the pumpkin and sugar of the icing of the cake she had made.
He licked her again, drawing her lip between his teeth and giving her a playful bite.
That move elicited a deeper gasp from Sirena. All he wanted to do the rest of the night was take her breath away. This kiss was needier, greedier than the one they had shared outside at the beach. The trickster in him rejoiced. She probably loved denying herself pleasure at first but then fully giving in when no one was looking. He surveyed her body.
Her dress crept up her thick thighs as she leaned back on the dining room table. Her braids had come undone from their high bun and framed her face. Her skin was flushed with heat and desire. Gus ran his hands down her back and cupped her butt. She let out a squeak that turned into a full squeal when he lifted her onto the table. She held on to him as he nestled into her space. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder, and she shouted in pleasure. Every atom in his body burned. How was she softer than he could ever fantasize?
Gus gently tugged the dress down to her waist so that her bra was visible. Her breath came out in sharp pants. Nothing would rush him from taking his fill. He ran his thumb up and down the long line of her cleavage. The cups of her bra were bountiful and generous, like someone had overpoured a glass of champagne to the edge. He was going to get drunk on her.
Gus ran his tongue over his bottom lip. He eased the lacy cup of her bra aside, freeing her breast, and lowered his head to taste her. His tongue swirled and explored her skin, causing her to press against him. Sirena bucked against his mouth as he nipped and then swirled his tongue around her budding nipple. She moaned, and blood rushed through every inch of him.
That sound made Gus want to fall to his knees and taste her all over.
Sirena matched his passion, grinding her body against his as if trying to ignite a spark. She was flint, as fiery and precious as an agate or quartz. He was steel, hard and stout.
His touch created a delicious friction that set his senses on fire. Whatever energy she gave him, he would gratefully take and respond in kind.
Large sparks, crimson-red starbursts, popped from her skin everywhere he caressed.
Her breath hitched higher as he continued to lick and suck tenderly. Her fingers clutched his neck and shoulders, as if trying to pull him underneath her skin. She was so responsive that he grew harder at the mere thought of having her underneath him. Forget that—he wanted her in charge and on top. Wanted her rolling those hips and taking every inch of him inside of her on every flat surface they could find. The room seemed to dissolve away around them.
Her voice came out in a raspy whisper. “Gus, where are we going?”
Where are we going? There was a hint of expectation in her question that pulled him out of his fog of lust. Wait—where were they going? Gus braced his hands on either side of Sirena on the table. The room solidified. He took a few deep breaths and assessed the situation. “Uh…”
It’s not too late. He promised they’d stay just friends. He could fight this enchantment.
Gus paused, trying to figure out what was going on.
He lowered his head to gain some clarity in this heated moment. He’d been in the kitchen, playfully sneaking a taste of her food, and then… the magic took hold when he licked the spoon. In a flash, every secret dream related to Sirena came true in vivid color. Time seemed to slip away from him, and he couldn’t pull his thoughts together coherently. He was in control if he didn’t look at Sirena. If he looked at her, his last shred of focus would be gone. Everything was moving so fast, and his rational side fought for an inch of control, barking orders at him.
You’re under a spell. Think smart. Be rational.
“Gus?”
He closed his eyes and clutched the table. Be smart before you hurt her.
He felt her lift his head and affectionately stroke his beard, gently running her fingers up and cupping the sides of his face. It was nice to have her hands on him. His resolve weakened for an instant, but that was enough time for him to let go. He opened his eyes.
“Gus, where are we going?” Sirena repeated.
She took his hand and held it to her chest. He could feel her heart fluttering like a hummingbird trying to break free from a cage. His hand lingered too long, and he could feel the deep pulse of her magic. For a magician like him, his hands were his tools. He drank in magic through his fingertips. He felt her natural power through his palms. Everything whirred at the simple contact. Parts of him that hadn’t been used in years whirred to life.
She felt so good. Too good to deny. Gus was gone.
He pulled her from the table and held her flush against him. “We’re going to my bed.”
Gus snapped his fingers, and they disappeared together upstairs into his bedroom.
Gus and Sirena slipped down into a vague space where time flowed like fine sand through cupped hands. As they discarded their clothes and tumbled naked into his sheets, minutes held the same weight as hours and fled by without them noticing. Gus kissed her all over, whispering promises and fidelity to her, only her. He licked the swell of her breasts and traced every curve and dip of her body with his fingertips. She ran her hands over his broad chest and soft stomach, learning the geography of his scars. He gasped in sweet agony as she took him into his hands and stroked the length of him. His pleasure stretched on for what felt like hours. Gus came with a strangled shout that might have rattled the stone gargoyles off the roof. The moon fell and the sun rose. When they finally returned from that space, they collapsed in each other’s arms, sweaty and hungry. Gus brought the food she had made to bed, and they fed each other every bite, wrapping themselves in bedsheets. They studied each other’s blemishes and hurts and gave each other more pleasure. The sun set, and the moon rose, and they found themselves in the company of starlight.
They fell back into the space where time had no power over them and they could indulge in every fantasy. Gus snapped his fingers, and red rose petals fell from the ceiling like rain. He watched as the petals touched her skin and kissed them away from her body. Sirena eased her legs open, and he bent his head between her thighs, feasting on her desire. She arched against him as if trying to give him better access to the hidden parts of her heart. He moved gracefully over her body, donned protection, and slid inside her. They devoured each other greedily, like fire being fed kindling, and burned bright in the darkness of the bedroom.
The fire between them did not burn out.