As he drove himself inside of Lizzie, she cried out, and with one last thrust he spilled his seed. Pulsating sensations erupted inside of him, holding him in the grips of pleasure.
Unaware he’d closed his eyes at some point, he slowly opened them and looked down. Lizzie stared at him, a lazy smile upturning her lips. He smiled back, then lifted off her. Stretched out at her side, he propped himself on an elbow. With one finger, he traced her swollen nipples, then ran it along the inviting curves of her body. He could think of nothing else but the wonder of being with her again.
Aye, ’twas dangerous territory he’d just passed through. But there was nothing he could do about it now.
She nestled against him, her breath ruffling the curled hair peppered across his chest. He stroked her lustrous curls and kissed the top of her soft head. Protectiveness rose within him. He knew he couldn’t allow any harm to come to her. Or those she loved.
Deep down, he sensed he had just taken advantage of Lizzie. It didn’t feel right—being here like this. He’d betrayed her trust.
Again.
Reluctantly he pulled away from Lizzie and stood. Anger washed over him. He couldn’t promise her anything, even though she’d given herself to him freely. She’d claimed she didn’t expect anything, but he still felt guilty as hell.
I’m so weak.
“Kincaid, what’s wrong?” Brow furrowed, Lizzie sat up, leaning on one elbow.
“This was a huge mistake,” he said. After shoving on his clothes and boots, he stormed toward the control room where he removed the windshield covering and stared out at the ocean.
***
Great Ursula’s ghost, what have I done?
Anger simmered within Lizzie. She’d been a fool to think Kincaid wanted her. Never again could she be swayed by his good looks and his phenomenal touch.
He was a man who had needs, but that’s all their lovemaking had meant. Though she’d sensed it all along, she might as well accept it. Her ridiculous romantic ideas needed to end. Right here and now.
Kincaid’s only with me to help defeat the banshees.
Grabbing the cloak, her boots and the belt she’d made from Vera, she left the sleeping alcove. Embarrassed and irritated, she stood in the main cabin, facing a porthole. Studying the undulating ocean waves, she tried to calm her soul.
“Spiritual peace, natural peace and peace within,” she whispered. “Clothe my earthly form in my color of power. Bracae, pelusia.”
Only a twinge of pain pricked her temples when she uttered the incantation to conjure clothing. Instantly, form-fitting green trousers and an embroidered green tunic covered her nakedness. She threaded the green belt around her waist, slid on her boots and secured her cape around her shoulders.
Refusing to let Kincaid know how he’d hurt her, she entered the control room and stood beside him. His commanding presence nearly stole her breath, but she refused to give in to the overwhelming sensation. She did shiver, however, when she recalled how thoroughly he’d just made love to her.
This is no time to let your heart rule over your head.
Good idea, she decided, especially since Kincaid didn’t seem affected by their lovemaking. He remained stone cold silent, standing there as though nothing had occurred.
He’d left her in bed, alone, after he’d satisfied himself.
It shouldn’t be a big deal. It was simply sex, after all. A bittersweet pang pierced her heart.
You’re lying to yourself, Lizzie.
Her cheeks flamed with heat when she realized Kincaid had only spoken the truth. It had definitely been a mistake for them to make love.
“When will we reach the Land of the Fae?” she asked, anxious to rescue her clan and have her normal life back.
“We’re here.”
“Seriously?” The storm had passed, however the ocean of undulating waves and cerulean sky full of skittering clouds seemed no different than the place they had left.
“We’ve crossed an invisible veil into the Fae dimension, ’tis all.”
“And time passes differently here, correct?”
He nodded, then glanced down at his control board. “In the Earthly Realm, mere seconds will pass as we seek our answer from the Faery king about how to get rid of Sorcha and her banshees.”
Lizzie felt relieved not to be burning precious time. However, she wanted to clear the air. “I think we need to talk about…” she nodded toward the sleeping alcove, “…that.”
He shrugged. “Considering how well we know each other, ’twas bound to happen.”
“But—”
He held up a hand. “It means nothing. Let it go.”
So that was it. He’d dismissed their sexual encounter as casually as a stroll through the park. Though she’d been ready to do the same, it struck her as cold and harsh.
“Will you answer one question for me, Kincaid?”
“Depends.” He kept his gaze firmly on the horizon, as though looking at her might jeopardize his composure. The angles of his handsome face held no trace of emotion. Even his jaw held a stubborn slant.
Stinking bat’s breath. She didn’t need this emotional sabotage right now, not with the weight of the worries she had on her mind. Yet she could do nothing about it. Her insides twisted, and a light perspiration coated her brow as she thought about what she wanted to ask him. She knew she really shouldn’t. Yet, heart pounding with dread, she did it anyway.
“Would you have agreed to this job if you had known I was your client?”
He pierced her with a cold stare that reached down to the depths of her core. When he finally spoke, his voice was gruff. “Probably not.”
She struggled to maintain a grip on herself, wondering what in the heck had possessed her to ask that stupid question.
Chapter Thirteen
Imps of hell, why did I say that?
Kincaid cursed himself. He could tell by the way Lizzie immediately turned away from him that his words had wounded her. No doubt she didn’t want him to see her tears.
Crying women! It twisted his gut to watch them, especially when it came to Lizzie. Making love with her had made a mess of things.
Why did something that felt so right have to be so wrong?
She wasn’t a woman to be trifled with, and her attachments to people she cared about were important. Though well aware of that, he’d gone and allowed himself inside her world again. He ought to kick himself for being such a dunce.
She might be pissing mad at him, but it was best he’d let her down right now, before things got even more serious. In the end, when her thinking wasn’t so clouded, she would appreciate that he’d pushed her away.
Again.
Despite what he tried to tell himself, he realized the intensity of their former relationship bound them together like a shining thread. And now, the magnetism they’d once experienced had returned in full force. However, in spite of the intense emotions she stirred within his soul, he couldn’t claim her as his own.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, he knew that in the end, she wouldn’t have him because of the dangerous life he lived. And he would never change. Since he could promise her nothing, it was for the best that she expect nothing. He would free her coven from the banshees, but that’s all he could offer.
He couldn’t risk his heart.
From the corner of his eye, Kincaid stole a glance at her, feasting on the sight of her luscious curves, her full breasts and rounded hips. Mouthwatering, he recalled the stolen moments they’d spent, rediscovering the extraordinary passion they aroused in one another.
Almost as if she sensed where his gaze had drifted, she wrapped the cloak around herself, hiding her tempting body from his view. Disappointment shot through him, but he knew he needed to stop ogling.
He focused on the ocean, orienting himself to this new location. The waves went from gentle to frantic with amazing speed and Iolar began to rock back and forth. Rippling swells grew larger and water sloshed across the deck.
Li
zzie lost her balance, but Kincaid caught her. As he clasped her against his chest, she glared up at him. He recalled how warm and pliable she’d been in his arms a short time ago. Now her body felt cold and stiff as a marble statue.
“What’s happening?” She pushed away from him and gripped the edge of the control panel with white knuckles.
“’Tis a vortex.” He nodded toward the choppy blue waters churning like a gigantic drain.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“One of the dangers of passing through to the Fae dimension. Iolar’s a sound ship. She’ll take care of us.”
Despite his reassurances, she still looked concerned. Two spots of rosy color touched her cheeks, and she held her chin at a defiant angle. God, she was beautiful. Why did his thoughts always become irrational where she was concerned? He had to quit thinking with his cock and regain his sanity.
Tingling power shot through him as he murmured commands that caused Iolar to plow past the swirling morass and toward the Faery kingdom. Anxious to visit his old friend, King Aedh, he wanted to hurry things along.
“Stinking bat’s breath,” Lizzie said, pressing a hand to her stomach and groaning. “I feel like I’ve eaten rotten toadstool mash. Riding on your ship is like riding on a crazy rollercoaster.”
He chuckled. “See the cliffs on the horizon? That’s where King Aedh and his Faery people live. We’re very close.”
She narrowed her gaze and peered at the brownish-green slice of land.
Kincaid had spent a lot of time among the Faeries of Gorias, learning from them and enjoying their company. He had no doubt King Aedh knew the secret to driving out Wysteria’s banshee infestation.
He stole another glance at Lizzie and felt dangerously drawn to her once again. The sooner he finished this job, the better. He had to stop himself from becoming more emotionally involved with Lizzie than he already had.
***
In her classes at the witch’s university, Lizzie had read that one could gain entrance into the Land of the Fae by tunneling underground to reach their world. It amazed her that via some mysterious power, Kincaid’s ship could traverse dimensional veils into their kingdom.
When the ship slowed down, Lizzie’s stomach stopped flip-flopping. She sighed with relief at the sight of terra firma before them, and she sent a silent prayer to the Goddess.
This journey had brought her one step closer to getting rid of the banshees. Once they were gone, everyone’s lives could return to normal. The thought of her friends and family held captive by Sorcha’s motley crew made her realize she’d gotten off track, thanks to Kincaid’s intoxicating presence.
Never again.
Kincaid steered the ship into a sheltered cove and smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “We’ve arrived, lass.”
“Thank the stars.” She studied the turquoise water. It was so clear, she could see tiny fish darting around, and the sandy bottom covered in myriad sea shells. A blue, cloud-dotted sky arched overhead. Everything seemed much brighter here, the colors almost sparkling.
Kincaid touched a wall and it slid away, revealing an opening. Hefting himself over the side of the ship, he splashed down in the water. He reached toward Lizzie and arched a brow, offering silently to lift her down. Though hesitant at first to accept, she decided she wasn’t a victim.
Just a trusting fool.
She gasped when his large hands closed around her waist and he lifted her into the ankle-deep water. Her boots were now planted in the uneven furrows of sand, and she dug them in to stabilize herself.
Kincaid tapped Iolar’s roof and it shrank down into a neat little package that he slid into a pocket inside his cape.
“That’s quite a ship you have,” Lizzie said, amazed at how it worked. “Tell me honestly. Where did you get it?”
“I got it from a troll,” he finally admitted.
“Seriously?” What Lizzie knew about trolls wasn’t very complimentary. They were ornery and downright mean. “I can’t imagine a troll giving anyone anything.”
He chuckled. “The troll owed me for ridding him of a deviant spirit that was chasing off his livestock, but he didn’t have the money to pay me. So he gave me the ship. I renamed it and reprogrammed it to respond to my voice commands.”
“What would a troll do with a ship like this?”
“He and his buddies used it to travel between different locations on Earth and into different dimensions.”
“No doubt raiding and looting,” she said. “Trolls are nothing but troublemakers.”
Kincaid shrugged. “They craft bonnie vessels, lass. You can’t deny that.” His voice faded away as he looked over his shoulder at something on his left.
Lizzie turned to see what had captured his attention. Drawing in a sharp breath, she took stock of the sailing ships and airplanes partially submerged in surrounding shallows. Some appeared ancient, and one she actually recognized as a Viking ship complete with oars and a carved dragon’s head at the helm. Other assorted air and sea craft sat nearby, silent testaments to the perilous ocean crossings they’d never completed. Chunks of wood and debris littered the area like a child’s carelessly tossed toys.
“A ship graveyard,” Lizzie observed.
“Aye,” Kincaid agreed. “The poor blokes piloting these accidently crossed through the veil and never made it home. I suspect severe lightning storms, combined with the positive and negative ionic particles in the air, caused the dimension transference.”
Hearing angry shouts, Lizzie turned toward the sand dunes where a group of tall, pale-skinned, dark-haired men had appeared. Their attire consisted of black caps and black uniforms accented with bright gold buttons. With gleaming sabers strapped to their sides, they waded through the water toward Lizzie and Kincaid.
Lizzie pressed against Kincaid. “Who are they?”
“King Aedh’s men.” He must have seen the concern in her eyes, because he added, “Don’t worry. They’re friendly.”
She noted their stern expressions. “Friendly like a herd of charging rhinos.”
Kincaid chuckled. “King Aedh and I go way back. I once helped him clear his castle of a spirit haunting.”
“Greetings,” he told the men as they splashed toward them.
The Faery soldiers did not look like happy campers, Lizzie decided. Two of the troops grabbed her and Kincaid, then yanked their arms behind their backs.
She sputtered and tried to wriggle free, but her captor held her in a tight grip. When he clamped handcuffs around her wrists, then a heavy rope around her neck, she turned to Kincaid, cheeks flaming. “They’re friendly, eh?”
He shrugged. “Last time I was here they were.”
“Goddess help me, I ought to turn them all into toads,” she growled. She began to mutter a spell, but stopped when Kincaid glowered at her.
“Don’t try any witchy business until I clear this up, Lizzie. Understand?”
She glared at him.
“I doubt your powers would work here, anyway,” Kincaid added.
“Silence,” the man holding Kincaid barked. He sneered at them, revealing gleaming white teeth with sharp tips. “You are prisoners now. You will not speak until the Faery court is adjourned. Until then, you’ll remain imprisoned in tree tower five.”
“King Aedh is a good friend of mine,” Kincaid insisted as he was handcuffed and roped around the neck. “Take us to him. I promise he can clear up this simple misunderstandin’.”
The soldier holding Lizzie turned to the one holding Kincaid. “Should we pay him any mind, Gilgam?”
“Absolutely not.” Brows drawn together, Gilgam frowned at Kincaid. “How do you know King Aedh rules here?”
“I told you, he’s a friend. We go way back.”
“Bah, I think you’re lying,” Gilgam insisted. “More than likely the two of you are spies, sent here by the humans to disturb our peace.”
Lizzie clamped her jaw, doing her best to remain silent. Kincaid thought he was such a genius; he’
d better get them out of this mess. Quickly.
“No, no, you’ve got it all wrong,” Kincaid tried to explain. “We’re not even mortals. Please take us to King Aedh. He knows me, and he’ll explain everything.”
“I don’t care what you are or aren’t,” Gilgam said. “You’re trespassing. And you will answer to that charge.”
The Faery soldiers began marching them out of the lake, their sabers rattling. They held Lizzie and Kincaid next to one another, yanking the ropes around their necks taut.
“That’s the last time I’m listening to you,” Lizzie snarled at Kincaid, her chest tight with aggravation.
“I—”
“Silence I say!” Gilgam shouted.
Having been duly chastised, Kincaid clamped his mouth shut and stared straight ahead. However, a mischievous twinkle danced in his blue eyes, and his mouth quirked with a smile.
Lizzie stomped through the water. Holy witch’s creed, how could Kincaid be so lighthearted? They were probably going to wind up being placed in the village square and locked up in Faery stocks. Or did Faeries even believe in torture? She didn’t have a clue.
More than anything, she wanted to cast a spell of protection to keep them from harm. She highly doubted Gilgam and his Faery troops could go up against her magic. But Kincaid had warned her against doing anything witchy. Though she found it extremely difficult, and it went against her nature, she restrained herself.
What a muddled mess they’d stepped in. The Gorias Faeries had just put a huge monkey wrench in their plans. Being detained by Gilgam and his troops wasted precious time.
Chapter Fourteen
Stretched out on the prison cell’s narrow bed, arms pillowed behind his head, Kincaid watched Lizzie. She paced back and forth in front of the barred cell window, sighing every so often and muttering something inaudible beneath her breath. Two bright pink spots splashed against her cheeks indicated her irritation.
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