Seduced and Enchanted

by Stephanie Julian

  She felt…different. Weird different. Scary different.

  As if her body held a force she couldn’t control. As if her blood was boiling and her skin wasn’t thick enough to contain it. Every time she moved, that force got away from her—and something shook, rattled or rolled. The bed, the bottles.

  And what the hell was up with Rio’s ears?

  Nothing made sense.

  “I’m not sure what’s going on,” Rio said as he took another towel and dried her hair. “But I think I have a pretty good idea.”

  She was too afraid to move. “Does it have something to do with your ears?”

  He paused for a few seconds, his features going blank. “You don’t have to be afraid of me. I won’t hurt you, Rosie. Not ever.”

  After what they’d done, she knew that. Even though she was scared, even though she had no idea what was going on, she knew, deep down, that she could trust this man…this linchetto, whatever that was. But first she had questions, many questions. “You need to tell me what’s going on. Right now.”

  Rosie turned slowly, not wanting anything to move. Her mouth fell open as she took in Rio in all his wet naked glory. The man would make a dead woman drool. Lean, sculpted muscle. Chiseled cheekbones. A talented mouth.

  But those ears. “Rio?”

  He sighed. “I’m not completely sure but I think the sex we had tonight unlocked your latent powers.”

  Rosie stared at the gorgeous naked man. He looked sane enough but he obviously wasn’t. “Latent powers?”

  He sighed again and ran a hand through his hair, ruffling the strands and making his abs dance. Her mouth watered. How could she be scared, confused and horny all at the same time? “The bed shaking and the bottles moving? That was you.”

  Her jaw dropped and her mouth opened and closed a few times before she actually spoke. “What does that mean?”

  “It means you now have magical abilities you didn’t have before. Unless you were able to make things move just by thinking about it and waving your hands.”

  She lifted her hands from her hips to wrap the towel more tightly around her—and the bottles of lotions and hair products on the bathroom console table shook. She froze, the towel now only partially covering her body.

  Rio sighed and finished tucking the towel around her. “Or even by not trying.”

  Now she was really too afraid to move. “This is insane. I must be dreaming.”

  He pinched her arm, just a gentle squeeze, but enough for her to wince and reach for him. The bottles on the console rattled again.

  “Oh my God.” Her voice held a definite squeak. She squeezed her eyes closed, wanting to shut out the world around her. “What’s going on? Why is that happening?”

  Placing his hands on her shoulders, Rio said, “Think of it as a force field around your body that you control with your mind.” When her eyes popped open again, he sighed. “Yes, I know it sounds nuts. But if you want to be able to leave the house, you’ll have to learn how to control it.”

  “Why do I have to leave the house?” Okay, that was a really stupid question.

  Rio’s smile returned, a completely natural expression, and it gave her hope that he actually knew what he was talking about. “Well, for one thing, you have a job. For another, I’ve got a friend you’re going to want to meet. He’ll have answers.”

  Answers sounded good. But she still had to get out of the house without bringing it down around her.

  “Fine.” Rosie took a deep breath. “Show me what I have to do.”

  Rio lifted Rosie in his arms and carried her back to the bedroom. He had her stand perfectly still while he dried her again and dressed her in the robe he found thrown over a chair in the corner.

  Then he picked her up again and sat her on the bed. Her body was so stiff he was afraid she’d break, but her eyes followed his every movement, occasionally slipping to his ears, as if checking to see if they’d changed into normal ears while she wasn’t looking.

  Pushing that thought aside, he said, “Okay, let’s do a little experiment first.” He stood in front of her, staring straight into her eyes. “I want you to clear your mind. Try to think about nothing. Then I want you to move your foot as if you’re kicking a ball.”

  Her head cocked to the side out of habit. She didn’t seem to notice and nothing moved. “My foot?”

  He nodded. “Let’s just see what happens.”

  She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. It took her at least thirty seconds but then she opened them, firmed her mouth and kicked out with her left foot.

  Nothing moved, shook, rattled or even trembled.

  “Anything?” she asked, staring straight at him, as if afraid to look around.

  He smiled easily, shaking his head. “No. All right, now I want you to move your hands. Slowly, okay.” If he was right then—

  Rosie lifted her right arm, fingers outstretched as if she were reaching for something.

  And the pictures on the wall directly across from her rattled. Her eyes widened again, fear replacing the determination.

  “Hey, it’s okay, babe.” He reached out to clasp her shoulders and squeezed gently. “Slowly put your hand down and move your head.”

  Again it took her a few seconds, her gaze glued to his, but finally she lowered her hand and tilted her head to the side. Nothing happened.

  Her eyes narrowed as her brain worked. “It’s just my hands?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, that’s my guess.”

  She frowned. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Actually it does. Most Etruscans use their hands to direct the flow of magic. You’ve never had this happen before?”

  She shook her head, slipping her hands under her legs so she wouldn’t use them to gesture. “I’m the most boring person in the world. Nothing ever happens to me. I mean, I lost my parents when I was really young but that was just a freak accident.”

  Rio’s eyebrows rose. “What happened to your parents?”

  “I told you. It was an accident. They were electrocuted.”

  “How?”

  “An electrical wire fell on them during a summer storm. I was only six months. I was in the house, taking a nap. They were outside working in the garden. It was a one-in-a-million accident. My godmother Lora was visiting us at the time and she brought me to live here.” Her eyes widened. “Oh my God, do you think I killed my parents?”

  “Whoa, no, Rosie.” Sliding onto the bed next to her, he wrapped his arms around her and settled her against his body. She didn’t reach for him but he knew that was because she didn’t want to move her hands. “That’s not why I asked. Besides, most Fata don’t come into their full powers until they’re teenagers.”

  “Then what’s happening to me? I’m definitely not a teenager. And I’m not Etruscan or Fata, whatever that is. I mean, my dad’s parents were from Italy, but that doesn’t make them Etruscan. The Etruscan civilization has been extinct for thousands of years.”

  He didn’t want to get into that discussion just yet. Better she meet Sal first and then they could answer all her questions together—after she fainted. “I don’t know, Rosie. But I do know someone who might have some answers.”

  She took a deep breath, her body crowding just a little further into his. “Then let’s go.”

  Chapter Five

  Rosie got dressed in silence, trying not to move too much.

  After she turned down Rio’s offer to help her get dressed, he’d taken his clothing from downstairs into the bathroom. She’d almost called him back but she didn’t want to be too needy. She was already embarrassed by her earlier actions. Jeez, she’d clung to him like a baby, as if he were her only hope.

  She tried to make sense of the situation. They’d had sex—great sex, mind-blowing sex—and then she’d gained some weird freaking powers. That must be the worst possible consequence of a one-night stand ever. They should use her as an example in an after-school special.

  Her mind almost exploded with questio
ns, but she did know one thing for sure. Rio could have hauled ass out of here at the first sign of trouble. He hadn’t.

  However, he still had a lot of explaining to do.

  When he reentered the bedroom again, looking fabulous in the slightly rumpled clothes he’d worn last night, she wanted to lick him from head to toe. She couldn’t help it.

  To distract herself, she asked, “What about you, Rio? Tell me about you.” It was time to explain the “I’m a linchetto of the Etruscan Fata” comment.

  He didn’t answer her right away but she knew he was mulling over a response rather than avoiding her question. Then again, maybe she didn’t want to know how delusional he really was. Of course those ears she’d been trying not to think about made her doubt her own sanity.

  Finally he sighed and walked over, stopping directly in front of her. “You know those fairy tales you were telling me you like to rewrite?” He waited until she nodded then said, “Well, most of those stories have a basis in reality. Not the story so much as what the story is about.”

  Okay, she’d play along. But she couldn’t keep the hint of skepticism out of her voice. “So fairies and elves and goblins are real?”

  He nodded, looking completely serious. “Yeah. We’re just not that…generic.”

  Generic? “What do you mean, ‘we’? What’s a linchetto, Rio?”

  He looked deep into her eyes as if trying to predict how she was going to react to whatever he was about to say. “A linchetto is part of the Fata, one of the two magical races of the Etruscans. The Enu are the other. The Fata are what you would consider mythical beings…elves, fairies and so on. The Enu are humans with magical abilities, like the streghe and versipelli.” At her blank look, he added, “Witches and werewolves.”

  Her mouth opened but she couldn’t think of a damn thing to say. A sudden heat flash engulfed her body and she swayed. Rio grabbed her arms as if to hold her up. After about a minute, she felt the heat subside and took a deep breath.

  “So you’re telling me those…creatures are real?”

  He stiffened slightly. “We’re not creatures. We’re people. Just like you.”

  The hurt look on his face stung her. “So what…what does linchetto mean?”

  “Night elf,” he shot back.

  Her eyebrows lifted. “And that means…”

  “That means I can dissolve my body into shadow.”

  Her jaw was going to come completely unhinged after all this. “Huh?”

  Just like that, Rio disappeared before her eyes. As in, one second he was there, the next he was gone.

  The short little shriek that left her mouth was involuntary. The one she uttered when he reappeared was just as embarrassing.

  She stared at him in wide-eyed wonder. His expression was wary, uncertain.

  “Oh my God. Rio, that’s…” She didn’t find words for it.

  Rosie had her hands out of her pockets and was reaching for him before she remembered they were dangerous weapons. Rio swayed at the force she threw at him but managed to move back only a few steps. He grabbed her hands then laced their fingers together. His growing smile nearly made her forget the entire screwed-up situation.

  “I’m sor—”

  He put a finger on her mouth. “Hey, babe.” That smile turned sinfully sexy. “No more sorry. This isn’t your fault.”

  “Can you do what I can do?” she asked.

  Pulling her closer, he guided their hands around his waist and flattened hers on his back. Then he moved his hands around her waist and pulled her body tightly against his.

  “No. But I can work spells. And my brother Cam can translocate.”

  At her puzzled look, he added, “He can move himself and others from one place to another.”

  Right. “What about your other brothers?”

  “Well, Antonin and I can dissolve. Teo can dissolve but he’s…different.”

  “Different how?”

  Rio shook his head. “I can’t really explain. It’s a long story. Just take my word for it.”

  She was about to ask another question when he said, “You seem to be handling this pretty well. Are you sure you’re not in shock?”

  No, of course she wasn’t sure. She’d never been this frightened in her life. If Rio hadn’t been here, she’d probably be on the floor in a dead faint. His presence helped calm her, steadied her enough to face whatever was going on. And something was definitely going on. Hell, things moved when she waved her arms. “Well, it’s not as if I fell into the Twilight Zone, right? I mean, I’m still me. I just have…an ability I didn’t have yesterday. Right?” Her tone sought reassurance.

  Rio smiled again and a sense of calm invaded her. “You’re still you. With a new ability. So are you ready to get some answers?”

  She could do this. Rosie nodded, trying to feel as confident as she hoped she sounded. “Lead on.”

  Rio couldn’t believe how well Rosie was rolling with the punches.

  Sure, she was worried. But she wasn’t hiding in a corner, crying. Her eyes were bright, maybe a little too big, but the smile he couldn’t get enough of had reemerged.

  But now he was taking her to see Sal, and that might freak her out. He knew it would…

  He’d given some thought to calling his brother Cam to ask for his help. But Cam would chew him up one side and down the other for having a one-night stand with a girl he didn’t know anything about.

  Of course Cam didn’t have much room to talk. He’d seduced his mate Stella with the intention of using her to bring down her evil uncle. Still, Rio knew Cam would give him a lecture and he didn’t want to deal with that. Nino would be the same and Teo wouldn’t have a clue how to help. He might actually make things worse without even trying.

  No, he’d take her to see Sal. He’d already given her the rundown on the Fata and the Enu. Sal would be a shock, but Rosie could handle it. He had no doubt.

  As they walked down the stairs, Rosie held on to his hand with both of hers.

  “Do you have a car, hon, or should I call a cab?” Rio asked. “I can go get my car from my brother’s apartment but it’ll take me about a half hour or more.”

  “My car’s parked in the space behind the house but I couldn’t get it started yesterday,” Rosie said. “I had to walk to work. You still didn’t tell me where we’re going.”

  He ignored that question for now. “Do you mind if I take a look at your car?”

  Her eyebrows lifted. “Do you know anything about cars?”

  “Hey,” he gave her a mock-offended look, “I’m a guy. It comes with the territory.”

  There was that smile again, the one that made him want to take her back to bed. “Right. Just like girls have the gene for cooking. I’m hell with a microwave but don’t expect me to make you a gourmet meal.”

  “No problem.” He shrugged. “I can cook too.”

  “Well, aren’t you just too good to be real?”

  Was that sarcasm in her voice? It sure sounded like it. As they walked through a kitchen that looked like it held the entire contents of a kitchenware store, Rio wanted more of her earlier smile. He stopped in his tracks, bringing her to a halt and her gaze back to his. Her eyes widened as he lifted her right hand and splayed it on his chest. His heart kicked into a faster rhythm. “Does this not feel real?” he asked quietly.

  Her gaze held on to his but he saw her chest begin to rise and fall more rapidly. She swallowed hard and her fingers flexed, digging into his pecs. Then her eyes flashed to his ears. They were covered again by his hair but he knew she was thinking about them from her slight frown.

  “I’m just as real as you are, Rosie. I have parents. I went to high school and college. I had a first kiss. My favorite writers are J.A. Jance and Stephen King. I like metal and classic rock and horror movies.”

  Her expression softened but there was still no smile. “What? You’re not a huge Lord of the Rings fan?”

  The gentle teasing in her tone lit his libido as surely as if she’
d set a match to a can of gasoline. He wanted her. He wanted her more than he wanted to breathe—but she was still freaked out. He could see it in her eyes, in the slight dilation of her pupils. Still, sex as a tranquilizer wasn’t a bad idea…

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to rein in his desire. Rosie was probably on overload and he didn’t want to do anything she might regret later.

  Her fingers flexed again, the slight movement not triggering any force—except making his blood pressure rise, and his cock along with it.

  Letting his gaze drop to her hand, he watched her small, unpainted nails dig into his t-shirt. A memory from last night—the slight pain those short white crescents had inflicted on his balls—made heat burn low in his body.

  When he lifted his eyes again, he could tell she was right there with him. Her pretty lips were parted as she drew in a deep breath. Then her tongue darted out to lick her top lip. Her heavy-lidded gaze caught his and, just so he made no mistake, she leaned forward and nipped his bottom lip.

  He let the sensuality of that touch unlock the hold he had on his libido. Rio stepped right into her body, molding her to him with both arms around her back and trapping her against his chest. He kissed her hard, forcing her mouth to open under his and letting his tongue plunder the warm cavity beyond.

  Rosie moaned, desire and a hint of relief evident in the sound. It was the relief that had him vowing she was going to forget her problems, even if it would only be for a short while. For that, he needed to set some ground rules.

  He walked her backward a few steps until she came up against the counter, his mouth still sealed against hers, his tongue sliding against her tongue.

  Then he took a step back, watched her hands clench into fists and spun her until she was facing the cabinets.

  She gasped, not in fear but in excitement. He knew the difference well and it made him smile. Wrapping his body around her from behind, he pressed his throbbing cock against her ass and rubbed, teasing another groan out of both of them.

  “It’s going to be fast and hard, babe,” he whispered in her ear. “If that’s not okay, say so now.”