by E. M. Moore
Randy’s shoulders bunched at the initial intrusion, but relaxed as soon as he heard his friend’s voice. “You’re being very rude, Liam.”
Liam turned his head. Surprise riddled his features as soon as he saw that his friend stood in front of me. A heated red colored his cheeks as he took a step back. “S-sorry.” He looked away.
“It’s okay,” I said immediately, hating that I was the reason he felt so awkward. He turned his attention back to me and I smiled. “I’m Norah.”
I held my hand out, and he took it. A zap of static electricity passed between us and we both immediately pulled away. “Sorry,” he said again, then blushed as if he hated that he was once again apologizing, or maybe it was because he hated being so awkward. “Didn’t mean to shock you.”
“It happens.”
Randy watched our little interaction with raised eyebrows. He looked back and forth between us before settling his heated gaze back on me. Liam cleared his throat nervously. “You don’t care that you told me that earlier, do you?” he asked.
Randy shook his head. “Not one flying fuck.”
Liam turned as if he expected that as a reaction and left us alone again. As soon as he walked away, a hollow pang struck my core. I hadn’t realized until he left, but that yearning feeling had intensified while they were both in front of me, but had returned to the ache with just Randy.
He stepped closer, nudging the drink the bartender must’ve left for me out of the way. “Thank you.”
I looked up at him curiously. “For?”
“Being nice to Liam. He’s my best friend, and for some reason, women treat him like he’s the dirt on the other side of their three-inch heels.”
I peered over Randy’s shoulder and found Liam staring back at us as he stood with the two others. Gabe, the British one, and the one with the dark hair whose name I hadn’t learned yet. I swallowed down the sudden feeling of fullness as I stared at them and immediately turned back to Randy. “What can I say? Girls can be bitches.”
“And what about you, Norah? What kind of girl are you?”
I shrugged, not knowing how to answer. I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him the truth. Being a voodoo practitioner, I knew enough not to spout that kind of stuff when you first met people. They tended to shy away from you after that. And no one, well, no one except Granny, knew about the real stuff, the genuine power I had. The power that was passed down to me through a long line of voodoo priestesses. My customers back home guessed, but it had been a while since I’d done anything like my Grandmother had. The tourists didn’t want the real stuff, anyway. They said they did, but what they really wanted was the idea of the real stuff, so that’s exactly what I gave them in my voodoo shop. A show.
I took a step toward Randy until the tips of my shoes met his. The closer I got, the more overwhelmed I became. The scent of maple hit me and I took a deep whiff, taking Randy all in. As he’d done with me, I whispered in his ear nice and slow, “I’m…impatient.”
Randy made a low mewling noise in the back of his throat before his hand came up to settle on the bare skin at my waist. His touch sent a shockwave through me. I gasped at his large, rough hands as they made careful sweeping motions over my hip and up my back. When he got further, and further up, he stopped moving and swore harshly under his breath. I smiled to myself. I wasn’t wearing a bra, and he’d just found out.
His hand lingered toward the side of my body and his thumb reached out, just barely grazing the side of my naked breast. “Holy fuck,” I breathed. I hadn’t meant to. I was supposed to be cozying up to one of them so I could get inside their place to look around and figure out why the hell I was so drawn to this place, but this was turning out to be way more than I bargained for.
“God, you’re sexy as hell.”
His hot breath caressed my neck before his lips sealed onto my skin. I went up on my tiptoes, losing myself in the feeling of his mouth on my flesh. It was as if there was a rope tied between us that pulled tighter and tighter the closer we got.
His hands smoothed down my back and over my ass, pulling me closer. I gasped once his thick cock pushed against my leg. This was getting serious now. What was worse was my body’s reaction to it. I should’ve been appalled to get mauled like this at a bar, but I wasn’t. I loved it. Every last hard inch of it, apparently. The whole reason why I came here escaped me and it was just Randy and me. I pressed forward into him and his teeth nipped my neck. “Fuck, yes.”
He pulled away, his hand reaching for mine and entwining our fingers. He shifted his glance to the still full glass of Amaretto Sour I had at the bar. I looked longingly at it, but knew that if I was ever going to follow through with what I came here to do, alcohol would mute my powers and I needed all I had to get through this. I shook my head and Randy eyed me curiously for a moment before pulling me alongside him. When he passed Liam, Gabe, and the dark-haired guy, he barked, “Don’t come home.”
A thrill sent my nerve endings on fire. His hand squeezed mine, and I squeezed him right back. I couldn’t tell if I was excited because I was actually going to be alone with Randy and his body that was made for sex, or if it was because I’d actually found an in. When we got to the exit, I turned around and found Liam and Gabe gaping at us. The dark-haired guy crossed his arms in front of his chest, sending a chill down my spine. Damn. That guy needed a chill pill.
A blast of cold air hit me as we stepped outside. A shiver made my body tremble and Randy, surprisingly, put his arm around me. His body sent off enormous amounts of heat, making me comfortable immediately. He led me to the corner of the parking lot and we stopped just behind a motorcycle. It wasn’t until then I remembered seeing the “muscled, tattoo guy”—what I called him in my head—on a bike and only on a bike and never in a car. Fuck me….
“I intend to.”
My face heated. Holy shit, I’d said that out loud. He thrust a helmet into my hands. I turned it over and over in my grip and began to put it on with his help. He took it by the straps and pulled down, moving my hair out of the way gingerly as he did so. This guy was an enigma. All signs pointed to him just wanting to get a piece of ass, but at the same time, he thanked me for being nice to his friend and made sure I wouldn’t cave my head in if we got into an accident.
He straddled the bike before helping me on. In the next instant, the engine roared to life between my legs. Holy hell. What was I, in a fucking movie?
Randy pulled my arms around his waist until I linked my hands together. He patted my hands as if in approval. Then, pointing down, to a spot next to his foot, I took the hint and moved my own foot there. Nestled with his ass in my crotch and my hands snuggled around him, I was completely at his whim. He walked the bike backward and then turned before gunning the engine and pulling his feet up in front of mine. My stomach flipped as the bike pulled us forward. Holy shit, this was amazing. Even though my arms tightened around his body, I peeked out from underneath the helmet and watched as the streets whisked by, Randy expertly maneuvering the bike through town.
Since I’d been watching them for a couple days now, I knew they didn’t live that far away so the bike ride was short-lived yet exhilarating. We pulled to a stop in front of an old house that held two apartments, one for the guys and one for another set of college students. They shared a porch and Randy pulled the bike right up to the front steps. He put his feet down, leaned the bike, and shut the engine off. I stayed there, my arms still around him, unwilling to give up the feeling of flying with him.
He chuckled, his hard stomach pulsing against my forearms. “What’s a matter, Norah? Not enough.”
I shook my head. “More.”
The helmet obscured my voice, but Randy got the message. He started the engine again, and we pulled away from the front of the house. He went through town, then picked up speed as we got onto a highway. The engine roared underneath me bringing a grin that permanently affixed to my face. The world sped past us, but I was content and happy. He patted my leg and p
ointed out different landmarks once we got off the highway and slowed down on a back road. I couldn’t hear if he said anything, but nodded anyway to let him know I’d seen the stone bridge and the ancient house. After about a half hour, we returned to the city. The bike slowed as we passed Salem’s side streets and hung a right near where Randy lived.
When he cut the engine this time, I got off, my insides buzzing. I went to take the helmet off, and he helped, his fingers pushing mine away and gliding the helmet up before he turned and put it back on the bike. “That was amazing,” I told him, not able to shut up. “I’ve never been on a bike before, and that was…something else.”
He turned back to me, his muscles tight under his shirt. Again, his hard, serious eyes burned through me. “I could listen to you talk all night.”
A flash of heat slicked my thighs. Randy was pure candy. I stifled a chuckle at that thought. “I could look at you all night,” I told him, this statement taking my breath away from the truth behind it.
He stepped close and leaned over. Tipping my head back to gaze at him, I was eager to find out what would happen. I watched as his lips moved closer and closer. Much like it had on the bike, my body vibrated in approval. When his lips finally did meet mine, it was like a bolt of lightning struck solid dirt. I moaned in pleasure as the smell of maple engulfed my senses.
2
More times than I liked to admit, magic did something I wasn’t sure of, or ready for, or hell, even something unexpected. That’s what made it magic, I guessed. An extraordinary, otherworldly enigma I was just a vessel for, like a bull rider trying to tame its beast.
This was one of those times. My body burned like it was molten lava erupting from the intense heat of the Earth’s core. Randy engulfed me in his arms, seemingly just as affected as I was. “Jesus Christ,” he murmured before nibbling my ear. He swept me up in his arms and moved forward, carrying me easily up the steps to the front porch. Without even jostling me, he’d opened the door and pinned me on the other side all before I even knew what happened.
My magic was happy. My body was definitely happy. I sighed as his hips ground against mine and he tilted my neck to get better access. Sweet baby Jesus. What the hell? My hands worked its way up his hard stomach, across his chest and up his neck before I urged his head up so I could meet his lips again. A thousand feelings niggled at my brain. I knew I should just put the sleep spell on him like I’d planned and search the house, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop soaking up his chiseled arms and soft lips. I’d underestimated the pull to him—to all of them. Being in this house was like coming home. I felt one with it. My hair lifted from my shoulders and stood on end as if there was a charged balloon above my head. I ignored the feeling, hoping Randy wouldn’t feel it either. I’d never been so overcome with my powers before that they would come out of me without forewarning, and definitely not when something like this was happening.
His hand came up to rest just above my breast, only the thin cotton t-shirt between us. My nipple pebbled, and I moaned, pressing my chest forward so he’d cup me in his large hands.
“Fucking brilliant,” he said into my mouth. I moaned in response, urging him on. He worked the knot out of my shirt and pulled the fabric up, exposing my breasts. The cool air hardened my nipples as I sat perched on his knee, gasping in air while simultaneously asking myself how long I was going to let this go on for.
His hot mouth enveloped my breast, and I squeezed my legs around him tight, arching into him. His cock rubbed against the apex of my thighs and I wanted so badly to wish my clothes away. It would probably work, and for a second, that would be awesome, but then I’d have to explain how the hell I was naked in front of him and I didn’t want to go there. Instead, my hands worked at his button and fly, yanking the zipper down and spreading the jeans open like I’d just found the lost treasure of the Incas.
He pulled back from the door, taking me with him. His zipper bit into the exposed skin at my stomach, but I didn’t care. Within a few moments, he lowered me carefully onto a bed. I stared up at him, his jeans wide open in front of me, his dark boxers peeking through. His shoulders heaved up and down with deep breaths. He pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his masterful body. Ink of all different colors splattered over his chest and up on his shoulders to his arms. He shifted, and the streetlight caught on a reflection. I narrowed my gaze at his nipple. A piercing. Holy fucking hotness. My thighs quivered. He reached inside his jeans and stroked his cock until it bulged in the opening I’d made. I squeezed my knees together, heightening the delicious pressure building inside.
He stepped back, his hands coming to rest at his sides as we stared at one another. “God, you’re so fucking beautiful.”
“Likewise,” I breathed. He was like sex on a stick. A very thick stick.
A torturous look passed his face for a brief moment. He looked away, but when his eyes returned, there was that same serious expression with the intensity of massive fire balls. “Okay,” he said, pulling himself together. “Okay, we can stop right now, or we can continue. I know I can be—”
“Intense?” I offered. I hoped he didn’t read me wrong. I liked it. Actually, I fucking loved it.
He nodded slowly, but his gaze stayed on mine. My body was on high alert still, catching his every movement. My mind and my body were at odds. Not about getting down and dirty with him. We were most definitely on the same page about that, but my mind kept reminding me I had to do what I came here to do too. I couldn’t let myself get run away with.
Without me even realizing it, my fingers had inched down to my waistline and flitted just underneath my jeans. Randy zeroed in on my hand like a targeted missile sending shivers up my spine.
“Red light or green light?” he urged.
His stare bore into my flesh and I squeezed my thighs together again. “Fuck it, green,” I said, allowing my knees to drop to the side.
Randy made a sound in the back of his throat. He reached into a small drawer by his bedside and yanked out a condom and threw it next to me on the bed. Oddly enough, this didn’t feel wrong, or naughty. I almost chuckled to myself when I remembered what my Grandma always said, “Go with your gut.” Right now, my gut wanted me to give into these urges, to this sexy, dark man standing above me.
I sat up, my mouth immediately closing over his pierced nipple, swirling my tongue over flesh and metal. He jerked back in surprise, but it was only momentary. He placed his strong hands on my shoulders and traced his thumb along my jawline as I stroked his piercing. “Fuck, Norah.”
He pulled at my shirt, removing it and temporarily stopping my movements. With the intrusion, he used that time to lower his jeans and boxers. His cock stood there proudly, as well it should.
Fuck me…
I reached for his cock and his piercing at the same time. His silky skin met my fingers, and I gripped his hard length in my hand. With a hand to my chest, Randy pushed me down gently on the bed. I still clung to him, moving him in my fist as deftly as I could. His hands immediately went to my jeans, unclasping the button and lowering them until everything was on the floor. His knees hit the floor, his dick popping free of my hand as he did so. He knelt between my thighs and locked gazes with me. Heat pooled at the surface of my inner thighs.
In his dark, husky voice, he purred, “Now, where were those fingers heading?”
His lips met my skin, and a muscle jumped. He trailed his lips down the curve of my stomach until they met my thigh. Once there, I gasped as he worked his way inward. My legs seized, my toes curling into Randy’s mattress. “God, yes.”
He made a humming noise in the back of his throat. It vibrated his lips, sending my thoughts spinning.
I reached out and grabbed his head, pulling him toward me. “Fuck.”
As if on cue, his tongue darted out, sliding up my pussy lips until he teased my bud and back down. I didn’t move. I barely breathed. Electricity coursed through me. I pulled him tighter against me and he hummed his approval.
“More. More, Randy, please.”
His lips parted again, his tongue darting out and licking me like a dessert. Pulling my hips closer, he snaked his hands around my thighs and up my abdomen to my breasts. He palmed them, fondling them in his surprisingly careful movements. I held him to my center with one hand while moving the other to my clit. I just couldn’t climax fast enough. His eyes hooded over when he saw what I was doing. He quickened his movements, matching my flicks over my clit until my body exploded in pleasure and I screamed his name.
“Oh, fuck yes,” I told him, waiting for my body to stop pulsing around his tongue. When I calmed down enough, I put my hands under his arms and pulled him up, sealing our lips together and rolling him to his back. Scooching down, I grabbed the condom from the bed, opened the package, and slid it down his thick shaft before positioning myself on top of him.
Excited confusion lit his features. I swept my lips over his, tasting me on him as I went. Sweet, like sugar. It wasn’t just about my taste either. The telltale smell of my magic engulfed us as I stroked his dick. Randy tensed. “Either ride him or get off so I can ride you.”
My nerves steeled as a jolt of pleasure shot through me. It didn’t take a scientist to realize Randy and I got on very well. At least in this department. I stroked him toward my pussy until his tip was inside. More. My body wanted more. I arched into him until he was almost all the way in, then waited for my body to adjust to his girth. It didn’t take much, I was practically soaked inside. With a quick jerk of his hips, Randy brought his cock solidly into me. I gasped at the spike of pleasure and followed his lead. I was already acutely aware of my upcoming orgasm so now it was a game to see how fast I could get him to. I fingered his piercing, then bent over and took his nipple in my mouth, all the while riding him, enjoying the way his body responded to mine. He couldn’t get enough either, his hands coming up to my waist and urging me down over his cock with every stroke. He chanted my name interspersed with gruff curses.