by Bonnie Vanak
But when she caught Gabriel’s rich scent of cocoa butter, cool rain showers and musk, her knees buckled. He smelled like sex on the beach, the kind that got you real hot, bothered and aching for more.
Sienna fisted her hands, trying to control a body suddenly weak with sensual longing.
Gabriel pushed through the crowds and stood before her.
Mouth dry, she stared at him. Hair the color of darkest gold was swept back from his forehead, lying in soft waves down to his collar. He’d cut it since she’d last seen him. A well-trimmed dark gold beard and mustache accented the curve of his red, wet upper lip. Deep set green eyes studied her with cool aplomb.
Her species was tall, but Gabriel’s six feet, five inches made her feel petite. He wore sturdy tan work boots, faded jeans and an untucked blue plaid shirt. The shirt was rolled up at the elbows, displaying his tanned, strong forearms dusted with dark gold hair.
He was still devastating.
But this time, she’d resist him.
Gabriel approached and the customers parted like water to allow him through. Sienna stepped away from the cooler and threw back her shoulders.
“Hello Sienna.”
That deep, smoky voice stroked over her like the touch of his calloused hands upon her bare flesh. Sienna’s toes curled in her hiking boots as she remembered him whispering into her ear, his warm breath upon her neck as he surged deep inside her, creating such exquisite pleasure she’d screamed…
Not. Going. There.
“Gabriel.” Sienna jammed her hands into her pockets to keep from touching him. “I need a place to stay for a few days and use of the spring of Danu.”
He remained silent.
Gabriel was a big guy, solid and muscled, with a quiet demeanor. You could make the mistake of underestimating him because he seldom talked much upon first meeting someone. Then you realized he was studying you, as a cat studies a mouse he may or may not devour. His silence masked a predatory assessment, determining if you were a threat, or a tasty treat.
After spending three days of carnal delight in his bed, Sienna knew she’d already been labeled the latter.
Finally, he smiled. “Same old Sienna. Always very direct about stating your needs.”
A flush heated her face as she remembered the last time she’d stated a particular need to him, begging for him to touch her in one place…
“No point in wasting words. You never do.”
“Right.” He tilted his head, watching her. “I do have a place where you can stay. And I will allow you to have access to the spring.”
It was too easy. She tensed, watching the glint in his eyes. “Maybe before I unpack, we should go over your admission price.”
His gaze darkened and his muscled body took on a sudden intensity. She’d seen this focused concentration before, right before he’d slid deep inside her…
“No. Oh no. Hell no.”
“I haven’t told you yet.”
“No need. I can see it here.” Sienna pointed two fingers at her eyes. “I am not spending the night with you.”
“Pixie, do you take me for someone that clichéd?” He spread out his hands, a wounded look on his face. “I thought you knew me better.”
“I do, which is why I said it.”
Gabriel sighed. “My beautiful, stubborn Elf. I would never ask you to spend the night as the price of cleansing yourself in the sacred spring.”
Sienna relaxed a little “What then? Jewels? Money? I can take out a loan.”
He ignored that. “One night in my bed would never suffice.”
Uh oh. “Gabriel…”
Her pulse skittered a crazy beat as he began to circle her, the panther sizing up his intended prey. “I want you naked in my arms when we celebrate the Blood Moon Festival with my clan. You and I making love beneath the open sky, our cries of pleasure honoring the goddess.”
He stepped close enough for her to see the gold flecking his jade eyes. “Making love until we’re both panting and sweaty and trembling, and then doing it again. And again. And again...”
Sienna’s heart skidded to a halt. She pressed back against the cooler, wanting to tamp down the heat his smoldering gaze created, a heat that curled through her body like smoke.
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Gabriel caged her between his muscled arms.
“Don’t do this to me, Gabriel. I’ll give you anything…”
“Anything?” His gaze glittered with male intent.
“Anything that requires a charge card and purchases. Anything that doesn’t require me to get naked.”
“We could be inventive and leave your clothes on.” His green eyes twinkled with mirth and she sagged against the cooler for support, her palms splayed against the glass.
Gabriel’s grin dropped. He cupped her elbow. “Gods, you look famished. When was the last time you ate?”
“Oh, a century or two ago.”
At her dismissive hand wave, he frowned. “We’ll discuss the terms of your surrender over dinner, after I get you settled.”
“I never surrender.”
“Terms are non-negotiable. Capitulation to my home-cooked vegetarian stew with organic carrots and beans. And you need a good night’s sleep.” At her wide-eyed look, he added, “Alone. I want you fully charged and ready for me.”
“Gabriel, I’m not a battery.”
“No, but you did enjoy some toys that ran on them.”
People started milling near them and a couple was headed for the juice cooler where they stood. The loud voices, the crush and the smell of too many bodies, damp earth and plants clawed at her. She pushed away from the cooler and her knees buckled. Panic filled her and she grabbed at Gabriel.
“Whoa.” He caught her before she hit the floor and lifted her into his arms.
She wanted to protest that she wasn’t weak, but the grayness kept clouding her vision. Hooking her arms around his neck, Sienna closed her eyes, willing away the dizziness.
“Easy now, pixie. I’ll take care of you.”
“Don’t need taking care of,” she murmured, but the words came out sluggish. Fatigue claimed her and she rested her head against his broad chest.
“You’ve always been a lousy liar,” he murmured into her ear as he carried her through the store toward the exit.
Gabriel took her outside, and eased her onto a stone bench overlooking rows of palm saplings. She breathed in the clean, fresh air, grateful for the open space and quiet.
Sienna struggled to recover her composure and equilibrium. She hated relying on others.
“Need a minute,” she muttered.
Squatting down, he put a hand on her knee. “Take all the time you want.”
There wasn’t enough time. Each day the powerful darkness inside her threatened to take over, controlling her fully. Only the spring of Danu would restore her. Then she’d become open to the benevolent powers of their universe; the good, light magick that would enable her to return to her king.
No one in the royal circles wanted a dark Elf in their midst. It was like having a cockroach invade the banquet table.
As a Shadow Elf, she’d spent her entire life trying to balance her light magick against her dark magick. It was a constant struggle, but staying celibate and free to focus on her duties kept her dark side at bay. Then twenty-five years ago she betrayed her king and her people by sleeping with Gabriel and breaking her oath.
I am dark, and dark is bad, she thought, guilt clogging her throat. Gabriel shattered all her willpower. He was like chocolate to a woman dieting. Rich, tempting and sinful.
Very, very bad for her.
But oh, so very tasty.
She leaned back, enjoying the cool shade and the breeze playing with some strands of hair that had escaped its tight bun. “Your place has changed, Gabriel. You never had this many customers, only a few commercial businesses as clients. You’ve always gone out of your way to avoid interacting with Skins. And now you’re catering to t
hem.”
He joined her on the bench. “Skins have money, and they’re important. We have to learn to live alongside them, or we die.”
“Isn’t that philosophy a bit drastic?”
“No more drastic than the blizzard of development since you left.”
“We’ve all had to compromise. But you never struck me as a shifter who likes money and this business smells like cold cash. And what’s the deal with all the hired help? In particular, that mouthy Fairy? ”
Sienna opened her eyes and regarded him.
“Willow?” He tilted his head and the hint of a smile touched his full lips as if he knew her thoughts. “Willow is harmless. Water Fairy. She was assigned here a few weeks ago by Cael to help me guard the Everglades after she effectively stopped an evil sprite from poisoning a mountain creek. Originally from Montana. I took her into my clan and employed her.”
A hairy-eared goblin walked past, saw them and gave a little bow. “Break time, Gabriel. Thought I’d grab a snack at the store. I left Odin 2 watching the perimeter.”
“Two hours. And don’t eat the customers, Odin,” Gabriel called after him as the little goblin scurried into the store.
This was news. “Since when have you decided to have goblins patrol your territory?”
“Odin and his twin brother, Odin 2, are good guardians. I need them to protect the land.”
“From what? Invasive cat tails?” Sienna asked, more alert now that her head no longer felt stuffed with cotton wool.
He bent his head to regard her, and a hank of dark gold hair spilled into his face. Gabriel pushed it back with an impatient hand. “You’ve been gone twenty-five years, pixie. A lot has happened in that time. A lot of changes, and many of them very, very bad.”
“Speaking of which…” Sienna pulled her cell phone out of a jeans pocket and handed it to him. “Look at the last photo. Do you know him?”
His expression tightened as he gazed at the snake man.
“That’s Rex. Shifter who lives in Okeechobee. He was down here in my territory visiting some cousins living along the river.” Gabriel gave her back the phone. “Where’s his body? His mate and their seven young will want a proper burial.”
She was afraid of that. “There’s nothing left, but I can give you the GPS location where he died so they can dig up the earth and scatter it as they wish.”
“What were you doing at the river?”
Sienna hesitated. He had a finger on every water source across south Florida and he’d eventually discover the truth. “Trying to find a channel that would take me to the spring of Danu so I could sneak in the back way.”
“Ah, my most inventive pixie. I wouldn’t expect less of you.”
His stark admiration made her flush with pride. Gabriel was one of the few in her life who had ever handed her a compliment without expecting something in return. They had shared much during their earlier time together.
“But all I found was the river, and a funhouse straight out of Nightmare on Elm Street.” Sienna told him about both Rex’s and the mangroves’ odd behavior.
His expression remained shuttered as she talked, but Sienna watched his eyes. Gabriel had shifter eyes that flickered with emotion. Now they turned dark gold, signaling the rise of his panther.
“So what the hell is going on, Gabriel? What’s infecting the land around here?”
Glancing around, he shook his head. “Not here. We need absolute privacy. You feeling better?” His gaze sharpened as he studied her. “Color’s returned to your cheeks, but you’re still slightly pale.”
“I live in Oregon. Tanning isn’t on my agenda.”
Giving her a lopsided grin, he unsnapped the radio hanging on his leather belt and spoke into it. “George?”
A female voice crackled over the radio. “He’s out on property, Gabriel. Can I help you with something?”
“Come to the pond. I need you to give the keys to George to lock up at closing time.”
“Be right there.”
Gabriel pocketed the radio. “Be nice to Willow. She’s a little frail.”
“I won’t bite.”
“Ah, as I recall, darling,” he murmured, “you definitely bite. You left a mark right on my…”
“Stop it.” She shook her head. “We’re not headed there.”
“Too bad. It was rather enjoyable.”
Unable to think of a sharp retort, Sienna fell silent, glancing at the paved walkway as the petite Willow scurried toward the pond. For such a tiny thing, she certainly had speed. Maybe she flew. The thought of a Fairy taking wing and startling the customers, like a garden ornament come to life, amused Sienna. But a sharp stab of pain shot through her temple, and she winced. Since yesterday, every time she held a positive or cheerful thought, the darkness inside her reacted.
Gabriel’s expression tightened. He cupped her face, his broad, calloused palm warm against her suddenly chilled cheek. “It’s very bad for you. I heard what you did to cleanse the earth of Terithen’s evil.”
“Word gets around fast.”
“Fairy grapevine, courtesy of Willow. You know how Fairies love to gossip.”
Sienna nodded, closing her eyes and centering on chasing away the pounding. “Lately, it’s worse. Feels like a railroad spike hammering into my head.”
“Because you’re fighting it so hard. This will help.”
He brushed a kiss against her pounding temple. It was a mere press of his mouth, but the pain suddenly eased. Sienna opened her eyes, grateful and confused.
“Thanks. Gain a new ability since I last saw you?”
Eyes the color of jade regarded her solemnly. “It happened after you left. I felt it after we made love and it grew stronger when I finally decided to test out my new power.”
“New power?”
“I can call out a person’s magick, use it to strengthen my own, and heal people.” His grin filled with mischief, Gabriel held up his hands. “Care for more healing? These can make you feel very, very good, especially if you’re naked.”
A flush heated her face. Before she could respond, Willow reached them. She ignored Sienna, focused on her boss.
“Gabriel, you needed me?”
“Willow, meet Sienna. Sienna, Willow.”
The Fairy darted a nervous look her way.
“We’ve met,” Sienna said briefly.
Gabriel fished a set of keys out of a jeans pocket and handed them over. “Find George, give him these and tell him to take over the store for me. You can help him close up.”
“I can close up myself,” Willow protested. “You don’t need George. Why won’t you trust me? I’m not a child.”
He gave her an indulgent smile. “No, of course you’re not. But George knows the routine. I have to take Sienna over to the house. She’s an Elf trying to avoid the dark side of life. Have to get her inside before sunset.”
Sienna smirked, wincing at another stabbing jolt of pain.
“I’m s-sorry for being rude earlier,” Willow stammered. “Are you a dark Elf?”
“I’m not fully dark,” she protested.
Keys jangled in Willow’s trembling hand. “Dark Elf. Bad things happen with dark Elves.” Her gaze fell to the knife at Sienna’s belt.
Her chest tightened. “Sorry about earlier. I have a short temper these days.”
The Fairy nodded, then gave Gabriel a nervous look. “Is she staying here?”
“Don’t worry. Sienna won’t hurt you. Go, find George and give him those keys,” Gabriel said slowly, as if speaking to a child.
Resentment flashed on Willow’s face. “I will, but I’m the one who will do most of the work. How many times must I tell you, Gabriel? When will you listen to me and let me close the store by myself?”
To his credit, Gabriel held his temper. “I’ll listen when you cash out and don’t come up short. Do it tonight and ask George to supervise and if he approves, you can close by yourself tomorrow night.”
The Fairy hurried off, fleet o
f foot but with no wing display.
“A little touchy, that Willow,” she observed. “Why do you keep her around?”
“She’s good with the plants. As a water Fairy, she keeps them well-soaked.”
Sienna took a deep breath and forced herself to stand, waving away Gabriel’s hand.
“I can walk on my own.”
“You need help,” he said gently. “It’s no shame in having to admit it.”
“Sure. Like you’ve ever asked for help.”
Gabriel gave her a pointed look and she flushed, remembering how she’d come to his territory. “That was different. Your land needed the assistance. Not you.”
“I am intimately connected to the land, pixie, as are you. What affects the earth, affects both of us.”
“Right now I feel clogged with cattails. No, something much nastier.” Something that itched to grab hold of her soul, much as the cattails had pushed aside all the shallow water. Only this something would do far worse than cause birds to go hungry.
If the darkness remained, she’d hold enough power to fry the entire Everglades to a crisp, killing all plants and wildlife for miles. In fact, that would be a piece of cake, compared to the breadth of Terithen’s true power. With a single spell, the Fae King’s son could have destroyed all life from here to Kansas. Sienna shuddered.
Deep inside, the darkness smiled at the thought. Destruction is good.
Screw you. You’re not controlling me, she silently vowed.
Gabriel gave her a critical look when she leaned on him. “You’re still wobbly on your feet. Maybe you’d better bunk with me tonight. I’ll keep you from falling out of bed.”
“How generous of you. Thanks, but I’ll take the floor. Safer there.”
Gabriel grinned, cupping her elbow as they headed for the pathway connecting his house to the nursery. She’d never share his bed again. She’d suffered the consequences last time she made the mistake of sleeping with him.
This time, Sienna resolved to never again break her vow of celibacy. She would not be lovers with Gabriel.
No matter what.
Chapter 3