by Vivian Arend
Oh hell. Might as well just get it all out there. What would it hurt if he knew anyway? “I’m a shadow walker.”
He frowned. “A what?”
“There is a world between ours and Hell, where spirits sometimes get trapped. I can walk in that world. There’s an open demon portal there. Chessa and I were trying to seal it so demons can’t reach New Orleans anymore.”
His gorgeous eyes widened as his expression morphed into one of awe. “That’s a lofty goal. I take it it didn’t work?”
I shook my head. “No. In fact, it brought attention to the portal and Chessa had to fight one of them off. It’s not like we were looking for trouble. Chessa had to do what she did. She had no choice. It was either him or us.”
He furrowed his brow, clearly thinking. “I wonder why the Council thought you were trying to summon a demon.”
“I have no idea. I work for the Angel Council, not the Witches’ Council. I can’t even venture a guess as to what they were thinking. But I should let Chessa know we’re on their radar. She should be able to clear everything up.”
Vaughn got up from the bed. “I’ll let Mitch know it’s taken care of.”
“No!” I lunged and grabbed his hand to stop him.
He gave me a stunned look.
I let go. “Sorry. It’s just that I’d like Chessa to talk to the Council first before you involve anyone else. The stuff I just told you, it’s confidential. If it gets out, I’m going to be in a heap of shit.”
He appeared dubious, but after a moment, he nodded. “Sure.”
“I’ll pay whatever your bounty-hunting fee is so you’re not out a job. Let me know how much and I’m sure Chessa will take care of it.” I slipped my phone from my jeans and started punching in Chessa’s private number. She’d banned me from even programming it. That’s how private it was.
But Vaughn snatched the phone from my hand and stood over me, a stormy expression on his face.
“Hey!” I stared up at him, irritated. “Give me my phone back.”
He shoved it in his pocket and shook his head. “Not until we get this straight.”
“Get what straight?” I got to my feet, not at all pleased with the way he was standing over me.
He took a step closer, invading the last inches of my personal space. “Under no circumstances am I going to let you pay my bounty-hunting fee. Not only is that unethical, but it’s offensive. I’m not here with you now because of the money. Got that?”
“I never—”
“I’m here because I want to spend time with the sexy witch who seduced the shit out of me last night and left me hungry for more.”
“Well, that’s flattering,” I said with heavy sarcasm.
“You should be flattered.” His voice was rough as his desire-filled eyes bored into me. “It takes someone special to catch my attention and keep it.” He let out a low, ironic chuckle. “And don’t be giving me that offended glare. You’re exactly the same way. I can sense it all over you. The way you left all those men wanting you back at the club. The subtle magic you use to attract whoever catches your eye. And then the way you flee after you’ve gotten what you want. Don’t for a minute stand there and act like what I said is any different from the way you operate. Because I can see right through you.”
And even though my head said I should slap him and walk away, or at the very least tell him what a piece of shit he was for his crass assessment of me after knowing me for less than twenty-four hours, I did neither of those things. Because he was right. And the fact that he had called me on it only made me want him all the more.
“Matisse?” he said, dropping his gaze to my lips.
“Vaughn?” I breathed.
“It’s going to be a while before you can make that phone call.”
My pulse quickened and something fluttered in my stomach. “And why is that?” I managed to force out.
“Because, my gorgeous witch, I’m going to take you to bed now and make you ache with need until you beg me to make love to you.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
MATISSE
Vaughn dipped his head and moved in to claim my lips. His words kept repeating in a loop in my head.
I’m going to take you to bed and make you ache with need.
I was already there. Just his words had ignited a passion so fierce, so lustful, that every part of me begged to be touched. My fingers curled into his shirt, fisting the fabric as our tongues met and tangled together.
The kiss was hot, full of pent-up tension, but the frenzy was offset by his slow, gentle caress of my neck. His fingers trailed lightly from the base of my skull down to my nape and circled the love bite he’d given me the night before. Once again as soon as he touched me there, electric heat shot from the mark straight to my center, causing me to gasp with the delightful sensation.
His chest rumbled with a light chuckle.
“What did you do to me?” I asked, my lips pressed against his.
He pulled away slightly to gaze into my eyes. “You’ve been marked.”
But before I could ask what he meant, he lifted me off my feet and covered my mouth with his. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me into his bathroom. Then the shower was on and he was peeling me out of my soiled clothes.
I stood there letting him do what he would, completely turned on by the intimacy of the moment. Every thought of the day’s events flew out of my head as each garment was stripped from my body, followed by his gentle touch over my bare skin. It wasn’t until his hand brushed over my neck and the tingling started again that I remembered what he’d said. Standing naked in his bathroom, I touched his hand, stopping his careful exploration. “What did you mean, I’ve been marked?”
His eyes focused on my neck and then he placed his fingers over the area, carefully tracing the faint bruise. “Only that I’d left a mark on you. It’ll fade.”
Why did I like the fact that he had marked me? The feminist in me wasn’t amused. But the woman in me thought it was hot as hell. I hooked a finger in one of his belt loops and tugged him the last few inches toward me. And as I undid his belt, he bent his head to my neck and went to work on loving that spot on my neck. My knees turned to jelly as heat flooded my body. “Oh, that’s nice.”
I felt him smile against my skin, and with a gentle tug, I relieved him of his jeans and boxer briefs. Then I traced my hands over his abs, exploring every toned dip and ridge. Eff me. His body was outrageous. I could’ve spent all night just touching him. That is until he tugged his shirt off and pulled me into the hot stream of water. He turned me so I was standing in front of him and then he went to work on washing every part of my body. The warmth and slippery touch of his soapy fingers soothed me.
He took his time washing my back, my limbs, and even took care to massage my fingers. The total luxury of giving myself over to someone else was tantalizing, and for once, I didn’t feel threatened by my own vulnerability. I loved it. Loved giving up the control and trusting this man to give me what I needed.
After carefully washing and conditioning my hair, he handed me the shower gel and stood before me, silently asking me to do the same for him. I was all too willing. My fingers were eager to touch, to explore, and to know all the ridges and angles of his tall frame. I took my time washing his hair, gratified when he tilted his head back with his eyes closed, clearly enjoying my touch. Once I was done, I grazed my fingers along the indent of his narrow waist, smiling when I reached around and ran my hand along the silky plane of his arousal.
A small, strangled moan escaped his lips as he grew harder under my touch.
Kissing his shoulder, I palmed him and slowly slid my hand up and down and then repeated the motion.
“Matisse,” he said, placing his hand over mine to stop the torment.
I squeezed gently, sending a small shiver through him. “Yes, Vaughn?”
“Maybe it’s better for both of us if we put the pause button on that activity for a moment.” He turned and flattened
his hands against the tile, trapping me between him and the wall. “Because there’s a lot more I have planned before this evening is over.”
I raised my hands in surrender. “I’m all yours.”
His dark eyes sparked with intensity, and I bit my lip as I realized I’d just given up all control. But it was so freeing and so damned alluring that I stood there, waiting for him to make another move.
He dipped his head, gently kissing one of my fingers, and curled his right hand around my left. The gesture was so sweet and tender it nearly brought tears to my eyes. But then he slipped another one of my fingers into his mouth and sucked, sending a bolt of lightning that heated me from the inside out. A moan of pleasure tore from the back of my throat.
His low chuckle vibrated over my fingers, and the thought of his mouth on other more sensitive places made my insides churn with anticipation.
“More,” I said, arching so my nipple was inches from his lips.
He didn’t disappoint. He turned his head and clasped his teeth around my already pebbled peak and moved his hand down to my hip, possessively digging his fingers into my flesh.
“Yes,” I whispered.
That tiny word, yes, was like a dam bursting, and his mouth was suddenly everywhere, kissing and biting my flesh until my breasts were aching and heavy. The sensations were breathtaking in a way that left me unable to do anything except lean against the cool tile and let him devour me.
Before long, he shifted and kissed his way down my stomach, stopping just before his tongue dipped inside me. “Matisse?”
“Hmm?” I murmured.
He carefully shifted my feet so my legs were spread, giving him more access. “I’m going to make you come so hard you’re not going to be able to hold yourself up.”
“Oh, okay,” I whispered and buried my hands in his thick hair, my hips swaying with anticipation.
“Then I’m going to carry you to the bed, bury myself deep inside you, and claim you in the way only a man who’s had every part of you can.”
“Uh-huh,” I agreed, trembling now. “Yes. Do it now. Make me come for you.” In my lust-filled state, I didn’t care that I was begging. Didn’t care that I was at his mercy. He wanted to make me feel things I’d never let myself feel before, that loss of control while being pleasured by another. I wanted it. Craved it. And trusted him to be the one to do it.
His tongue darted out, licking my hot, slick flesh with practiced expertise. The orgasm started to build instantly. My magic sprang to life with each stroke of his tongue, as if his touch was calling my power forward. I had no control over it. Couldn’t stop it even if I wanted to. Not that I did. The sensation was heady and bringing me to the edge faster than ever before.
I moaned, magic sparking around me.
Vaughn raised his head, meeting my half-lidded eyes. His were full of untamed lust, and without warning, his fingers plunged into me as he sucked hard on my sensitive flesh.
My entire body trembled as a long, slow shudder rolled through me.
Sparks of magic flickered over my skin, serving only to intensify the glorious sensations. I’d never felt this good before. Never felt this alive. I rocked my hips forward, demanding more.
That clever mouth of his sucked harder. My muscles tightened, and a ragged gasp escaped me as the bundle of nerves went off like a rocket. The orgasm hit me fast and hard. If Vaughn hadn’t been holding me up, I was certain I’d slide to the floor of the shower. But his strong hands kept me in place. And all the while he kept his tongue on me, coaxing me into a greater frenzy of sensation.
I bit my lower lip, trying to hold back the screams of release, but I lost the battle and cried out his name, confirming that at least for that night, I did belong to him.
He held me there under the warm stream of water, his head pressed to my stomach as he waited for my shudders to fade away.
I wasn’t sure what to say. He’d made another promise. The one to claim me, to really mark me as his. Would he do it?
I didn’t have to wait long for my answer. Without a word, Vaughn flipped the water off and secured me in his arms. A moment later, he was on top of me in his bed, reaching for a condom. “Remember what I said before?”
I nodded.
“Good. Because I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone.”
As he deftly rolled the condom on, I jerked up and caught his lower lip in mine, sucking on his the way he’d been sucking on me less than a few minutes before. He groaned, and true to his word, he slammed into me, burying himself deep.
“Ohh,” I sighed, wrapping myself around him. “Yes.”
Our eyes met. In him, I saw a man I could finally trust to take me places I’d been too afraid to go before. Magic crackled around us, forming a cocoon of light.
Vaughn froze, taking in the fireworks show, but when I lifted my hips, creating that sweet friction, his attention snapped back to me. Then he started to move. He pulled back slowly, savoring the incredible torture. I clutched at his arms, digging my nails in, silently begging him to give me what I so obviously craved. He paused, staring down at me, his expression focused.
“Please,” I said.
That one word unraveled his control and he thrust into me. Magic rippled over my skin and then clung to him. I knew the moment he felt it. His hips jerked and he slid into me—deeper, if that was even possible.
“Shit, Matisse. You feel so damn good.”
I could only manage a nod. His touch was now sending tingles of delight into me at every spot we connected. It was overwhelming and intoxicating at the same time. The magic was wholly intertwined with our lovemaking now. With each stroke, each movement we made together, the magic got stronger. It encircled us and built to dizzying levels.
He gazed down at me in wonder. Our eyes locked, and together we moved in unison. We were lost in the moment, magic coursing through the both of us, spilling all around us, and building with each moment we were lost in each other.
The fire building inside me raged hotter and wilder than ever before. I matched his pace, raising my hips to meet his as he made me his in mind, body, and soul.
I was lost in the haze of sex and magic.
“Are you with me, Mati?” Vaughn’s husky voice brought me back to myself.
Nodding, I tightened my grip on his shoulders.
“Good, baby. That’s good. Do you like the way I feel inside of you?”
“Yes.” My voice was barely a whisper.
“How much?”
“Hmm. A lot,” I muttered into his shoulder as I clung to him, trying to get closer.
“Show me.”
His words were like a drug possessing me. I hooked one leg around his and we rolled together until I was straddling him.
“Ride me,” Vaughn commanded.
And even though I was on top, he was still in charge. His hands clasped my hips as he held me in place and thrust up into me. I moaned as the crescendo of pleasure flooded my senses. Another thrust. And another, as magic filled the room, bursting around us. I gasped as Vaughn ground into me one last time and we came together. The second orgasm bolted through me, hitting me so hard I collapsed against him, gasping for breath.
He kissed my shoulder and brought his hand up to gently caress my face. We stared at each other, each of us wide-eyed. He had a look of wonder, but all I felt was empty, and it scared the crap out of me.
“Vaughn,” I said and tried to lift myself off him, but I was too weak. Instead, I sort of slid to the side, one leg still draped over his body.
“Mati?” His voice was far away and my vision started to fade.
Then there was nothing.
CHAPTER TWELVE
VAUGHN
Confusion mixed with panic lined Matisse’s face as she collapsed at my side.
I sprang up and clasped her shoulders. “Matisse? Babe. What’s wrong?”
Nothing. She didn’t move and her body appeared to be totally limp. “Shit!” I climbed to my knees and scooped her up in
my arms, holding her close. She’d spent too much of her magic. I was sure of it. Never in my life had I felt someone throw that much power around. I’d thought it had all been part of her sex-witch ritual, but now, seeing her unconscious, my gut told me something had gone terribly wrong.
“Wake up,” I said gently and brushed her hair back, panic slowly taking over. “Matisse, wake up!” I shook her gently. Her head lolled to one side. “Dammit!”
I positioned her head on a pillow and leaped off the bed. Pulling on fresh jeans, I grabbed my phone. Except I wasn’t sure who to call. A doctor? Her mom? Mitch? No, not him. Her coven. They’d know what to do. I ran into the other room and grabbed my notebook, which was full of supernatural contacts. After flipping to the correct page, I dialed.
“Coven Pointe Charms,” a woman said.
“I’m looking for your coven leader. It’s an emergency.”
“Who is this?”
“Vaughn Paxton. One of your members is here. Matisse, and she’s ill. It’s imperative that I speak with your leader.”
“Matisse?”
“Yes, dammit.”
“What happened? Can you put her—”
Crash!
A clamoring came from my living room. I spun and ran, hearing nothing but the sound of my heart in my throat. Had another demon come after Matisse?
But when I slid to a stop in my doorway, there wasn’t a demon. There was a man untangling himself from an extension cord that connected my television to an outlet on an adjoining wall.
“What the hell are you doing in my house?” I demanded.
The tall man with brilliant green eyes smiled and held his hand out.
I ignored it. “I said—”
A fog settled over my brain. My thoughts jumbled as if my brain had been scrambled. Then my arm rose on its own and I shook the man’s hand.
He gave me a warm smile. “Welcome to the Brotherhood, Vaughn. We were hoping you’d join us soon.”
I heard the words but couldn’t process them. All I could do was nod.
“If you’re ready, I’d be pleased to take you to headquarters.”