Heart and Soul

by Shiloh Walker

  Malachi reached between their bodies and tore at the button on his jeans. His cock throbbed under the denim and he swore, shoving up onto his heels. Gingerly, Malachi lowered the zipper over his swollen flesh. His cock sprang free, the cool air kissing his flesh. It brought no relief. He was so damned hard it hurt; the length of flesh between his thighs felt like red-hot iron.

  Covering her once more, he pressed against her. He held still though, not entering her. Instead, he threaded his hands through her hair, wrapping the silky skeins around his wrists. He arched her head up and stared into her eyes. For one moment, he just looked at her. Lowering his head, he pressed his brow to hers. “Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed of this?” he muttered before covering her mouth.

  He pushed his tongue inside her mouth, stroking the silken depths hungrily. Slowly, he rocked back and forth against the hot, slick folds between her thighs, teasing them both.

  Kelsey arched up against him, her hands curling around his biceps. She tore her mouth from his and muttered, “If you don’t quit teasing me . . .”

  “You’ll do what?” he whispered, lowering his lips and kissing her along the line of her jaw. As he spoke, he rocked against her once more.

  “This.” The word had barely passed her lips before a powerful wind swept through the room. She was unaffected, but it grabbed Malachi, unseen hands clasping his body and pulling him away from her. He didn’t bother fighting it. Within seconds, he was lying on his back. Mal tried to lift his arms to reach for her, but her magick still held him prisoner.

  Unable to move, he lay there, watching as she rolled over and mounted him. “You’re beautiful,” he muttered, straining against the magick now. “Let me touch you.” A smile curved her lips, and her red-gold curls spilled over her shoulders. The heavy locks hung down nearly to her waist, and the dark pink of her nipples peeked through the strands.

  She bent down over him and licked his neck before she whispered into his ear, “No. It’s my turn now.” She rose back up, bracing her hands against his chest.

  Malachi swore raggedly when she started to rock against him. Kelsey hummed a little under her breath as she shimmied her hips so that he was nestled against her. So close to heaven—it was damn near hell. “Take me in, you little minx,” he muttered, trying once more to move. All he wanted to do, all he needed to do was change the angle of his hip a little and she’d take him inside. Just a little—

  Breath hissed out of his lungs in a ragged gasp as she settled back on her heels and reached down, closing a hand around his cock. Her gaze slid up, meeting his. Then she started to pump her hand up and down the rigid length of his cock. The corners of her lips curved up, that maddening Mona Lisa smile of hers.

  “No fun being teased, huh?” Her hand slid back down, then up, tightening just a little.

  The fires of lust fanned his other hunger, and even though he didn’t need to feed, his fangs slid free. Swearing raggedly, he groaned a little and strained against the magickal bonds once more and said, “I wouldn’t say that. Damn it, Kelsey, let me move.”

  Mal strained to move, and this time, he did. A little. Just enough to arch into her caress. He pumped his hips slowly, staring at her through his lashes.

  Her smile widened. Her fingers tightened ever so slightly. “Happy, now?”

  “Not happy enough. Take me inside—”

  Kelsey moved away. Kneeling beside him now instead of astride his thighs, she whispered, “Inside?” Her head lowered. The warm wet embrace of her mouth closed over the tip of his engorged penis. His hips bucked involuntarily, and her mouth opened a little wider, taking him deeper.

  Kelsey took him halfway inside, and then she slid back up. Malachi stared at her, mesmerized by the sight of her pretty mouth wrapped around his cock. His flesh gleamed wet as she slid back down. A little farther this time.

  One more slow, torturous caress up. “Inside like that?” she murmured, her lips caressing the sensitive tip. Then she took him in again, rolling her eyes so that her gaze met his over the length of his body. She held his gaze steadily as she slid down, taking him in until the head of his cock nudged the back of her throat.

  Malachi groaned when she lifted back up. He went to grasp the back of her head, forgetting the bonds of magick. But they weren’t there. Cupping her head, he urged her back as he rocked up, pushing deep. Kelsey held at that slow, maddening pace though. Within a few strokes, he was hovering on the edge of orgasm. Fisting his hand in her hair, he pulled her away and then pushed her backward. His movements were rough, demanding. “Inside you here,” he rasped. Grasping her hips, he angled her upward and plunged inside. “Like this.”

  Kelsey’s hands came up, wrapping around his shoulders while the long length of her legs entwined around his hips. “That was all I wanted,” she said.

  Malachi dipped his head and caught her lower lip between his teeth. Nipping her hard and quick, he muttered, “Witch.” Then he sank against her more fully, wrapping his arms around her. “My witch.”

  He took her mouth in a slow, deep kiss. Her nails bit into his sides, her long, slender body arching under his. The silk of her sex clenched around him. Soft, silky wet heat—but it wasn’t enough. He wanted all the way in. Malachi pulled his mouth from hers, muttering against her lips, “Let me in, Kelsey.”

  As he spoke, he pressed against the strong, impenetrable shields that kept him locked from her, locked out. There was a hesitation. He could feel it. Malachi nuzzled her neck and crooned, “Come on, sweet. Let me in.”

  Slowly, the shields went down. Covering her mouth with his, he sank inside her, mentally, physically. Lost in her. Completely. Lost in the warm, wet depths of her body, in the warm, strong glow of her soul. “Mine . . . you’re mine,” he told her.

  Her arms tightened around him, her body arched under him like a bow. Her sex clenched around his cock in a series of tight, milking little sensations. Close to orgasm—he could scent it in the air, the subtle, ripe scent of her body changing just a little. Pulling his mouth away, he propped his weight on his elbows and stared down into her flushed face. “Come for me. Let me see it,” he said gruffly.

  Her head fell back. Just barely, Mal kept from staring at the long, elegant line of her exposed neck. Damned hard, though. Trying to block the temptation, he cradled the back of her head in one hand and focused on her face. Her lashes were low, just the thinnest sliver of hazel gold visible. Sharp white teeth bit into her lower lip as though she was trying to keep from screaming. Malachi brushed his thumb over the captured flesh, and her lips parted, her teeth releasing her abused lip. He pushed his thumb inside her mouth. There was a sharp little pain as she bit him, then she stroked her tongue over the pad of his thumb and started to suck on him.

  Such a small thing—and it hit him with all the power of a sledgehammer. His hunger tore at him like some giant, clawed beast. Malachi moved higher and started to plunge into her, harsh, deep digs that had them scooting across the floor.

  Kelsey screamed, her eyes going dark, her hips pumping against his demandingly. There was no gentle orgasm; she erupted under him, clenching around him, bucking under him with near violent force. Malachi lowered his head and covered her mouth with his, drinking down her screams.

  His climax slammed into him, a white-hot, painful pleasure exploding up and out from his cock, going on and on. The intensity of it pulled him higher, higher, and then it ended, leaving him empty, completely drained of all strength.

  Boneless, Malachi collapsed against her, his head pillowed on her breasts.

  “My whole life,” he muttered. “Waiting. Just for this.”

  It took a few moments for those words to make sense to her. They floated through her brain like disjointed little nothings as she desperately sucked air into her starved lungs.

  When they finally did make sense, the chill of disappointment settled over her, and she shoved away from him. “I don’t need trite, empty lines,” she said flatly as she pushed to her feet. Her legs wobbled a lit
tle, the muscles in her thighs screaming in protest. But she didn’t sit down. Instead, she strode across the room and jerked open her closet, grabbing the navy blue silk robe from the hook just inside.

  She’d bought the robe years ago. Because of the color—navy blue, just like his eyes. For a second she hesitated, and then she pulled it on in a huff, tying the robe tight.

  A gasp escaped her as she turned and found him standing right there, just inches away, staring down at her with somber eyes. “I don’t use lines, Kelsey,” he murmured, reaching up.

  She dodged away from his touch, but he was too close for her to go around him. Unless she wanted to touch him. Which she didn’t.

  She settled for pressing her back against the door and linking her hands behind her. Not that she was going to reach out and touch him. Hell, no. If he wasn’t more sincere than that . . . “I don’t need bullshit, Malachi.”

  He shrugged, one broad shoulder lifting and falling carelessly. “I don’t have much use for it myself. And even when I do, lovemaking isn’t really the place for it, is it?” He reached up again, and this time, he wouldn’t let her evade him. One big hand cupped her cheek, angling her head so that she was forced to stare into his dark eyes. “I rarely say things I don’t mean, Kelsey. And not with you. I’ve been waiting for this . . . for you, for longer than you could possibly imagine.”

  Kelsey snorted and tried to pull away. Instead of letting her, Malachi moved up against her, his big body crushing hers into the unyielding wood at her back. “You’ve known me for all of ten years. We’d never crossed paths before that. And you’re how old?”

  “I don’t know,” he answered bluntly. “But I do know that I’ve been dreaming of you since before I was Changed.”

  Kelsey blinked. Dreams . . . Her own dreams had always been restless. Though she never remembered them, they always left her feeling unsettled, edgy . . . lonely. His thumb caressed her lower lip, back and forth in light, gentle strokes.

  “What of your dreams, Kelsey? Have you ever dreamed of me?”

  Her lids drooped, shielding her eyes from his. “I don’t remember my dreams, Malachi.” Of course, there was that one . . . Her cheeks flushed at the thought, and she tried again to pull away.

  A small smile curled his lips. Malachi ducked his head, skimming his lips along the curve of her neck. “You don’t lie very well, love. Even if you didn’t have that pretty pink blush on your face, there is still your heartbeat. It’s fast; it’s telling me you aren’t being very honest.”

  As he pressed a hot, openmouthed kiss to her pounding pulse, Kelsey’s knees went weak. Her fingers tensed, and she realized she was clutching at his arms, her nails digging into his biceps. But she couldn’t make herself let go. More, she didn’t want to. “Maybe one or two dreams,” she muttered.

  Malachi lifted his head, his navy blue eyes staring into hers. A self-mocking smile appeared briefly. “Just one or two. And here I’ve been dreaming of you for one or two thousand years.”

  Kelsey snorted. She couldn’t help it. The derisive sound escaped her, even though she tried to suppress it. “And I’ve been alive for all of seven decades. Now there’s some logic for you.”

  Two strong arms came around her waist, banding her to him. Automatically, Kelsey lifted her chin and stared into his eyes. They were glowing. That deep, beautiful midnight blue was gleaming as he gazed at her. “Since when does fate pay much attention to logic?” he asked. He ducked his head and caught her lower lip in his teeth, giving her a quick nip. “I’ve felt drawn to you since the first day I met you. Can you tell me that you don’t feel the same?”

  No. The word echoed in her mind. Terror had it locked in her throat though. Bloody hell, this was Malachi. Just the thought of opening her heart to him, exposing herself to him, it was enough to have her knees knocking together. Enough to freeze her through and through. Without intending to do it, he left a trail of broken hearts behind him. Women he touched were bound to him, entrapped by that mesmerizing power only vamps could call their own. Kelsey had resisted the power that was Malachi for the past ten years through sheer will.

  His hand slid up her back, a strong, gentle caress. “You suddenly look terrified.”

  Well, that made sense. She felt terrified. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. She felt like running away, getting as far from him as she could—and she felt like throwing her arms around him, wrapping her legs around his hips, getting as close as physically possible.

  Her lungs burned, and she felt oddly disconnected, a sense of lightheadedness settling over her. It occurred to her that she needed to take a breath. Opening her mouth, she sucked air in desperately. Then she tore away from him, moving to stare out the huge window that spanned the northern wall. Night had fallen, and the gardens below were lost to the shadows.

  She felt him moving up behind her and instinctively, she stiffened.

  There was a soft sigh behind her, barely perceptible. Slowly, she turned and stared at him. He was looking at her with an expression she wouldn’t have ever expected to see in his eyes: a wounded one, like she’d hurt him. By pulling away, by freezing up, or both. “Mal—”

  He didn’t seem to hear her, though as he turned away with a soft, self-deprecating laugh. “So this is how it is to be. It shouldn’t surprise me,” he murmured, shaking his head. Taut muscles in his back, butt, and legs flexed as he crossed the room and scooped up his jeans from the floor. He didn’t pull them on, though. Instead, he lowered himself to the edge of the bed and just sat there, staring down at the blue denim in his hands.

  “Malachi . . .”

  Dark blue eyes lifted and stared into hers. “Don’t, Kelsey. Just don’t.” With that, he shoved up off the bed and jerked his jeans on. His shirt lay on the floor by his feet, along with discarded shoes and socks, but he didn’t bother to pick them up.

  “I’ve been waiting for you for centuries. But I must be the worst bloody fool to think that you’d come to me as easily as that.”

  Without another word, he left the room, closing the door silently behind him.

  Kelsey stood there, staring at the door, her chest constricting.

  The room felt empty.

  And she felt like she’d just stabbed herself in the chest with a dull, rusted knife. A sob rose in her throat, damn near choking her. Her frozen muscles unknotted, and she leaped for the door, dashing out into the hall.

  Malachi was already out of sight.

  With a knowledge that went clear down to her bones, Kelsey knew he wasn’t going to his rooms. Brendain felt empty. The whole world felt cold. He was gone.

  “I’ve been waiting for you for centuries . . .”

  Logical? No, it wasn’t at all logical. But oddly enough, when Kelsey forced herself to think past the fear choking her, she felt the same. Like she had been waiting lifetimes for him.

  “Then what are you waiting for?”

  Kelsey turned her head and found Nessa standing in the hallway just a few feet behind her. The blue eyes, so old and wise, looked out of place in that smooth, youthful face.

  “He’s waited lifetimes for you.”

  Kelsey licked her lips and tried to find the words to explain why she was standing there, alone. And why Malachi was suddenly gone. Finally, she said lamely, “He terrifies me. This is Malachi, Nessa.”

  “Yes. It’s Malachi. And he’s a man who is in love with you, one that always has been. Are you fool enough to throw that away?”

  Hell, no.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The gray stone walls were stained nearly black from smoke.

  Malachi stood at the small fire pit and nudged the charred remnant of firewood with his toe.

  He hadn’t been here in centuries. Before the Hunters had sought him out all those years ago, this small cave had been his home. It hadn’t been used in a long time. There was no scent of smoke left lingering in the air. No scent of human or animal.

  Empty.

  “Maybe I should have just stayed here,” he
muttered.

  He felt the slight swell in power. If he could have found the energy, he would have left. Couldn’t though. He felt like a hollowed-out husk. As empty as this blasted cave.

  He lifted his head just as Kelsey appeared out of thin air, clad in nothing more than the silky blue robe. It clung to her subtle curves. Her creamy pale skin glowed against the dark silk. Right now, that silky flesh was roughened by goose bumps. Malachi was distantly aware of the chilly air, but it didn’t affect him much. Kelsey, though . . . “Go back to Brendain, Kelsey. It’s too damned cold.”

  “Not without you.”

  She took a step toward him, and Malachi lifted a hand, shaking his head. “We don’t have anything to talk about, Kelsey,” Mal said quietly.

  She paused for a second, and the tip of her tongue appeared, wetting her top lip, then her bottom. Her hands went to the belt of her robe then. As she loosened it, Malachi stared at her hands, mesmerized. When she shrugged out of it, Malachi spun away. He focused on the wall in front of him, but all he could see was her: that long, smooth body he’d dreamed about so many times.

  “What do you want, Kelsey?” he demanded gruffly.

  She moved up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. The warmth of her skin pressed against his, but the chill inside him went deeper than just the skin. It felt as though it had frozen his very soul.

  “You. Just you,” she murmured softly. Her hands skimmed up his sides. He was still chilled inside. Outside though, warmth flared. His cock pulsed inside his jeans. But he didn’t want empty sex—not with her. He’d had enough empty sex to last him the rest of his life, even if he still had another two thousand years left in front of him.

  Out of self-defense, he turned around and caught her hands in his. “Go back to Brendain, Kelsey. Go home.”

  She lifted her chin and stared at him steadily. “I am home. I’m with you; that’s all the home I need.” Kelsey ignored the grip on her wrists and stepped closer to him, pressing her slender body against his.