by Sharon Kay
“The bigger ones shouldn’t be far. Zinaya said they’re just a short walk in from the sand.” He took her hand and led her across the rocky beach.
His hand was warm, the sun hot, and her belly full. Her muscles wanted to take a catnap, but her mind was wired, processing the day. I just took a ride in a magic boat, across water full of rabid fish. And now she was about to have a second practice session with a power she’d never wanted. No baby steps—she was jumping Olympic hurdles. She shook her head to clear it.
Plants grew sparsely among the rocks. They picked their way across and around, making their own path as none existed. In a minute the white columns came into full view, taller than the rocks around them.
“What are those?” Gin asked. They glittered as the sun’s rays hit them, giving off a regal air.
“Just more results of volcanic activity.” He shrugged.
“But they’re so perfectly formed. They look like a Greek ruin. Like a site meant to honor a goddess or something.” She stepped closer and ran her hand across the sun-warmed surface.
He propped a hand against the white rock above Gin’s head. “Maybe eons ago, there could’ve been a goddess here. But not lately, or Zinaya would’ve told us. And I know for a fact that Torth’s volcanos can produce all kinds of rocks. Different colors, shapes, you name it.”
“They’re beautiful. I’d love to study them.” She tilted her head to look up into his eyes. The column partially shielded his face from the sun. Half in shadow, half brightly lit, he was startlingly handsome. Light and dark. Noble yet down-and-dirty. We all have our contradictions.
He reached for her hand. “I’ll bring you back here sometime.”
His words brought her back to the moment. She was here to practice. She took a breath and glanced at the white stone again. “I’d hate to hit these.”
He dropped his hand from the column and chuckled. “Fire away. They’re just rocks.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Fire away. Nice pun.”
“I aim to please.” He winked.
Too bad she knew exactly how pleasing he could be. Suppressing a shiver in the balmy air, she corralled her errant thoughts and glanced around.
The area was the size of a large suburban yard, with sparse grass and pebbles under the odd rock formations. They looked like stalagmites, but some had lost their pointed tips. Most were craggy, rough, and cracked—ranging in color from white to gray to black. Some leaned at angles and some stood up straight. A few were covered in green moss.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “So, what’s first?”
“How about I summon some demonfire and you toss it that way?” He nodded at the rough rock formations. “And we’ll go from there.”
She nodded and he held out his hand to produce a fireball. Brows pinched, she concentrated on moving it. She envisioned it floating away from his hand, going slowly. God help her if she hurt him. No matter that he had conjured it—her power could alter it into something hostile if she wasn’t careful.
After a few seconds, the fireball lifted from his hand. It hovered for a minute while she focused, building momentum as if she was winding a toy, then flung it at the nearest stalagmite.
It blasted against the base with a whoosh and a pop.
“I hit it!” It landed a little lower than she’d intended, but that didn’t dampen her mood.
He grinned. “Again.” He summoned another ball of fire. They repeated the process several more times, with her aim improving each time.
Next they moved on to the ring of fire she had created earlier on the beach. She directed the fiery ring toward one pointed rock and lowered it over the tip. Then she shrank the ring, closing in on the stone until it extinguished itself.
“Nice!” Mathias said.
“Nicole could probably move it farther, but it’s a start,” she said.
“Let’s try something else, kind of like a flamethrower.”
“What? No! I could burn you!” Balls of fire were one thing. But a jet of spewing flames? Trepidation flared in her belly.
“I’d step out of the way first.”
“Ha, ha.” She tilted her head from side to side with each word.
“I’m serious. Look, I’ll summon a fire ball. You lift it from my hand, then build it. Push it outward like a spray of fire. Or like a jet of water from a fire hose.”
“Oh. Okay.” As long as you’re out of the way. She realized that she’d done okay when not gripped with the fear of hurting him. Or anyone else. And in fear’s absence came a growing confidence.
He bounced a ball of fire in his hand. She picked it up and held it high as he stepped to her side. She expanded the fire, visualizing a torrent of flame shooting out from the original ball. It hissed and crackled in the humid air.
“Whoa!” Mathias stared up at what had turned into a cloud of fire. “You can scale it back a notch.”
She did. And at the same time moved the fiery cloud closer to the pillars of rock. She experimented with separating smaller bundles of flame from the cloud and dropping them onto the rocks. They didn’t always come out the size she’d expected, but her idea worked. Fire rained down on the rocks.
“Holy shit,” Mathias murmured. “Look at you go. You’re a natural.”
“A natural firestarter?” She extinguished her fiery cloud and turned to him.
“That’s not what I meant.” He stepped closer, and reached for her hand. “You and the fire, your power, were totally in sync. It didn’t do anything unexpected. You controlled it beautifully.”
“You’re right.” She took a deep breath and met his hazel eyes. Calm confidence surged through her. She was safer because of him. Everything that had happened since they’d danced had led her to this point, this new understanding of her ability and what she could do. He’d encouraged her, helped her. “I feel good about this. Thank you for helping me.”
“You’re welcome.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Again, I’m sorry about how this all played out.”
“It’s not ideal, but I understand. I didn’t make it easy.”
“Good thing I like a challenge.” His voice caressed her skin in a rough growl. The greens and browns of his eyes seemed to swirl and radiate with an inner light. “I like you. No matter what we’re doing.”
Her breath hitched as he leaned in closer, giving her every opportunity to push him away.
Not a chance. She wanted him even closer. Pressing up on her toes, she met his soft lips. She sighed as he dropped her hands, only to circle her waist and pull her tightly against him.
All the craziness of the last few days seemed a million miles away, dissolved in the tenderness of his kiss. Her fear and anger at the truth of the situation died with the tug of his fingers in her hair, tilting her head back.
Slowly, deviously, he kissed a path down the column of her neck. She ran her hands up his arms, the pads of her fingers sensitive to every bulging muscle under his T-shirt. God, his body is incredible. She tangled her fingers in his dark hair, needing his lips back on her own.
He claimed her mouth, demanding this time. The tenderness was gone, and that was fine with her. His tongue plundered with an urgency she mirrored, building deep in her core. She was struck with how right this felt, to be here with him, both of them working together and using their powers. A team. Running away from it, from him, faded like remnants of a bad dream. Why had she fled?
But if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t be on this enchanted tropical island. He’d been sent for her. Yeah, maybe it was an assignment, but on a level she couldn’t explain, she knew it was more than that.
He reached down to cup her bottom and she moaned into his mouth. Desire uncurled in her belly, as the pressure and stress of the last few days sought release. She dropped her hands to his waist and tugged his shirt up so she could slide her hands under it. Every ridge of muscle was honed to perfection. She skated her hand down his washboard abs, going lower.
He groaned as she lightly b
rushed over the erection straining against his pants. “God, Ginger.” He cupped her breasts over her thin tank, caressing her nipples through the fabric until they hardened into tight points.
His touch sent pangs of need straight to her core. She rocked her hips, needing friction. “Oh God.” She dropped her head back and he went for her neck, scraping his teeth along the top of her shoulder. The thin straps of her tank and bra slipped down her arm. He kissed down her bicep and across the top of her breast, the light scruff of his chin scratching her. She whimpered incoherent words that she was past caring about. Her breasts felt achy and full. She needed his mouth lower...
He brought his head back up to nuzzle her ear. Taking her lobe between his teeth, he said, “Ginger, I want to—”
Crack!
An ear-splitting peal of thunder ripped through the humid afternoon. Gin gasped and jumped, looking up.
The once-blue sky had turned an ominous dark gray. Clouds billowed across, chased by a wind that had stirred up cooler air.
“Shit. We need to leave.” He slid her straps back into place and grabbed her hand. “Tarsa storms are legendary. They come out of nowhere and rain like hell. Sometimes hail too.”
Together they ran toward the beach and jumped into the boat. Mathias did whatever it was he did with the magical key and they were off, moving around the rocks and bouncing across the choppy water. He stood at the helm, seemingly unaffected by the lashing gusts.
Without the sun, the air temperature dropped. Out on the open sea, nothing blocked the wind-whipped waves. Sharp drops of spray pelted her arms and face. Gin clutched the edge of her seat, shivering but grateful that they weren’t going far.
They entered the harbor and cruised to the dock just as fat raindrops started to fall. They were met by Ria and three other Tarsa demons, who helped Gin out of the boat.
“We were about to go get you,” Ria said. “Let’s get inside.” She opened an umbrella and handed a second one to Mathias, who held it aloft as he tucked Gin close to his side.
A spear of lightning ripped the sky in a violet flash. Thunder boomed, the rain came faster, and she was grateful for Mathias’s body plastered to hers. The wind whipped her hair into her face. She gave up trying to see where they were going and closed her eyes, following his lead. Just like when we danced.
“Here we are.” His voice rumbled above the din and she could tell something was blocking the rain from hitting her skin. She shoved her hair back and opened her eyes.
They stood under a huge overhang extending from a large wooden building near the outdoor eating area where they’d taken their other meals. Mathias dropped the umbrella alongside several others on the ground. “Looks like you’re getting the full crash course on Tarsa today. You okay?”
Gin rubbed the water along her soaked arms. “Yeah. Rain, I can handle.” She gathered her hair into a bunch at one shoulder and wrung the excess water onto the ground.
The aroma of spices and a cooking fire reached her nose, and she inhaled deeply. “Using all that energy made me hungry.” She grinned at Mathias. “Let’s go in.”
The double doors opened to a huge dining hall. Fire bulbs lent a cheery glow to the space, despite its size. It had one solid wall, and three walls in which the top halves were windows. The space was filled with Tarsa demons. Many stood near the windows, watching the rain slashed sideways by the wind. Some played cards. Some sat talking and drinking. Gin noticed a few children working on puzzles, and a group in the back playing…she giggled. Hackey sack.
She nudged Mathias with her elbow and inclined her head toward the kids. “I know what you’ll be doing later. Showing them your moves.”
In a heartbeat, he backed her up against the wall. “The only person I’ll be showing my moves to later,” he leaned down, brushing his lips along the shell of her ear, “is you.”
She gasped as desire shot an arrow of heat from his sensual mouth straight to her core. Oh, my God. She let out a shaky breath and met his eyes. Their intensity seared her, making her want to grab his hand and run to her little bungalow, never mind the downpour or their dinner.
CHAPTER 33
MATHIAS CHEWED HIS FOOD, BUT hell if he could tell anyone what he was eating. He drank from the cup in front of him, but his taste buds registered neither the sweet bite of rum nor the cool splash of water.
His senses had been hijacked by the feisty brunette at his side.
Gin’s cinnamon scent, tinged with excitement and fresh rain, assaulted his nose. He could still taste her sweet kiss on his lips, and his hands itched to memorize her soft curves.
Her body called to him, but so did her spirit. She had faced her deepest fears today. And more, she had placed her trust in him. If you’d asked him two days ago, he never would’ve believed it. He didn’t deserve it. But holy hell, he wanted it. Wanted her.
Slices of rum cake were passed around their table, which Gin politely refused. “I’m so full. You’ll have to roll me out of here.” She yawned. “Wow. I’m beat.”
Across the table, Ria crinkled her napkin into a ball and threw it at Gin. “You slept through all of yesterday. How can you be tired?”
“I had an eventful day!” Gin caught the napkin and grinned with mock indignance.
“Agreed.” Mathias draped his arm over the back of her chair. “It’s dark as a pocket out there. I’ll help you get to your room.”
Gin pushed her chair back and hopped up in a heartbeat. “Yeah, that sounds good. Let’s go before it rains again. Night, Ria.”
Mathias bit back a smile. Gin vibrated with energy, telling him she was anything but tired. She’d made a decent attempt at pretending to be sleepy, but he guessed Ria saw through it. “See you tomorrow,” he said to his sister.
Ria winked once and smirked.
Yep, she saw through it. At least they wouldn’t have Gin’s bugged phone in the room this time.
Darkness had fallen over the peninsula. The rain had stopped, but clouds lingered, obscuring the twin moons. There were no lights in the trees, since the Tarsa demons could see as well as Lash demons at night. Nocturnal birds crooned from high above, and waves crashed on the beach nearby.
Mathias wrapped an arm around Gin’s shoulders. Night was only slightly cooler than day, but their clothes hadn’t fully dried. “Are you cold?”
“Nope.” She slid her slender arm around his waist, tucking her thumb into his waistband and her fingers into one belt loop. Her little hand was hot and soft, sending pulses of warmth to his groin.
He walked as fast as he thought she could handle. His body hummed with the need to get her behind closed doors. The rows of bungalows came into view. Thank fuck.
Abruptly, Gin broke free of his hold and jogged ahead of him. She tossed a coy look over her shoulder. “Race you.” Then she bolted.
He growled. The sight of her running stirred the hunter in him, urging him to overtake her. He jogged, letting her get several yards ahead of him. The primal demon inside him snarled at his restraint, wanting to pin her beneath him and drive into her until all she knew was him. She’s mine.
Mine? He blinked away the confusing thought, breaking into a full run. She wanted to play. Again. God, he loved how playful she was. But now he needed her with an urgency he couldn’t explain.
His arms circled her waist just as she reached her door. She yelped as he pressed her against it. Dropping his head to nuzzle her hair, he drew her scent in deep. Cinnamon, oranges, and sweet feminine arousal. Fuck. He thrust his hips against her curvy bottom. “Inside, Ginger.”
She pushed back, grinding her body against his.
“Tease.” He gritted out.
“I can’t get the door op—” she gasped as he cupped her breasts, massaging their full soft weight.
“Need some help?” He dropped one hand to the doorknob and twisted, pulling her back with him, creating just enough space for them to stumble inside. He kicked the door shut with his foot and turned them both so her back was against it.
/> He pinned her wrists above her head and leaned down to devour her mouth. Naughty. Playful. Succulent. Mine.
His inner demon wasn’t at all perturbed by that last thought. In fact, it reveled in it. Mathias was too far lost in lust to overthink it. Gin whimpered as he shifted her hands into one of his, and dropped the other to the side of her breast. He traced the length of her torso, skating over her abdomen and down between her thighs to cup her. Fuck. Her body temperature burned, even though the fabric.
She moaned and pushed her hips toward him. Friction. That’s what she needed. He pushed his hand back through her legs to her sweet ass, then brought it forward, pressing hard with his ring finger.
“Mathias,” she gasped.
“You like that?”
“God, yes.” She twisted her arms, struggling against his hold. “Let me touch you.”
He released her, needing her soft hands on his bare skin. She reached for the hem of his shirt and yanked it up over his head. She immediately went for his tattoo, licking and tracing with her tongue. “I love this.”
Hell yes. He dropped his head back. With every brush of her lips, his cock hardened more. “Me too.” He’d never tire of her mouth on his body. Her silky hair had dried into waves that tickled his chest. He sifted his hands through it, gently loosening tangles near the ends.
Sliding his hands under her tank, he caressed her back. Her hot smooth skin felt like heaven, and he pushed the fabric up as he traced the pattern of her ribs.
He unclasped her bra. “Off.”
She complied, leaning back so he could pull off her clothes. Her breasts were beautiful, full but not huge. Her nipples beaded as he stroked his thumbs across them.
Her heart rate sped up and her breathing grew erratic. “Bed,” she whispered.
He grabbed her hand and walked backward three steps, pulling her with him, until the back of his legs bumped the bed. He dropped down and tugged on her hand, toppling her onto him.