by Diana Duncan
Delaney ran her palms over the smooth, firm planes of his chest, bare skin hot, his heartbeat galloping beneath her touch.
He whirled them around and backed her to the wall, his chest rubbing hers, his hips rotating the hard length of his erection against her sensitive mons. Desire blazed, firing low in her belly, clenching her thighs.
His hands kneaded her breasts, his thumbs teasing the nipples to tight buds inside the satin of her bra. She arched into him, wanting his mouth on them, wanting him more than she’d ever wanted anything.
And he knew it.
Their thoughts melded, their Powers dancing around them in a swirling cocoon of heat and light. Aye, and I’m wanting you naked.
Then quit dawdling, and get me naked.
His laugh flooded her with a wave of happiness. Still commanding the kiss, Rowan ripped open her dress from neckline to hem, yanked apart her bra, tore off her panties. His lips roved down her throat. Gentle teeth nipped along her collarbone, across the slope of her breasts, before his wet, silky tongue licked, soothed, inciting a volley of shivers.
Then his mouth captured her nipple, the exquisite shock buckling her knees. She gripped his wide shoulders for balance and cried out as he sucked hard, first one nipple, then the other in strong, liquid pulls that tugged at her core.
Rowan, please!
His lips curved against her breast. What, sweetheart?
Make love to me.
Is that not what I’m doing, then?
She moaned. It’s not enough.
His hands spanned her waist and lifted her to sit on the ledge. He leaned in to steal another searing kiss. Then eased back, panting, to gaze at her. “Even the moon is envious of your beauty.”
Her heart turned over. She raised her knees and rested her boot heels on the ledge, completely open to him.
His eyes darkened. The feral growl that rumbled from his chest stopped her breath and curled her toes. “Saints help me,” he whispered hoarsely.
Unzipping his jeans, he stepped between her thighs. His arms went around her, holding her tightly to him at the same moment he plunged into her. Stretching her, filling her all the way in one electric glide.
Delaney cried out once more as he began to thrust, the urge to bring him deep inside compelling her to wrap her legs around his waist and lock her ankles at the small of his back.
Rowan gasped. You wreck me, luv.
She tumbled into the whirlpool of erotic sensation. The fine hairs on Rowan’s chest rasping her nipples. His low, heated moans shivering in her ear. The sensual stimulation of his jeans grazing her inner thighs with every fast, pumping stroke.
And at the center of it all was Rowan…driving the wonderful, intense pressure to fierce need.
Suspended between Heaven and earth, between Rowan’s solidly-muscled torso and a dizzying drop, the starlit sky spun in a dazzling pinwheel. She trusted him not to let her fall. Trusted him enough to let him take control. Intimately linked with him, she relinquished everything…gave Rowan the freedom of her complete trust.
And he sent her soaring.
The orgasm crashed through her in a riptide. Hard and fast, clenching her muscles, tearing a scream from her throat. Before she had time to even catch her breath, he speared another backlash of pleasure into her. When she hit the second crest, Rowan threw back his head, straining, shaking, his hips pistoning as a fervent stream of Gaelic tumbled from his lips.
Then his thrusts slowed to long, slow glides, the fine sandpaper of his cheek pressed to hers as he held her close.
Finally he stopped moving, and she listened to his breathing even out.
When he drew back slightly to look at her, she tensed. Would he bolt again?
The corners of his mouth curled sinfully. “Remind me to tell you how much I admire your new boots.”
Pure joy bubbled up in a surprised laugh. “I think you just did.”
“Are you cold, sweetheart?”
“Nowhere even one bit cold.”
He kissed the tip of her nose as he withdrew from her body. He re-buttoned and zipped his jeans. “Nevertheless, I should be getting you indoors.”
He swung her down from the ledge, then had to steady her until her legs would work. He arched a rueful brow at their scattered garments, torn to shreds. “You’ll need to wear my coat.”
“Luckily, it’s a private elevator.” Unless they happened to bump into Archer. Please don’t let us bump into Archer.
Rowan helped her into his long duster. Delaney watched him gather the tattered remnants of their clothing and smiled. “We’ll call your shirt and my dress a draw, Enforcer, but you owe me new undies.”
He tucked his Beretta into his back waistband. “And you owe Archer an arse-load of new plants.”
She grimaced at the mess she’d accidentally made of Archer’s paradise. “How am I going to explain this?”
“Let me try something.” He passed her the bundle of clothes, and then held out both hands, palms upward. He chanted softly. At first, nothing happened. His body started to tremble. He chanted faster. Dizziness hit her like a freight train as a whooshing noise swooped overhead. Then the pots, dirt, and wilted flowers reassembled.
A cool mist arose, swirled over the rooftop…and revived all the plants.
She shook her head to clear it, fighting sudden weakness that had invaded her limbs. “Okay, you definitely have mad skills, Enforcer.” In every area.
Rowan exhaled hard. “Now you owe me.”
She flashed him a glimpse of her naked body beneath his coat. “No pockets. You’ll have to put this one on my tab.”
Amusement danced in his gaze as he ushered her into the elevator. “I’m sure we can barter mutually satisfying payback.”
She leaned against his substantial warmth while the car descended. His clever fingers stroked soothingly through her hair, sliding out hairpins and massaging her scalp and temples. “Mmmm, MacLachlan…there’s no end to your talents.” I’d like to keep you around.
She squelched the revealing thought, hoping he hadn’t gleaned it from her mind.
At her apartment door, she tapped numbers into the combo keypad lock and alarm. “Archer has state of the art security in the building. Pay attention to the code so you can let yourself in when you need to.”
“You don’t mind if I have access to your flat?”
“I trust you with much more, Rowan,” she said softly. Given time, he’d learn to trust her, too.
Unfortunately, time was a luxury they didn’t have.
He touched the small of her back and bent as if to breathe her in. Lord, I’ve missed you, luv. And I should not. I cannot need you.
She caught the sad, wistful thought an instant before he suppressed it. Her chest constricted. She flicked on a lamp before walking across the room to start the gas fireplace. “You want a shower? While you’re in there, I’ll have food sent up from downstairs.”
“I have a better idea.” He prowled across the floor toward her. Grinning, he twitched open her borrowed coat. “We’ll take a shower. Then food.”
She cast an astounded glance at his bulging fly. Again? Already? “Market that stamina and you’d make a fortune.”
“I’d best be conserving my stamina. I seem to need it when I’m around you.” Chuckling, he followed her into the bathroom. “I like your flat. I feel at home here. It puts me in mind of the beach.”
“Thanks. An ocean vibe was my intent.” She’d complemented pale aqua walls in the main rooms with a mix of tan and white furniture and eclectic coastal accents for that very reason. When Archer had modernized the plumbing, he’d kept the old-fashioned claw-footed tub in the bathroom because she loved it, and continued her beachy scheme with sand-toned Venetian plaster walls and sparkling blue-green mosaic tiles in the separate shower.
Delaney hung Rowan’s coat on the back of the door. She opened the walk-in glass door and leaned in to crank on the tap. Steamy water hissed from the showerhead. “I like it hot.”
&nbs
p; “As do I.” His husky tone made her turn, to see his gaze cruising over her bottom. His eyes glittered brilliant green with blatant appreciation that thrilled her to her toes.
Their previous two encounters hadn’t given her much opportunity to enjoy looking at him. The first time, he’d flipped her on her back nearly the instant she’d opened his zipper. And on the rooftop, she hadn’t even seen him. She unzipped her boots and climbed in, luxuriating in the spray while she watched him strip off his boots, socks, and jeans with his usual efficient grace.
He stepped into the shower, dominating the space. Her breath snagged in her throat. For the first time in her entire life, Delaney was rendered speechless. She’d known her Mage was packing, but up-close-and-personal…
Have mercy.
Rowan raked back his thick mane, making the huge muscles in his biceps bunch, and his sculpted abs ripple. “There’s something I should’ve told you before.” When she didn’t reply, he arched a brow. “Earth to Delaney.”
“Um…yes?” Hell yes. Who cared about the question?
His smile warmed, informing her he read her loud and clear. “We didn’t discuss consequences from our encounters.”
“I’m on the pill, which yeah, you probably should’ve asked before you leaped on me. And I know, you don’t get sick.”
“There’s no need for pills, either.”
She bit her lip. “You…you’re…infertile?” He truly was the last of his lineage? No exquisite MacLachlan children with raven black hair and expressive silver-green eyes.
“Nay.” His brows lowered. “‘Tis not that.”
Don’t think about babies. About Rowan’s beautiful babies.
“Pills and other methods can fail. Mages have infallible spells to block conception.”
Relief trickled through her. Because she honestly did not want children. At least for a long, long time. With her family track record, maybe never. “Metaphysical birth control? Geez. You Mages have your asses covered six ways to sundown.” She wiggled her brows at his hard-muscled butt. “So to speak.”
He laughed again. “We try.” Moving closer, he leaned both palms against the shower wall, penning her in. “And it seems you’ve got yet another apology coming from me. A record number in one week.”
Damn, he looked good. And smelled great. All hot and sleek and wet…and very, very male.
“Delaney?”
“What? I’m sorry, you were saying…?”
“I’m sorry, luv. I shouldn’t have been so hasty, so rough upstairs. When I get anywhere near you, I tend to forget you’re not used to this yet. I forget everything but having you.”
Her pulse stumbled. “No apologies necessary. You weren’t rough, you were….enthusiastic. And I do appreciate enthusiasm for a job well done.”
He nuzzled the delightfully ticklish spot below her ear. She shivered, goosebumps tingling over her skin as his hand glided downward to cup her damp curls. “Don’t be fibbing to me,” he murmured. “I know you’re tender here.”
“Only a…tiny bit. Not enough to discourage…”
“Shh.” His tongue dipped into the shell of her ear, his warm breath inciting an entire fleet of shivers up her backbone.
“Oh…” She squirmed, and his erection twitched against her stomach. “I’m fine, really. Better than fine. Absolutely—”
He kissed her. Long and slow and deep. By the time he finally eased back, they were both panting.
Rowan’s sensual mouth curled in a smile that made her belly quiver. He went to his knees in front of her. When he looked up, his eyes were intense green fire. “I’m thinking it’s my turn to kiss and make better.”
Oh, God.
“Open for me, sweetheart.”
She didn’t hesitate.
Shower water cascaded over her shoulders, swirled around her nipples as Rowan’s callused fingertips trailed up her calves, her thighs…and gently parted her. He leaned close, blew softly.
OhGod,ohGod,ohGod.
One hot, wickedly languorous sweep of his satin tongue had her knees buckling.
“So sweet.” His whisper grazed her sensitive nub.
Her hands fisted in his hair as his broad shoulders edged between her legs, urging them wider. Then his mouth closed intimately over her…and the world disappeared in a haze of heat and need.
He took his time…his agile tongue and soft lips teasing, tormenting. Healing away all tenderness.
He made her ache for him. Made her writhe and beg.
Until he finally tumbled her mindlessly into crashing, blinding rapture.
Supporting her, Rowan rose. Breaths harsh, expression dark and primal, he lifted her up. “Wrap your legs around my waist, luv.”
Showing ruthless control, he slowly, exquisitely impaled her with his wonderful thick heat. Then he took her in measured, grinding thrusts against the slick tiles, simultaneously making the shower’s tingling water droplets caress every inch of her skin.
Until she thought she might die of pleasure.
Until she climaxed again, so fiercely…so long…she sobbed his name.
Uttering a guttural moan that sounded wrenched from his soul, he captured her mouth, devouring her as he let himself go, let her feel his pleasure flooding through her in glittering waves.
When she finally regained her senses, she was sitting on the shower floor. Water still rained down, and Rowan sat behind her, supporting her limp body. “Mmm. Rowan?”
“I’m here. You all right, sweetheart?”
A contented sigh escaped. “‘All right’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
“Think you can stand?” He dropped a kiss onto the top of her head. “I’m fair starved to death.”
“Maybe if you help me.”
As woozy as shipwreck survivors, they helped each other out of the shower.
Rowan dried them with a finger-snap. Delaney shrugged into her bathrobe. “How do you like your steak?”
“Bloody rare. And plenty of it.”
Of course he did. She tottered out to call in a food order.
She was curled on a comfy oversize floor pillow in front of the fireplace when Rowan emerged from the kitchen wearing a dark green terry robe. She didn’t ask where he’d gotten it, and he didn’t say.
He offered her a glass of Columbia Valley Cabernet from the bottle he’d opened. She took an appreciative sip. “Thanks. I ordered our dinners, they’ll be here as soon as the steaks cook, which in your case won’t take much time.”
He joined her on the rug, stretching out long legs. “Sounds brilliant.”
They savored their wine in contented silence until the doorbell buzzed. Delaney flicked an uncertain glance at Rowan. “Would you mind zapping out of sight while I get this? I’m not bothered by you being here or anything, but I’d prefer if the entire club wasn’t in on our personal business.” Especially not before she had a chance to talk to Archer.
He faded into mist without comment. She answered the door to see Brian, one of six security guards on duty that evening. Archer didn’t allow wait staff in the living quarters. The tall, dark and engaging young man handed her three bulging bags containing their dinners, spent a few moments in friendly banter, then departed.
Rowan reappeared beside the fireplace. “He bleeding well knows I’m here.”
“No way. You were invisible.”
“You really have no idea, do you, luv?”
She carried the food to him. “What are you talking about?”
“Archer’s club is a bastion of Supernaturals. Your lad Brian is a panther. The other guard at the door with him tonight, Mike…a rare white tiger. The cheeky little bartender, Natiri? She’s Faerie. Rini, the manager, is Elfkind. Elves are masters of organization.”
Delaney’s jaw dropped. “Are you messing with my head?”
“Not a wee bit.”
“Holy...”
Everything about her own life wasn’t real.
Rowan began pulling out the fragrant food containers. “They�
�ll all sense your Powers. And the Guardian knows I’m here as well. Archer knew the second I crossed his wards.”
But not what they’d been doing, or he’d be up here ripping out Rowan’s throat.
Subdued, she began to eat.
Rowan poured her another glass of wine, and started asking questions about her driftwood and sea-glass collections. Before she realized his intent, he’d expertly finessed her out of her funk.
Who could be gloomy after good wine, great food, and spectacular sex with an intelligent, charming Mage?
Rowan set his empty plate on the wicker coffee table and stretched. “Aye, and that hit the spot. I’m wanting dessert, now.”
“Dessert?” She ditched her own ravaged meal before glancing at the generous slices of strawberry cheesecake awaiting them. “Oy, aren’t you full yet?”
He tickled her instep before stroking a fingertip over her ankle and up her calf. “I never get my fill.” His dark head bent and he kissed the tips of her toes. “Of you.”
“You have got to be kidding me.”
He tossed aside his bathrobe.
“Whoa…obviously not.”
Grinning, he prowled up her body on his hands and knees, opening her robe as he went and kissing a burning path upward.
Delaney undulated her hips as a moan escaped. “Okay…maybe I can muster up some enthusiasm for dessert.”
Rowan made long, slow, sweet love to her on the rug in front of the fire.
Hours later, too sated to move, she snuggled into his chest and listened to the crackling flames as his even breaths lulled her toward sleep.
Only as oblivion descended did she realize that all evening Rowan had openly shared his body with her. Shared his pleasure. Shared random thoughts.
But he’d kept every emotion securely locked away.
* * *
Delaney startled awake, gasping and thrashing.
Curled behind her in bed, Rowan tightened his arm in a reassuring hug. “No need to fear, Delaney,” his deep brogue rumbled in her ear. “You’re safe.”
He must have carried her to the bedroom sometime during the night. She turned her head to look at him. “Zinter’s at the beach house. And brewing up something bad.”