She moaned as her hands drifted down his chest to open his belt. His erection throbbed as she shoved his pants past his hips. Her hand closed over him, stroking slowly as he kicked off his shoes and the rest of his clothes.
Groaning, he pulled the zipper of her dress, letting it fall open. Leaning back he looked down her body with a smile. Long, lean, and elegant. His, all his.
Hooking his fingers into the straps of her thong, he slid it off. Then Preston curled his hands under her ass, lifting her off her feet. Long legs wrapped around him as he carried her to the couch.
She shifted, rocking against his straining length.
He hummed his satisfaction. “So damned wet, Dacia. Can hardly wait to sink into you.”
“Don’t wait,” she panted.
He wanted to taste her first. Dropping her to the couch, he sank to his knees and pushed her thighs wide. She squirmed beneath him as his head dipped to lick her slick folds.
“Oh, oh, oh, yes!” she cried.
He chuckled and her fingers slid into his hair, gripping tight as she pulled him where she needed.
Swirling his tongue around her clit wrought a ragged moan from her lips. Then he sucked the bead into his mouth. She cried out as she came. He pushed his tongue into her, memorizing her taste as her body danced beneath him.
“Preston… please… need you…now,” Dacia begged.
He rose, picking her up as he shifted her sideways on the couch and thrust into her. Her legs locked around him as he lost any sense of slowing down and pumped into her relentlessly.
Dacia’s nails pierced his shoulders as she hung on, her hips rocking with his urgent pace. She started screaming his name as her inner walls rippled around him, and he followed with his own passion filled cries.
He rolled to his back on the couch, pulling her on top of him, and wound his arms around her.
He’d never felt so connected to anyone in his life, and as much as that should have scared him, he felt at peace. Her heart beat with his, her chest rising and falling in sync with every breath. Two became one.
* * * *
Her heart thundered in her chest. Dacia lay in the circle of his arms as their breathing slowed. The range and depth of emotions she was experiencing terrified her.
One arm tightened around her when he lay his other hand beside his head. With her head resting on his chest, she studied the tattoo on his inner forearm. A woman floated in water, holding an intricately etched and glowing blade that was longer than her body.
The night Izackarus forced her to attack him came back to her as she traced the elaborate image. Shutting away the unwelcome memories, she focused on one question bouncing around her head.
“Why me?” she whispered.
“Can’t resist you,” he murmured sleepily.
“What happens when you get tired of me?”
“That’s not going to be an issue. There’s so much to explore, and a whole future in front of us.”
Attempting to fight back tears, she traced the blade that left the scar in her cheek.
Preston tenderly combed his fingers through her hair. “What makes you think I’ll lose interest?”
“Karma.” She let out a sad laugh. “I keep thinking back to the men I’ve chased and how I was rejected. Granted I didn’t feel like this about any of them. Thing is, I liked what I saw so I chased hard. Once I had their attention, the relationship lost its appeal with a couple of exceptions that make me feel like the world’s biggest idiot. I don’t deserve you. I deserve someone who will treat me the way I treated others.”
“People change.” Preston swept her hair off her face and kissed her forehead. “You’ve grown since I first met you. Your perspective is changing, and I’ve seen you repeatedly help those you can in the last few months.”
“I don’t want to be like him,” Dacia admitted.
“Your father?”
She nodded, closing her eyes.
“You aren’t. He’s never once stepped up and put himself in front of danger for others. He does whatever he needs to get what he wants.”
“The way I chased after Brody, even Hayden for a time—”
He cut her off. “Nothing wrong with going after what you want. Okay, attacking Fallon to get Brody was stupid, but you learned your lesson.”
“You’re right.” She trailed her fingers over where her dagger had cut him and a tear escaped. Dacia could still see him falling back against the tree, his shirt and stomach gaping open as blood spilled down his body.
His hand smoothed up and down her side. “What are you thinking?”
“How can you forgive me for nearly taking your life?”
“Wasn’t you.” He shrugged beneath her. “It’s not even the craziest thing I’ve seen someone do while possessed. So, please, don’t worry about the past. I’m not.”
“Promise?”
“I swear.”
She sighed. “I’ll do my best.”
“Talk to me, Minx. About anything.”
Her gaze moved back to the glowing blade tattooed into his skin.
“Why the lady of the lake, Merlin, and the Sword in the Stone?”
He laughed softly. “Rumor is my grandfather was Merlin, though I doubt he ever existed.”
“Are you sure about that?” she asked in amusement.
“Even if he did, it has no bearing on me. I’m not that special.” He drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Remember, the mages believed me to be half-human. That meant regardless of who my father was, even with my mother’s heritage, I was next to worthless compared to them.”
“Three mages in Edenton hold you in high regard,” she countered.
“I’ve earned respect from most mages by now. My mother was something of a legend. My grandfather, Maverick Emrys, was a mage, and eccentric. He was well-known for being a bad-ass who didn’t always follow the rules. Plus, Myrddin Emrys was one of Merlin’s supposed aliases, and that’s why someone started the rumor.” He rolled his eyes with a chuckle. “It means nothing.”
“But there’s truth in all legends and myths.”
“My grandfather was the type of cocky bastard who would have loved people thinking he was the all-powerful Merlin.”
“Then why the tattoos if you don’t believe?”
He trailed his finger down her arm. His brow furrowed as he looked into her eyes. “Fair warning. This is going to sound stupid. The history of Merlin, King Arthur, and all the legends surrounding everything to do with him are fascinating. I guess, even though I don’t believe, it was a way to imagine being better than my peers thought of me. So I devoured everything to do with the myth, and the stories became a muse in a way.”
“Fallon did the tattoos, didn’t she?”
“The blades needed camouflage. What better way to hide them than in myth and legend, especially one I was bullied for.”
She rose up on her elbows to stare into his eyes. “You were bullied?”
He shrugged. “It didn’t last long. I never lost a duel. Luckily Liz, nor Robert, ever challenged me. I’m not sure I could have beaten either one, and I never want to find out.”
“They’re your friends.”
He smiled. “Robert and I were instant friends, no matter how different we were. The first day of academy, we clicked. He’s the refined and reserved one, while I was the smartass and class clown. We balanced each other well.”
“And Liz?”
He laughed. “She’s a kindred spirit. Never quite fit into the academy. She’s different, and no one knew why. Hell, she didn’t until I learned who her parents were a few months ago.”
Dacia laid her head down, tracing his collarbone. “Tell me how you met Robert.”
“The very first day at the academy, some kid asked why they let a stupid human in. I slung a fireball at his shoes, and caught his pants on fire. Robert pulled me away. Then the kid—I later found out his name was Jarvis—called my mom a whore. Robert let me go and told me to show him a thing or two. So I d
id.”
Dacia grinned. “I can imagine. And from that point on you two were close?”
“Yup. Liz showed up in our class four years later. She got the same treatment I did because she was an orphan and at the time no one knew where she came from, or about her parents. Hell, maybe worse than me because at least they knew my mother. Still, I could relate, so I insisted we be friends. I wanted to prove to her that it didn’t matter what other people thought, their opinions were shit, and she was better than that.”
“She’s lucky.”
“What about you? Who’s your closest friend?”
Her smile fell. “My brother. He’s the only one who understands me. I’ve had people I thought were friends, but that never lasts. I always fuck it up somehow.”
“You’re gaining friends.” Preston swept her hair from her face. “People are starting to see you for you. Maybe you needed to learn a few things about yourself first.”
She snorted. “Yeah, I finally realized I don’t want to be anything like my father.” Sighing, she closed her eyes and laid her head over his heart. The steady thump-thump soothed her. “It’s stupid, but I used to think if he could love me, everything would work out. If I could be good enough, ironically. I tried so hard to be what he wanted, until I noticed a pattern.”
“What about your mom?”
“She warned me he was trying to use me. I got it, eventually. He never came around for me. I was never his focus. If he wanted to see me, it was because he needed something. I wasn’t worthy because I wasn’t all fae.”
“That’s not a problem for me. I want you, not what you are.” He shifted his hips, pressing his straining length against her, proving he wanted her again. She needed more of him too.
Sitting up, she straddled his waist. He moved and spun around to sit up as she took him in. Her hands landed on the back of the couch as she swirled her hips up and down over him.
His head fell back on a sigh. “That right there.” He bit his lip, a groan escaped. “Fuck yeah, that, keep doing it.”
His big hands caught her small breasts, his thumbs running circles around her pearled tips, then he pinched lightly. She cried out as the sensation shot to her clit. She threw her head back and picked up her pace until his hips were thrusting into her with force.
He was hot, so fucking hot, burning. Flames licked up her thighs and breasts, a thousand caresses shooting sensation across every nerve.
“So… damned… good,” he panted.
Then she was coming again, and so was he. She collapsed against him, as his arms wound around her. He laid them both down, snuggling her against his chest.
“Right where I want to be,” he whispered into her hair as she drifted to sleep.
Chapter 9
Dacia was trapped in the memory of the worst day of her life. She stepped out of the quarantine room at the hospital. Amethyst had saved the day. Stacey and the white-haired nymph were awake, taint free.
Everyone was in awe of Amethyst and chattered excitedly in the hall. Then Amethyst and Hayden stepped out of the room and the praise started.
If Dacia hadn’t also been impressed, she would have rolled her eyes.
Amethyst backed into Hayden with a shy mumble, “Crap, Don’t look at me like that.”
Time slowed as the elevator doors opened and quiet, conservative Darla walked in. Izackarus’ taint had changed her. Dull brown hair was now inky black, and her warm brown eyes onyx. Without warning, the shadow fae slashed a scalpel down his host’s wrist.
Dacia phased out, and reformed to catch Darla. Her hand wrapped around the wounded arm.
Before she could push healing energy at Darla, Izackarus flowed into Dacia’s hand and wrapped around her, delving into her skin. The monster twisted his way into her head, taking control.
He forced her to drop Darla as Clint charged toward her.
Dacia tried to force him away, but was trapped in the far corner of her mind as he pushed anger and hate at everyone he passed on his way out of the hospital.
Izackarus took her back to her house and started exploring. She tried to lock down her mental floor plan but he had access to everything in her memory.
He stopped in the living room to breathe in all of her left over emotions, and the sick fuck started cackling. Once again she tried to wrest control from him, but he mentally flung her back as he directed her body up the stairs to the hidden cache of her cursed daggers.
No, no, no, mother fucker, no! she screamed in her head.
Robert popped into the hall, and Zack grabbed a dagger before dispersing her body and flowing through the house.
They found Preston and Amethyst outside near the car, quietly arguing.
Preston murmured, “Let them corner her.”
“It won’t work,” Amethyst insisted in a whisper. “You saw the way he disappeared. He’ll wait until I’m alone or there aren’t as many of you.”
Izackarus’ laughter filled her head as Amethyst’s eyes went wide. “Like right freaking now!” She spun and started for the front door.
Preston reached for Amethyst and Izackarus forced Dacia into her form. She fought but she didn’t stand a chance.
Without turning to see their advance, Preston slammed his elbow back with a curse. He spun around as flame filled his palm and fisted her hair, setting it on fire.
Dacia’s voice leaked through as she screamed in pain.
The horror flashing through Preston’s eyes shredded Dacia’s heart. Izackarus slashed out with the dagger, cutting Preston’s chest open. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from his exposed ribs, lungs, and beating heart.
Amethyst tried to grab the dagger and rip it free, but Izackarus shook her off.
Preston didn’t let go. Dacia’s shirt caught fire and the heat flowed up her face. Izackarus tried to escape and dive into Preston but was flung back into Dacia.
Frantic, Izackarus tried to spin away, but Preston’s blade sliced into Dacia’s cheek a second before he managed to disperse. She watched horrified as Preston stumbled back and slid down the tree.
Dacia screamed in her head, wanting to go back and heal the damage, take the curse, and fix what Izackarus did.
* * * *
Something warm shifted between his thighs, waking his desire.
Dacia.
Her arms tightened around him, her nails digging into his skin. Then she jerked with a whimper. A sob ripped from her. “No, let me fix it. Let me take it back.”
Preston scooped her into his arms as he sat up and rocked her. “Minx, wake up.” He brushed her hair from her face, and drew the back of his knuckles down her scar. “Please, wake up.”
Her eyes fluttered open and her arms wound around his neck as tears fell on his shoulder.
“You had a nightmare. I’ve got you. Everything’s okay.”
She shook her head, sniffling. “I nearly killed you.”
“No. I’m right here. I’ve got you.”
“That night, oh fuck… that horrible night.”
“Shh, calm down. What night?”
Her hands flattened on his chest as she leaned back to look. Breathing in gasps, her eyes closed as big tears rolled down her face. “The night I nearly killed you.”
He caught her face in his hands. “That wasn’t you, Minx. You’ve got to let it go.” His lips grazed over hers in a tender caress.
She pressed her forehead. “I want to.”
He stroked her back. “I’m not leaving you.”
She nodded, snuggling into his body. “Sorry I woke you,” she whispered shakily.
“Don’t worry about it.” He combed his fingers through her hair in gentle strokes.
After a few minutes of calm, she nuzzled his neck. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” he promised.
She leaned back to look into his eyes. “I believe you. It’s why I want to help you stop my father.”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Robert’s not going to let that happen. It’s out
of my hands.”
“That makes you happy, doesn’t it?” she challenged, but she leaned back to consider him with a slight smile.
“Truthfully, yeah. Right now, it’s best if your father thinks I’m some asshole trying to use you. Let him be blinded. I’m not, and I won’t. You getting involved will only put you in danger, because he’ll think he can get information from you.”
“I hate that you’re right. You’re already in danger. He really doesn’t like you.”
Preston nodded. “Comes with my job. I can’t do much about that. Even if I quit, there would still be people who want me to pay for locking them up. My mom is in hiding after quitting the Council. That’s no way to live.”
“Will you at least continue to talk to me, about what you’re doing with your cases?”
“There will be times I can’t, but I’ll tell you what I can when I can.”
She nodded. “Deal. You have to work today, don’t you?” Her nose wrinkled. “And you won’t tell me what you have to do, will you?”
“I do, and I can’t right now.”
“Be careful. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Same goes for you, Minx.” He sighed. “I really should get moving. I promised Robert an early start.”
“You’ll call me later?” Her eyes were full of hope.
He captured her face and brushed his thumbs over her cheeks. “You can count on it. Now that I have you, I don’t want to let you go.”
“Then head out, before I talk you into another round.” Leaning in, she gave him a soft kiss before climbing out of his lap.
Desire washed over him as he looked up at her beautiful body aglow with the sunlight streaming through the window. Slamming his eyes shut, he groaned. “Shit, I really need to meet Robert. Put something on before I get lost in everything I want to do to you.”
“You’re making this awfully hard,” she whimpered.
“No, that’s all you, Minx.”
Her breath caught, then utter silence followed.
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