by Vella Day
“Are you planning on being rough?”
He grinned, “Only if you want it that way. Tonight is lady’s choice night.”
She laughed, and the sensation was divine. “If that’s the case, how about I start?”
He groaned. “My emotions are so off the chart right now, just a few touches will set me off.”
She loved when he sounded desperate. “I’ll be careful.”
“That’s what you always say.”
That was because while she tried to limit her tongue licking and hard sucking, she loved going down on him so much that she’d often lose control. Without asking, Kip kicked off his boots and undid the top button of his jeans. His fingers then slipped to the bottom button on his shirt.
Teagan stopped him. “Let me. I love undoing a man’s buttoned down shirt.”
“Why do you think I wear one?”
She melted at his words. “You’re sweet.”
“Sweet, huh? I’ll show you sweet.” With that he captured her lips, and she palmed his chest.
They delved into each other’s mouths, and she enjoyed the hint of red wine on his tongue. When his hands slipped up under her shirt, his fingers scorched a path of desire straight down to her core. His firm pressure spoke of confidence and assuredness, two of the many traits she admired about Kip.
While keeping contact with his lips, she thrust her hips back to give herself enough room to undo a few more buttons on his shirt. As much as she loved him wearing it, she wanted him naked even more. She’d only managed to undo the bottom two buttons when he stepped back.
“I have to have you naked, right now.” The fact his blue sparks had progressed into a full-blown halo around him meant he wasn’t kidding.
“We’ll help each other.” She wasn’t going to let him deprive her of slowly unveiling his magnificent chest.
As he inched her shirt up and over her head, she attempted to unbutton his at the same time, and they had fun batting away each other’s hands. In the end, both shirts landed on the ground at the same time.
“Damn,” he said. “I have another layer to go.”
She stepped back. “This bra does not come off until I’ve had my jolt of pleasure.”
He held up his hands. “Have at me then. Tonight is all about you.”
She gave him the finger in jest. “I’ll let you finish taking off your jeans though.”
He cocked a brow, probably surprised she hadn’t wanted to do the honors. In truth, his thighs were so thick it was hard to get them off. Once he dropped the jeans on top of his shirt, boots, and socks, he stood tall in his briefs.
She’d take pleasure in discarding those too. “My turn.”
Instead of tugging them down, she leaned over and dragged her tongue along the top of the waistband, causing his cock to twitch. Victory was close. With deliberation, she rolled the band over once, exposing another inch of skin before cupping his balls.
“You are so going to pay for teasing me,” he said with a glint in his eye.
“Be patient. I’ve been traumatized and need this diversion.”
“Diversion? Is that all I am to you?”
Her stomach tumbled and she immediately straightened. “You know what I meant.”
He grinned. “Only kidding. I needed a few seconds break, that’s all.”
“Grr.”
Fearing he might not let her suck on him for long, she tugged down his briefs and had him step out of them. When his cock sprang forward, her juices flowed. The man was certainly well-hung and, more importantly, he was all hers.
She dropped to her knees on the soft carpet, drew his hard shaft toward her, and slowly sucked on him. He clutched her hair and tugged. “Be careful.”
Where was the fun in that? With one hand, she encased his balls once more while she held him tight in her grasp with the other. Swirling her tongue around his shaft, she twisted the skin on his cock back and forth, each time eliciting longer and stronger groans. The power in his fingers and his outdoorsy scent shot up her libido. This was where she needed to be. On the next hard suck, he stepped from her grasp.
“Enough.”
“Coward.”
“Be careful what you wish for. You’d complain if I went off in your mouth.” He pulled her to her feet. “My turn.”
She’d never last, but fair was fair. Once he unhooked the back of her bra, he leaned in until his lips were within an inch of hers. Their breaths mingling, he lowered the straps then slipped off the bra. As much as she wanted to kiss him, the sexual tension of not touching him had caused literal sparks to fly.
“I need you,” he whispered.
She grabbed his hard shaft again to give her consent then squeezed him hard. He clutched her wrist and she let go. “You’re easy,” she said.
“We’ll see who wins that honor.”
Heat poured off his body, and she yearned to become one with him. Kip was her hero, her protector, and she wanted to thank him in the best way possible. He dropped to his knees and spread her legs wide. Anticipation coiled her insides. She loved when he went down on her. Kip was not only a considerate lover, he knew exactly what turned her on.
He hooked his fingers in her waistband and had her yoga pants down and off in mere seconds. As if her panties were made of paper, he ripped them off, one side literally shredding. Teagan was about to say she’d just purchased them, but she was so turned on by his actions that she said nothing.
Without a comment about the destruction, he went straight for her clit, flicking it back and forth, confirming once more that he was close to his release. Less than thirty seconds later, he stood.
“I can’t wait any longer,” he said. Lifting her up, he backed them up to a portion of the living room wall devoid of any pictures. “Hang on tight.”
She wrapped her legs around his waist and hung on for what she believed would be a ride to remember. His kiss was hard and demanding, and the take-charge assault had her reeling. With his right hand, he threaded his fingers through her hair again, and she swore electric currents shot through her, descending straight to her needy sex.
Perhaps it was the terror of what had just happened, or the fact that she had missed him so much lately, but right now nothing else mattered but having her way with him.
“I’m ready,” she whispered.
Chapter Nine
‡
Kip flipped them around so that now his back was against the wall. Using his left hand to lift her butt, he then lowered his right to guide his dick to her entrance. The second the tip pressed inside her, Teagan felt as if he’d placed his match to her lighter fluid.
To ease the entry, she leaned back, but that must have been a signal for Kip to suck on her tits. The combination of his big cock sliding inside her and his tongue on her nipples sent her soaring. Her blue glow pulsed.
As he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, his nostrils flared. “I love how you smell,” he whispered.
Her hands slipped to his rugged shoulders, and she dug her nails into his skin, trying to keep her breathing under control as her inner walls contracted around him. With each swirl of his tongue, her climax built.
He lifted his head, reached both arms under her rear and drove into her. Need exploded. Wrapping her legs around his hips, she rode him hard. She thrived on the friction, and with each thrust, her excitement blossomed.
Teagan leaned forward, and when she kissed him, every nerve ending fired. He filled her to the hilt, and she thought she’d explode with lust and passion. When he broke the kiss and lowered his head to her shoulder to suck on that sensitive part where the neck met the shoulder, she could no longer hang on. Her orgasm swept in and claimed her hard.
As both of their glows expanded, his hands found their way to her waist. He moaned and his cock pulsed and stretched her even wider as his hot seed filled her.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she held on tight until their heartbeats slowed and she caught her breath. Her feet slipped to the ground and Kip wi
thdrew.
“I need a towel,” she said. “Hold on.”
If she’d been forward thinking, she would have brought one with her. After a quick trip to the kitchen for something to wipe them down with, she returned and cleaned them both.
Kip walked over to the pile of clothes and handed her bra, shirt, and pants to her. “I owe you a pair of panties.”
She smiled. “Why yes you do.”
Kip was rather solemn when he dressed, almost if he had something on his mind or else he was just hungry.
“I’d like to discuss something with you,” he said once he finished buttoning up his shirt.
Teagan stilled, not able to tell if it was going to be a good discussion or one she wouldn’t like. “Okay, but how about we mosey on over to the kitchen and start dinner? I’m really hungry.”
“Sure. I’m ready to chow down too.”
“Spaghetti and meatballs are fast and easy, if that’s okay with you?
“You know I love that.”
She did. The first time she cooked dinner for him, she’d made that meal. “Mind getting out that big pot from under the counter and boil some water for the spaghetti while I make the meatballs?” she asked.
“Can do,” he said, his tone suddenly light.
Perhaps his talk wasn’t as serious as she first thought.
“Got any garlic bread?” he asked.
“Yes, but we don’t need that tonight. It can be a mood killer, if you know what I mean.” Bad breath sucked.
He laughed. “Fair enough. How about I make a salad then?”
“Perfect. Look in the fridge and use what you want.” She had stocked up on a lot of salad stuff since it was easy to throw together.
“I’ll boil the water.” Kip opened the cabinet and retrieved the large pot. “What do you think about me moving in here?”
Her heart nearly burst. I’d love it. Needing a moment to breathe and collect her thoughts, she opened the fridge for the meat. “Why?”
“You have to ask?”
There was a touch of anger to his tone, but yes she did need to know his reason. It could have been because he feared this man would come after her again. In which case, his declaration was based on practical considerations. If he wanted to give this relationship a chance then the answer was a resounding yes.
Not wanting to get her hopes up though, she decided he meant option number one. “Even if you fear that man will come after me, you have to work, and so do I. You can’t be my bodyguard twenty-four seven.”
He cocked a brow. “Are you saying you don’t want me here?”
The independent part of her wanted to deal with this issue herself, but the emotional half wanted him with her. “No. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m tired of being scared, but I don’t want you to change your life for me. This place is really small.”
“Come here.” Kip gathered her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “There is nothing more important to me than you.” He leaned back and lifted her chin. “Can you remember that?”
She had to swallow to keep from tearing up. “Yes. Then thank you, but if Randy plans to be at your house recuperating, maybe I can stay at your place instead—with both of you. I do have a few days vacation time coming to me. I could watch over him.”
Kip chuckled. “The stab wound won’t keep him down for long. I imagine he’ll be back at work in no time. Besides, Deanna is staying there should he need anything.” He squeezed her then let go. “Don’t worry about me. I want to do this for you.”
“Will you hover?”
He filled the pot with water and placed it on the stove. “I don’t hover.”
She was making a mess of things. “Okay, it’s a deal. I do want you to move in, and I’d feel safer with you here.”
He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You sure?”
She set the meat on the counter and turned around. “I’m sure. Though you’ll have to spend your nights servicing me.” As expected, he laughed.
“Good. After dinner, we’ll stop back at my house. While I pack, you can talk to Randy and Deanna and fill them in.”
“Sounds good.” She’d have to come up with some explanation for why she hadn’t come running to the hospital when his brother had been stabbed. Just then a terrible thought ran straight through her head. “What makes you think these creatures won’t come after you? Just because they have Randy’s powers doesn’t mean they don’t want more.”
“Why do you think I want to move in here? I need someone to protect me.” He winked.
She punched him in the arm. “That’s not funny.”
“Neither was the threat to your life.”
“True.”
Once she made the meatballs, she sautéed them. By the time they were done, the spaghetti had cooked. In the meantime, Kip made a decent looking salad.
With food in hand, they took the meal over to the small dining room table that sat between the kitchen and the living room. Starved, she dug in. “Mmm. This is way better than Nate’s.”
“I totally agree.”
Teagan then remembered something she wanted to ask him. “Why did you pick Nate’s anyway?” She often ate there, but it wasn’t as if that restaurant was their usual hang out place when they’d dated.
“Can you keep a secret?”
She set down her fork. “Secret? Certainly. I keep them all the time.”
He lowered his chin. “That you do. I don’t believe I had the chance to tell you that Kalan and I saw James—Naliana’s husband—to ask him for help retrieving Randy’s magic.”
Both Rye and Izzy had met him, but not many other people had. “Really? What’s he like? Did he look really old? I can’t wait to hear about it.” Izzy had provided some details, but it never hurt to get a different perspective.
“He looks about sixty, lives in a house that has to be hundreds of years old, and he had some strange qualities. Honestly, I didn’t care what he was like. I went there to find out about who might have stolen Randy’s magic. James said that two Changelings who want to part ways with their Clan would help us.”
She winced. “Changelings? Do you trust them?” Every story she’d heard about them had been bad.
“Apparently, James does. Besides, it’s all we’ve got. One of the two Changelings is Nate. I was hoping to maybe get a word with him.”
“Nate, the owner of Nate’s Pizzeria, is a Changeling?”
“You don’t have to sound so surprised. Some of our most successful businessmen are ones. Apparently, they’re good at hiding their evil ways.”
Teagan wasn’t sure she ever wanted to step foot in that place again, though they did make the best pizza in town. “How are Nate and this other person going to help exactly?”
“James said they’d ask around for the location of the stolen magic.”
“That would put them in danger.” Now that she thought about it, Teagan had always liked Nate. She remembered one time she’d left her credit card at the restaurant, and he’d sent one of his workers to return it to her with no extra charges on the card. Not every business owner would have been so honest. She leaned back in her seat. “Ophelia said that the Wendayan magic glows.”
“Glows, like what happens to us when we’re excited?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. I asked if it was akin to fireflies and she said yes.”
“Good to know.”
Before they finished their meal, Kip’s cell rang. “It’s Kalan. I should take this. Maybe they found the guy.” He answered. “You have something? Can I put you on speaker so Teagan can hear?” Kip pressed the button. “Go ahead.”
“I wanted you to know that after I made some calls about Teagan’s attack, I took Elana to dinner at my folks,” Kalan said. “While we weren’t gone long, when we returned home, we found our house had been torn apart.”
Teagan clasped the table. “How is that possible? I didn’t see something like this coming.” She had a premonition when Elana�
�s parents had been murdered. Why not about something as vile as a theft?
“Teagan, it’s Elana. This isn’t your fault. You can’t know everything. Besides, we have both been rather busy and we haven’t seen each other as much as we used to.”
That was no excuse. Teagan glanced over at Kip. “Do you think that Changeling who grabbed me took my powers without my knowledge?”
“No,” Kalan interjected. “They need the sardonyx to draw out the magic. James previously told me that the red onyx is necessary to the Changelings, like the pink quartz is to the Wendayans. It has something to do with preserving powers.”
She remembered that Elana’s parents had been killed over the onyx. “Elana, do you still have the piece your parents gave you?” It might have been what they were looking for.
“Yes, it’s locked in our safe that’s screwed into the floor,” she said.
Kalan spoke up again. “We agree with you. I believe that was what they were after.”
“Any clues to indicate who it was?” Kip asked.
“Not yet, but I called the department since I wanted them to check for fingerprints. They found nothing, so I have to assume that the thief or thieves wore gloves.”
That really sucked. “Was anything else stolen?” Teagan asked.
“Not that we can tell, which was what led me to believe they were after the red stone,” Kalan said.
Teagan was confused. “I thought Changelings didn’t have a lot of power if they entered the shifter compound.”
Kip nodded. Apparently, he’d thought the same thing.
“The closer to the lake, the weaker their powers. I know from experience that their ability to fight and heal is limited,” Kalan said.
Kip leaned over the phone. “What can I do to help?”
“Make sure that Teagan stays safe. If they attacked her once, they might try again. Though without more sardonyx, they might have to regroup.”
Heavy oil-like sludge filled her veins. She wasn’t as sure that they wouldn’t try again soon, nor was she convinced that a Changeling had to slice her open to steal her magic. Just because they did that to Randy, didn’t mean it was the only way a theft could occur.