by Vivi Anna
François, on the other hand, had no qualms about staring at her. It made Cale’s gut clench again. He ground his teeth as he watched the young witch gobble up Olena’s body with his intense gaze. The urge to walk across the room and squish the little man surged through him. It took all he had to stay glued to the spot.
Olena took off her pants, folded them and set them on the table next to her folded shirt. Cale nearly swallowed his tongue. She was wearing matching black lace panties. He’d seen her naked, had her on the bathroom counter, but seeing her like this, scantily clad and a bit vulnerable, sent his libido into overdrive.
“Okay,” she said. “Now what?”
“I need to feel your aura, so can you stand still with your arms out to the side?”
Feel your aura. Cale thought that was the cheesiest line he’d ever heard. He imagined François wanted to feel more than that. But he bit his tongue.
Olena stuck her arms out to the side. As she stood there like a cross, she avoided Cale’s gaze. He could imagine how she was feeling right about now. Maybe he was making it worse by being in the room, but he couldn’t push himself to leave.
Rubbing his hands together, François neared her. “Just stay still.” He raised his hands and set them around her, starting at her head. His hands hovered in the air, mere inches from her. After taking in a deep breath, he started to move them down and around her body.
Cale watched him work, aware that his own body was shaking. He’d had no idea that he could feel this way about someone. He wasn’t normally a jealous guy, but watching the witch almost touch Olena on her shoulders, on her arms, on her breasts, was driving him insane.
Olena’s gaze met his over top of François’s head. By the look in her eyes, he knew she was completely aware of his barely reined-in control. And was not happy about it.
“Can you hurry this up, François?”
“No, I can’t. I don’t want to miss it because you’re pushing me.”
He went to his knees then, his hands skimming the slope of Olena’s belly and the rise of her hip. His face was just below the rise of her breasts. From François’s position, Cale knew his breath would be blowing on her skin. He’d be able to smell her intoxicating scent.
That should’ve been him on his knees in front of her, worshipping her, not François. The young boy had no business touching her beautiful supple flesh.
He couldn’t take it anymore. Clenching his hands, he took a step forward.
“Don’t you dare,” Olena warned. “Stay right where you are.”
Cale stopped in midstride.
“Aha,” François declared, “I found it.”
Olena glanced down. François had his hands circling her ankles. “Where was it?”
“On the top of your feet.”
“How did a spell get there?” Cale asked, his interest getting the better of him as he breached the rest of the distance to glance down at Olena’s feet.
François shrugged. “He could’ve dripped an ointment onto her skin. Or he could’ve touched her there and planted the spell.”
“He dropped something when he was in my apartment.” Olena shook her head. “I didn’t even think to watch as he picked it up. I had just come out of the shower and had bare feet. He could’ve done it while he crouched down. I was still wet, so I wouldn’t have felt anything if he flicked something onto my skin.”
“Yeah, but I thought spells could be washed off?”
Cale was thinking of the sex spell and how he’d showered it off. And he was also thinking about finding Olena in the shower in his hotel room. She was hot and wet when she’d come out.
He had to shake that image away, or he knew he’d get hard thinking about it again.
“Technically, most can be. But this one actually soaked into Olena’s skin.”
“Can you get rid of it?” she asked.
Nodding his head, he stood. “But it will take me some time to conjure an antidotal spell.”
“How much time?” Olena asked.
“Three or four hours maximum.” François rubbed his hands together again.
Olena picked up her clothes and started to get dressed. “Thank you, François.”
He bowed a little to her. “My pleasure, mon amour.”
“Yeah, I bet it was,” Cale mumbled under his breath.
François glanced at him, a sly little smile on his face. “You seem a little uptight, Agent Braxton.
Maybe you should take some time off. Get some sleep. I know it can be difficult for a human to keep up with our pace here in Nouveau Monde.” His gaze flicked over to Olena, then back again. “Otherworlders just have a lot more stamina.”
“My stamina is fine.”
Olena finished buttoning up her shirt. “I’ll be back to see you in about three hours, François.” She marched over to Cale and grabbed his arm, steering him toward the door.
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Olena pulled him out of the room before he could say anything else.
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked him as they walked down the hallway.
“I didn’t like the way he was ogling you.”
“Ogling me?” She frowned at him. “François doesn’t ogle. He’s a professional. Unlike some people.”
“I am a professional.”
She smirked. “Yeah, right. And I bet you’re not hard right now.” Her gaze dropped to the crotch of his pants. Which of course was an unfair maneuver. Of course he was going to react when she looked at him with her smoldering, sexy gaze.
“You were in your underwear.”
She shook her head. “And seeing a woman in her underwear is enough to give you an erection? You’re like a damn teenager.”
He grabbed her arm and stopped her from walking. He took a step forward, crowding her against the wall. “You were in your underwear. You. Not some other woman that I don’t give a damn about.”
“Oh.” Her breathing changed then. He could hear it. Her eyes darkened as well. She was acutely aware of his presence. He wondered if she could smell his arousal.
He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to press her up against the wall and take her mouth and her body.
“Cale,” she warned, and took a step backward. Her back bumped up into the wall. “This is not the place.”
Several technicians passed them in the hall. More than one set of eyes widened at their position.
“Then we’d better find a place,” he growled, “because I’m about two minutes away from letting everyone in this lab know how much I want you.”
“Your hotel is closer than my place,” she said lowly.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
He took her by the hand and led her down the hallway toward the main lobby.
They ran into Gabriel along the way. His eyebrows shot up as they neared. “We’re taking a couple of hours,” Cale grunted as they passed right by him.
Gabriel didn’t even have a chance to respond before Cale pulled her out the main door.
Chapter 20
The drive to the hotel took exactly six minutes and forty-five seconds, according to Olena’s watch. She sped the entire way.
Once parked, Cale came around and opened the door for her. She found the act endearing until she realized it was because he was really in a hurry.
It wasn’t his gentleman gene calling; it was his libido.
As soon as she slid out of the car, he had her by the elbow and was ushering her, rushing her, into the hotel. She didn’t protest. The intense look on his face told her that it would do no good. He’d probably just growl at her.
They marched across the lobby to the elevators. Cale punched the up button several times. Olena had to stifle a laugh. He was clearly on the edge. She didn’t want to push him off it quite yet. Maybe when they got into the elevator.
One of the six elevators opened, and Cale ushered her in. He banged on the close button before anyone else could get on. One unhappy lady let them know exactly how she was feeli
ng as the doors shut in her face.
Olena let out a giggle then. “Did you see her face?” But her grin soon faded when Cale crowded into her, forcing her to back up into the wall. “What are you doing?”
“Taking what’s mine.”
“Excuse me?”
But he wasn’t having any of her excuses or angry remarks. Cradling her face in the palms of his wide rough hands, Cale tilted her chin up and took her mouth.
A moan escaped her lips as he swept his tongue over hers, sampling her. Her knees nearly gave out at the power of the kiss. She reached out and fisted her hands in the front of his shirt so she wouldn’t collapse. Little quivers rushed through her body. She felt weak and invigorated all at the same time. He possessed a power over her that she knew he didn’t realize he had. She hoped he wouldn’t figure it out or she’d be a goner.
As the elevator ascended, Cale continued to take her mouth, nipping and tugging at her lips and tongue. Her belly clenched tight and her thighs tingled in anticipation.
When they reached his floor, Cale took her by the hand again and led her down the hall to his room.
She had to quicken her step to keep up with him. A fierce look crossed his face. It was the look of a man possessed. And it made her heart skip a few beats.
With his key card he opened the door and Olena went in. He followed her in and shut the door behind him. Just as she managed to turn around to face him, Cale wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again.
His hands were everywhere at once. Rubbing her back, caressing her rear end, undoing the buttons on her shirt. She could hardly catch her breath.
“I want to see your panties again,” he murmured, as his fingers made quick work of her shirt. He parted the fabric and yanked it down her arms, his lips never leaving her face.
Next his hands were at the button of her pants. He undid it, and pulling away from her mouth, he knelt down and slowly pulled her pants down her legs. A hard and hot rush of pleasure surged through her as she glanced down at the top of his head. She could feel his hot breath on the flesh of her belly. He was breathing hard, as was she.
When her pants were at her ankles, he held them still while she stepped out of them. The act sent shivers up her spine. Starting at her calves, Cale moved his hands up her legs with just the lightest of touches. Her heart picked up several beats as his fingers stroked the outsides of her thighs.
“You’re so damn beautiful, Olena. It makes me ache.”
She couldn’t respond. Words wouldn’t form. Her throat was too dry for anything but a low moan.
Cale buried his face into her stomach, laving his tongue over her skin. Reaching down, she wove her fingers into his hair as he licked and caressed her body.
Her breath came out in ragged pants as his tongue dipped into her navel and ventured even lower. He ran his tongue along the edge of her lacy panties, making her flesh warm and tingly.
He slid a finger through the band around her leg and into her slick heat. She knew she was hot and wet for him, open to his touch. She watched him through the dark hood of her lashes as he stroked her up and down. Her legs shook from the effort to stay on her feet.
Taking hold of the waistband of her panties, he pulled them over her hips and down her legs. When she stepped out of them, he gripped her thigh in his hands and flipped her leg over his shoulder. She wrapped her hands tighter in his hair to hold on. He didn’t give her a chance to take another breath before he laved his tongue between her legs.
Fierce, burning heat spread out over her flesh. Her entire body quaked from the inside out as Cale feasted on her. She’d felt desire before, many times, but this insatiable hunger was something new. It was as if his touch seared her to the core, ignited every inch of her body until she was a quivering mass of pure pleasure.
She ached for him to touch her everywhere, explore every crevice, every inch of her. She’d never felt this type of passion before. One that conquered her completely and made her want to drop to her knees and thank the god for sending Cale to her.
Again he stroked between her legs, adding his fingers into the mix. His thumb caressed her most sensitive spot. She could hardly breathe as the muscles in her thighs tightened. An explosive orgasm was building like a spinning tornado. It wouldn’t take much more for her to come in a flood of ecstasy.
Gripping his hair for support, Olena looked down at Cale as he licked and suckled on her sex. Gone was the human agent who followed the rules. In his place was a wild, unfettered being intent on taking everything she could give him. She’d unleashed something she was unsure if she could handle. By the pleasure rushing over her body, she wouldn’t mind the effort of trying.
As if sensing her need, Cale slipped two fingers deep inside her. He swirled them around, burying them deep, feeling all of her.
Sweat trickled down between her breasts. Her thighs tightened in anticipation. Her gut churned, knowing it would be soon. Gripping his hair tighter, Olena worried her bottom lip with her fangs. The beginning flutters of orgasm rushed through her.
Sensing that she was close, Cale increased the pressure, teasing her sensitive nerves. One more suck, one more lick, one more push with his fingers was all it took for her to come crashing down.
Moaning, Olena rode his mouth, pumping her hips with every wave of pleasure. It had been too long since she’d experienced a climax so intense, so vehement. She could do nothing but hang on to Cale as surge after surge of ecstasy crashed over her.
When her tremors had subsided, Cale got to his feet. His gaze was dark and fierce and his lips were swollen and slick with her desire. After all that, he didn’t look any tamer than he’d been when they first got in the car and drove to his hotel. In fact, he looked more determined than ever. The thought actually scared her a little.
He scared her. On all kinds of levels.
He threatened her independent way of life. The life she’d built for herself after her last husband had died. She swore then she’d never fall in love again. Never give her heart and her soul to a man. Not ever. But with Cale it was getting harder and harder to keep that promise to herself. He was chipping away at her walls, at her defenses. Her heart was in jeopardy. And that was the most frightening thing of all.
“I’m not done with you,” he growled as he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her another two feet into the living room.
Whipping her around so her back nestled into his front, he pushed her up against the sofa. The fronts of her thighs banged up against the back of the sofa. And before she could say anything, he bent her over the cushions.
Chapter 21
“What are you doing?” she chirped. He could hear the panic in her voice. He smiled, knowing he’d driven her to this, pushed her past her limits.
“Having you.”
Her gaze lit up like green fire as he stroked his hands over the cheeks of her heart-shaped ass. He’d heard that vampires’ eyes glowed when they were afflicted with intense emotions, but he’d never seen it before now. His stomach clenched at the sight.
He’d done this to her.
Cale loved her like this. All vulnerable and under his control. But he wasn’t under any delusion that he’d taken it from her. She had absolutely handed it over to him. He loved that she trusted him like this.
And he was going to take full advantage of it.
Keeping her pinned to the sofa, Cale unbuttoned his pants and shucked them down his legs. He was blistering hot and hard for her. Situating himself right at her juncture, he spread her and slid himself in.
She was hot and wet and open for him. It took everything he had not to ram himself deep. He bit his lip with restraint as he thrust into her. She moaned deep in her throat while he established his rhythm.
In and out. At first slow and easy, torturing her as well as himself. Then he couldn’t restrain himself any longer and he was pumping hard. Digging his fingers into her hips, he buried himself deep, then withdrew, only to do it again and again, until sweat dripped off his forehe
ad and soaked the front and back of his dress shirt.
It wasn’t long before his stomach and thigh muscles clenched in preparation. Pitching forward, he covered Olena’s back and thrust deep inside her. He clamped his eyes shut, but it didn’t stop the explosion of white behind his lids when he came.
His release was fierce and hot and intense, and he wasn’t sure how to handle it. He could hear her heart thumping hard and hear the labor in her breathing. He opened his eyes and looked down at her. Her head was to the side and he could see that she wasn’t smiling, but she wasn’t frowning, either. Her look was one of utter fury.
He straightened, and slipping out of her, he quickly reached down and pulled on his pants. She’d yet to move, was still sprawled over the back of the sofa, her legs still spread. He noticed red marks at her hips where his fingers had dug in. The cheeks of her rear end were a slight pink from his brutal pounding.
“I’m sorry,” he said as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
Straightening, she turned and glared at him.
“Don’t you dare say sorry for this. You can apologize for being an ass, but don’t you dare be sorry for screwing me.”
He stared at her, unsure of what to say in return.
She looked angry, but from what she’d just said she wasn’t mad about having sex with him. Why did this have to be so complicated? He’d damn well known this was going to happen between them.
Complications. Miscommunications. Problems.
Ones he didn’t want.
“Okay.”
“If I didn’t want to have sex with you, Cale, I wouldn’t have let you.” She marched over to where her panties and her pants had been discarded and picked them up. “Don’t look so distraught. You didn’t hurt me. You didn’t sully my impeccable reputation.
Get over yourself. You’re not that wicked.”
Taking her clothes, she marched into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.