by Zoe Forward
“I’m here to find her.”
Chapter Three
Matt stared at Bryce Sinclair in stony silence until the jittery need to speak overwhelmed him. “Who are you talking about?”
Bryce replied low enough that no one nearby could overhear, “Ye’ve been avoiding my calls and emails. It’s important we talk in private. Now. About her.” Power oozed from him. That strength had kept him the leader of the Druides Society for almost thirty-five years.
Matt crossed his arms and glared. “I know no woman of mutual interest that we need to discuss.”
Bryce frowned, revealing new wrinkles around his eyes. The grooves of his face etched deeper than the last time they’d clashed, eight years ago. “Come with me.” Bryce pulled Matt to the periphery of the room. He spoke softly. “The Confirmation is days away. And we’ve got a bit of an issue.”
“How is that my problem?”
A pained look pinched Bryce’s features as if this was absolutely the last thing he wanted to admit. “We need your help. With her.”
“I have no idea who you’re talking about.”
“All hell is going to break loose if we don’t get this resolved.” Bryce ran a hand through his dark hair, which lacked any hint of the gray expected for a man well into his sixties. Druid longevity was both a curse and a gift for those of the Sentry, the elite few chosen to protect the Pleiades witches.
“It’s always the same shit. Something is always threatening the world or jeopardizing your wards. I’m not interested.”
Bryce seesawed his jaw as if carefully selecting his words. “I’ve given you time. Now you need to step up. Get involved. Accept the fact that Quinn made his choice, and you being involved is your destiny.”
“No. You left my father, your loyal lieutenant, to die. I could’ve healed him, if you’d given me a chance.” His heart rate skyrocketed. Damn Kat for opening up the floodgate of hot emotion tonight. He forced himself to recognize his anger and not fall victim to it.
Bryce glanced around for eavesdroppers. His accent thickened, a sign of heavy emotion. “Ye were a kid with emerging abilities that were not entirely under your control. At best ye might’ve healed him enough to give him a few extra hours, not to mention you would ha’ likely killed everything alive in the vicinity to garner enough energy, including yourself.” He cleared his throat and swallowed. “Quinn didn’t want that,” he said, the accent no longer as detectable. “He wanted you out of that prison, and alive.”
“You were only too willing to abandon the man that had been your right hand for three decades. He threatened your leadership and you jumped at the chance to get rid of him.”
“Bullshite.” He lowered his voice. “If he’d wanted my position and had been chosen by the ancestors, then I’d have gladly stepped aside. Dying was his choice. I granted a great friend his last request. I saved his son.” A glassy look passed through Bryce’s hard eyes. “It is high time for you to accept your legacy.”
Legacy? Matt narrowed his eyes in a silent fuck-you.
Bryce squeezed Matt’s shoulder. His tone gentled. “I need you to help me find a missing Pleiades. As you know, all seven must be there for the Confirmation in a few days. If not, the end of the world may literally begin from the resulting deity war. I’ve got her druid match, but he says she refuses to stay in this realm. I don’t think they’ve bonded yet, though. Another source predicted that you would be the one to bump into her at some point soon.” Bryce scanned the packed exhibit hall. “I felt a buzz earlier that suggested powerful magic. Did you detect anything? See anyone? A girl, perhaps?”
Matt’s chest heaved with shock and then came to a full stop. Air refused to move through his lungs. He coughed. He had her match? Kat belonged to another druid? Not bloody likely.
Oh, hell no. Alarm squeezed his gut. He had no desire to become bonded to a Pleiades witch and get sucked back into druid matters. Bonding and druid shit was not on his list of lifetime to-dos. Besides, maybe she wasn’t the girl Bryce sought.
But deep in his gut he knew. His suspicion about her was probably right. Only a powerful witch could throw a curse like the zinger she’d saddled him with. She had to be the missing one.
At the moment, though, he didn’t have time to deal with this. He heard the music stop and his PR rep start her spiel about juvenile diabetes. He masked his inner turmoil and ground out quietly, “I have no knowledge of an unknown Pleiades. Ask someone who gives a shit about the world of the weird. I’ve got a speech to make.”
…
Kat found an unpopulated corner near the orchestra that she deemed to be far enough away from Matt Ryan. Her hand trembled as she sipped wine, hoping the alcohol would lull her body back toward normal. Her pulse continued to thud through her ears and a roaring arousal made her uncomfortably hot. That combined with a hefty load of pissed off had her itching for a fight.
She wouldn’t let Matt get her in bed. Not this time. She’d learned the hard way that he considered her good enough for an easy one-nighter, but nothing more.
Her curious nature, however, was intrigued that maybe, like her, he wasn’t quite what he seemed. But curiosity didn’t eliminate resentment. She had to avoid him for however long she was trapped in this alternate reality, which she hoped she’d leave soon.
In a daze, Kat followed everyone’s gaze when the music stopped. They turned toward the raised dais close by. A woman she recognized as the one that spoke to Matt while they danced tapped at a microphone for attention. People crowded in next to Kat.
The pretty blonde said, “Let me now turn this over to our host this evening. He’s been a strong supporter of this cause for years. Tonight he pledged a personal half million to the Foundation and challenges all of you to match that. Let’s give a warm welcome to Matthew Ryan.”
He calmly stepped up to the podium amidst the loud applause. Holding up a hand to halt the applause, he flashed a devastating smile guaranteed to make all the women want him. His supreme confidence and aura of authority were magnetic.
Beside her a woman thought, I can’t believe he murdered his wife.
What? Kat had to bite her lip to stop herself from asking the woman for details. He killed his wife?
“Thank you all for coming out tonight.” His deep, mesmerizing baritone washed over her. “I hope everyone is enjoying my liquor because I seem to be unable to get adequately hydrated. It’s all right; I’ll try to make it to the bar later.” He waved off the blonde woman with a smile. Laughter followed.
He launched into a short, but powerful speech on the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. She stared, mesmerized by the soothing texture of his voice, and not registering a single word he uttered. She shook off his persuasive influence and glanced around. Everyone appeared just as enthralled by his words.
A man behind her said, “He’s a good speaker, isn’t he? Persuasive. Are you going to donate?”
The woman next to her sighed with a moony look as if coming out of a trance when the speech ended. “I’m going to donate,” she announced to no one in particular and drifted away toward the donation tables.
Kat turned back toward Matt. As the music resumed, he descended from the dais to shake hands with several powerful-looking men. His gaze captured hers over the tops of their heads.
She had to get out of here. Time to find a quiet spot to try to jump back to her real life.
Her mind whirled as she headed for an exit. Despite her resentment for Matt’s past behavior, she didn’t believe him evil. Annoying, devastating, and rude…yes. But a murderer?
Chapter Four
Kat needed to travel back to her apartment tonight. There were patients to see tomorrow. And dance practice in the afternoon. She also didn’t relish being the recipient of a screaming litany from her boss when she missed work. At least she didn’t have any pets waiting for her at home, having put down her cat a month ago after he lost his battle with kidney cancer.
She hadn’t been able to control when she transitioned back
to her normal life in the past, but there was always a first time. Right?
She darted into the restroom, intent on escape. Gossiping women and flushing toilets crowded the fluorescent-lit linoleum disaster. She backed out.
Noting there was no attendant at the coat-check station, she slipped around the reception desk. At the far wall of the cloakroom, she halted. “Come on. Please, let this weird evening end,” she whispered to herself.
Nothing happened.
Warm breath tickled the hairs on her neck. A hand snaked around her abdomen. Kat sucked in her breath and tensed. Every self-defense instruction she’d ever learned surged to the forefront of her mind. She prepared to yell, but the instant sound crested in her throat, a hand clapped over her mouth.
“Don’t scream,” a familiar masculine voice whispered in her ear.
Her body stiffened.
His hand released her mouth, but he maintained his opposite palm on the back of her neck. Chills skirted down her body.
She turned and met Matt’s dark blue gaze. She resented the smug perception smoldering in his eyes. His jacket hung unbuttoned and the tuxedo tie undone. The cocky bastard expected a whole lot.
“Leaving?” he asked softly. His hand moved slowly from her neck to chin and gently stroked.
Pride demanded she leave. She would not allow this evening to end with them in bed and the utter humiliation of her being pushed out in the morning. Her festering anger bubbled to the surface. She jerked away from his touch but he caught her arm. “Let me go.” She jerked again and he caught both of her arms, pulled her against his chest.
“We need to talk, wildcat,” he said. “Just give me a few minutes.”
Despite the coolness of his tone, she felt each heavy exhalation as it exited his body. His eyes blazed, excited. She should be frightened that he restrained her, but deep down she knew he would never physically hurt her. A fire of sexual need started in the pit of her stomach and quickly warmed every inch of exposed skin. Indignant fury warred with desire.
She said, “We have nothing further to talk about. We are in the past. Over.” She slammed her eyes closed to hide her lust from his too-knowing gaze and to avoid being drawn into the seduction she knew lay in those sexy, deep blues. An instinct stronger than anger tempted her to wrap her body around him. She wanted every bit of the wild abandon she’d found with him before.
“Look at me,” he ordered.
“No.”
He pressed her against the wall and said hoarsely, “We are far from over.”
She wiggled, needing to put some space between them. His heat and fresh masculine scent was all over her, making her abdomen clench with want. Anticipation and desire electrified her body. She fought to keep her eyes closed. If she opened them, he would suck her into his sensual vortex.
His palm curled around her lower jaw with a touch that was gentle but controlling. In a raw voice, he rasped, “Please, rescind it.”
Her lids popped open. She asked with a deceptive calm. “Rescind what?”
His body tensed against hers.
She glimpsed the barely restrained desire eating at him. His gaze slid to the chain around her neck and followed its path down to where it disappeared into her dress. Evidence of his arousal pressed tight against her abdomen.
She swallowed, knowing she should tell him to back off, but couldn’t voice the words through the desire clogging her throat. Defeating his iron control challenged her. Rational thought fled. She wanted to tempt him. To push his control over the edge. She arched her back until her breasts rubbed his starched shirt.
His breath hitched, then came in irregular pants.
She bit back a smile.
“This is insane,” she murmured. She yanked her hands from his grip with surprising ease and fit them around the back of his head to draw him to her lips.
He murmured, “Not as insane as how much I want you.” And resumed kissing her. His hand shifted to fit the nape of her neck while the other cupped her butt and pulled her core to his groin. Her legs instinctually wrapped around his hips, pushing up her dress.
He groaned when she tangled her tongue with his.
A moan detonated from deep in her chest. Behind her head, his fingers expertly removed the few pins holding the French twist in place. He tangled his fingers in her hair and then molded them around the back of her head.
Shamelessly, she ground herself against him, desperate to be closer. The muscles of his back jerked when she dug her nails through the fabric of his tuxedo jacket.
He chuckled low. “That’s the wildcat I remember.”
His words pulled her abruptly from her passion free fall. She couldn’t fight this attraction, but what remained of her functioning brain advised she stop. She was seconds away from begging him to quench the painful pressure building between her thighs. My God, she was on the edge of explosion just from a kiss. If that happened, she would plead with him to finish this right here in the cloakroom. Ten years of nighttime fantasies of him swam in her mind. End this right now! she ordered herself. She refused to become a repeat one-nighter, no matter how incredible the sex promised to be.
There would be consequences.
She tore her lips from his and lowered her head. She panted for control over breathing. What the hell was she doing? “We’re not doing this again.” She chanced meeting his gaze.
He cradled her chin—controlling, but not painful. The pupils of his eyes were so dilated that the blue was but a thin line. A tic worked furiously in his cheek. In that moment she saw a glimmer of the real Matt. The one her body burned to unmask. He clung to control by a thread. One little push and intuitively she sensed he’d explode. What would happen then she wasn’t sure. But she didn’t fear it. To the contrary, the mere thought made her knees tighten as she recalled the ferocious lover cradled between her thighs.
He rubbed the pad of his thumb along her lower lip. “Whatever this is between us isn’t over.”
Her voice came out as little more than a whisper. “It has to be. You’re getting married.” She wriggled to unlatch her legs from around him, but he had her pressed too tightly against the wall to escape.
“I haven’t proposed to anyone yet.”
“Well, you have a girlfriend…again.”
He leaned toward her and whispered, “Not for long…”
Oh God, yes. Please kiss me again.
At the last second, he shifted to kiss the hypersensitive zone just beneath her ear. She groaned and her legs involuntarily tightened around his waist again.
“Please…not tonight,” she whispered, wishing she didn’t have to beg. But apparently her self-control flew out the window when this man touched her.
His breath was hot on her ear. “You’re right. This isn’t a good place, but you’re not getting off that easy.”
A momentary sting burned the underside of her left wrist where his thumb rubbed steady circles. Heat shot from her wrist directly to the junction of her thighs as if his hand was on the bare skin of those private folds, stroking erotic circles. She groaned and rubbed against him seeking something more. The sensation focused on the hidden nub.
“Come for me, Kat.”
Sensation intensified. She whimpered and tangled her hands in his dark hair to pull him in for a deep, openmouthed kiss. Her body arched against him as her orgasm crested. His mouth buffered the moans that rose from her throat when her world detonated.
Oh my. She rested limply with her head against his chest in his strong embrace. Her ear registered the loud thumping of his heart. His scent enveloped her and soaked deep into her pores where she feared she’d never eradicate him.
When her brain came back online, it quickly skipped from euphoria to humiliation. He touched her wrist and she climaxed? How utterly pitiful she must seem to him.
His rapid, heated breaths tickled her ear, but he held himself motionless.
“Please, let me go.”
In a hoarse voice he said, “Reverse the curse. Please end it
. Once I’m free of it, we can finish this without anything hanging over us.”
She blinked up at him. “What curse?”
He eased her feet to the floor and kept a hand on her elbow.
She was grateful for his support because her jelly legs weren’t on board with walking yet. She smoothed her dress.
“Don’t play games with me, Kat. Do whatever you need to do to reverse it.” He leaned in and gripped her arms.
“What are you talking about?” How could he be so calm after that? So seemingly in control and focused on her reversing something? She could barely wrap her mind around coherent thought. A curse? She recalled her parting words to him all those years ago. He must’ve believed it to be real. She hadn’t intended such.
Beyond that…wow. That meant he hadn’t been satisfied by any woman since her. Her heart squeezed. She owned a piece of this extraordinary man that no other could claim. That didn’t mean she trusted him farther than she could spit. Even if she’d meant to cast a curse, she had no clue how to reverse it. Based on the stubborn set of his lips, he would push this until he got what he wanted.
She’d try mind coercion to get by him and leave, not that she expected it to work on someone so strong-willed. It worked on pets, if she could reach beyond their hospital-induced panic, and occasionally on some people. She announced, “I’m leaving. Please, let me go.”
He scrunched his forehead, but didn’t move. “What do you want from me in order to get rid of it?” His eyes pleaded with her to help him.
That meant none of her abilities worked on Matt. And she couldn’t help him since she had absolutely no clue about curses. “I want to go home.” She tried to back out of his clamp on her forearms, but he didn’t release. His thumb stroked circles on her bare arm, shooting chills down her spine.
“Is there some guy waiting for you at home?” he asked hoarsely, pulling her close to him again.
Jealousy? From him? “Not that it’s your business, but no. Unlike you, I don’t cheat when I’m in a relationship.” As if she’d had a relationship longer than a first date. No one she’d “dated” measured up to what she’d experienced with him. Damn him for ruining other guys for her.