But those women were fleeting, and he’d never been in a long-term relationship before. He slept with shifter women and said goodbye amiably, and somewhere along the years, he forgot about them.
He had a feeling sleeping with Robin would be different. It would be the most intense.
It would also be his downfall.
Simon savored the kiss for a few more seconds, letting her taste sink in his senses. Then he finally, slowly pulled away, resting his forehead on hers and trying to slow down his erratic breathing. Hers wasn’t any better, and he pulled away completely before he could do something else.
He looked her in the eye, inwardly groaning at how shiny and blurry with arousal and shock they were. Then he spoke with difficulty.
“I want you, Robin. More than a friend should want another friend. But I’m never going to push myself on you if you don’t want it. Please trust me on that.”
She didn’t say anything, merely stared at him. She didn’t do anything, either, and for those few seconds of staring at each other, silence filled the cave.
Finally, as if coming to her senses, she pulled back and cleared her throat.
Damn, even the sound turned him on, and he tried his best to hide his erection.
“I trust you,” she said simply.
Simon forced himself to smile. “Good. Now help me find food around here, will you?”
The serious look left her face, and the moment was broken as her eyes twinkled slightly. “Actually…I can make some.”
He stared at her, realizing she wasn’t kidding.
Then he burst out laughing at his fortune of being stuck with a very powerful witch.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
It was difficult for Robin to think much and plan too many details ahead of time because of a couple of things: first, there was the cave, which was closed off to the outside world—if there was even one—and shorter than she initially assessed, making for an almost suffocating feel. Had she been claustrophobic, she would never have survived here with its minimal lighting and general coldness.
Second, while she did say that her magic allowed her to create food, it was mostly sustenance and tasted bland, sometimes bitter. Robin hadn’t actually ever tried perfecting this magic skill yet, and she was pretty sure even her mentor didn’t know much about it. It was just something she discovered and was still trying to develop, and obviously, it still needed work as Simon complained about the first bite, but tried to man up and eat the rest.
Third was the devil himself—or rather, the werewolf who was supposed to be her friend. Yet here she was thinking about him nonstop, unable to get his words out of her brain as she tossed and re-tossed it over in her head.
Robin did trust him. She trusted him with all her heart and soul, and it was scary how much she did. But there was nothing scarier than the emotions roiling inside her every time he did something.
Like make her laugh.
Like bring her water and cover her up when she was feeling tired, and pull her into his arms for a hug in the middle of them sleeping on the ground.
Like sneaking in little looks and glances that she caught often, his gray eyes filled with so much longing and desire that it threatened to consume her.
The longing echoed inside her, and she tried to fight it off as they tried to survive in their little prison. His friendship mattered so much to her, and she didn’t want to ruin it by the desire she was feeling.
And she was feeling it. In fact, Robin was feeling so much of it that she was worried she was going to spontaneously combust any second now at the persistent throbbing in her legs that just wouldn’t go away.
“Let’s play a game,” Simon said on their…ninth hour in the cave. At least, based on their estimate, it felt like the ninth.
They were sitting side by side while she played with some of her magic, having regained a minimal enough amount to start a glowing fire in front of them. It looked like an orb with different colors swirling inside, and strands leaking through. It reminded Robin of a lava lamp’s calming effect, and she latched onto it to distract herself from Simon’s warmth beside her.
“What kind of game?” she asked cautiously.
Simon smiled, all easy and casual. He was really keeping to his promise to treat her as nothing but a friend, trying to put her at ease.
“Truth or dare? You like?”
There was nothing better to do, really. Plus she wanted to return his effort and treat him the same way. So Robin nodded her head.
They started with easy enough questions, with Simon mostly asking about what she did to kill Jin and all the other magical things she did that he’d never seen before. Not many people knew of the capacity of her magic, and she really didn’t like boasting, but telling Simon felt more like opening up than bragging. He began asking about her training years with Red, and excitement filled her as she told him about the improvements she’d achieved and her urge to experiment some more. She asked him questions in turn about his missions when she left, and he made it seem comical despite the underlying danger she could sense in each and every one of them. Robin knew Simon was an asset to the shifter community—she just didn’t realize how much.
They indulged themselves in some dares, then ate more of her magic food. But with a space like the cave, there really wasn’t any chance to do any huge dares, so they switched back to truths and settled comfortably near the wall as they kept the conversation going. After a while, they gave in to the urge to lie down next to each other. Robin hadn’t been this relaxed in a long time, and she realized how tense she’d been since undergoing training, then jumping to this mission right away.
“You always said you wanted to be a great witch. What else do you want?”
She pondered this. What else did she want?
“To travel,” she said. “And gain more experience during missions. To experience something thrilling, something that will make my heart leap with joy. To do this world so much good. I want to help get rid of evil in any way I can.”
He remained silent at her admission, and she turned her head slightly in his direction. He was looking at the ceiling, a thoughtful look on his face.
“What about you?” she asked. “What else do you want? Is it all about missions for you?”
He was silent for the first few seconds. When he spoke, his voice was quiet. “No, it’s not all about missions. I want to settle down someday. Have a house of my own and a forest I can run in every day. I want a place that’s protected from all the evil in the world, too—and maybe that’s why I’m doing my best right now…because when I retire from this life, I want this place to be more…livable.”
It was a kind thought, and she watched his side feature as he kept talking. A grin slid on his face, charming and taking her breath away.
“I also want fun. I’m all for fun, as long as it’s harmless and in the right moment. A beautiful woman, a great time…” He shrugged. “I’m a man. Needs and all. I’ve never had one-night stands, but I indulge myself in seducing a woman I really like.” He finally seemed to realize who was beside him, and she saw his eyes widen. Then he uttered a curse word. “Shit. Sorry. Too much information.”
Robin smiled. “I like too much information.” A pause, then, “Ask me what else I want.”
He turned her head towards him, giving her a quizzical look. She was pretty sure he wasn’t aware she’d been watching him because a look of surprise crossed his face before he pushed it down—and something else, something that made a thrill run down her spine before she could stop it.
Perhaps she couldn’t ever stop it.
“What else do you want, Robin?” he asked, voice turning low and husky. Perhaps unintentionally, but it didn’t matter because heat settled in her belly and spread all over her.
“I want what I’m not supposed to want,” she confessed. “I want…I want a certain man’s hands on me. I want…I want to lose control, even for just a day.” She looked at him, watching his gray eyes turn dark with every
word. “I want…I want…”
She wanted him. She wanted him too much, and she could no longer restrain herself. Without thought, Robin pressed her lips against his and felt his breath turn sharp at the movement. Her hand went to his arm.
“Are you sure, Robin?” he breathed out. “You have to be absolutely sure because I won’t be able to stop—”
“Don’t stop,” she murmured.
Then she closed the distance between them and moved her body closer, pressing it against his to show him she meant business.
Or rather…pleasure.
He already had an erection, and she felt that hardness press against her stomach and spread tingles all over her skin. Simon yanked her closer, rolling them around until she was on her back and he was right on top of her, kissing her in a way that had her insides roiling with the pleasure of it. His tongue came out to dominate, and his hands were everywhere, touching her in places that she imagined him touching her and more. Little sounds kept coming out of her mouth, and the kiss turned hungrier and deeper until she was completely lost.
He began removing her clothes. She began removing his cloak trousers, fascinated at the muscles she saw in the dim lighting and unable to help herself from touching. She let her fingers caress happy little trails all over him, loving the way groans came out of his mouth. She let her tongue explore him, but stopped with a gasp when his mouth fastened on her throat…then further down, latching on to her stiffened nipple and shooting intense desire inside her. She cried out in pleasure, and he licked and sucked to his heart’s content, switching from one breast to the other until she was swimming in need.
Then his mouth trailed further down, and whatever she felt earlier weakened in comparison to how he used his fingers and tongue to pleasure her in between her legs. He licked at her core and slid his fingers in, using a thrusting motion to bring her to the peak as he murmured things to her—about how wet and tight she was, how he wanted her to come for him.
It only took a few thrusts. Robin felt the pleasure focus down below, building and building right before it shattered her in a mass of pleasure and bliss. She held on to the feeling, unable to believe how good it was.
Then Simon’s long, lean body surged up again to press against her, rolling them both until he was now the one on his back and she was straddling him. Her hand instinctively went to his cock, and she looked down as she wrapped her hand around the thick, pulsing part of him, her mouth dry with the want to…taste it. She licked her lips.
Simon groaned. “Robin. I want to be inside you.”
Robin looked up, freezing in shock at the need in his voice—so much of it. Then she smiled as she guided his cock inside her, taking it slow and watching his expression raptly as he finally slid in to the hilt. She then leaned down to kiss him, unable to get enough.
“I’ve only done it once,” she admitted. “You’re going to have to help.”
A devilish grin slid off his mouth, making her heart drop, then pound so hard. He placed his hands on her hips, directing her to an up and down motion until she got used to the feeling. It felt just like being full down there at first…and then it became something more as the tingles came back, intensifying by the second until it turned into full-blown pleasure. Fire spread through her, burning her inside out, and she reveled in it, bouncing on top of him and making her lose her mind.
He lost his control, too, his hips surging up to drive into her faster. Deeper. Harder. When that wasn’t enough, he rolled her onto her back and pounded inside her until desperation filled her and she sought out that release once more. Every pound hit her pleasure spot, and she cried out his name and clawed at his back as she felt that release come—first in waves, then in rigid turns that left her shattered all over again.
She held on to him. She clung to him as she flew, and a few thrusts later, she felt him go rigid against her.
Then he was shattering, too, and it was the biggest thrill of them all.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
It took Jake a day or two to get back to Japan with reinforcements, and by the time they went back to Jin’s father’s mansion, the frustration was strong and persistent as he bombarded himself with scolding about how he should have gotten help sooner. But Lucy had been near-fainting, and he wasn’t in any good shape, either, making the journey back home harder and slower than it should have been.
Dylan had been rightfully shocked about the connection between the sexual charms and the demon, as it hit two birds with one stone. Then he got to action right away, calling for a witch named Red Denver and his dragon shifter mate, who was also the leader of the dragon clan.
Lucy disappeared as soon as she got to headquarters, whisked away by her father almost instantly. Jake, for his part, was so hungry that he went to the kitchen first, gulping down so much food that he was pretty sure they would need to stock up soon. Then he went back to Dylan’s office to find the ones he summoned already there, waiting for him and his mission report as he gave it in brief, precise sentences.
The three got to moving right away, with the witch opening up a portal for them back to Japan. He guided them to the compound, where they avoided the guards and headed straight to the back garden. Jake did his best to explain how he got into the maze and how Robin opened up the second portal where she got dragged by Jin, and amazement overtook everything when Red followed the steps precisely. Apparently, Robin had left some kind of invisible magic trail for them to follow.
Before he knew it, they were back in the maze where everything was clear, too, then in another place that looked like a cave and a prison at the same time.
Unlike the compound and the maze, the cave still had that ominous feeling in the air, however weak. Jake could sense it, and he knew his two companions could, too, based on how Henrik tensed and how Red prepared her hands in case something came to attack. But nothing came, and they delved deeper until they were near a pool of water and what had to be the clearest part of the cave.
Beside the pool of water lay Simon and Robin, sleeping in each other’s arms.
Simon sat up instantly at the sound of their footsteps, his eyes widening at the sight. He shook Robin awake, and she was slower to do so, though her hands did the same thing as Red when she noticed that they were no longer alone.
Robin and Red stared at each other in the ensuing silence. Then Jake watched as she stood up, and the two women hugged.
“I tried my best,” Robin murmured.
“And your best is more than enough,” Red confirmed.
Maybe witches weren’t so bad, after all.
*****
He’d been meaning to visit Lucy right after he got back, but certain things took his time—particularly, helping the team in figuring out the details they gathered so they could round out anyone else involved in the charm bust operation. Apparently, Jin’s father had no idea that his actual son was already gone, to be replaced by an entity that had been living with them for a good few years now. That had caused more confusion, and they had to alter the poor man’s memory to ease some of the pain away.
Three days later, he found himself standing right outside her apartment building after the guard refused to let him in. He waited and waited, spending the entire day until it turned to night.
Finally, Lucy came down the stairs from the front lobby, taking his breath away with how gorgeous she looked in a simple silver dress. She was laughing at something over the phone, but the laugh froze when she saw him. She murmured her goodbye and hung up quickly, and they walked towards each other.
Jake took her in—all the light makeup that only accentuated her distinct features, such as those sensual lips and pretty gold eyes. He felt something stir in him, and he made a move closer, wanting to reach out and touch her.
But she stepped back, as if anticipating the movement. “What are you doing here?” she asked coolly.
He dropped his hand to his side. “I wanted to see how you were doing.”
“I’m fine,” she said. Her voic
e had absolutely no tone in it, baffling him. Where was the worry he saw in her eyes? The compassion? The sweet woman behind the polished façade?
The polish was back now, and suddenly Jake wasn’t so sure it was a façade. Maybe it hadn’t been, after all.
“You really should go,” she spoke again, keeping her voice low. “I’ve got somewhere to go, and I really don’t see any reason for us to see each other again.”
Jake frowned, still trying to figure things out. But Lucy didn’t give him a chance, already stepping back and making a move to leave. His hand snapped up and held her elbow before he could think it over, and she paused, looking at his hand with her eyes flickering.
But when she turned back to look at him, all he saw was cool derision.
“Yes?” she asked calmly.
Jake slowly eased his hand away.
“Nothing,” he muttered.
This time, he was the one who stepped back, letting her go and watching as she sashayed towards her waiting limousine with barely a glance in his direction. He watched it drive off, then simply stared into the distance as he wondered what had happened to that connection they had back there in the maze. She felt like a different woman then, and Jake had to wonder if he was deluded.
When the limousine finally disappeared around the corner, Jake sighed.
Then he turned back and walked away.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Life back at headquarters was just the same as before after every grueling mission Simon had ever been on—comfortable, peaceful, with enough fun in between training and resting that he was rarely bored. He had friends back here, and it was good to just chill and hang out while eating whatever he could get his hands on and not having to worry about anything other than when he was going to get his next mission.
But the sameness affected Simon differently this time—particularly, the one factor that was glaringly absent when he got back.
She had gone with Red right away for a fresh report and full healing. She hadn’t properly healed inside that cave, and Red will take care of her.
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