“Then come here.” He held out his hand.
She stared for a long second.
“You’re in control,” he reminded her. “You want me to get up and leave, say the word.” Fucking liar. He couldn’t leave her, was incapable of it. And if he tried it, the bird would probably sever his spinal cord. But he had to give her the space to make the decision and hope like hell she didn’t test him.
She unclenched her fingers from around her arms, rose on her knees and shuffled closer until her leg touched his thigh. Her magic heated his skin at contact and pulsed through him, taking his breath away. Her fragile trust held him perfectly still, waiting to see what she’d do.
Would she believe in him? Give him a chance to prove he’d help her? Not hurt her?
Finally, she settled her hand in his.
The bird preened and pranced in his skin, his feathers spreading out and fluttering. The violent ache in Linc’s chest eased. He wrapped his fingers around hers and for a second just held on to her.
Then he tugged her. “Closer.”
With jerky movements, she threw her leg over his.
Linc curled his free hand over her hip and drew her down. Her warmth covered his dick.
He hissed. Pain. Pleasure. Hot and cold. He kept his eyes open, his gaze on her, letting her see what she did to him. Letting her know they were both right there in the vortex of need.
Her power streamed straight down, slamming into him.
He arched back, shocked by the hot magic whipping through him. “Shit.” He’d underestimated the reaction he’d have, the extreme urge to shred the clothes between them and surge up inside her.
But she trusted him to stay in control.
Damn it.
Grabbing her waist, he shifted her to sit across his lap. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her back enough to see her face. Her shimmer had red pain cracks and flashes of yellow heat. And her eyes—her pupils were dilating.
“Magic is swelling in my first chakra. Too much.” She rotated her hips in desperation.
Linc struggled to breathe past the whirlpool of lust sucking them in. He knew how it felt to have a driving need for release, but for Risa, it meant her magic that had protected her all these years was betraying her. And sexual lust? She’d been forced to use men’s sexual lust to lure them to places where her father could kill them.
That kind of shit would fuck with anyone’s head, but a teenage girl? Anger helped him get another sliver of control. He wanted to care for her, to be the one who helped her see the beauty in her desire. “Desire’s part of your magic and part of you, the part you’ve been repressing. Our bond is bringing it out.”
“I’ve never felt this before.”
Oh hell. Being the first man to show her the pleasures of sex. He liked that a hell of a lot and would make damn sure it was good for her. “Because you haven’t been with someone you could trust with that part of you. But you are now.” And didn’t that puff up his chest with pride? She’d crawled right into his arms. Lowering his face to hers, he said softly, “Let me show you the beauty in giving pleasure. I want to watch you own your desire, let it surge through you until you come.”
“I don’t know what that feels like.”
Christ. Every cell in his body fired to show her. Teach her. Watch her surrender to his touch. Linc’s heart pounded, and urgency thumped in his blood. “I want to give that to you.” Brushing his mouth over hers, he added, “Do you want more? To let me kiss and taste you? Touch you?” But he’d hold back from sealing their bond.
For now.
Risa might be physically ready, but every instinct he had screamed that emotionally she needed time and care, a little space to figure it all out. She’d been forced into sexuality too damned young, abused and betrayed. Trust took time, and Linc would give her as much as they could afford.
This moment wasn’t about finding her child or breaking his curse. It belonged to Risa, to them.
Shifting, Risa sat up, snagged the ends of her T-shirt and stripped it off.
Linc’s brain stuttered. No coy answers or helpless act. Nope, when Risa committed, she went for it. He freaking loved that. Her dark, untamed hair fell around her shoulders. And shit, no bra. Just fucking perfect tits, with rosy nipples that ignited his hunger. He caught his hand in her silky hair and dragged her close enough to feel the damp heat of her breath.
She closed her eyes as a shudder raced through her. “This is what it feels like to want someone.” When she opened her eyes, fear and wonder merged in their depths. Digging her fingers into his arm, she added, “What it feels like to want you.”
Her honesty humbled him. He had no more words, and he skimmed his hand up her rib cage and traced over the enticing mounds of her breasts. He brushed his palms across the tips of her nipples.
Her lips parted.
He kissed her, catching her bottom lip with his teeth then soothing it with his tongue. Damn, the taste of her inflamed him. The mere tease of her flavor intoxicated and drew him in deeper. He slid into the heat of her mouth, exploring her.
A hint of magic rushed over his tongue.
More. He needed it, craved it.
With deft fingers, he drew a line down between her breasts, into the dip of her ribs, over the tight muscles of her stomach and spread his hand, feeling the edge of her magic where it swirled and pulsed. So hot, so goddamned amazing, his heart pounded. Her thick moan made him and the bird tremble.
He forced himself to move slower, sliding his fingers right to the edge of her low-riding pants.
Her magic burned there. Throbbed. Oh Christ. He tried to catch it, felt all the swirling power suck at his fingers.
Her pants vanished.
Risa jerked her head back, her eyes wide. “I didn’t—”
Linc kissed her, invading her with his tongue, then sucking hers into his mouth. Risa clamped down on his shoulders, her fingers digging in. Finally, he lifted his head. “You are that powerful, love, your need that fierce. You want me to touch you.” He brushed his mouth over hers. “No lies between us. Tell me the truth.”
She laid her hand over his on her belly. “I want it, you, enough to magically strip myself bare for you.”
His chest burned at her words and trust. The falcon made embarrassing cooing sounds in his head, but Linc couldn’t fault the bird. “Damn, that’s hot. Own it, Risa. Show me what your magic feels like.”
He looked down her body, to where his hand, covered by her smaller one, rested between her hipbones. Watched as pushed his hand down.
The sight of her guiding his hand to the strip of hair and lower was more erotic then anything he’d experienced.
Fuck. Razor-sharp lust pounded at him, but nothing would stop him from giving her this. He let her stay in control of his touch, guiding him. Owning her desire.
She curled her hand until his fingers dipped between her thighs to her heat.
“Risa.” It came out a heated growl. He stroked along her seam, his chest tightening while his cock surged against his pants, desperate to feel this. He parted her folds, right to her most vulnerable flesh. “You’re wet and slick. And this…” He dragged the tip of his finger over her clit and circled the swollen nub.
A wave of magic bloomed, rich with her scent. Oh yeah, she liked that. Linc fought a wave of searing need, keeping his touch easy as he rubbed and caressed her clit. “This is temptation begging to be licked.” Hunger flooded his mouth, but he held back and let her set the pace.
Her power shimmered, his shirt vanished, and she ran her hands over his shoulders and down his back. “I need to touch Falcon.”
Damn, she dragged her palms over his skin, creating a path of crackling magic that lit him up. His heart rate jacked, but he kept his voice calm. “He makes you feel safe?”
“You both do.”
He bit off a groan. His balls swelled, cock ached, but the feeling of her hands on him was worth the torture.
“I feel ridges. Beneath the ink.” Her f
ingers began tracing the brand.
Linc didn’t want to talk about that ugliness, not when he had her beauty and trust right here. “It’s nothing. But you, little witch, you are filling with power. It’s blazing over your skin, your scent making my mouth water.” Leaning forward, he sucked in a nipple.
She arched. “Please.”
Her sweet plea arrowed a burning shaft of hot pleasure through him. He dipped his fingers deeper between her thighs. Damp and hot, another wave rolled over him, need so vital he could barely breathe.
He dragged his gaze back to hers. “Don’t hide from it now. You’re going to come. Own it. Go after it.” He stroked and teased, finding the spots that made her moan. Her magic rushed around his fingers.
“Yes.” She canted her hips, a flush on her skin spreading, her fingers digging into his shoulders.
Linc lost it. Moving with hunter speed, he lifted her, got up on his knees and set her on the padded bench. “Lean back on your elbows.” His voice was rough. Harsh. Desperate.
If he couldn’t slide his cock into her, feeling the very center of this woman, he’d make love to her with his tongue.
Risa leaned back. The waterfall cast a fine spray over her nude body, hundreds of tiny droplets clinging to her shoulders and breasts.
Beautiful.
Linc caught her thighs, spreading them open.
Wet, swollen, pink. Fucking beautiful.
He leaned down and tasted her. Wild magic and pure Risa flowed to him. Through him.
So deep it felt like she marked him.
~ 12 ~
Risa had never understood the elemental drive to have sex.
Until now. Until this man. Linc, a man who had survived being held captive and tortured, and yet cared enough to help her, give to her.
Not take from her.
The depth of his physical generosity was a new experience. She had only known herself as a tool, something to be used. He showed her that she was so much more.
Her eyes burned and her throat filled as he knelt between her legs, his hand holding her ass as he ran his tongue gently over her clit in an intimate kiss. One that deepened as he licked her. Sucked her.
Her first four chakras threw out continuous magic that pooled and whirled in her pelvis. Every touch of his breath, lips and tongue shot through her in lightning streaks of pleasure.
He groaned and lifted his gaze to hers, light brown eyes darkening to bronze and swirling with something potent and primitive.
Her womb contracted in response, sparking an ache desperate to be filled.
Sliding one hand from her ass, he traced her from her clit down, until he circled her opening.
Arrows of need shot through her. She cried out.
“More, Risa? Tell me you want more.”
Delicious tremors raced from his touch, her body coiling, tightening. Fear tried to edge in as she hung on a precipice. Did she jump? Or pull back? Uncertainty hovered.
Until she looked back into his eyes. Pupils swollen, color dark and desperate, need so vivid it echoed in her blood. But he didn’t take what he needed.
Instead he gave her what she craved.
Her last threat of hesitation melted beneath his intensity, leaving nothing but trust and hunger. “More. You, Linc. I want you.”
Color flooded his face. “You have more of me than I’ve given anyone else.”
Emotion surged into her throat. Despite who her father was, what he’d done to Linc, he trusted her, had told her his past. That opened her until she shuddered and moaned to feel more of him. Get closer.
He slid one finger into her. Filled her.
“Hot, wet and pulsing with magic, so damned honest and sexy, Risa.”
His voice trembled through her, pushing her higher, firing a voracious throb she had to satisfy.
“Ride my fingers. Catch it, Risa.” He pushed a second finger in, stroking her and seducing her magic.
Sensation built. She pushed against his hand, chasing it, pumping hard and fierce. Every slide of his knuckles fired her nerves into wild hunger. In, out, deeper and never enough.
“More!” Her voice came out a ragged demand.
“Fuck yeah.” Still keeping that possessive gaze on her, he lowered his face between her spread thighs until his breath feathered over her swollen, wet folds.
“Argh, God.” Sinking her hands in his hair, she held on as he teased her clit with the edge of his hot tongue. Back and forth, ripping her apart as the yearning built to unbearable. Just when she wanted to beg, he pushed his fingers deeper, hitting a hidden spot that lit her up. At the same second, he caught her clit with his lips and sucked. Hard.
Risa exploded, hot surges of bliss rupturing in wave after wave. When Linc raised his head, she caught a reflection of wings in his bronzed irises, sweeping up and down in a fluid motion. Both man and bird were in powerful unison, owning her as she soared with them. Finally she floated down, her muscles lax and her magic gently burbling.
Linc eased his fingers from her, rose on his knees and pressed his forehead to hers. The wings moved in his eyes.
“I feel that, your wings inside me, gliding with my magic. Up and down, through my chakras.” It should be invasive, too intimate. But after her bone-melting orgasm, she couldn’t feel anything but a soft glow. “Is this real?” Or had her mind snapped and she’d retreated to a dark hole and hallucinated? “Are you real?”
“As real as it gets.” Leaning on one elbow over her, he brushed her hair back. “You took my breath away. So sensual and honest, there’s nothing sexier.”
Risa touched his face, skimming her fingers along his jaw. The wings in her magic fluttered. “I feel you inside me. I can’t decide if it’s sexy or scary.”
“Baby, when I’m truly inside you, you won’t feel fear. Only pleasure. That’s the bird. The tattoo is hot with your magic right now.”
The ache he’d just satisfied tingled, heat spreading at the thought of him inside her. He’d been patient, seducing her, showing her she could trust him. Time for her to do her part. They both needed to seal the bond. But she’d never forget this moment with him.
Even when he hated her later for lying.
Anxiety edged in, but Risa held on to his gaze and slid her hand over his stomach. Jeez, the ridges of his muscles entranced her. The man felt as cut as he looked.
Focus. She knew how to do this. Reaching his belt, she—
He caught her hand. “Wait.”
“Why?”
“You feel the bird, right?”
She nodded. The sensation of the creature winging gently around her magic almost protectively resembled being hugged from the inside.
“He’s helping you harness the magic. Let’s see if we can find your girl, now. As long as you feel him, he’ll keep you safe.”
Startled, she stared up into his eyes filled with wings. This man constantly surprised her. “Don’t you want to break your curse?”
“Fuck yes. Even more than that, I want you, want to feel you, to take our pleasure together.”
“Then…” She tried to understand. Kendall was his ace card, the one he could play to make sure she gave him that. “Why wait?”
“Because more than all that, I want you to be free to choose, Risa. Right now, you’ll choose to do this for Kendall. And God, baby, I respect the hell out of that. But it’s not what I want.”
Confusion spiraled. “What do you want?”
His gaze pierced hers. “For you to do this because you want to, not because you have to.”
Hot tears threatened, and her chest ached. Why? Dear God, why did Linc, this man who’d endured being sold by his mother, caged and used in ways that she couldn’t fathom, why did he have to be so kind to her?
She didn’t deserve it.
Swallowing her tears to put conviction in her voice, she told him the truth. “I want to. You don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do. Let’s try this, while the bird is in your magic. Do this for me. Use your magic and rea
ch for your daughter.”
With no words left, she nodded and did it. Her magic rushed out. Flutters of soft wings joined in, as if the bird chased her power. The bird was helping her. Maybe she could really reach Kendall and find her. Hope inflated.
Yet she couldn’t help but think about the lie that would shatter this fragile trust and budding friendship blooming between her and Linc. It loomed up thickly between them, slowing her magic. Her heart chakra squeezed.
The wings in Linc’s eyes began to fade as her magic faltered, tripping on her guilt over the necessary lie.
He slid his hand up her waist and brushed his thumb over her nipple. Desire arced up, reigniting her magic. “Now, love. Before I completely lose it here.”
Risa focused on the wings in his gaze as they grew bigger and bigger, until they filled her vision. Without thinking, she laid her hand on Linc’s face. The connection between her and the bird strengthened, and she could almost feel feathers brushing her fingers. Her power surged and coalesced. Risa projected outward, searching for Kendall.
A thin, distant screech echoed. Her magic paused.
“Risa?” Linc stiffened, hand gripping her waist. “The falcon, he’s warning of something.”
She opened her mouth, but the harsh drag on her witchcraft cramped her chakras. The bird faded away, and Risa panicked. She couldn’t reach her magic. All her power fused into a massive curtain lowering.
Blinding her.
“Risa!”
“No!” Terrified, unable to see anything except blackness, she couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. She shivered violently as chills attacked her, and her magic lay out of her grasp.
A hand caught her face. “Risa, talk to me. Tell me what’s happening.”
“I can’t see anything! The souls did something to my magic!”
* * *
Linc grabbed his shirt and pushed it over her head and arms. Wasting no time, he scooped her up and ran into the house. “Carla!”
“What?” She rushed out of the computer room with Sutton on her heels. Behind them, Ram walked out, his shoulders tense and cords on his neck standing out. Risa’s magic was affecting the other hunter, but Linc had no time to worry about that. Going to the couch, Linc sat with Risa on his lap. “Risa can’t see. Something’s wrong.”
Caged Magic Page 14