“I have to agree with your mother.” Jensen took her arm in his. “Perhaps we should adjourn and regroup once we have all had the opportunity to compose ourselves.”
“What about Andion?” Tess squatted down beside the wizard and pressed her hand against his forehead. She shivered as his skin cooled her palm. “Shouldn’t we bury him?”
Jaxon caught her around the waist and lifted her. “Wizards belong to the elements, Tess. When we die, we return to nature, that which has given us our magic.”
“You’re just going to leave him here?”
He comforted her with a kiss. “No. His body will leave once we are gone.”
She blinked, looked over her shoulder even as they began to walk away. “His body is going to get up?”
“Disintegrate,” Rane replied shortly.
She winced. “Thanks for the vivid picture.”
Rane arched an eyebrow. “I am not a coddler.”
“I noticed.”
Jaxon shielded her from Rane’s brusqueness and led her farther away from the scorched earth where Athena had stood. “Come. We will go home as my father suggested.”
Tess rested her head on his shoulder. “I don’t know that I want to go back there, Jaxon. Not yet.”
He kissed the crown of her head. “I know. Trust me.”
* * * * *
Tess awoke to the sun streaming in through the polished windows. The welcome warmth bathed her face and she rolled to her back, slinging one arm over her eyes. It was nice to wake with the sun once more. Her thoughts made her arm slip. One eye cracked open. Definitely sunlight. The other eye joined the first to search her surroundings. Now she remembered. Jaxon had brought her back to his home in Nepal, not the citadel.
With a sigh of pure relief, she pulled herself to her feet, captured the robe from the foot of the bed and shrugged it over her shoulders before walking to the window. Pressing her hand against the pane, she reveled in the feel of the heat against her skin though she knew the warmth would be deceiving. Outside, the temperature would hover in the mid-thirties for this time of the year but it didn’t matter. She was below the Milky Way. In a real house. She could walk on real streets and see people who weren’t wizards. She felt alive again.
The bedroom door thumped against the wall, causing her to look over her shoulder. Jaxon carried a wicker tray laden with a silver coffee carafe and scones. “I thought you might like a light snack. You’ve been sleeping for a while.”
She turned to welcome him. “Thank you.” The huskiness of her voice spilled out her gratitude.
He placed the tray on the bedside table and joined her at the window. “You’re welcome.” Taking her in his arms, he held her tightly. “I wasn’t sure if you would want to see me right now.”
She inhaled the scent of his skin, a tangy musk of warm sun and pure male. Her senses began to whirl. “I’m not angry with you. Just the situation. Does anyone know what happened to Athena to make her so bitter?”
His hand dropped low and slid along her hip. “Greed happened. She saw the power wizards had and she wanted it. Coveted it. Unfortunately witches can’t achieve our type of magic without help.”
Tess placed her palm against his heart, needing the reassuring thump. “Will she come back?”
“I don’t know. Braeden will stay with her for a while.” His fingers massaged her skin through the silky material of the robe.
What was it she was going to ask him again? “And then what? What will he do? He can’t return here.” She paused, testing the waters. “Can he?”
Jaxon let out a long breath and his hand stilled. “I suppose. One day. When the anger has receded.”
She tipped her head up to see his face. “Will that be before or after you assume the role of leader of the Assembly?”
His brows drew together. “What difference does that make?”
“If you take over as leader while you are still angry with your brother, you can deny him entrance to the Assembly.”
“Why is it so important to you that he returns?”
“Because he’s your brother. And where else would he go? He’s a wizard.”
Jaxon smiled and tweaked a lock of her hair. “Wizards are everywhere. There are more of us than you think.”
“Then why is the Assembly alone?”
One hand cupped her chin before he lowered his lips to touch her cheek. “It’s dangerous for wizards from different guilds to gather together.” Another kiss graced her nose. “We would leave an energy that can be tracked by all in the magical realm.” He parted her robe and slipped a hand inside to caress the fullness of her breasts. “But enough conversation. Isn’t there something else you’d rather be doing?”
Her tongue moistened her lips. “What did you have in mind? Or should I guess?”
“I’ll leave it to your imagination.”
She gave him a primitive smile, full of promise and carnal thoughts. “Well, you know, I’ve always had a vivid imagination.” She captured the waistband of his boxers and tugged them down with a yank. His cock sprang out, heavy and full, the tip engorged with blood.
The silkiness of his member glided over her palm and Jaxon groaned low in his throat. She slipped her hand up and down his shaft while watching his face, the way his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. Still holding him, Tess dropped to her knees. She grazed her lips over his abdomen and felt the muscles knot. Pressing her cheek against the hot skin of his cock, she grew still, simply relishing the feel of his heat and steel.
“Do you know how good you feel?” She framed her hands at the base of his shaft, running her wet, hot tongue down the length.
“Tell me.” The hoarse demand had her smiling.
“Why don’t I just show you?” A small gurgle of sound was his only response as she took him in her mouth. His hands tangled in her hair, wrapping the strands around his fingers.
Her tongue laved circles around the tip of his cock as her teeth grazed the taut skin. Her mind registered the harsh sounds of his breath, the way one of his hands dropped to tighten on her shoulder. She increased the pace, pulling back until just her lips touched him. His stomach quivered beneath the light touch of her fingertips. She caressed his balls, the clenched muscles of his thighs and the tight skin below his sac.
“Sweet Jesus,” he moaned, his hips flexing forward.
Angling upward, Tess took him in deeper, allowing the tip of his cock to touch the back of her throat. He was so thick her jaws ached, her lips going numb as she rode him with her mouth, twisting and turning her head like a corkscrew.
Jaxon’s hands clasped each side of her face. “Ah God. Yes, yes.”
She pulled back to raise her head. “Do you want to come in my mouth or in me?”
His response was action only. He hooked his hands around her arms and hauled her up the length of his body.
She shed the robe instantly, standing before him naked and flushed. His eyes raked her over from head to toe, lingering on the pert tip of her nipples before dropping lower to feast on the tight curls between her legs. He held out his hand.
“Where are we going?” When had her voice gotten so husky? She shivered and slipped her hand into his palm.
He pressed a finger against her lips. “Just follow me.”
Tess didn’t speak again as she fell into step beside him. Their bare feet slapped against the hardwood floor as he led the way to a gold-lined glass door at the end of the hall. Glowing light spilled out onto the polished wood and soft strains of classical music filtered out into the hallway as Jaxon pushed open the door.
The rich opulence of the room drew her in. A warm fire pierced the dusk and the flames licked high in the fireplace, offering warmth and romantic ambiance. Richly paneled walls surrounded a baby grand piano and a three-tiered chandelier, domed with pleated satin, hung low from the center of the ceiling. Tess felt like she was walking on air when the carpet sank beneath her feet.
“What is this place?”
“It’s
a special room created just for you.” Confident in his nudity, Jaxon strode forward and swept open the dual-pane Gothic windows. The sounds of rushing water united with the soft music and Tess felt her muscles undulate.
“When?” As she finished speaking, he walked around behind her, brushing his lips over the back of her neck.
“Just this instant. That’s what we can do, Tess. That’s what the magic can do.” He rained kisses over her skin, sliding his hands down her arms to raise them over her head. “It’s been too long.” He guided her forward until her abdomen bumped the row of piano keys.
“You’re going to… Oh!” She gasped as his long, nimble fingers slipped inside her pussy. Her feet stepped apart and she braced her hands on top of the gleaming mahogany. From over her left shoulder, she could hear the gurgling water. She could feel the warm glow of the fire on her face but most of all she felt Jaxon stretching her, pressing deep into the moist recesses of her sheath. Her head fell forward and she moaned.
His knee bumped the bench behind her and the hard tip of his cock replaced his fingers. “Ease back, my sweet. Let me fill you.”
She backed up as instructed, exhaling sharply when thick skin impaled her. She held still, not daring to move. It had been too long and even though this wouldn’t be their last time together, she would claim it like it was, enjoy every second of this time and just as soon as it was over, she would crave him again. That was how strong their connection was.
He kissed her back, licking her spine until she shivered with delight. “Talk to me, Tess. Let me hear you.”
She felt him begin to move within her. “What do you want me to say?” She whispered with urgency as the pace increased. His hand went around her waist and dipped low, brushing over her muff before he parted the lips of her pussy. The second he caught her clit, she jerked. “Oh God.”
“Just like that,” he responded. “I want to know how you feel. How I make you feel.”
He rolled her flesh between his fingers and her breaths quickened. How could he expect her to talk when his very actions were stealing her ability to think? “That’s it. Right there. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”
“Never. I’ll never stop. You belong to me.” He held on to her, forcing her against the piano. The keys resounded with sharp notes as he began to pound into her.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she chanted. Between the strokes of his cock and fingers, the orgasm crept closer. Her knees went weak and the muscles in her thighs began to clench. Heat poured over her from the top of her head to the soles of her feet, glorious waves of intense pleasure.
He fisted his hand in her hair and tugged her head back. “Does this feel good?” He already knew the answer to the question but he needed to hear the deliciously wicked words wrapped in the softness of her voice.
“Yes! Fuck me. Fuck me hard.”
His balls drew tighter, threatening to burst. His fingers ground into her clit and she jerked so hard, her ass pushed against his hips. “That’s what I want to hear.” He kissed her neck before licking a spot just below her ear.
Tess screamed as she came, her hands slamming against the ivories. As the discordant tune played, Jaxon pumped harder, short, quick thrusts into her quivering channel.
Warmth flooded his body, bathing him in a soft flush. His abdomen twisted into a knot as the muscles tightened and for a brief moment all sound receded as the blood rushed to his ears.
One more clench of her pussy was all it took to push him into orgasm. The release was so violent, his fingers dug into her hips with enough pressure to leave bruises. His knees bumped the piano bench and he cried out over and over until his muscles gave way and he collapsed on top of her.
“God,” he whispered.
“Mmm,” Tess responded, so replete she didn’t want to move. “This was perfect.”
His cock began to grow hard again. “What do you mean was? We’ve only got started.”
As the sheets tangled around their legs hours after they’d made their way back to the bedroom, Tess snuggled against Jaxon’s chest, the thrum of his heart a strong reassurance. “Jaxon?”
“Hmm?”
“Are we safe?”
He curved his fingers over her abdomen. “For now. It will be some time before Athena is able to restore the Coven, if, in fact, she ever can.”
“And if she does?”
He rubbed his face into her hair. “Then we’ll fight her again.”
“She never learns, does she?”
Jaxon chuckled. “She’s a lot like my wife.”
Tess pinched his arm. “That’s not nice. I was only trying to protect you.”
“While it’s a sweet notion, I don’t need your protection. I’m well equipped to take care of myself and my family. But,” he turned her in his arms and ran a finger down the bridge of her nose, “I don’t mind having you with me, keeping you in my sight.”
“So you can keep an eye on me?”
He cupped her face. “So I can see you. Just seeing you gives me strength.”
“Here comes that wizardly charm of yours.” Her insides began to melt. Had it only been thirty minutes since they’d last made love? Each time she was with him, she wanted him more. Was it the magic?
He shook his head. “This isn’t the wizard talking. It’s the man.”
“I thought they were one and the same.”
“Well, you couldn’t be expected to know the difference. Things are still new to you.”
“I’ve lived with you long enough for the newness to wear off.”
His words were muffled by the thickness of her hair. “You might be surprised.”
“Is there something coming you’re not telling me about?”
He raised his head and winked at her before pressing her head back against his chest. “That would ruin the surprise.”
She inhaled him, felt the warmth of his skin beneath her cheek. “I might start to dislike your surprises. Sometimes you scare me.”
He stroked her hair, tangled his fingers in the wealth of it. “Sometimes I scare myself.”
“Stop trying to laugh it off. I’ve never been so close to someone.”
“That’s because you’ve never loved this way.”
She wondered if he was reading her mind. With a sigh, she trailed her fingers along his arm. “Have you? Ever loved this way, I mean?”
His forehead touched hers. “Never, but it was worth the wait.” He dipped his head, stole a kiss and her breath. She allowed herself the luxury of running her fingers through his hair, sifting the silky strands. He had beautiful hair, thick, luxurious. But then there was nothing about the man that didn’t captivate her.
She succumbed to the ancient charm. “You have a silver tongue.”
“And don’t you like what I can do with it?” Jaxon’s laughter stopped abruptly and his head lifted, tilted toward the ceiling.
Chimes rang around them, resounding against the windowpanes. “Are we being summoned?”
“You heard that?”
“Wasn’t I supposed to?”
Jaxon swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, leaning down to take her hands in his. “I’m not sure. We’d better find out.”
Tess gripped his fingers. “Do we have to go right this minute?”
He blinked down at her. “What did you want to do first?”
“I want to go outside. I want to stand on the mountain and just look. Can we do that for a moment? Just a few minutes?”
He cupped the back of her neck. “Of course we can. The Assembly will wait.”
“You know, when you’re in charge you should really think about getting rid of that gong thing. It could become quite annoying.”
“It’s rarely used. Most times, the wizards are within shouting distance.”
“I’ve never heard any of the wizards shout for a gathering.”
“That’s because you’ve missed some of the old times. Now hold tight.”
“No.” She pressed her hand over his mouth.
He peeled her fingers away. “I thought you wanted to go outside.”
“I do, but couldn’t we just walk outside? I mean the front door is just around the corner. Would it be so difficult to walk?”
He frowned. “If that’s what you want. It seems like a complete waste of energy now that you’re capable of so much more.” He shrugged shoulders roped with muscle.
“I’m not yet ready to attempt your mode of transportation on my own.”
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