Her mouth took his. The kiss was sweet.
So perfect his heart shook a bit in his chest.
And then she pulled back and whispered, “I’d love to.”
Chapter Five
“I think this might have been a bad idea.” Looking around the store, so obviously full of clothes that wouldn’t fit her, she wanted to run away. Maybe take a nap. See if she could dream her way to Kayden in daylight.
Instead, Daphne pulled her forward, further into the store. “Chicken.”
Emily couldn’t disagree. Plus, she wasn’t sure if she cared. She would rather spend her days wrapped in dreams than live in this world. Touching a silky dress made in silver material that reminded her of his bedroom, she relived last night’s dream with relish. His passion, his hunger, swept her away. After years of longing for his touch, two nights in a row of the feel of him left her aching.
She wanted him inside her. But he was a dream, if a very sexy one, and maybe her new horniness in her fantasies signified the need for a real lover.
“Try these on.” Shoving a pile of clothes in Emily’s arms, Daphne paused by the silver concoction. “Oh, this is nice. Good eye. And this. But first the bra, because yours is deplorable. You need pretty underthings, not a boulder holder that doesn’t hold the boulders. Let’s get those boobs up and at ’em.”
“Daphne!” She whispered. “Someone is going to overhear you.”
“Oh, you’re so easy to scandalize sometimes. Come on, dear. Try these on and start with the lingerie. God knows, you need to feel like a woman to act like one.” Daphne snapped the dressing room door closed, leaving Emily alone with the pile of clothes and the dreaded three-way mirror.
Trying on the advised bras, the first two were too small. The third, as promised, made ‘the girls’ look perkier than ever, and Emily could almost ignore the plumpness of her arms with them standing at attention like that. She imagined, as she tried on the teddy Daphne selected, the look on Kayden’s face if he saw her in this rather than her usual flannel jammies. She blushed and moisture gathered between her legs at the image of him, in his usual kilt with his bronzed body so deliciously displayed, looking at her with the hungry gaze he wore last night.
If nothing else, she wanted this damned teddy.
Since she had it on, she tugged the silver dress over it, watching it fall around her like some glittering fantasy. Yeah, the dress hid most of her flaws, brought out the color in her eyes and its icy coolness added a flush to her cheeks that wasn’t normally there. It actually wasn’t half bad.
The rap on the door startled her and she cracked it only to have Daphne yank it the rest of the way open. Her friend’s eyes widened and she let out a low wolf whistle. “Hot mama, you’re buying that.”
She couldn’t disagree. Putting her regular clothes back on, she left half the heap in the room and came out with her selections. Purchases in hand and her bank account lighter, they headed to the next boutique to get her hair done.
“What product do you use on…this?” The hairdresser, a younger woman who had the figure of a fashion model, sneered at the lock of lank curls she held up for inspection.
“Shampoo.”
“What kind?”
“The cheap kind.” Emily shrugged. No use putting lipstick on a pig.
“Okay, I can work with this.”
Spinning Emily so she faced away from the mirror, the woman first played with color, painting purple-looking stuff on her hair before shampooing it with something that smelled like apples. Then she conditioned the hair, brushing it out, before bringing out a rather dangerously sharp looking pair of scissors and taking off what felt like ten pounds of hair.
“Finished.” Spinning to face the mirror, Emily stared at the stranger reflected there. Layers made her curls look almost intentional and the low lights brought out even more color in her face than the dress had.
“Makeup,” Daphne nodded behind her. “She needs the full thing, since I’m not sure she knows how to do it herself.”
The magician of a hairdresser nodded and began layering on goop that made Emily look even more the stranger. She was almost pretty, if chubby. Rushing to Daphne’s house afterwards, she again shoved into the teddy and silver thing, impressed by the new her and yet very aware that the sun was setting.
Normally, she’d head to bed in a little while. Kayden would be waiting. But she promised Daphne she’d go out, so…
Stifling a yawn, she followed Daphne to the club and almost upon arrival, he noticed her. He had dark hair, not as long or as soft as Kayden’s, but still nice.
“My name is James.”
“Emily.”
“Would you like to dance, Emily?” The man held out a hand in offering. His fingers, unlike Kayden’s, were well manicured. His suit was impeccable.
He horrified her.
But she’d given her word, so she allowed him to lead her out on the dance floor. Looking over his shoulder—he wasn’t much taller than she was, unlike Kayden, who dwarfed her—she could see Daphne giving her the thumbs up.
But it felt so very…wrong. Which was stupid. She couldn’t betray a dream. She tried to finish the dance, to move in the man’s arms and stay calm. Every moment seemed to thud in her head like a time bomb waiting to go off. When nausea curled in her stomach, she mumbled a quick excuse and darted to the ladies’ room.
Splashing water on her face, she heard the door open and close behind her. She didn’t dare look up, still dousing herself in the icy liquid, hoping to wash away the urge to vomit. Finally, she caught her breath and grabbed at paper towels. Mopping at her face, she realized the artfully done curls now dripped water, her makeup was almost entirely gone and she looked far more normal than she had all day. “Daphne, I have to go.”
“Are you okay? I mean, you ran off the dance floor like he’d done something to you…”
“I’m a little sick to my stomach. I need to go home.” Daphne hugged her.
“It’s okay, sweetie. Want me to drive you?”
Shaking her head, she tried a smile and then left. She needed to get home. Kayden needed her.
****
“It didn’t work.” Daphne clicked her nails on the tabletop and glared at James. “I mean, really didn’t work. Not even a little. She looked like she was going to hurl.”
“Well, did you pick a good man?”
The voice, echoing up from the image of her sister in the wine glass, sounded judgmental. As if Narcissa doubted her ability to even find a decent man.
“Of course I found a good man! He even looks a little like Kayden, if mundane. Enchanted the shit out of him so he wouldn’t notice what a fugly beast Emily is, and everything. It wasn’t that. She is bonded to Kayden.” Daphne sipped out of the glass, enjoying the way her sister’s image wavered in the disruption caused by the gulp.
“Maybe that is the problem. Maybe he reminded her of Kayden. Assuming they’re bonded, when they’ve never even met face to face in reality, only her dreams—”
“Bite me, Narcissa. I fucking know my shit. I’m telling you I’ve been wasting my time here. Your idiot husband couldn’t cast a decent spell if it jumped up and slapped him. He messed up, somehow. That’s how she’s getting through and that is why she managed to bond with him. You’re going to have to come up with something else. Have you tried to just seduce Kayden?” Pointing out the obvious, Daphne then reached over and stroked James’ chin. He really was a pretty boy toy. Too bad Emily, the princess of fat, didn’t realize it.
“I can’t seduce him.”
The huff in her sister’s voice had Daphne considering the wine glass again. Narcissa looked downright annoyed. “You’ve tried?”
Narcissa didn’t answer, instead returning to brushing her hair in the mirror she used for communicating.
“Okay, I’m going to take that for a yes, and you bombed. Look, the king is almost dead. Emily doesn’t know who she is. I vote we just ride this thing out and watch them all crash and burn.”
/> “If she finds out who she is, we’re both screwed. You’re going to help me fix this.” Narcissa pointed the brush at Daphne.
“What would you propose we do?”
“Poison the princess.”
The words from Narcissa sent a chill down Daphne’s spine. The chubby little princess might be in the way of them taking over, but Daphne liked her. She was spunky. She was fun.
She was their baby sister, for god’s sake.
“I don’t think we can…”
“You can. You will, or I will personally tell everyone what we’ve done.”
Rolling the fluid around in the glass, Daphne considered. “Well, poison isn’t even altogether that effective. Look how long it’s taken to kill the king.”
“Poison her, Daphne. Or I will make sure you never come home again.” The image ended, abrupt because Narcissa halted her end of the communication—the magical equivalent of being hung up on.
Daphne wasn’t even sure she wanted to go home. Being the only one with power in this world—well, except the lost princess—she had so much fun. She could do whatever she wanted, no rules to mar her fun.
And she really had grown to like Emily.
Deciding she didn’t need to deal with it now, she wiggled a finger at James. “You, my boy, have been naughty.”
“I have?” He looked hopeful, like a puppy ready for a treat.
And boy oh boy, did she have a treat for him.
“You have. Time to blow this Popsicle stand and go have some alone time.”
“As you wish…”
Chapter Six
Kayden paced. Never, in all the years of their time together, had Emily been late. It seemed a sign, almost, of what was to come, that he waited now for hours. Candles had guttered and died. His planned speech fell to tatters as he worried.
Wondered.
What if questions hit Kayden like the scourge of a thousand arrows to his heart. What if something happened to Emily? Not like he could do a damned thing about it, with her in another world and him unable to find her.
What if she didn’t want to come?
What if she no longer believed in him?
What if…?
When something shimmered near him, just barely catching his gaze in the darkness, his heart sped. His palms sweated. Kayden sucked in a breath and held it.
And she fully appeared.
But she looked unlike any night she’d ever visited him before. Her hair hung in fatter curls, like she’d tried to tame their wildness. Silver fabric barely covered her flesh, even more transparent than his sheets. Her nipples stood out against the silk like dark beacons, drawing him near.
Her expression reflected the worries and panic he’d fought waiting for her to appear. “Emily.” He swept her into his arms and carried her to his bed. He wanted to hold her, to feel her warm and alive in his arms.
“Sorry I’m late. I promised this friend—oh, never mind… I’m just sorry. I got panicked, like something was wrong with you. So then I had a hard time falling asleep and…I came as soon as I could.” Her words, whispered into his chest, rushed one on top of the other, like she couldn’t stop the torrent of them.
“Shh,” he soothed, touching her hair, her face, still not willing to release his crushing hold on her. “You’re here now. I’m fine. Just worried about you.”
“Pfft. Don’t worry about me, wizard. I’m a little tougher than you give me credit for.” Though she tried to make the words casual, her fingers clung to him, her face nuzzled closer, and he could tell she too experienced the pang of their separation. As if she, too, had felt the blazing fear that shredded him when she’d been late. “Why is it so dark in here?”
Glancing around, he would have lit the candles with his magic, but he’d not replaced them, too worried for her. “Sorry, I was distracted.”
“Did something happen while I was gone? An attack?” Emily pushed off his chest to meet his gaze, her fears clearer in the moonlight.
“No, my sweet. The kingdom rests safe tonight.” Kayden wasn’t sure how many nights he could make that claim. Though the south sea kingdom had not attacked, rumors of their royal family’s attempts to infiltrate his lands continued to run amok. His father lay dying. Every truth in his existence fell apart and he wasn’t sure how long he could continue to pretend it would all work out.
He hadn’t lied, though. For tonight, all was safe. She was here.
The vitality and strength of her wrapped in his embrace called to him like a siren’s song. He tried to resist it. Tried to tamp down on the raging hunger only this woman awakened in him. He was no foolish boy, easily led by his cock, but when it came to her, he felt like one. Tugging her face to his, he took the lips he’d so long wanted to lay claim to. Took her kiss and devoured it.
Her hands raced across his skin, her usual shyness replaced by a hunger that matched his, rivaled it. When those fingers found his cock, beneath his kilt, and stroked it, he emerged from their kiss with a gasp. “Emily,” he began.
Her eyes were that of a seductress. “Shh, prince. Let me feel you.”
He could no more deny her plea than any other request she would have of him. Her face looked more inquisitive than anything else. Harmless.
But her hand closed around his length, rocking his cock in a rhythm that soon had him clutching the sheets. When she bent, placing a kiss on his cock, he fought to maintain some semblance of control. Some balance in the maelstrom that his woman unleashed.
Closing her ripe red lips around the head, she began to suck him, pulling him deep inside her mouth. Emily continued stroking his root and cupping his balls, doing the most delicious things to him. He closed his eyes against the onslaught, not sure how long he could hold out against her ministrations.
Unable to lie still any longer, he touched her hair, her shoulders, drawing her up and away from his cock. Her smile called to him, and he fumbled at the silky concoction that wrapped the flesh he longed to taste, to bite.
Finally, impatience won out and he shredded it and hurled it across the room. Her small gasp as he found the breasts he sought rewarded him before he drew one nipple deep into his mouth. Meeting her gaze, she rocked teasingly, riding the hard line of his dick with her wet slit, teasing at the union he so desperately longed for.
Her eyes glazed with passion beckoned him, pleaded with him, and he used his fingers and his power to bring her close to her peak, as frantic for her release as she’d made him only moments before.
And then she rose onto her knees, the haven between her legs so ready for him he could scent it on the night air. Their eyes locked, a knowledge between them before he rose up and she sank down, plunging herself on his rod like a sword coming home to its sheath.
He clamped his jaw, trying so hard to rein in his passion, to keep from driving into her like a raging buck set on mating. But the feel of her closed so hot and tight around him drove him to flip her, to rise above her and capture her hands. Her breath came in sweet pants, smelling of mint and the raw need of his woman, and he pumped into her, his power set free by his lack of control.
Light surrounded them, the blend of her energy and his, always a potent cocktail, now wild and untamable in their united passion. She cried out his name, begging, and he filled her, pushing inside. As their power pulsed in time with his strokes, he felt her tighten, as if every muscle cried out for completion, before she shattered. The most beautiful surrender he’d ever witnessed and yet his own hunger only grew. Faster he took her, driving her up again before she could stop trembling from her first release, his mouth finding hers as he rocked … and then it happened.
Like a supernova exploded inside him, he came so hard and fast he tumbled off a cliff of sensation to drown in her scent, her screams, as she joined him in his reckless fall. Wrapped tight in one another, he let darkness overtake him.
But in this darkness, she was there, in his arms, and he was complete.
Chapter Seven
Emily stretched. Her dreams
left her muscles loose and warm. Blushing, she remembered his face as she’d sucked his hard cock, as she rode him. Then, finally, when he flipped her over and ravished her.
Ravished. Such a cheesy word, but no other really described how Kayden looked in the throes of his passion. Snuggling back into the warm cocoon of her blankets, she could actually smell him, her memory of his embrace so fresh in her mind. Emily burrowed, moving toward the warmth and came up against a very hard, very solid, very real male chest.
Eyes opening in shock, she considered the flesh in her immediate range of vision with confusion. Yes, sheet. Yes, man body. Had she taken James home and not realized it? Some further extension of her overactive dream life?
Sitting straight up, she looked at the whole man, not sure whether to feel comforted that it was Kayden or head straight to the psycho ward.
He stayed lost in sleep—he obviously didn’t get enough rest, if she really paid attention to the dark circles under his eyes. Breathing evenly, he remained undisturbed while her world rocked on its axis.
So she decided to share her panic. She smacked his chest, hard and fast. His eyes popped open, shock replacing the peacefulness of sleep, until he saw her. Tenderness crept across his face like a cloud moving across the sun. “Emily,” he whispered. Closing his hand around her neck, Kayden pulled her down, fast, so he could capture her mouth in a devastating kiss.
For a moment, she forgot why she flipped out, and lost herself in this man and his heartbreakingly perfect love. Then he stopped kissing her.
“What the—?” He tugged at the blanket, looking at it like it was some foreign creature that crawled into her bed with them.
“Yeah, that’s why I smacked you.” She tried to sit up, but he pulled her back onto his chest. The immediate contact with so much of this man set her heartbeat racing. She still wanted him. So very badly. Emily sucked in a breath, but it smelled like him and further clouded her thoughts.
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