Brianna shook her head, let him take her hand and bring it to his mouth. She closed her eyes and her knees turned to butter. What was it about this man that he could do this to her? It was if he had put some kind of spell on her. Her eyes snapped open. “You haven’t…” Brianna cleared her throat. “You haven’t put a spell on me, have you?” Was that squeaky frightened voice really her own?
Niklas straightened, looking offended. “I would never do such a thing. And you should know such things rarely work. When they do, they usually backfire, and the person ends up hating the spellcaster. I would not have that between us.” He led her across the room, sat on the bed then pulled her down onto his lap.
“Neither would I.” She leaned over and put her head on his shoulder, wondering how she could feel so comfortable with him when they’d just met. She hadn’t been this comfortable with her own father.
* * * *
“Would you like to go to the beach with me tomorrow? I hear it is going to be a beautiful day.” He looked down at her, hoping she would agree. He wanted to see the sea breeze ruffling her hair. He needed to see her laughing in the sunshine. To know that he could make her happy when she wasn’t inside her own home surrounded by the things she loved and had become comfortable with. Besides, they needed to spend more time together if she were going to grow to trust him enough to leave her world willingly.
He hoped she could come to love him enough that it wouldn’t matter where they spent the rest of their lives. At the very least, he needed to earn her trust. In the end, she would come to his planet whether she wanted to or not.
“I would love to, Niklas, but I have to work.” Her disappointment showed on her crestfallen face.
His queen looked so beautiful even when disappointed that Niklas wanted to kiss her, but knew it was too soon. What could he say to convince her to go? He’d noticed over the last week that she let her dog out around two in the afternoon, every afternoon. Perhaps that was when she returned home from work.
“After work then. You get home early, do you not?” Smiling softly, he squeezed her hand. If he had his way, Brianna would never need work again.
Brianna smiled with a sigh. “I just love the way you talk. You always sound so old-world or something.” She blushed at her admission, drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. “I should be home around two-thirty. We could go then.” She looked at him with wide eyes. “Don’t you have to work?”
Niklas shook his head. “I do not have employment as yet, so my days are free.” What was he supposed to say? I don’t work because I am an alien king come to steal you from your world? Conscience pricking him, so he looked away and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Tomorrow afternoon it is.” He turned back to her and forced a smile, feeling treacherous. “You bring your beautiful self, and I’ll bring the food.”
Blushing, she smiled. “It’s a date.”
* * * *
Brianna looked at her alarm clock and noticed the time. She didn’t want him to leave. In fact, if she were to be honest with herself, she wanted him in her bed. Neither of them was ready for that step, but she knew if he asked to stay, she would consent. When had she become such a slut?
She squeezed his hand, then let go. “It’s getting late, Niklas. I don’t want to be rude, but there are things that I need to get done before I can go anywhere tomorrow.” She lowered her feet to the floor, and her toes curled in the short pile of the cream carpeting.
“Of course.” He stood and headed for the door.
Brianna nearly ran after him, but stopped before she made a fool of herself.
He turned at the door. “One last thing before I go.” Niklas strode back to her, pulled her into his arms and lowered his head slowly…giving Brianna ample opportunity to pull away, if that was what she wanted.
Not on your life, sister! Her libido was taking charge, and retreat was not in its vocabulary.
The kiss they shared was nothing like any other she’d ever had. It was electric, if there had been any doubt in her mind before about whether or not he was her soul mate, or life-mate as he put it, it was washed away in that one exquisite moment as his lips pressed so gently against hers.
Niklas pulled away. He held Brianna until she gathered her wits. It was a good thing since they had gone missing as soon as his lips touched hers. He left her after pressing a small kiss on her forehead.
She watched him go, holding her trembling fingers to her kiss-swollen lips. She waited a moment, then followed him from the room. Giving Amber a glare, she headed for the kitchen, needing a cup of chamomile tea to calm her nerves. Glancing back, she noticed that Amber was following her. The little troublemaker didn’t look the least bit guilty over what she’d done. When did she ever? If anything, she looked smug. The little meddler knew her matchmaking was legendary among the Pagan crowd. Brianna had often wondered why Amber had never tried matching her with anyone. Apparently she’d been waiting for the right person to come trotting along.
“This one isn’t running, Bri.”
Amber bounced up behind her. Her gleeful tone left nothing for the imagination. How anyone could have that much energy was a mystery. She turned and made a face at her friend. “How astute, Amber. Am I finally on your list for matchmaking?” Taking the chamomile tea from the cabinet, Brianna gave her an inquiring look.
Amber nodded and grinned. “I told you that one day the right guy would come along. He didn’t even get scared off when your date curse kicked in.” She filled the teakettle and set it on the stove.
Brianna grinned. “I can do even better than that. I told him about my being a witch.”
Amber inhaled sharply, her hands still poised above the teakettle. “You did what? Were you trying to get rid of him?” She turned around, resting her hip on the counter, disbelief clearly written on her face.
Brianna crossed her arms and leaned against the pantry door and glanced through the window to the backyard and watched Killer sniff under the shed for the umpteenth time. “Well, you can’t blame me. I wanted to know how he would react. You know, before I got attached.” Pushing away from the door, she walked across the room, opened the refrigerator and snatched up a baby carrot.
“And?”
Bent over, her arm draped over the door, she looked at Amber from under her arm. “He’s a witch, too! He told me that he believes in the Goddess. I couldn’t believe it. You could have knocked me over with a feather when he said that.” Brianna stuck the carrot in her mouth and chewed.
“Hmm…I’ll bet I could have. After all of those guys running from you like some storybook hag, it seems rather refreshing that he would take it so well. Does he have a brother?” Amber pulled herself up onto the counter and swung her legs.
“I don’t think so, he only mentioned a sister. Maybe he has a friend or two… Oh! Now listen to me. I’m sounding like you and trying to set you up.”
“I wouldn’t mind, believe me.” Amber hopped back down off the counter when Brianna gave her a dirty look and eyed her meat fork meaningfully. “Okay, okay. I’m off the precious counter. You don’t have to threaten me with bodily harm.”
Amber took the coffee cups Brianna pulled from a nearby cabinet and set them on the table with spoons and sugar.
“I couldn’t remember if you liked cream or not. You know I like my chamomile with just a touch of sugar. But we’ve been drinking a lot of Earl Grey lately…”
Amber wrinkled her nose at the cream. “I won’t be using it.” She poured herself a cup of tea.
“How about some shortbread? Are you in the mood?”
Amber rolled her eyes. “When am I not in the mood for shortbread? You know it’s my only weakness.” She tilted her head, thinking. “Well, that and cute guys. Let me rephrase that. Cute Pagan guys.”
“Food is your only weakness, Amber, not just shortbread.” Brianna gave a very unladylike snort. “And you have cute guys on the brain.”
“Well, at least I have a healthy
interest. It could be worse. I could have given up on the male persuasion all together.” Amber took a sip of her tea and grinned.
Brianna sighed. “Yes, I suppose you could have. I know I did for a while. I swore to never be attracted to another man as long as I lived. Now look at me.” She looked at her cup. “I hope this tea helps me sleep tonight. Sometimes it just sits in my stomach like a lead ball waiting to be hurled back up.”
“Think positively, hon. Just keep telling yourself that is not going to happen this time.”
Brianna smiled. “You’re right. Things have been going too well for me over the past few days for it to stop now. The tea will relax me.” It had to.
Chapter Ten
Brianna was so excited she wanted to rush through her work. Never before had she contemplated not giving her people their money’s worth. She wanted to spend as much time with Niklas as possible. But she had a strong work ethic and took pride in a job well done.
The thought that Niklas and she could be soul mates was intriguing. She fervently hoped nothing went wrong on this outing and thought of the irony of this situation. This would be her first second date ever. Reaching for the phone, she dialed Amber’s number.
Amber answered on the second ring. “Hello, Amber’s house of ill repute and oyster bar. Eat ‘em raw.”
Brianna giggled. “What in the world?” She shook her head. Leave it to Amber to think up something as off the wall as that.
“Hey, hon, what are you doing home so early. I thought you had two houses today.” Something crunched in the background, Amber was eating again. So what else was new?
“I did, but one cancelled. They had some sort of family emergency out of town. They didn’t think it would need it this week and next since they wouldn’t be there and would rather have it freshly done before they get home. You know I’d normally be upset about losing the money. But—”
“But this time you’re excited because that gives you more time with lover boy? You do still have a date, don’t you?”
“Yes I do, I just needed to talk with you. I need some advice.”
“You actually want my advice?” she feigned shock.
“Come on. Don’t even try to make it sound like I don’t value your opinion.” Brianna scowled. “What should I wear? I haven’t been to the beach on a date since I was a teenager, and he’s going to be here any minute.”
“Oh, all right. How can I resist that whine?” Amber teased. “What have you got to wear?”
“I have my navy blue one piece, and I have the orange and black one piece.” Brianna held them both up to herself and looked in the mirror critically.
“The blue one piece, definitely. The only other color you look better in is emerald green.”
“Thanks, Amber. I know I don’t tell you this nearly enough. Hell, I’ve probably never said it. But I do love you like a sis.”
Amber sniffed. “Oh, shut up before you make me cry or something.”
She laughed. “That coming from the proprietor of Amber’s house of ill repute?”
“Don’t forget the oyster bar.” She laughed. “I’ll talk with you later, hon.”
Taking her friend’s advice, she wore the navy blue one-piece suit. She knew it complimented her eyes, and the high-cut made her legs look a mile long.
“You look wonderful.” He said, devouring her with his gaze, making her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.
Brianna blushed. He had a way about him that made her feel as though she were the only woman he would ever want. Niklas took her breath away when he removed his shirt. She had known he had an exceptional physique, but she still hadn’t been prepared for such sheer masculinity. She was equally unprepared for the rush of desire she felt for him.
Whew! If every man in the world realized just how hot an abdominal six-pack looked, they would all have one. Brianna fanned herself, but not because of the heat. A fine layer of perspiration had already formed on his bronzed skin, beading in on his chest like tiny pearls. He looked like a Greek God returned to Earth. His body glistened in the sunlight. The darker brown of his flat nipples and the dusting of black down on his forearms and legs only magnified his appeal.
Brianna’s fingers itched to bury themselves in his luxurious hair and touch the soft hair on his chest. Her eyes lowered, followed the tapering vee to the waistband of his shorts. Brianna looked up startled when he dropped his towel at her feet. He grinned at her and winked, his dark chocolate eyes wreaking havoc on her overloaded senses.
“Are you going to swim?”
“Um…yes, just give me a minute.” She slipped out of her shorts and shirt and felt Niklas’s appraising stare. Good grief! Had he felt her looking at him, too? She felt the blush stealing up her neck to her face. Brianna kicked off her shoes and ran for the water. She needed to cool off in more ways than one.
Niklas followed close behind.
They both dove into the churning surf. The cool water swirled around her, cooling her off. She needed that after the look she’d gotten of Niklas’s nearly bare body before he dove beneath the waves. He stayed near Brianna as if protecting her. It was sweet the way he blocked the big waves, so she wouldn’t lose her footing. She did fall once and squealed as he picked her up and carried her from the water. “Put me down, put me down! I’m too heavy, you’ll hurt yourself,” she screeched.
He snorted. “I don’t think so,” he said, shaking his head. “You are not heavy. You may be tall, but you are still almost a foot shorter than me. Think you that I could not carry my woman to safety?”
His woman? Gods, she loved the way he talked! There was no one on this Earth that could melt her with a word or a look like this man could. She didn’t know whether to be pleased or insulted. She supposed it would have been nice if he’d asked her to be his woman. Brianna gave him a mock glare and crossed her arms over her chest. “Just who said that I’m your woman? I don’t remember anyone asking.” She pouted. “You know, a girl likes to be consulted about things like that.”
He smiled, showing his perfect teeth, a flash of white on his tanned face. For some reason, the sight gave her an odd feeling of déjà vu, and made her wonder if he was tanned all over.
Niklas lowered her to the ground slowly, deliberately allowing her body to slide down the hard length of his. The tips of her sensitized breasts brushed against his muscular frame, and she felt every bulge on his exceptional anatomy on that little trip down the front of his lean body.
It heightened her awareness of him, and she hadn’t thought that possible. She swayed a bit unsteadily when her feet touched the sand and held fast, wanting, needing to feel her body against his. She leaned into him. He was like a drug, just one taste and she needed more.
Niklas lowered his head, his lips barely skimming hers. Her lips parted in invitation. He breathed a soft kiss onto the corner of her mouth. “Will you be mine, sweet Brianna?”
His arms still held her tight. She was sure she would have fallen had he not been holding her. Brianna’s body reacted in a way she’d never expected. The cool breeze on her wet body, mixed with the warmth of Niklas against her heated skin, made her head spin.
Her hands, moving of their own volition, roamed lazily over his muscular arms, climbing upward. Moving up over his shoulders, her fingers lost themselves in his thick hair, and she gently pulled his head down to hers. Never in her life had she ever been so bold. What in the world was she thinking? She wanted this man. And yes, she wanted to be his woman. “Yes, Niklas,” she said breathlessly against his lips. “I want to be your woman.” She closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of his warm lips against hers.
He leaned forward, sucked her bottom lip between his teeth and bit down lightly. It was sensual, erotic. She wanted nothing more than to kiss the socks right off him. Brianna pulled away with a nervous giggle. He wasn’t even wearing any socks. The ridiculous thought danced through her head. She pushed against his chest.
He released her immediately, obviously confused. “
Brianna, I must apologize. I thought we both wanted that kiss.”
“No, Niklas, I’m the one that should apologize. I’m so sorry.” She paced back and forth in front of him. “I don’t know what came over me. I don’t usually do this…sort of thing,” she said, waving her hand in the air. She really didn’t know what came over her. She barely knew the man. But that didn’t stop her from playing tonsil hockey with him on the beach!
* * * *
Niklas took her hand, gently tugging when she would have pulled away. His fingers tangled with hers, holding her to him so she couldn’t run. She wanted to run. He could see it in her eyes and knew the fear she felt was groundless. She was afraid of her feelings, feelings she likely felt were too strong too soon. Perhaps he needed to explain the feelings, the needs of an El’edal. She may feel differently if she knew when the people on his world found their mates, they knew it instantly. Or, he thought miserably, perhaps it would only frighten her more.
Still, he needed to hold her, to feel his connection with her. This thing between them was unlike anything he had ever felt in his life, but it was just as his mother described. He wanted her with a desire that he had never experienced before, and he could tell she wanted him too. It was only a matter of time before he would get her to admit it.
She appeared shocked and dismayed. She most likely believed her behavior was inexcusable. Niklas knew it was normal for her to feel this way. He was a virtual stranger. They had met only four days ago. Still, it didn’t stop his heart from beating faster every time she looked at him or stop his breath from catching in his throat whenever she glanced his way. It didn’t stop his body from reacting, becoming hard with the urge to take her and make her his.
* * * *
Niklas became still. His eyes glittered and he suddenly seemed dangerous. The hair on Brianna’s neck stood on end. It wasn’t caused by the close proximity to Niklas. This was a totally different feeling. This was evil.
Briannas Prophecy Page 12