A Kind Of Magic (22 page)

“Everything all right?” she asked softly.

He shook his head.

“What is it?”

“You. I need you.”

A slow smile spread across her face. “Not any more than I need you. I’m not sure what you did to me last night,” she whispered, “but I want more of it.” A heady dose of male pride swept through him. He may not have been her first, but he was the first to bring out the real woman in her, the passion that longed to be freed.

He leaned towards her. “I will do that to you every night.” She sighed as her lips parted and her eyes closed. “How is it just your words set my blood afire?”

“Just think what my mouth can do.”

Her eyes snapped open, her pupils dilated, and her breath came faster. “Stop,” she begged. “I can’t take anymore.”

“I haven’t even begun.”

“I know,” she said and grabbed his hand under the table.

For long moments they sat as they were. Roderick straightened and turned to talk to Val as Elle spoke with Mina. Elle’s hand moved over his, her nails softly raking across his skin, sending chills racing through his body. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to concentrate on what Val was saying but didn’t succeed.

“Roderick?” Val asked. “Are you feeling well? You look a bit … green.”

“Fine,” Roderick managed to get out. “Just fine.” Val gave him a look that said he knew Roderick was lying and rose from the table.

Roderick turned toward Elle. “You’ve got to stop.” Her clear blue eyes turned to him. “I can’t. I can’t stop thinking of you or touching you.”

It was more than he could take. He wrapped his hand around hers and rose from his chair, taking her with him. She didn’t shout or complain when he all but dragged her from the hall and up the stairs.

“The others saw,” she said as she lifted her skirts to match his stride.

He waited until they reached the hallway before he answered. “I don’t care. Do you?”

“No.”

Roderick stopped at his door and opened it for her. “Good, because I want everyone to know.”

“You do?” Her chest rose and fell rapidly from their hasty trip up the stairs.

He nodded and pulled her into his chamber. “I do.” When he tried to pull her towards the bed, she pulled back. “Why?”

“I want them to know you are mine.”

She raised an eyebrow and cocked her head to the side. “Yours?”

“Mine,” he said and drew her into his arms.

She didn’t resist as he lowered his head and kissed her. White hot passion streaked through him at her sweet taste. The need to feel her, to be inside her overwhelmed his good intention of taking her slowly.

“I need you now,” she said against his cheek.

He shook his head. “I’ll hurt you.”

But she didn’t listen to him. Instead, she lifted her gown to her waist letting him see the dark blue lacy underthings she wore. He nearly swallowed his tongue.

“By the gods, Elle,” he said and pushed her against the wall.

Raw desire snaked through him as he unfastened his trousers and released his aching rod.

“Oh, my,” Elle said and licked her lips.

In one motion, Roderick lifted her until her legs fitted around his waist, pushed aside the lace at her sex, and drove inside of her.

She screamed and clung onto him as if he were life itself. He knew exactly how she felt. He held steady for a few moments, knowing he wouldn’t last long, yet wanting to take her with him.

“Please,” she begged while trying to move her hips.

Roderick gave in and began to move inside of her. Slow at first, but his tempo quickly increased until mindless passion and the need to feel her clenching around him filled his mind. The closer he came to his climax the more he knew there was something distinctly different about Elle, something he wanted to hold on to.

She shouted his name and spasmed around him, sending him over the edge, to a climax so powerful it nearly brought him to his knees.

With Elle still clenching around his spent rod, he walked to the bed and laid her down. He pushed inside her once more, and she whispered his name as one last shudder left her body.

Elle was really starting to hate the harpies. If it hadn’t been for them she might never have meet Roderick, but now, because of their impending attack, the time she could have spent with him was next to none. She stopped as they walked from his chamber and glanced at him.

“What is it?”

“Well,” she said and blew her bangs off her forehead. “I’m a little worried about returning to the hall.”

He smiled and leaned a shoulder against the stone wall. “Why? Because they know what we were doing?”

“Well, yeah,” she answered and almost gave him a “duh”.

He laughed and took her hand to bring it to his lips to kiss. “Don’t be. They are all adults.”

“Which means nothing. Trust me, Roderick. I know how some people react to a couple … together … outside of marriage.” His eyes narrowed slightly on the word marriage, and she inwardly cringed.

“And this bothers you?”

She sighed and tried again. “What bothers me is that they might look at me differently.”

“I’m sure they will.”

She was about to scream. Needing to burn off the growing frustration, Elle paced for a minute. Once she had calmed down, she faced Roderick again. “I know they will look at me differently. I’m more concerned with how they will treat me.” Before he could speak, she went on. “I don’t want them to think badly of me or treat me unkind because you and I are sleeping together.”

“They

won’t.”

She waited, hoping he would say more. “That’s it? ‘They won’t’,” she repeated.

“How are you so sure?”

“You will have to trust me.”

She let him guide her to the stairs since she knew she couldn’t shake his confidence in the matter. With a silent prayer that he was right, Elle descended the stairs to find everyone still at the dais.

“How long have we been gone?” she whispered to Roderick.

“An hour or so.”

“About time you two returned,” Hugh said as they approached the dais.

The great hall with its warmth from the fire in the humongous hearth, beautiful tapestries, and various displays of weapons was one of Elle’s favorite places. Even the many candelabras hanging from the walls or standing amid the great hall added a touch of ambiance that a light fixture had never done in her time. Yet, despite her love of the castle, she couldn’t dispel the anxiety she had returning after leaving with Roderick.

Elle searched his eyes for any hint of cruelty but found only the same open friendship she had first seen. A glance at Val and Mina showed the same thing. A smile pulled at her lips at her unfounded worries. She sat when Roderick held out her chair.

“I told you,” he whispered to her just before taking his chair.

For several minutes, Elle sat back and watched the other four talk amongst themselves. Every so often, Roderick would glance at her and smile. And for the first time in her life, she felt truly sated. Not because of the great lovemaking she and Roderick had shared, but because she was with people that understood her. She longed to speak of her future and just what would happen to her once the harpies were dead, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

One thing at a time. First, we need to kill the harpies and destroy the stone.

“He’ll come with them,” she blurted out.

Roderick turned his head to her. “Who will?”

“Alex,” she said, remembering the way he laughed as Jennifer fell to her death.

“He has the stone. If the harpies come, so will he.” Hugh nodded solemnly. “We know.

Elle’s eyes looked from Val, who refused to meet her gaze, to Roderick. “Why didn’t you say anything to me?” she asked Roderick.

“We thought you might forget about Alex, and after what happened, that wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

“I can’t forget him,” she said. “At least not until he is dead and the stone destroyed.”

“He will die,” Val said, his voice low and deadly.

Hugh nodded. “And the stone destroyed.”

Elle was lucky to know such good people, but she couldn’t help but worry. “Is there already a plan for Alex?”

“It depends on who he follows,” Hugh answered.

Roderick leaned back in his chair. “And if I’m correct, he’ll come after you,” he said to Elle.

“Great,” she mumbled.

“Between Val and I, we will get him.”

Elle prayed he was right. “All right. Once we split up after the first harpy is beheaded. What happens?”

The three men smiled and leaned close.

Roderick scratched his whiskered face as he walked into the stables. He had seen the red marks on Elle’s soft cheeks after their lovemaking, and he would be sure to be clean shaven from now on so as not to harm her.

Her wild abandonment just hours earlier still brought a smile to his face. Even now his body wanted her again, and with each taste, his hunger for her grew.

He glanced at the gray sky, hoping he would see the harpies. He was anxious to get the battle started so he and Elle could speak of the future. After so many years in the Shields, he knew better than to talk of the future before a battle. Better to wait until he defeated the enemy.

A quick check of the saddles and weapons let Roderick know everything was in order. He stood against the stall of the white stallion he had ridden earlier and rubbed his velvety nose.

It was then he found himself wanting to return to his realm. He wanted to see his family and introduce them to Elle. The guilt he had carried with him, for what seemed like an eternity, no longer weighed as heavily as it did before.

“I see some things have changed.”

The cool voice of the Fae commander reached Roderick’s ears. He didn’t turn to Aimery but continued to stroke the stallion’s muzzle. “What do you mean?” Aimery walked around until he stood in front of Roderick. “Your guilt has lessened.”

“Not really. I have much to pay for, but I have a different outlook now.”

“Because of Elle.”

Roderick sighed. “I wondered when you would speak of her.”

“I do not pass judgment,” Aimery said. “I have always told you all to take what pleasure you could find.”

Roderick looked away, not yet ready to speak of just how he felt about Elle since he really didn’t know what it was he felt.

“Yet, I sense that she is more than just a passing bed partner,” Aimery said softly.

“Probe in my mind all you want,” Roderick said and raised his gaze to the Fae.

“The fact is, I don’t really know.”

The smile vanished from Aimery’s face. “Though I do.” Roderick’s stomach fell to his feet like a leaded ball. “Tell me what you know.”

“I cannot, and you know it.”

Roderick turned away in disgust. “Did you come here to torment me or for some other purpose.”

“Actually, I came to warn you that the harpies will be here before nightfall.” Roderick spun back to face the Fae. “How do you know?” Aimery’s upper lip turned up in disgust. “We can smell their evil soaked bodies hours away. I hope all has been prepared.”

“Of course. You know Hugh. Everything has been thought of.”

“Good, good,” Aimery said and walked to the stable doors.

Roderick could stand it no more. He had to know. “Aimery, will she live?” For long moments the Fae didn’t answer. Slowly, he turned to face Roderick.

“There is a slim chance,” he said, the sadness pulling at his handsome features.

“What can I do to ensure her safety?”

“There is nothing you can do. You are doing everything there is.”

“Then that isn’t enough,” Roderick said and strode to Aimery. “If there is a chance she will die, I want to know how to deal with it.”

“That I know not. If I did, I would most certainly tell you.” Aimery sighed and looked away. “You have to understand, that although we are able to see many things, some things are fuzzy, unreadable at times.” Roderick flexed his clenched hands. “And this is one of them.”

“Aye. It must be because of how closely Elle and Mina are to us and our future.”

“You need her,” Roderick tried. “She is important to Earth, to your realm, and to mine. She cannot die.”

Aimery reached up and clasped Roderick on the shoulder. “Then keep her safe.”

“I will guard her with my life,” Roderick promised.

Aimery lowered his hand to his side. “I have news from your realm.”

“I don’t want to know,” Roderick said and turned away.

“Your father is dying.”

Roderick’s feet stopped as emotion welled up inside of him. “Not yet. I haven’t redeemed myself to him and the rest of my realm.”

“You have served the Shields faithfully for many years. King Theron and Queen Rufina have agreed that you may return to your realm immediately.” Roderick squeezed his eyes closed. Either Elle or his father. How could he choose?

“How long does my father have?”

He felt more than saw Aimery’s shrug. “I know not. I know what happened, Roderick. Face your father again and receive your forgiveness so that you can go on.”

“When must I leave?” he asked and opened his eyes.

“The sooner the better.”

Roderick swallowed hard, picturing Elle’s lovely face as she called his name as she climaxed. “I need time.”

“I will be waiting,” Aimery said as he walked to him. “I do not envy you the decision you must make. Your father or the woman that could be your heart’s match.”

“Is there anyway I could leave now and return before the harpies arrive?” Aimery stared at him for several heartbeats. “We could try, but I do not think so.” But it was worth a try. “Listen for my call,” Roderick said and rushed from the stables to find Hugh and Val.

Val sat alone next to the tall stone wall that surrounded the castle, sharpening his sword. As usual, he was sharpening the point on his halberd.

He looked up as Roderick approached and frowned. “What is it?” “I have just had a visit from Aimery.”

Val cursed and jumped to his feet, shook off the snow, and headed towards the castle doors. “Best to find Hugh so you need only tell it once.” They found Hugh inside the armory as he inspected weapons his knights would use. “Aimery,” he said as Val and Roderick approached.