Behind the Veil: 3 (Temptation Unveiled) (13 page)

It was too much and it wasn’t fading. Why wasn’t it fading?
What was wrong with her? “I can’t stop it. It won’t…Finn, it won’t stop.”

He stopped, his voice dark and full of grit. “I know. I can
smell you, Sher. Hell, I can still taste you from the dream. That taste,” he
groaned. “I have to have more.”

Finn dropped to his knees behind her. What was he doing?

“
Oh God
.” His mouth was hot and hungry against her
sex, his tongue sending electric shocks up her spine. She wanted to hold him,
wanted to grip him with her legs and keep him close, but she was still frozen.
“Let me move. Please, Finn.”

She wasn’t sure he could hear her. His fingers joined his
tongue inside her, thrusting deep and making animalistic sounds of pleasure. Every
nibbling bite, every swirling lap of his tongue over her clit had her crying
out his name.

Her forehead pressed into the mattress as Finn continued to
torment her. She saw sparks behind her closed eyes and her body vibrated as the
tingling heat intensified between her thighs. Again? How could she be coming
again? Had she even stopped? She wasn’t sure. Every inch of her was too focused
on what he was doing to care.

She called his name again while he hummed his pleasure
against her throbbing, oversensitive flesh. His kisses gentled as the waves of
her climax continued to roll through her body. Softer now, but no less potent.
It must be Fae magic. That was the only explanation.

She realized she could move again when she started to shake,
raising her hands to cover her face. There was dampness there. Crying. Had an
orgasm ever been so powerful it had made her cry? No. She wasn’t the type.

“I have to stop this.” Finn’s voice was ragged. Shaking.

It made her realize she hadn’t gotten to taste him yet. To
feel him inside her. They weren’t finished. She pushed herself up and turned
around, reaching for him.

“Fuck me.”

“Wait, Sher. Wait.” He pulled away from the bed and, after
one last open-mouthed kiss on her thigh, got to his feet. “Give me a minute to
catch my breath. To think.”

“What is there to think about?” Confusion pierced through
her haze of pleasure. “And where are you going?”

Finn attempted a smile, but she could see his frustration. “We
made a pact. We have until the prophecy is fulfilled. And no one else can know.”

“Exactly. To get each other out of our systems. I agreed.
You
agreed
. So where are you going?” She flinched at the sound of her own
voice. So needy. Weak.

He shook his head. “That is our problem, Sheridan Kelly. I
don’t want you out of my system. And I have no desire to be out of yours.” His
fists clenched at his side, drawing her eyes to his erection straining through
the fabric of his pants. He wanted her. She
knew
he wanted her. There
was no denying it now. So why?

“Why?”

“Sheridan,” he sighed. “I want all of you. I’ve been around
for millennia and I’ve never wanted anything as much as I want to be buried
inside you right now. But you aren’t ready for what will happen between us. Not
tonight anyway.”

She scooted off the bed, angry and frazzled, aroused and a
little hurt all at the same time. “You must be going blind in your old age. I
was all kinds of ready. I moved beyond ready. I was there.
Was
being the
operative word.”

He backed away from her toward the door, the look of regret
on his beautiful features making her want to cry. “You’re not. Not for me. Not
for this. We both know what you have to give me. Not merely your body or your
passion.”

Her trust. She had to trust a child of Danu. He was talking
about the prophecy? Now? Here? Was he kidding? “You aren’t scoring any points
for walking out on something I offered. Something I don’t offer to everyone I
meet, by the way. Are you really going to waste our time adding this kind of
condition to the deal? It sounds like you’re the one who isn’t ready.”

“I know it does.” Finn licked his lips, seeming to savor her
taste. “But this isn’t for a few points, love. As your football-loving Texan
would say…this is for the game.”

He was gone in a flash of light. Damn fairy couldn’t even
skulk out the door in traditional walk-of-shame style like a normal man. A
normal man who’d just turned down a night of no-holds-barred, rock ’em-sock ’em
sex for no discernible reason other than to drive her bonkers.

Sheridan turned around and fell face first on the bed, using
her fists to pound out some of her frustration on her innocent mattress. He’d
turned her down. Spanked her, tasted her and left without finding his own
satisfaction.

He stole into your dreams and found me. Of course he
turned you down.

There it was again. Her greatest fear. Was it true then? He
hadn’t mentioned what he’d seen. Hadn’t mentioned Eonis at all. Was he
distracted by desire or was his sincerity an act?

She couldn’t believe that. No one, human or Other, could
fake that kind of passion. His need for her had been real. She’d bet her life
on it.

Honestly, she wasn’t sure what had just happened. The only
thing she knew was that she’d be spending the rest of her last night in Raj’s
lodge with her mini personal companion instead of the man she was growing far
too attached to for her own good.

He wanted her trust, he said. He wanted everything.

“Good luck, buddy,” she muttered as she headed to the
showers. Again.

He may have been the one to throw down the gauntlet, but she
loved a challenge. And she had the advantage, knowing now what she’d only
guessed at before. The intensity of Finn’s desires.

This game wasn’t over, not by a long shot.

And they had a deal.

“So was anyone going to tell me about this sting operation?
Or were you all hoping I’d slink off to my own dimension and leave all the fun
to you
Fianna
this go-round?”

Kyle hopped out of the chair he’d been lounging in and
strode across the room, a ready smile causing the dimple on his chin to deepen.
“Nyc, good to see you, man. I was wondering when you’d get here.”

Nyctimus. Sheridan gritted her teeth. As if the room didn’t
have enough magical testosterone. Between Damon, Raj, Finn and the Viking boys,
she was already far too outnumbered here in Fairyland. At least she’d gotten to
skip the meet-and-greet at the dimensional front door. Raj had flashed her
right into the Guardian Mother’s suite—currently sans Guardian Mother.

Where the hell were all the women? Linnea and Badger? Her
mother, Lily? And where was Meru? Damon didn’t usually let her out of his
sight. “Great. The boy band is back together. You should tour. Now would be
good.”

Nyc chuckled at her words, but she noticed his mercurial
gaze was focused on Kyle. “Something is different about you. Wait, don’t tell
me, let me guess.”

Kyle stuck his chin out unconsciously, but Nyc shook his
head. “I can’t put my finger on it. Oh wait, yes I can.” He snapped his
fingers. “You rascal. You left me with your sobbing partner while you went off
to have yourself a kinky Fae three-way. I would say you fucked me, but then I
suppose I was the only thing not nailed down that you didn’t.”

Kyle turned bright red as the men around him snorted and
guffawed. Sheridan rolled her eyes. Apparently eternity didn’t make you wise.
It just made you more of a
guy
.

She felt inclined to defend him. “Back off, Scarface.” She
frowned, thinking of all the time Nyc had been spending with
her
best
friend. Her fists clenched with the strong desire to punch…anyone. “I know your
feelings are hurt that you didn’t get an invite to the powwow, but back the
fuck off my partner.”

Nyc’s perfect eyebrows lifted, his ridiculously gorgeous features
showing surprise. “Good job, Raj. Personally, I didn’t think you were the right
man for the job since you care so much about other people’s feelings. But it
looks like the Harridan got her fight back. I’m man enough to admit when I’m
wrong.”

Damon stepped forward, his massive shoulders seeming to fill
the room. “Nyc, leave Raj alone. We’ll talk about your adventures in
cop-sitting and why it’s inappropriate later. Right now we have more important
things to deal with.” He turned to Sheridan. “This celebration only lasts a few
days. There is a feast and some ritual games followed by the consummation
ceremony. Hawk has given you the list of suspects and you have your partner,” he
bit his lip as if to hold back his laughter, “freshly defiled, claimed and
shaved for the occasion.”

“Yuck it up, assholes,” Kyle grumbled.

Damon smirked but continued to speak to Sheridan. “The
Fianna
will be at your service, as much as we can be. Our presence will draw its own
kind of attention and probably not the kind your investigation needs. The
people of Danu are not fools, but some of their suspicions will be eased by
Hawk and Val. As far as most of them are concerned, we are here to bear witness
to our friends’ joining as the family of the grooms.”

“But?” Sheridan knew it was there. Could feel it hovering. The
but
.

He sighed. “Not all of them will be so trusting. And some of
them could be dangerous. The queen has already sent out a message to Myrddin,
asking that he keep your mother away for now. It was a surprise and as you can
imagine, Lily is not happy about it. But Myrddin agreed that if all three of
Áine’s female descendants were in this domain at once, it would be a temptation
the
Dark
wouldn’t be able to resist.”

Myrddin agreed, huh? She supposed he wouldn’t have unless
Lily was in actual danger. It wouldn’t be worth the hell he was going to catch
from her, or the curiosity that would be eating him alive now that he couldn’t
be in the thick of things. Nosy old bastard.

She missed her mother. In fact, she hadn’t realized until
this moment just how much. But what he said made sense. Made sense and made her
nervous. They would be targets. Without the descendants, there would be no
book. No prophecy. The
Fianna
would never be able to stop them in time.

Meru and the baby… “Should Meru really be here? There’s no
reason for her to stay. I know for a fact this place gets cell service, though
I’d prefer it if no one explained exactly how that’s possible.”

Hawk, leaning against the wall with his muscular arms
crossed, chuckled. “I get cable and internet too, just don’t tell the queen.
But speaking of impossible things, keeping Meru away goes to the top of the
list. Even if Damon could force himself from her side for more than fifteen
minutes at a time, she has made it clear that she needs to be here for this. In
an official capacity, as well as for you
and
her mate. We’re all safer
if our leader is focused, Sheridan. And he will only remain focused if his wife
is happy. Don’t worry, none of us will let anyone near her.”

Meru’s sigh drifted through the opening door. “Yes, yes.
Poor helpless Meru will be carried around on a soft cushion made of clouds and
unicorn hair. My feet will never touch the ground and my hands will never know
toil. No one has to worry about little old powerless me.”

Was Damon blushing? Sheridan lifted her eyebrows and met
Hawk’s wink with a smile as the Lycan reached for his mate. “Sweetheart, no one
is saying you couldn’t take care of yourself. I’ve sparred with you once or
twice, I know what you can do now. But we do have to think about the baby.”

Meru huffed. “I think about the baby all the time. Even if
you
let me forget her for a minute, I’m the one experiencing the internal acrobatics
she loves to execute. And we won’t even talk about what she’s doing to my
blad—” She glanced over at Sheridan, a light blush staining her cheeks. “I’m
sorry I didn’t get here sooner. Badger and I were discussing birthing options.
As in magical versus natural. I’m leaning toward the magical no-pain option
myself. How are
you
holding up?”

She would have replied, but she didn’t have the chance.

“She’s fine.” The confidence in Badger’s voice was belied by
the concern in her expression. Her presence instantly filled the room, despite
her lack of stature. She still dressed as if she were working at the
Renaissance Festival. It suited her. Sheridan couldn’t imagine this timeless
character in a pair of ordinary sweatpants.

Badger nodded toward her in greeting before continuing. “She
might need a reading and a little emotional exorcism…and she definitely has
some issues with sexual frustration that one of my teas could fix right up.
Other than that, your cousin is loaded for bear.”

“Did someone say my name?” Badger’s husband, Bear, ducked
beneath the entrance with a bashful smile. The
Fianna
was made up of
large men, no one more so than Damon. But Bear was nearly the Lycan’s equal. His
wild hair and beard, along with the weapon attached to his back, might have
made him appear ferocious if not for his surprisingly gentle expression. A peaceful
giant, Meru had insisted. Protective, particularly of Linnea and her daughter,
but peaceful.

He turned to Hawk and Val. “Where is our little wren? And
the young princess?”

Val, who’d been sitting on the arm of one of the lush
lounging chairs, answered him. “Linnea and Crystal are with Queen Morrigan.
They have to officially begin the celebration. Ringing the bell and lighting
the fire in the main hall before Crystal goes to join the other children for
their far more innocent observation of the holiday. It is
Imbolg
for
them as well. The celebration of new life. Luckily for the kiddies, I believe
they will just learn songs and dream the dreams of the innocent.”

Sheridan’s head was spinning. She barely heard what Val was
saying. “Rewind. Did you say exorcism, Badger? I don’t think that was mentioned
in the prophecy.”

The room fell silent and several heads turned toward Badger.
Sheridan winced. She hadn’t meant to draw that much attention. Especially not
if the Druid was talking about what Sheridan thought she was talking about. Did
she know? She’d instinctively liked the woman. Trusted her. Badger was a Druid
and she had a serious amount of fight…but how could she know?

The short, voluptuous beauty pulled her long braid over her
shoulder and moved closer. “Meru has true sight and you have true knowing. That
much was no real secret. But you have something more. And I’m not talking about
your physical strength, though I hear it is impressive. Whatever
it
is,
it’s enhanced your abilities.” She paused for a breath. “Do you understand what
true knowing entails?”

“If I say the dog ate my
Druidism for Dummies
book,
can I be sent home without fulfilling the prophecy?” Sheridan tried to laugh. “I’m
good at
knowing
how to catch criminals when they lie. I’m good at
knowing
how to aim a gun. I’m also good at knowing when I’m uncomfortable. Now would be
a good ‘for example’.”

Run. They’ll hurt you if they know. They are all watching
you too closely. This is dangerous.

She sensed Finn walk over to stand behind her protectively.
The heat from his body helped distract from her nerves but introduced a whole
new set of problems.

Badger looked up at her husband. “We should do this now. We
don’t have time to delay. The
Fianna
, the human and the Archon need to
go.”

Bear nodded and stood tall, allowing his height and the
eerily calm demeanor he was rarely without do his talking. Sheridan watched in
awe as the other men reacted. Damon released his wife reluctantly and Raj
followed in pensive silence, both of them exiting without argument. Nyc and
Kyle walked out together, heads close as they spoke to each other in a hushed
conversation she couldn’t make out.

Hawk and Val were the last to leave, one of them mumbling
something about being kicked out of their own home. They closed the door behind
them.

Meru crossed her arms. “Finn? Badger said
Fianna
.
That’s still you, right?”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Finn’s tone was subdued, but firm.
Meru stared at him in silence and Sheridan couldn’t help but wonder if they
were communicating without words, the way they had before. What was he telling
her? Whatever it was, it seemed to do the trick, since she didn’t force him to
leave. Instead, Meru turned toward her with an enigmatic expression. Was she
trying to read her?

Sheridan looked over her shoulder and glared at Finn. He’d given
something away. They’d agreed to keep it a secret but he must have. She sighed.
This was the last thing she needed today. If Meru knew, she’d want to start
planning the friggin’ wedding. It was her romantic nature. But not every story
had a happy ending. Last night’s episode certainly hadn’t. If he’d changed his
mind about their arrangement, that was fine. He didn’t have to tattle as if he
were a petulant two-year-old having a tantrum.

She wished she were back in the mountains. There, she wouldn’t
be judged for her weaknesses or seen for what she was. Wouldn’t be spied on in
her dreams by a sexy, irritating man who then felt the need to spill his guts
to her nearest relative.

Sheridan shivered, part of her terrified of what might be
coming now that they knew. She turned back to the others. “Okay, they’ve gone.
Now what?”

Bear held out a leather pouch that looked miniature in his
hands. “First things first. Reach for a stone.”

“Really?” That was a bit anticlimactic.

“That’s why everyone had to leave? I’ve never liked these
darn readings, no offense, Bear,” she muttered. “I still have nightmarish
flashbacks about the number of times my mother tried to find out what I was up
to with her stupid cards.”

Being a nonbeliever in a house filled with homeless pagans,
crystals and protective herbs had been a full-time job. Now that Lily had been
proven right about the woo-woo being real, Sheridan was the grouchy, out-of-work
skeptic in the family. Reformed only because she’d been dragged, kicking and
screaming, into this surreal new world.

She slid her hand into the bag, feeling the smooth, cool
weight of the stones slide through her fingers. They wrapped around one and she
pulled her fist out triumphantly. “There. Done. Do we play light as a feather,
stiff as a board now, or just head straight for the head-spinning pea
soup-spitting fun?”

Meru shook her head. “Don’t be flip. What did you get?”

Sheridan opened her hand and looked down. “This particular
reading is brought to you by the backward letter E and the word
suck
.
Sorry. Was I being flip again?”

Finn’s breath against her ear almost made her knees buckle.
His voice was whisper soft. “I couldn’t tell. I heard you say the word
suck
.
I lost track after that.”

Tempting bastard. Her cousin was watching. Her reputation
would be ruined forever if she dropped to her knees, unzipped his jeans and had
another taste of his delicious, addictive—

“Holly. That’s holly, isn’t it?” Meru’s voice was louder
than it needed to be. “Bear, am I wrong?”

Bear shook his head. “You’re not wrong at all. This rune’s
name is Tinne, but it represents holly. More specifically, the holly spear.”

Spear? Sheridan sensed Finn tense up behind her, as alert as
she’d become with that word. “I thought holly came in sprigs that hang in
doorways and force you to kiss people you’d otherwise avoid. Why did you say
spear?”

“That’s mistletoe, Sher,” Meru said under her breath.

Sheridan smirked. “I always get them confused. And again I
query. Spear?”