Black Magic Rose (36 page)

“I loved you the moment you arrived at Cader. Even when I said I didn’t like you. Even when I told you to go away. And when I said I didn’t need you, I lied.” She turned away. “I did call you back to Cader to teach you a lesson. At first. I wanted you to know not to order me around.”
 

She tried to stand, but Dragomir’s arm came across her lap. “Stay put.”
 

Sofia gritted her teeth. “You have no respect for me. I just told you I don’t want you to order me around and you did it again. If you want to be separate from me, fine.” When she tried to stand, his arms locked around her.

“I never said I wanted to be separated from you. Not once.” He flipped her down onto the couch and easily maneuvered around so she lay beneath him. “I want you with me forever.” His mouth came to hers and he whispered against her lips. “Above all else I want you to be happy. Preferably with me.” He kissed her tenderly at first, but when she responded, holding him to her, his lips pressed more firmly.
 

The hard wall of emotion she’d met coming in the door melted away to be replaced by heated desire and need. How quickly his focus went from anger with her to removing her clothes.

Sofia had to turn her head to breathe. “Don’t ever make a decision that impacts us both without consulting me first.” She panted. “I’m not one of the rank and file. I’m your wife.”

Dragomir smiled. “Yes, you are. And I believe you have some wifely duties to attend to.” He tugged her shirt up over her head.
 

“Is this all you think about?” Sofia unbuttoned his jeans.
 

“Lately, yes.”
 

“We’re not through with this discussion.” She ripped open his shirt.
 

“No, we’re not. And that’s the fourth shirt to be destroyed since I met you.” He sat up, legs on either side of hers, and shrugged out of the ruined fabric.
 

“Stop wearing them and this won’t happen.” Sofia wiggled out of her jeans, careful not to lift a knee too high and put a major kink in what was turning out to be a nice end to their fight. She struggled with the ankles. Dragomir reached back and jerked the jeans clear away.
 

His mouth was back on hers in no time.
 

Sofia’s hands moved up and down his back, squeezing and clawing. She was ready now. No need to delay. No need for foreplay. She lifted her hips. “Can we get straight to it?” She nipped his lips. “Please?” She pressed into Dragomir.
 

He growled. “I said I only want to please you.” He thrust forward and the glow of their union lit the room as if the sun shined down on them.
 

Sofia had never seen anything like it. She could barely think of words to describe what she saw. Every color of the rainbow and so much emotion. Warmth. Reflection. Memory. Love. Comfort. Protection. Need. Trust. Hope. Unity. The entity rising above them encompassed everything she could ever need or want. She watched it swirl above them in awe.
 

The light expanded until the brightness was too much for her eyes and she tucked her head into Dragomir’s shoulder. His breath came ragged against her ear.
 

Her body moved with his like they were made for each other. Each working to please the other. Even with the pleasure of his skin against hers she couldn’t help but watch the glittering beauty dancing above them.
 

“Love, that pretty cloud will be here for several days. There’s no need to ignore me.” He stopped moving and flipped them around so Sofia straddled him. Then he pushed her up to a seated position. “Now you can just focus on me.” He smiled.

With rhythmic movements he pushed in and out and she met his pace, riding him until she was overcome by ecstasy. Even with her eyes closed she saw the light brighten. Beneath her she heard Dragomir’s moan. His fingers dug into her flesh and his body became rigid.
 

When he relaxed, he pulled her down onto him and sighed. “I haven’t lain in the sun in almost a thousand years.” He tucked a hand under his head and used the other to rub Sofia’s back. “You are the light to my darkness.” He kissed her head.
 

She curled into his arms, wanting nothing more than to be his forever.
 

Chapter Thirty-five

Four days later a visit from Jankin made it clear Dragomir had little choice but to leave Sofia and their quarters. The call to duty clashed with his desire to stay with his mate and finish sealing their bond, but he knew well avoiding the impending war could have far worse consequences than delaying his time with Sofia. After they had gone to the farm and thwarted Bas Dubh’s attempt to kill Sofia, Kiernan ordered a larger scale attack.
 

The fastest high school track stars were turning up missing all across the state. Local colleges reported their biggest football players quit the team and dropped out of school, and several state police officers had called in sick for the last four days.
 

Jankin was certain none of it was coincidental. “The troops from the British Isles arrived last night. Vampires and wolves. Thank God for Rowan. But we need leadership in the field.”
 

Sofia stood in the doorway leading from the gym into the living room. Sweat dripped down her neck and back. Her muscles vibrated from the grueling workout she’d just had. “What about the interrogators? Weren’t they able to ascertain anything from the wolves?”
 

Jankin had interrupted Dragomir’s training session with Sofia. She was becoming the world’s greatest lover and fighter all in less than a week. The reward for fighting was always a nice makeup session. It was fantastic motivation, if he did say so himself.

“Aye. We know Kiernan himself orchestrated the fire at the farm last year. His primary goal had been capturing Sofia. He’d made arrangements for Judy and her sister to trap Sofia. But his plan backfired when Judy was killed by the flames,” Jankin said. He paced the floor as though he was mulling the information. “He has sworn to use the power of the roses against us.”
 

 
“Then his attack is personal.” Dragomir handed Sofia a glass of juice. “But for which of us, you or me, Jankin?” He caressed Sofia’s chin. The urge to reward her efforts in the gym surged.
 

She blinked up and smiled that coy grin that had a way of distracting him.
 

“It was a clear threat to both, planned for many years and certainly he’s up on his Alliance gossip. He knew of your mating before most everyone else.” Jankin paced. “Dice heard about the mating from Orion who’d heard it in the field. It seems you announced it yourselves after you left Cader but before you were sealed.” Jankin motioned toward the crystal wave flowing between Sofia and Dragomir.

Sofia dropped her head forward with a groan. “That damn glitter cloud gave us away. I never even noticed it until we…” She waved toward Dragomir. “You know.”
 

He smiled and grasped her hand. “Nor did I.”

Sparkles continued to zoom around them, though the number of visible flecks had diminished considerably.
 

“You had a lot on your minds as it were. And apparently Bas Dubh agents have been lurking closer than we’d realized.” Jankin continued pacing. “Sofia, I must take Dragomir away for a bit. This assault on innocents must be ended.”

“Of course. At this point I might—”
 

“No.” Dragomir and Jankin echoed each other, their voices booming.
 

“You’ll be safest here in the stronghold,” Jankin answered.
 

Sofia frowned. “With all this training I thought I’d offer.” She twined her fingers with Dragomir’s. “Just be careful.”
 

Dragomir kissed her neck. “Always. There’s plenty of food in the fridge. I’ll be back as soon as I can. You’ll have Internet access on the computer. We’ll look into a TV when I return.”
 

“You don’t think I’m staying down here, do you?” Sofia asked. She squeezed his hand. “I’m going to work. I have things to do. Policies to write. Employees to meet with. I have a job.” She took the empty glass from Dragomir’s hand and headed for the kitchen. “I won’t leave the building. But I’m not staying in the basement.”

“She’ll be the death of me,” Dragomir said.
 

“Let’s shower and change so we can go to work.” She crossed the living room and stopped short before the hallway. “I need more clothes, business appropriate clothes.” She stepped toward the door. “I’ll borrow something from Noelle until this is settled.”
 

Dragomir knew she was debating the idea of home. She’d mentioned it several times over the past few days. He’d managed to dodge the conversation in spite of wanting to settle it outright. Sofia had been through enough and he wanted her to enjoy a few days before they had to decide where to live. He wanted to enjoy her before having to choose between her or The Alliance.
 

“Then I’ll go home for my stuff.” Sofia bit her lip.
 

Dragomir stole a look at Jankin. The Master appeared as worried as he felt.
 

Dragomir wasn’t accustomed to having someone glance at him and so easily know what he felt. Sofia practically read his mind. He’d have found it utterly disturbing, if he didn’t love her so damn much. But as it was, he wasn’t fast enough at covering his reaction to her statement.
 

She wasn’t even looking at them, but she knew something was up. “Out with it.” She turned to face them.
 

“She’s your mate,” Jankin said. “I don’t want to interfere.”
 

“Such a close relationship with her family. You’ve known her since birth. Far be it for me to trump that,” Dragomir said.
 

The two men stared at each other.
 

“Are you both wimping out? This is rich. You’re more afraid of me than Bas Dubh?” Sofia smirked.
 

“Not afraid.” Dragomir shook his head.
 

“No. No. Not fear,” Jankin agreed. “Not sure what you’d call it, but it’s not fear.”

“Let’s shower. You have Noelle’s clothes. We’ll dress and I’ll take you up to your office.” Dragomir turned Sofia toward the bathroom, looked at Jankin, and nodded toward the door.

“Yes. I’ll see you at the board meeting.” Jankin made a hasty exit.
 

Sofia watched Jankin leave. “You’re up to something.”
 

“Love, I don’t have much time. I need to attend the meeting so let’s not delay.” Dragomir stripped down and jumped into the shower, leaving Sofia trailing after him. He managed to shower and exit the bathroom before she’d even shampooed her hair. And as painful as it was to tear his gaze from the silhouette of her naked body in the shower, he did. Anything to avoid upsetting her. He waited in the living room.
 

Sofia emerged smelling of a combination of perfumed soaps, fruity flowers, and crisp autumn air. “What kind of soap is that? Coast?”
 

“No. It’s Romanian. The old women in my village make it.”

“Huh.” She nodded. “I like it.”

It took all the fortitude Dragomir could muster to escort her to her office and leave her there while he went to the board meeting. And for longer than he’d ever hoped to have to endure, he sat through the meeting, listening, debating, and planning all the while wanting to be with his mate.
 

Two hours later Dragomir and Jankin went to Sofia’s office to try to explain why she no longer owned a home. From the look on her face it was clear she wasn’t pleased with the information.
 

She held the inside of her cheek between her teeth. Her eyes narrowed and she barely blinked. It was the exact expression she’d had when she lectured Dragomir about sexual harassment.
 

Streamers of the union connecting Sofia and Dragomir raced between them. Considering her stance on workplace violence, she hadn’t responded as well as he and Jankin had hoped. He would have stood closer in hopes it would ease Sofia’s acceptance of the information, but he didn’t want her to hit him again. His chin still hurt.
 

She’d taken quite well to his lessons on fighting. And when he was foolish enough to remind her of her Workplace Violence Policy, she’d coldcocked him. At that moment he was more than pleased to have heeded Dice’s advice on waiting to teach her how to dispatch a vampire.
 

“So let me understand. You torched my house.” She stared from Dragomir to Jankin and back.
 

“It was the only way.” When Sofia stood up, Dragomir stepped back. “You said you’d remain seated.”
 

One eye narrowed while the opposite eyebrow shot up. It was the expression that played on her face whenever she was deciding her strategy for attack. Dragomir had been able to predict her movements in practice because of the obvious signs she exhibited. Eventually he’d have to teach her not to show them, but for now he braced himself.
 

“My family home. You burned my family’s home.”
 

“The flowers had already rooted into the house. The entire living area was covered in thorns. The perfume of the roses made it near impossible for the wolves to enter. They had to wear masks.” Jankin leaned forward. “Sofia, the roses had tasted you. They had to have come in contact with your blood. It’s the only explanation for what they did in that building.”