Empowered [Sexual Magic 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (9 page)

At the door to the bar, they paused, and she released Gabriel to hug Noah. “Go quickly and return just as fast,” she whispered. “But do not worry over me.”

He engulfed her in his broad arms. “I always worry about you,” he said hoarsely. He kissed her crown then sighed and let go. “Twenty minutes tops.” His glare pinned Gabriel over her head. “Stay with her the entire time. Don’t leave for any reason.”

“Aye aye, captain,” Gabriel said dryly.

Noah’s expression darkened. “When you hear the story, Gabriel, you won’t find it such a light matter.”

Gabriel edged her out of the way and clasped Noah’s shoulder. “I don’t find it light right now, Noah, I promise. What she did on that beach today was unconscionable. And from your attitude, I’ve a good idea what you’re going to tell me.”

His hazel eyes swept over her from top to bottom. When his gaze lingered at her breasts, she went tingly all over.

“You have my word. I’ll protect her.”

Pleased warmth spread through Madelyn.

“Damn right you will, or you’ll find yourself under my whip and it won’t be pleasant,” Noah said with a growl. “Twenty minutes, if that.” He spun on his heel and stormed toward the elevator bank.

Gabriel threaded their fingers and raised their joined hands to his mouth where he kissed her skin softly. He captured her eyes, mesmerizing her with his gaze.

Another blazing tingle roared to life, this one reaching deeper and lower in her body. Madelyn cleared her throat. “Shall we go inside?”

He smiled as if he knew how he affected her. “Sure.”

Gabriel held the door and wrapped his big, warm hand around her upper arm. He guided her to a far corner of the restaurant bar.

Madelyn scoped out every diner, every table, searching for Krista, relieved when the woman didn’t appear in her vision.

She liked the way he held out her chair for her. Manners these days seemed to be a relic of the past. Settling into the cushioned faux-leather chair, she scooted up and picked up the menu.

He slid into the chair next to her. “Are you hungry?”

“I could eat,” she murmured with a sigh. “I’m a stress eater.”

“You must lead a very calm life, then.”

Startled, she looked up from the appetizer list. “Why do you say that?”

His wink was quick and flirtatious. “Because you have an amazing body. Very in shape and fit. Curvy yet toned.”

A blush worked its way hotly up her neck and into her cheeks. She buried her face behind the menu.

He chuckled. “Oh, now you get shy?”

“Shut up,” she muttered softly.

“Hm, that sounds like a punishable comment, don’t you think?”

Heat skipped through her again, and she lowered the menu, eyeing him speculatively. “It could be. If you wished it.”

Gabriel held her eyes for moment before looking away. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

She reached for his hand. “I know that. I should have been more careful with an inexperienced whip handler in the room. I was just so caught up in the moment.”

He nodded. “I know. That’s what drew my attention.” He swallowed hard and looked away. “The sounds of ecstasy you were making made me forget all the safety stuff Noah had told me.”

Madelyn thought about that awful moment and knew that as painful as it had been for her, Gabriel’s mental anguish was worse. “I wanted to feel your leather on me, Gabriel.”

His gaze swung back to her. She lifted her palm. “Not like that, of course. But I knew when you started swinging the whip that I wanted to be under it eventually.” She was telling him the truth. Something about Gabriel was intoxicating and called to her on a primal level she felt helpless to resist.

She’d
needed
to feel his leather upon her skin almost as much as she needed air.

The realization stunned her.

Slowly, she slid her hand away and noted how she trembled. “It was an accident, that’s all. Noah fixed everything. I’m perfectly fine.”

Gabriel nodded. “I suppose it was, but if we’re to continue this association of ours, then we must set some guidelines to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

“Do you wish to continue?”

She held her breath, almost afraid of his answer. What if he said no? What if he walked away?

Madelyn’s pulse climbed, and blood pounded frantically in her ears.

“I do. Very much so.”

His low-timbred voice slid over her skin like a physical touch. Her heartbeat settled down and soft heat pooled between her legs.

“I do, too,” she whispered.

He smiled. “Good.”

“Ready to order?”

The bright, pert voice shattered the building intimacy, and Madelyn bit her tongue on an automatic curse aimed at the young waitress.

“We’re waiting for one more,” Gabriel said smoothly. “But we could start with some drinks. Madelyn?”

“Chocolate martini,” she said, falling back on her favorite. Logical thought seemed beyond her at the moment. Whatever spell Gabriel was weaving, he was doing a damn good job.

Giddy happiness bubbled through her.

“Seven and seven,” Gabriel said.

“You bet,” the girl chirped and turned away, ponytail bobbing wildly.

“So, tell me, Maddie, how’d you get involved with the Council?” Gabriel grinned and waggled his brow in mock lechery. “Someone knock on your door one day and recruit you?”

His use of her nickname sounded right and for a second, she couldn’t figure out what he’d said. Then it hit her and another wash of embarrassment covered her.

“Whoa, that’s an interesting look,” he said. “Surely it’s not that bad?”

She tapped her nail on the plastic-coated menu, eyes skipping over the offerings without comprehending anything. “Uh, well, it kind of did happen like that.”

She peeked at him. His mouth hung open, and his eyes were wide with surprise.

“You’re kidding?”

Madelyn laid the menu down and clasped her hands over it and cleared her throat, attempting to appear as nonchalant as Noah often did. “
Non
, I am not. Within the Council are a special set of people called Scrys, or sometimes Scryers. Though their brand of magic is different than Enrichers, they are still endowed. They are able to pinpoint people who have our, uh, talents. They inform the Council, which in turn investigates each person before making a formal approach.”

She wouldn’t look at him, positive she’d find scorn, derision, or outright mockery on his face.

She didn’t want to see that. Not from him.

“Madelyn.”

His voice was soft, cajoling.

She didn’t look up.

“Madelyn.” Stronger. “Look at me. Now.”

Her head snapped up at the command. “Yes, Sir?”

His lips tightened and he swallowed hard. She thought she felt a tremor of lust, but that wasn’t her talent, merely an occasional happenstance, so she wasn’t certain.

“God, I love hearing that from your mouth. Love the way your beautiful lips form the word
Sir
.”

She licked her lips, holding his gaze.

He growled. “Makes me want to shove you under the table, take my cock out, and slide it into your luscious warmth.”

Her breathing hitched in response. She leaned forward, propping her chin on her palm. “Hm, slide into me where?”

“Everywhere,” he replied softly.

Silence fraught with rising lust grew between them. His hand edged closer, dipped beneath the table, and dropped to her thigh. She hissed.

He squeezed her leg then inched upward, fingertips grazing the edge of her pussy.

“Gabriel,” she said with a sigh.

He started a slow, frustratingly light circle along her pubic area. The touch was there but not enough to afford any kind of satisfaction.

“Yes?”

Madelyn shifted in the chair, spreading her thighs, inviting him to touch her more. “Yes, what?”

His chuckle was as light as his touch and he pulled away.

“Damn it,” she whispered and he laughed again.

“Patience, Madelyn.”

“She always did lack patience,” Noah said as he sat down. “Isn’t that right, little one?”

“Guilty,” she said without any remorse at all. “Did you talk to Clarissa?”

“Yeah, she’s sending someone over to keep an eye on her. Again.”

She heard the irritation in his voice and handed him a menu, eager to head off any more discussion on the topic of Clarissa’s blown surveillance. What was done was done. Raking it through the coals wasn’t going to help anything and would only serve to piss him off more.

Even though that might possibly benefit her later if he took it out on her ass, she wasn’t in the mood to rehash that particular screwup.

“I still think we should leave,” he said.

She knew his bulldog stubbornness but was determined to circumvent him this time.

“No,” she said simply. “I’m not leaving. If
you
feel the need to go, that’s fine.” She looked at Gabriel. He was watching her closely, his eyes warm and intent. Again her heart did a little flip. “I’m staying here. On this assignment.” She gave Noah an entreating look. “It will be easier to teach him if you’re here, but if I must do it alone, I will.”

His annoyance crackled on the silent air then he gave a gusty sigh. “God, I hate it when you dig in like this.” Noah’s half smile was aimed at Gabriel. “The French are feisty little things when they get their minds set on something. Maddie has apparently decided you’re worth fighting for.”

“He is,” she insisted.

“But,” Noah said, ignoring her completely. “There will be new rules. No leaving her alone. Ever. For any reason. No use of whips when she’s present until you’re better versed in their use. As you’ve seen, she can’t really be trusted to stay out of the way. Her passions run deep. Sometimes too deep.”

She tipped her water glass over, aiming the cold rivulet straight for his crotch. “I’m sitting right here,” she snapped. “Don’t talk about me as if I’m an empty-brained idiot.”

Noah scooted his chair backward, nearly taking out the waitress who balanced a tray of drinks on her hand. “Damn it, Madelyn.”

“
Cochon
,” she muttered.

“Oh gosh, let me get some napkins for you,” the waitress said. She tucked the tray under her arm and looked at Noah. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Whiskey. Straight,” Noah said with a glower at Madelyn. “And make it a double.”

“Everyone done?” Noah asked an hour later.

They both nodded and he stood, arms raised, and arched his back. His spine cracked all the way up his neck, and he sighed in pleasure at the release.

“You shouldn’t do that,” Madelyn scolded. “It can’t be good for you. You’ll get arthritis.”

“Actually,” Gabriel said as he rounded the table. “That’s a myth. Cracking joints doesn’t do anything more than release built-up fluid. It’s harmless.”

She speared him with a glare. “You’re not helping.”

He grinned and held his hands out in truce. “Sorry.”

“Why don’t we go to our suite and talk about this whole situation?”

“Cracking joints?”

Noah shot him a mock glare. “No, the
other
situation.”

Both Gabriel and Madelyn nodded, faces a bit more drawn than a moment earlier. He grimaced as he ushered them out.

They’d avoided the topic of Krista throughout dinner. Instead, both he and Madelyn had steered the discussion more toward the Council, who they were,
what
they were, and how it was run. Clarissa made it clear to Noah and Madelyn she was interested in Gabriel for more than just his sexual preferences. She’d been harping for years about the need for someone with more business acumen than she or anyone else on the board possessed to join and eventually run the day-to-day operations of the Council.

He’d gotten the distinct impression she meant to make an offer to Gabriel if all things panned out.

And from the vibes he picked up on the other end, Gabriel would be a damn good fit.

He wasn’t sure if that galled him or not. He liked Gabriel a lot and that surprised him. The man was quick witted, sly, and shared his deviant sense of humor. More than once, Gabriel had said something during dinner designed to get Madelyn’s goat.

He liked that.

Adding in the man’s natural charm and air of authority, and Noah was as drawn to him as Madelyn was.

Briefly, Noah thought of Fi and Alec and Kade.

Is it possible?
He studied Madelyn and Gabriel as they stood at the elevator. She leaned in toward him, and his body curved protectively into her. Soft smiles and knowing glances flew between them easily.

Much like they did between
him
and Madelyn.

Noah flicked his gaze away from the pair and contemplated the matter. Was Gabriel destined to be more than just an assignment for him and Madelyn?

Had Clarissa leapt from helping everyday citizens find their sexual selves to matchmaking for her Enrichers?

He swallowed hard, not sure how he felt about that, either.

Noah wasn’t used to such uncertainty. The emotion, the not knowing, bothered the hell out of him.

The elevator dinged discreetly, and the gold mirrored doors slid smoothly open. They trooped inside, and he hovered over the button for their floor.

“Need anything from your room?”

Gabriel pursed his lips. “I don’t know. How long do you think we’ll be?”

“All night. Probably longer, depending on your stamina.”

This time he looked startled. “Are we going to have, uh, a session or whatever?”

Noah was thoroughly enjoying his discomfort. “What do you want?”

His hot gaze slid over Madelyn, lingering on her tits pressed full and eager against her red T-shirt. Her nipples hardened, and Gabriel inhaled.

“I don’t know.”

“Bullshit.”

The elevator slid to a stop, and the doors parted. Noah headed down the hallway and inserted his keycard into the slot.

The light beeped green and he pushed inward. Gabriel and Madelyn followed docilely behind him.