The Banshee's Revenge (The Banshee's Embrace Trilogy) (6 page)

"Think it over," he said to the other two wizards. In a flash of light, he was gone, leaving behind a very confused dead man who blinked in confusion at the two wizards.

"Would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?" Daniel asked.

"I agree." Angela's fearful voice had both men turning to look at her. She stood a few yards away, staring in awe at the frozen bar patrons and the spot where Gwydion had just been. "I've been drinking way too much tonight. Is this a dream?"

"I guess your time spell didn't cover the bathroom. You deal with her," Toby instructed his son. "I've got some things to check on. I need to contact a few people, see if Gwydion's story about the deaths in
Ireland
are true. Use a memory spell on her if you have to."

"What are you talking about? Why is everyone frozen?" Angela's voice had taken on a shrill note of hysteria. "Memory spell?"

"And what about me?" Daniel asked. "I've got a bit of chest wound here."

"Are you sure I should do that? She might be safer knowing what's going on." Gabe ignored Daniel and ran a hand through his hair. "I think we should tell the truth."

"You know how I feel about that. Magic is not for mortals." Toby shot Gabe a severe look. "I trust you to do the right thing here. Look, just take her to my office. I'll close the bar and then take care of getting in touch with my Irish contacts. Daniel, you come with me. You can stay at my place until we figure out how to kill you properly."

"What?" Daniel shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. "Kill me? I just want to be back home in me own bed."

"Well, we've all got our little problems today, pal," Toby said and snapped his fingers. The time spell sped up. He couldn't help but chuckle at the disbelief on Daniel and Angela's face at seeing everyone rush to life again.

At least, she wasn't screaming.

He noticed Gabe watching too, studying her reaction to the magical transition occurring. Toby felt a pang of sadness. It would be difficult for Gabe to ever have a life with anyone outside the supernatural world. It was too hard keeping secrets from the one you cared about.

Still…in their line of work, secrets were a necessary evil.

As he watched Gabe lead the pretty redhead to the office, Toby had no doubt that his son would do the right thing and erase Angela's memory of all that she'd just seen.

Gabe and Angela stared at each other in awkward silence.

Fear and fascination alternately rotated on her face. Was she afraid of him now? Afraid he would physically harm her?

The idea gnawed at Gabe, vaguely irritating him.

"So…" Angela said, finally.” Is this how you get all your girlfriends?"

"Not exactly." Gabe smiled, relieved she still had her sense of humor. "I've found this is the kind of thing that usually frightens the chicks off."

"So what are you?" Angela sat on the couch, but he could sense she was wary of him and ready to bolt if he got too close. "A witch? Vampire? Leprechaun?"

"Leprechaun?"

"I'm shooting blanks here, Gabe. Give me something I can work with."

"Wizard." He watched her eyebrows lift in surprise. "I'm a wizard."

"Like Harry Potter?"

"Um…older and less nerdy, but yeah. Like Harry Potter."

"Is Toby one, too?"

"Yes."

"Does Jacqueline know?"

"Yeah."

"Is that why she went away?"

Gabe shifted his gaze, uncomfortable. After Jacqueline's last transition, he'd disagreed with his father about keeping Angela in the dark. She had a right to know what she might be up against in case the banshee contacted her. After all, who really knew how dark Jacqueline's thoughts were these days? And now that she was pregnant? Gabe had heard of women being emotional during pregnancy, but what would that mean in Jacqueline's case? Angela could unknowingly say one wrong thing and trigger her best friend's deadly wrath.

"It's part of it, but not all." Gabe chose his words carefully. "She and Toby had a disagreement of sorts."

"I knew it! I knew it was worse than what Toby was telling me," Angela said. "He must have done something with the magic that scared her off."

"Not exactly."

"Well, what then?" When Gabe hesitated, she sighed in exasperation. "Look, I'm not stupid. I may have been in shock a few minutes ago when I saw that guy disappear and the whole bar frozen, but I heard what Toby said. You're supposed to do some memory spell on me, right? So what's it hurt to tell me the truth about Jacqueline?"

"She didn't want you to know the truth about her."

"What truth? Was she a wizard, too, or something?"

"Or something is a good word for it."

Angela's brows pinched together in confusion.

"Look, I've never told any woman about this stuff. Magic is tricky, and not for everyone." He took a cautious step her direction, pleased when she didn't try to move away. "This was Jacqueline's choice to keep you in the dark. The less you know, the safer you'll be."

"Is that right?" Angela crossed her arms. "Well, I've been taking care of myself for a long time. I appreciate her concern, but Jacqueline underestimates me."

"I'm sure she does. I know have."

He stood two feet away and looked into her nervous eyes, wondering if she could possibly still be interested in him. He doubted it. All those fantasy about her naked were going to stay fantasies.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Gabe said. "We can end whatever is going on between us right now. I can fix the memory spell so that you'll forget about any…feelings…you might have about me."

Angela tilted her head to the side and looked up at him.

"Who says I have feelings about you?" She grinned. "And if I don't want this to end between us? If I want more? What then?"

Something in that knowing grin caused his mind to flash to thoughts of what it would be like to have her in his bed, naked and wanting. Fresh sexual tension stirred in him, along with hope that the evening might suddenly get better. Gabe let out a slow breath, trying to keep his head clear.

"I'll tell you whatever you want to know," he decided.

Hell, Toby would be tied up getting people out of the bar for a while anyway. What was the rush on the spell?

"You better." She stood and closed the gap between them until they were inches apart. "I have something I definitely want to know right now. It's something I've been speculating about for months."

Angela kissed him, lighting every inch of his body with the heat of desire.

Unable to stop himself, Gabe kissed her back. She sighed in satisfaction as he pressed his body to her, pulling her close. He was conscious of the swell of her breasts against his chest, and of the need he felt jump in his groin. Her hands clutched at his shirt as if she was holding on for dear life, but gradually the grip loosened as she let herself go, losing herself in the same delightful sensations he was.

But it wasn't enough. He wanted more.

She pulled back, gasping for air, passion thick in her eyes.

"Gabe, your kiss…it feels really familiar. Have you ever kissed me before?"

A wave of guilt washed over him.

"Once. We were in a restaurant and you thought I was Derek. He'd asked me to cover for him while he took care of some business." He thought it best not to mention the business had been Derek attempting to kill Jacqueline. "I kissed you and almost lost my mind."

"I remember that. It was a different from Derek's normal touch. He was always very sensual, but that kiss…mmm…it was hungry, needy almost." Angela ran a finger down his chest. "I know this is the wrong time and place. I know I should be demanding answers about Jacqueline and everything, but, dammit, I still wish we could go somewhere more private. Your father's office is not the place I'd pictured for this."

Pleased, he pulled her close again, nuzzling her neck softly, loving the way she held her breath at the exquisite sensation.

"Oh, god," she moaned softly. "I want you so bad."

"Are you sure?" He pulled back to look in those gorgeous hazel eyes. "Is this what you really want?"

With a wicked grin, she caught his lips with her own.

Gabe knew he was lost then. There was no turning back from this fiery woman. But she was right about one thing.

The office was no place for their tryst.

With a wave of his hand, he willed them out of the room, still locked in a deep kiss. Angela didn't notice the change of scenery. Her hands roamed against him, greedy to feel his flesh as they made their way under his shirt. She pulled against him, urging him with her body to lay her down on top of the hard desk.

"Oh," she whispered, surprised when instead of a desk, satin sheets touched her skin. "How did you do that?"

"It's a wizard perk," he growled, his lips exploring the sweet spots of her neck. "I thought you might appreciate a little romance."

"Satin sheets? Billowing white gossamer curtains on a canopy bed," Angela glanced around. "Where are we?"

"Does it matter?" he asked, hearing her sharp intake of breath as he ran his tongue along the cleavage bursting out of the tight black camisole style blouse she wore. "All I want is you right now."

"Yes," she whispered. "It's the same for me."

"Then no more words." He looked into her eyes. "Let's just be together in the moment."

Her sigh of acceptance was all the encouragement he needed.

Gabe lifted the cami over her head, flicked open the clasp of her black bra, and made a sound of pure pleasure over the sight of her naked breasts. His tongued one nipple, while his hands felt the softness of her warm flesh.

His heart hammered in his chest, and he resisted the urge to tear away the rest of her clothing, to take her in one fell swoop. No. After all these months of holding back, Gabe didn't want to rush now. Though the feel of skin beneath his hands and the small moans of desire she made as he suckled against her breasts drove him mad with desire, he held back, wanting to savor every second they were together.

He wasn't sure she felt the same though.

Her hands became less gentle as she yanked the t-shirt he wore over his head. Greedy fingers reached for the button on his jeans, trying to free him. With a small smile, he pushed them away.

"Naughty, naughty," he said. "You better be careful or things will be over to soon."

She pouted and he pounced on that delicious bottom lip, kissing her deeply.

Not to be outdone, Angela maneuvered herself so that he rolled over and she was on top of him.

"Things will be over when I say they’re over." Angela grinned, as she unzipped his pants and then yanked them off. "I want you naked now."

"I can't be responsible for my actions then."

"Don't you worry. I'll be responsible for any action you get."

With that, she ran a finger down his naked chest and then repeated the action with her lips and tongue. Each kiss sent a tingle through his body, causing his arousal to press against her, begging to be touched, begging to feel her around him.

When her mouth surrounded his cock, warm and moist, Gabe thought he might completely lose control. He groaned as her lips locked around him, and the expert way she used her tongue to tease and tempt him to his limits. All thoughts of control were banished, as he realized that she was the one in charge. She was the temptress and he was just along for the ride.

And what a ride.

But before he could completely lose all rational thought, Angela eased back.

"You're not getting off that easy." She grinned at her own joke. "I'm still half dressed. What are you going to do about it?"

Without a word, Gabe lifted his hand and summoned a spell. He enjoyed the shocked expression on Angela's face as her pants slid from her body and to the floor.

"No fair," she said. "Using magic in the bedroom is like cheating or something."

"Then you'll really be unhappy with this." Gabe turned his hand slowly to the side, concentrating. As his hand moved, Angela found herself turning over until she lay on the bed in only her black lace panties. "Magic, as you can see, does have its advantages."

Wide eyed, she watched him slip a finger in the panties and stroke her most intimate area. Gabe could have drowned in the ecstasy pooling in her eyes as he slipped a finger in and out, the wetness between her legs growing with each motion. He loved the way her nipples were hard and pointed skyward, begging for attention. Gabe nipped at one, rewarded by her soft gasp.

She writhed on the bed, red hair displayed like flame across the white pillows. God, what a sight. Gabe thought he'd never seen anyone more beautiful, more tempting, and more arousing.

In that moment, he knew he couldn't wait any longer.

With a ferocity that made her moan in anticipation, he ripped the panties off and positioned himself above her.

They stared into each other's eyes, the moment stretching delicately before them. He was so afraid he might see an objection on her face, but there was only desire and need there.