The Wizards of Venus Book One: Magic Touch (22 page)

* * * *

"Pati, please, sweetheart." Jonathan fought to hold on as she arched up into him. Rocking against her, he cursed the clothing separating their bodies.

"Fuck me!" Burying her fingers in his hair, she nipped his ear. "I need you deep inside me."

"Hell, yes!" Fumbling with the laces holding his pants closed, he fought to free his aching cock. Her frantic movements were hindering his progress. He nearly exploded when she buried her teeth in his shoulder. “Damnit, Pati. Wait! Let me get my pants unfastened!”

Pulling back, he used his magic to hold her down before wrenching open his pants, never once thinking of using a spell to make them disappear. Shoving her nightshirt above her hips, he positioned the head of his cock against her opening, and thrust inside her, burying himself to the hilt with one stroke.

“Yes!” Pati’s scream of pleasure was loud enough to be heard out in the hall.

* * * *

Rand’s head flew up as he finished restraining the man. The scream coming from upstairs had him running. He didn’t know if it was his wife or her sister, but he wasn’t going to wait around to find out! 217

Bounding up the stairs, he met Aric at the top. “Is it Gracie or Pati?”

“Watch out, boy!”

Ruzac’s words of warning came too late. Using a contraband black jack which he’d gotten on his last trip to Earth, Aric swung when Rand rushed by him. Hitting the prince squarely on the back of the head, he caught him just before he hit the ground. Using a cloaking spell, he took the prince out the back door they’d come in. Reaching the hovercraft they’d brought, he placed Rand inside before dispatching the driver. Looking back up at the house, he smiled. With Rand completely out of the picture, it wouldn’t matter if Brett were able to subdue Gracie or not. With the oldest boy missing, Mica and Aria would have no other option than to declare their younger son as the heir.

* * * *

As soon as the groans and screams from the room ceased, Gracie warily stuck her head inside the room. On the bed, lying in a tangled heap Jonathan and Pati were breathing heavily but finally calm.
“Or at least for the moment. Zara, I think it’s time to go home. I’d much rather be at
home with Rand before the next wave hits.”

“We’ve got an issue, Gracie! I can’t reach Ruzac. Something’s wrong!”

“Rand, what’s going on?”

When she didn’t receive an answer, fear washed over her.
“Come on, Rand, this
isn’t funny!”

“I’ve told you! He’s gone. Why isn’t he answering?”

Looking over her shoulder, she quickly addressed the couple on the bed. “Get dressed. I’m going to find Rand and then we’re heading back to the palace. You, 218

Jonathan, are going to make a honest woman out of my sister before this goes any further!”

“No protests on my part.” Jonathan lifted his head from Pati’s shoulder.

“Don’t I have a say in this?” Pati’s voice was groggy.

“Nope. You’re mine, little girl, and we’re getting married as soon as I can arrange it.”

“Like hell! Get off me, you big lug.” Pushing against his chest, neither one was aware when Gracie left the room.

“You’re the one who insisted on making love right now.” Pushing her hair out of her eyes, he cradled her in his arms. “I love you, Patience O’Connor. I about died when I realized you were gone. No matter what happens in the future, you’re mine and I’ll never set you aside for any woman, whether she’s the most powerful witch in Venus or the lowest of the ordinary women. One day you’ll believe in that.”

* * * *

Stumbling out of the kitchen, Harold tried to comprehend what was going on. Shaking his head, he tried to understand what had happened. The last thing he remembered was leaving Gracie and heading for the kitchen. He drew up short when he saw the King of Venus standing next to the couch. Several of the guards, which Deanna had been so nice to supply, were sitting on the floor, bound and gagged.

Sinking to the couch, he held his head. “Your Majesty.” His greeting was muffled.

“Harold, what are you doing here?” Gracie stood in the doorway. “And what the hell have you done with my husband?”

219

“Gracie? But you were upstairs so sick you couldn’t get out of bed. And you’re not married. We left before you married Prince Rand.” Surging to his feet he started to approach her when King Mica stepped between them.

“Where’s my son?” Mica grabbed Harold’s arm.

“I don’t know. I don’t remember anything before going into the kitchen. Gracie was so sick. I was going to ask …”

“You took Patience?” Gracie interrupted him, anger making her voice hostile.

“Patience? No. I didn’t take Pati. I was told by Mr. Sorin that you wanted to escape your betrothal to Prince Rand and wished to return to Earth with me. He said you arranged a meeting in the Royal Gardens before your ceremony. I waited there and when you showed up, we left.”

“Harold, Rand and I exchanged vows hours before the scheduled ceremony and I don’t know a Mr. Sorin.”

Harold paled, his dreams shattering. “Ask Princess Deanna. He went with me to Sandova and we met with both Prince Charles and Princess Deanna.”

A look of disbelief passed between Gracie and Mica.

* * * *

After dropping Pati and Jonathan off at his apartment at his insistence, Mica, Gracie and Harold headed back to the palace. Sitting between Gracie and King Mica, Harold looked decidedly intimidated. King Mica had to call for another hovercraft when they’d gone outside to discover a very dazed and confused driver leaning against the low retaining wall surrounding the cottage. 220

“When we return to the palace, Harold, we’re going to try a reverse-erasure spell on you. I do believe Princess Deanna may have used a memory-erasing spell. I’ve seen her use it on her own husband and while I can’t prosecute her for using her magic against her husband, using it on you is a crime punishable by High Venusian Law.”

Gracie was furious about Deanna once again being at the bottom of the Royal Family’s troubles.

Looking over at her, Harold swallowed, uncomfortable with the idea someone had tampered with his mind.

“All right. Will it hurt?”

Patting his leg, she smiled at him reassuringly. Even without the reverse spell, she knew Harold had been an unwitting pawn in the power struggle going on.

“Everything will be fine, Harold. I swear.”

* * * *

Opening the door to his apartment, Jonathan ushered Pati inside. She seemed to look around warily. Ignoring the flashing light on his communication console, he guided her into the living room and settled her on the couch. “Would you like something to drink, baby?” He was quick to notice the pallor of her skin and the increased rate of breathing.

“I…I…think I’m…fine…”

Frowning, he sank down into a crouch in front of her.

“Pati, baby, what’s wrong?”

Closing her eyes, she shook her head.

“Talk to me. I won’t know how to help you if you don’t talk to me.”

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“No. I’ll…be fine. All I want is sleep.”

Nodding, even though he didn’t believe his chosen’s words, he picked her up and walked back to his bedroom. Settling her on the bed, he walked quickly back out to the kitchen. Grabbing a cold bottle of water from the fridge, he guzzled over half of it. He could feel the fire building once more.
Damn it. I wanted to let her rest tonight.

When he came through the living room, he could hear Pati's soft moans float down the hall.

"
Jonathan! Please, I burn!"

Hanging his head in despair, he fought his need to go to his chosen and his duty to his cousin.
I really should be helping Gracie find Rand. She looked so lost when we
joined her and Uncle Mica. I know I couldn’t handle the separation from Pati so soon
after our bonding. Gracie’s got to be going out of her mind.”

“Go to her, Jonathan, and let me worry about finding Rand.”
Gracie's voice filled his head as she used her twin bond with Pati to reach him.

“
But...”

“Go to her, and that's an order. I’ll be home with Gracie soon. I believe I’ve a
promise to keep to my wife and I don’t intend to renege.”
Rand's voice echoed though him as if coming from a long, long distance.

“Rand, you’re okay?”

“Don’t worry about me. Pati should be your biggest concern. Your chosen needs you
more than I do. Let Dad and Gracie find me.”
Rand's voice began to fade.

“Jonathan, where are you? I need you!”
Pati’s voice seemed to be more insistent.

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“I'm coming, baby.”
Running down the hall, he entered his bedroom. Jonathan's eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. In the shadows he could see his bed and Pati's naked form writhing against its sheets. Swallowing a growl, he quickly disrobed. Striding over to the bed, he paused beside it.

Pati opened her eyes, sensing her mate was nearby. Her body was still burning with the effects of the aphrodisiac Brett had pumped into her. What little relief he’d given her at the cottage was gone.

“Where are you, Jonathan? The fire - it burns.”

"Shh, baby, I'm right here. I’d never let you battle the fire alone." Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he caught her when she rolled towards him. The touch of her skin against his nearly shattered the fragile hold he had on his unraveling self-control.

"Jonathan." Her sigh of relief told its own story.

"Pati, what have they done to us?" Using a quick, spell he undressed himself, no longer able to contain the need to feel naked skin against naked skin.

When she reached between his legs to grasp his manhood, a loud moan tore free of his chest. Rolling her under him, he was barely able to suppress his urge to mount her.

"I hope you are ready because I can't control this."

"Yes…please!" Wrapping her legs around him, she clung to him while he sat back against the headboard. With her arranged on top of his distended cock, and with a quick check of her readiness, he slid deep inside her. With a scream of pleasure, she began to ride him as hard and fast as she could.

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"Hell, yes!” Clenching her hips in his hands, he helped her move up and down on him. He hissed when she climaxed around him. Hanging on to the edges of his fraying control, he fought not to follow her over the edge.

“More, baby! I want more!” Before she could come down from her peak, he held her still and hammered up into her convulsing folds.

Pati squealed and her eyes flew open. Looking deep into his eyes at the intense desire she saw, she flew over the edge once more.

"Oh my god, Jonathan!"

"Yes," he hissed, "gonna fill you full."

"No more…no more." Her sobs filled the room as she fought the need tearing through her body.
The burning is never going to stop!

Jonathan growled before rolling her under him. Hooking her legs over his shoulders, he smiled wickedly.

"What?" A gasp of intense desire escaped her when he sank even deeper.

"I want you to come again.” He pounded against her softness, intent on putting the fire out which was flaring even higher. “Let's put this fire out once and for all."

"You don't have the stamina," she countered as she skated along edge of release.

"Are you challenging me, baby?" Delving deeper, he couldn’t help but grin when his thrusting forced her to orgasm again.

"Yes...no...I don't know."

He smiled when he felt her folds massaging his trapped cock.

"That's it, baby, come for me!" Jonathan grunted as he continued to move against her savagely.

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* * * *

“Wildcat?”

Gracie sat up straighter in the backseat of the hovercraft. They hadn’t quite made it to the palace yet. The familiar caress of Rand's voice righted her unease.

“
Where are you?”

“I'm not sure. As soon as I’ve an idea, I’ll let you know, but for the love of Mica once I
figure it out, don’t come alone!”

“ I won't. I’ll be bringing Zara with me.”

“Gracie!”
The warning was evident in his voice.

“
What?”

“Promise me you’ll bring Jonathan, Dad or another who can protect you.”

Anger rolled over Gracie.

“This is what I’m talking about, Rand. You’ve got to start remembering I’m powerful
in my own right. I can take care of myself!”

“Not as long as I live and breathe, Grace Ann de Carthwright. You’re mine to
protect!”

“Shut the hell up, Rand, if that’s the kind of nonsense you’re going to spew.”

.* * * *

Rand lifted his aching head. He was sitting in a chair with his legs and arms bound tightly to it. Plus, it felt as if someone had taken a hammer to his head. Surveying his surroundings he tried to figure out where he was when his gaze landed on Aric.

"I see you’re finally awake."

When Rand only glared at him, Aric laughed.

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"Is that supposed to scare me?"

"You don't have to be scared to get hurt, Aric." Tugging on his bindings, he cursed inwardly at the fact he’d been betrayed by a wizard he had trusted. The room they were holding him in reminded him of a spaceship.

"Captain, we're receiving a signal from Earth to enter her atmosphere," a tinny voice filtered into the room.

"Acknowledged, I'll be to the bridge in just a moment."

"You're taking me to Earth?"

"Yes. We'll see how high and mighty you are when you are away from your own planet. Lets see how well you can function there." Walking towards the door, he told the crewman to put Rand in the ejection pod.

"Aw, shit!" Reaching with his mind, he tried to connect with Gracie. A roar of frustration filled the room when he failed.