Embrace the Mystery (The Blood Rose #3)(6)
Author: Caris Roane

A simple idea came to her given their shared level of need, so with her free hand, she carefully drew her skirts up so that when she turned back to him, she felt him skin-to-skin, the base of his c**k pressing against her mound.

Heaven.

What are you doing? He pathed. His eyes looked frantic as he watched her.

Just keep taking what you need. She held his gaze as he sucked and she pressed herself against him and began to rock into him.

He groaned as he sucked. Can you come like this, even though I’m not inside you? His deep voice in her head almost brought her.

She nodded. Oh, yeah. Can you? She searched his dark eyes.

Fuck, yeah, especially with your blood flowing down my throat.

She reached around and grabbed his ass to keep the pressure anchored. He shifted just enough and began to push against her as well, quick upward jabs, holding her gaze.

Come for me, Cha. Come for me. His voice. Sweet Goddess, that rumbling bass voice.

And before she knew it, he added his vibration which pushed her over the edge and she groaned as ecstasy poured through her. She cried out, grinding against his cock. He left her wrist and held her close, his c**k jerking repeatedly as he came. He grunted heavily as he pushed his h*ps into her over and over, extending the moment.

“Your vibrations, Quinlan. They get me every time.”

“Your response gets me.”

Her breathing slowed. His as well.

“Short but sweet.”

She smiled. “I love your voice.”

He drew her against him, cradling her again, rocking her just a little.

Thank you, Batya. That was a double kindness. I owe you one.

Well, you took care of me, too, so maybe we’re even.

He chuckled.

After a couple of minutes, she leaned up on her elbow to better see him. “Your hair’s a mess.”

“Hey, I almost died.”

“I’m not making a comment on fashion or tidiness, just remarking that you’ll have a couple of tangles to clear up once you shower. I have a really good crème rinse, though. You’re welcome to it.”

He reached up and touched the matted hair at the nape of his neck, then winced. “You weren’t kidding.”

“Look at it this way, you didn’t lose your hair though half your body was burned bad.”

He frowned suddenly and looked around. “Can you explain to me why I’m still alive, why you’re still here and not dead? How did you survive the attack?”

She looked anywhere but at him. She’d known this moment would come, that she’d have to tell him the truth about her radical fae powers, but she didn’t want to. She slid off him, pulling her skirts away.

“Where are you going? Batya, what’s going on?”

She kicked the blanket off her legs and sat at an angle on the side of the bed, mostly away from him. Time to confess. “When you crashed through the window, I gathered my power and set up an enthrallment shield.”

“You did what?”

She waved her right hand. “Can’t you see that? Feel that?”

He looked around, then settled his gaze on the window that overlooked the alley. The blinds and drapes were drawn for privacy.

She watched him as his gaze scanned the window, the drapes, the wall. He closed his eyes for a moment then opened them. I sense a very faint vibration, nothing more.

“Good. I’m glad. For me it’s like an air-conditioning unit that’s been running full bore, all night, right next to my head and I wish I could shut it off. But the ancient fae has one of her minions stationed across the street from my gallery, about where you were last night. She’s a pretty elf who’s been chain-smoking for the past several hours.

“She’s watching your home?”

“She’s waiting for me to lower my shields so she can bring in the big boys. You know those wraith-pairs you fought two nights ago?”

His brow rose. “Two nights ago? Sweet Goddess. I’ve been out that long?”

“Do you remember the pain?”

“Not really.” He shook his head slowly. “Just, I don’t know, I remember something entering my mind, a kind of ease.”

“That was me.”

“No wonder I slept and healed so damn fast. I really do owe you, don’t I?”

“Kind of. But do you think the ancient fae was really after me?”

“I do remember her words. She wasn’t expecting me to be there, so if it wasn’t me, then it had to be you.”

“I guess. I just don’t know what to do next. I mean if they were after me, because of what I can do, and they could take you down like that, where will I ever be safe?

“Besides, I’ve built a life here, one that I love.” She lifted her chin and met his gaze straight on. “I don’t ever plan on living anywhere else, either.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “A real ex-pat.”

“Absolutely, and proud of it.”

His gaze skated away from hers. He sounded almost reverent as he said, “I can’t imagine living anywhere but in Grochaire.”

She felt a familiar twinge of guilt when she thought of the Nine Realms, especially in the face of Quinlan’s dedication to her birth-world.

“So let me understand something, Batya. You’ve got sufficient power to sustain an enthrallment shield around your entire building, for what appears to be an indefinite amount of time.”

“Pretty much.”

He released a sigh. “I had no idea you had this kind of power, but then it explains why the ancient fae would be after you.”

“I suppose.”

“I’ll pay for the window, of course.”

“It’s not necessary. The Invictus did this and that she-devil who created them. ”

He rubbed his thumb over what was now a crevice between his thick black brows.

Even upset he looked sexy as hell and it didn’t help that the sheet he’d just pulled up hung below his navel. She had a perfect view of a spectacular chest, tight abs, and heavy pecs that she wanted her mouth on.

His gaze shifted toward her and his hand dropped away from his face. “What’s with all the scent now rolling at me?”

She looked up at the ceiling. “You know, I’ve been thinking of changing that mural.”

“Well, it shouldn’t be a problem since you changed the subject as quick as lightning.”

She laughed and met his gaze once more. “You look good to me right now and before that goes to your head it’s only because I’ve come to realize that I’ve been without a man for too long and as soon as we get this situation sorted out, I’m going to start dating again.”