Night Games

2

Their shoes crunched on the gravel drive as they walked toward the multitude of parked cars. Most of the guests would be using the valet service, but Selina would rather not be standing there with her future one-night fling waiting for her vehicle to be delivered with her co-workers standing nearby to note who she was leaving with. She could fetch her own car, thanks so much. No doubt a few people had noticed who she’d been wrapped around on the dance floor, but they could only speculate if it went beyond a dance.

Jack glanced down at her as she stopped beside her car, his brilliant blue eyes turning serious. “Are you safe to drive?”

“Yeah, you?” Spending so much time on the dance floor had kept her from drinking as much as she would have liked tonight.

“Yep. I only had two fingers of scotch.”

“I’ll follow you to your place.” Because she hated trying to get men out of her bed after a one-night stand. Plus, her familiar didn’t take kindly to strange men. The big German shepherd had the tendency to bite, which didn’t go over very well in the let’s-get-it-on department. She’d learned that the hard way, and she definitely wanted to get it on with Jack Laramie.

He caught her arm before she could open her car door. “I just want to check something before we leave.”

“Yeah, what’s that?” She arched her eyebrows.

Drawing her into his arms, he settled his mouth over hers. Her tongue slid along his lower lip, and he opened for her. The flavor of him burst over her taste buds—whiskey and chocolate and hot male. His fingers stroked over her shoulders and down her back, warming skin that had cooled in the night air. His movements were unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world to taste her. She’d expected a swift claiming, but he feasted on her lips. It had been a long time since someone kissed her so thoroughly.

Or had done such a good job of it.

If she’d thought he got her revved up on the dance floor, it was nothing compared to this. Her nipples tightened to points, and her sex grew slick. The muscles in her thighs went taut, and she arched her body into him. She liked the feel of her curves pressing to his harder planes. He turned her so that her back was to her car, and the icy metal was a shocking contrast to his heat. Clenching her fingers in his jacket, she strained against him. He leaned into her, and she moaned. Four centuries of sex, and she still found that there was nothing, absolutely nothing, like the weight of a man on top of her. It could only be better if they were naked and he was between her thighs. The need to wrap her legs around his trim waist was overwhelming, but the tight skirt she wore made it impossible. Frustration clawed at her, her hormones reminding her again that it had been a long while since she’d made time for sex.

Her head dropped back, her breath rushing in pants. “No more checking. Let’s go.”

“Okay.” But he didn’t let her go. His tongue flicked across her throat, and he nipped at her skin.

Sliding his palm up her torso, he cupped her breast, circling her nipple with his thumb. Each sweep over the sensitive crest sent bolts of longing straight to her core, made her wetter, made her pussy clench on nothingness.

Gods, she wanted more, but she liked what he was doing now too much to stop.

The sound of someone walking toward them in the dark brought them both upright. She fisted her hands and tried not to blast the intruder with a spell that would make them think twice about interrupting people. The offender moved past them without stopping, which probably saved him or her from a torching.

Jack reached over and opened her car door for her, his expression flushed and strained with lust. His voice was rough, guttural. “You’ll follow me.”

“Yes.”

They got into their respective vehicles, and she tailed him to his place. He didn’t live too far, and traffic was light, thank gods. He pulled into the driveway of a tidy little bungalow, and she parked on the curb out front. Climbing out of the car, she looked around. The street was quiet, with only the faint hum of other Magickals in the distance. Unlikely the place was being watched. She hadn’t really thought so, but she hadn’t survived as long as she had by being sloppy. Her training as a cop only reinforced those instincts.

Jack came up behind her, his breath brushing over her ear. “Changing your mind?”

Goose bumps broke over her skin. Heat flashed through her, and she tilted her head to give him better access.

“Oh, really?” A wicked lilt filled his voice as he blew a cool breath of air against her ear, and she shuddered.

“It’s a very sensitive spot.” She swallowed. “For elves.”

“I will be taking full advantage of that. Very soon.”

She sighed, enjoying the desire sluicing through her. “I truly hope so.”

He flicked his tongue out to touch the slight point at the tip of her ear, and her knees went weak. A smile curved her lips. Gods, yes. This was exactly what she needed to wash the taste of wedding out of her mouth. Sex, hot and wild, or slow and soft. She didn’t care as long as there was a mind-blowing, can’t-even-remember-her-own-name-afterward orgasm in her near future. Several of them would be even better.

“Come inside.” He set his hand on the small of her back and urged her forward. His place didn’t look like a frat house, which was always a worry with single human males. The building was neat and either white or pale yellow, she couldn’t tell in the porch lighting.

Jack unlocked the door and ushered her inside. No beer lights or posters of lingerie models. The décor was bachelor chic. Big leather couch, stark white walls, dozens of unframed photos propped on the fireplace mantel. Curiosity stirred inside her, and she wanted to take a closer look, but he locked the front door behind them and pulled her back against his hard body.

A gasp strangled out of her as his heat surrounded her. The iron bar of his erection pressed to her buttocks. Her sex went as hot and damp as it had been while they danced. She could almost see the sparks of chemistry between them. Or maybe it was her magic igniting as it did when she was sexually aroused. She licked her lips, let her head fall against his shoulder, and reached back to bracket his thighs with her hands. Desire twisted through her, and she relished the flare of fire within her. She wanted to lose herself in this, wanted to push the entire world and every second of her history away until there was nothing but the searing intensity of this moment.

The deep well of magic inside her boiled up, and she felt pleasure spells dance over her skin, slipping from her fingertips and out to him. His breath hissed, and he jerked when her energy hit him. She froze, a bit of uncertainty slicing through her lust. “Um ... you’ve had sex with a Magickal before, haven’t you? The pleasure spells aren’t going to freak you out?”

He was a Normal, but she’d assumed since he knew about magic that he’d have tried out some of the extra party favors Magickals brought to the bedroom. She was suddenly glad to be facing away from him so she didn’t have to look him in the eyes while she asked those questions.

A chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Don’t worry, Grayson. You’re not popping my Normal-Magickal cherry.”

She snorted. “Good, because I like my pleasure spells.”

“Then, by all means, enjoy yourself.” He bit the side of her neck, then soothed the sting with his tongue. His palms skimmed up the front of her dress until he could cup her breasts.

Her nipples drew to peaks, thrusting into his palms. His fingers stroked the tight nubs, and her hands clenched on the muscles of his thighs, spells pouring out of her. Tiny forks of lightning wound up her arms and sizzled from her fingertips. He shuddered and pinched her nipples hard, twisting them until she cried out.

Then he nipped at her earlobe and ran his tongue up to the point of her ear. Her knees threatened to buckle, and she pressed herself deeper into his embrace, her heart pounding, her breath speeding.

“Kiss me.” The feel of his lips against hers had been divine, and she wanted it again.

He spun her around, and she swayed precariously on heels she wasn’t used to wearing. She clamped her hands on his shoulders to keep herself upright. His mouth brushed over hers, light, fleeting, leaving her wanting. Pushing at his jacket, she slid it off his shoulders.

His fingers thrust into her hair, pulling her head back until her throat was bared to his lips. His mouth opened on her skin, sucking and biting at her flesh. A moan dragged from her, and she let her eyes drift closed. Living as long as she had meant not much surprised her anymore, but the strength of her reaction to this human was unexpected. She spent her entire life in control, and she loved letting loose during sex. It made her feel alive, and it was a release valve she craved.

She tugged at the bottom of his shirt, pulling it from his pants so she could touch his skin. Hard muscle covered with smooth skin. Nice. His teeth scored the sensitive tendon that connected neck to shoulder, and her nails curled into his back, a spell pouring out of her that would feel like fire singeing his flesh.

“Jesus,” he groaned. “Fuck.”

She laughed, her eyes opening. “Something like that. Though we’re not quite to the fucking part yet.”

“We’ll get there.” His lips curved against her skin, and it made her smile in return.

“Sooner is better than later.” She jolted him with another spell. “I’m not getting any younger, babycakes.”

He laughed at that, pulling back to give her an incredulous look. “You did not just call me babycakes.”

She arched her brows and gave him a wicked look. “I sure did. What are you going to do about it?”

Instead of answering, he reached out and neatly flipped her over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold. She cracked up and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. When was the last time she’d laughed or smiled this much during a sexual encounter? She couldn’t remember, but it was fun. After the day she’d had, she’d take a little fun.

The blood rushed to her face with the world upside down the way it was, and she pushed out against his back to try to keep some balance. A quick self-defense spell could get her out of this pretty easily, but she didn’t want to escape. She wanted to see what kind of tricks this man had up his sleeve, magic or no magic.

Flicking on a light switch, he strode into a room off the hallway. He shrugged and let her tumble unceremoniously onto the mattress. She shoved her hair out of her face and fell back on her hands, arching her torso just to torment him. His gaze zeroed in on her breasts, just as she’d hoped, and the heat in his gaze was enough to burn her skin.

“Come here.” She crooked a finger at him, barely managing to stop it from becoming a summoning spell that would compel him to do as she wished. “Or, better yet, strip. I want to watch.”

“Oh, yeah?” He arched an eyebrow. His hands went to his tie, his long fingers working the knot free and sliding it from his neck.

She twitched her fingers, and every button on his shirt slipped free. He looked down and blinked, then snorted and shook his head. Shrugging out of the garment, he went to work on his belt and zipper, while she got to enjoy the view of his muscled chest flexing with every movement.

Damn, the man was well built. Her thighs squeezed together at the thought of having her hands on all that bare male flesh. His shoulders were broad and tapered to narrow hips. Dark hair formed a neat triangle that stretched between his flat little nipples. His abs were hard ridges that she wanted to run her tongue over before she nipped at his belly button.

His pants hit the floor, and she sighed in appreciation. His legs were long, his thighs heavy with muscles, and her gaze traveled up to his cock. It jutted boldly, curving to just below his navel now that it was free of restraint.

“Now you,” he said.

Nodding, she held out a hand for him to help her off the bed. This dress all but shackled her legs. “You’re going to have to get the zipper for me.”

She could have used magic, but she’d rather have his hands on her naked skin. He pulled her upright, then spun her so he could unfasten the back of her dress. Heaving a sigh as the tight silk loosened, she let the fabric puddle around her feet. She stepped out of her heels and kicked the dress aside.

“Nice.” He hummed in approval when he took in the lacy scraps she wore. In that dress, only a strapless bra and thong panties would work. She reached behind her and unhooked the bra. It fell and she pushed her underwear down. The fire in his gaze as he took in her nudity was enough to scorch her. It was just the kind of look every woman liked to have aimed at her. Hot, worshipful, full of sharp need.

He jerked her roughly against him, and they both groaned at the contact. The crisp hair on his chest scraped her sensitized nipples, and she shifted her torso to increase the friction. His hard shaft burned into her belly, and she wanted him inside her. Cream gushed in her sex, and her knees gave out when he suckled her earlobe, trailing his tongue up to the very tip of her ear.

He caught her, eased her back onto the bed. They lay on their sides facing each other. He moved down to feather kisses over her collarbone and into the valley between her breasts. Turning his head, he caught her nipple with his teeth.

“Oh. Gods.” What he was doing with that mouth should be criminal, it was so good. Tingles erupted down her limbs, and she slipped her hands into his hair, holding him where he was. His lips closed over the tip of her breast and sucked hard, drawing her into the wet heat of his mouth.

Tightening her fingers, she couldn’t hold back a wave of magic, the feel of it building inside her so erotic she almost screamed. He groaned when it hit him, and she knew he felt in that spell how much she craved him right now. “Inside me.”

He let her nipple slide free and she pulled him up to kiss her mouth. Their tongues twined, dueled for control of the kiss. She hooked her leg over his hip and opened herself for him. No more waiting. The head of his cock pressed to her entrance, and he eased into her. One inch, then two. Gods, he was thick. She breathed through her nose and focused on relaxing so she could take all of him. It had been awhile since her last affair, and she was tighter than she’d expected to be.

The sharpness of pain mixing with pleasure made her anticipation spike. She gripped his arm, tried to pull him closer, make him give her more. Excitement billowed within her, the last few hours had pushed her too far for caution or care. She moaned, shoving her hips forward to force him deeper inside her.

He groaned as he hilted himself in her pussy. “Jesus. Christ.”

“Hurry.” She rolled her pelvis, wanting more, craving it with a ferocity she hadn’t felt in damn near forever.

Drawing back until she felt the head of his cock catch on the edge of her channel, he plunged deep. Her nails bit into his bicep, but she didn’t protest the swiftness of his thrust.

No, it was exactly what she needed.

He kept up that rhythm, slowly withdrawing and then shoving back in. Her sex clenched each time he pushed into her, which made him groan, but he wasn’t going fast enough to tip her over into orgasm. She tightened her leg around his hip, tilting her hips to take him even deeper. “Faster. More.”

“Yes.” He shoved into her pussy, gave her what she demanded. His thrusts picked up speed and kept that intense force. He hit her in just the right spot each time. Moving with him was as natural as breathing, and her heart hammered so loudly she could hear its pounding in her ears.

The feel of his rougher skin against hers was erotic, and every time he entered her, a wave of magic blasted out of her, fire and lightning that arced and wound around them. His breathing hitched, but his movements remained steady, hard and fast and just what she needed to push her to the breaking point. Her nipples rasped against the hair on his chest, the stimulation perfect. When he rolled his pelvis against her clit, she mewed in delight.

“Jack!” She twisted against him, so close to that edge she could taste it.

He gripped her knee, pulling her even wider for his thrusts. “This is so fucking good.”

“Yes, yes!” And it was. Considering how long she’d been sexually active, that was really saying something.

Their skin slapped together with each movement, the mattress squeaking beneath them, sweat gliding down their bodies. Everything about this became a sensual stimulant, the scent, the feel, all of it.

His lungs bellowed, his breath rushing against her ear. She shivered at even that subtle contact. He turned his head and nipped at her lobe. Stars burst behind her lids, and her body locked in shock. “Jack!”

Pleasure exploded deep inside her, burst out in pure magic, and sent her flying into oblivion.

He shouted as the spell wrapped around them, lightning dancing over their skin. Shoving his cock deep, he ground himself against her, jets of come filling her for long, protracted moments. Then they collapsed, sweat sealing their skin together, hearts pounding. Every bit of tension leached from her body.

He rolled to his back and pulled her against him. “How are you?”

“Peachy. How about you?” She draped her leg over his and relaxed bonelessly in his arms, her voice slurring as if she’d gotten drunk on the endorphins. Maybe she had. The thought made her grin. “Pleasure spells didn’t fry your circuits or anything?”

His palm drifted up and down her arm, a low chuckle rumbling from him. “Nope, but if you want to be sure, you can feel free to check my circuits any time you want.”

She laughed softly and stroked her fingertips up his thigh. In a few minutes, she’d take him up on that offer. Right now, she wanted to savor this. She sighed and let her eyes drift shut, bliss unfurling inside her. There really was nothing like a good orgasm to take her mind off what ailed her.

Yeah, this was exactly the kind of distraction she’d needed tonight. A satisfied grin tugged at her lips as she slipped over the edge into unconsciousness.