Curse of the Fae King (4 page)

Rapier in hand, Leonidas shoved Meena behind him and strode toward the house. “You should stay here, querida, and guard my dragon.”

Lipstick growled softly as if asking who would guard whom. Meena glowered and tried to duck around Leonidas, but his broad frame filled the doorway. Leonidas’s protective instincts roused. Warrior to the core, he prepared to defend this tiny woman who obviously lacked any fighting skills. Beyond him, the kitchen looked like a war zone. Someone had shoved the kitchen table on its side, and the ladder-back chairs were scattered—feet up like fallen soldiers—around the room. A bag of groceries spilled butter, flour, and lard across the kitchen units and onto the quarry-tiled floor. Broken eggs pooled like a lake around the pine dresser’s feet.

Leonidas casually curled one arm around her waist and carried her outside.

She punched his shoulder and kicked her feet. “Don’t you dare drag me out of my own home.”

When he held her, the strangest tingle—like a low-voltage lightning strike—shot through his chest, then streaked into his balls. As if he wasn’t hard enough already. The sensation shot through his pulsing dick, and now he needed her naked in his bed. Only judging by the furious glint in her eyes, that wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

Elves’ blood, even if he couldn’t offer her his heart, he could keep her safe. Lipstick rested his head back on his paws and wrapped his tail around Meena like a scarlet chain.

Eyes screwed up with fury, she thumped the dragon’s scales. “Get off me, you bloody great lummox.”

The battle of wills between girl and dragon brought a smile to Leonidas’s lips. Then, bullwhip in hand and deadly serious, he stepped back inside the building. Though he moved with a cat’s grace, danger in every muscular movement, he found nothing. No clue, no note, nothing to suggest Elizabeth Sybil’s whereabouts, but wherever she was, she hadn’t gone willingly.

Finally Meena sat on the bottom stair, her cell phone in her hand. “Great. Mum’s missing, and I’m stuck with a useless Fairy and a hungry dragon. And why won’t the police look for her before she’s been gone three days? Sweet Hekate, she could be dead by then.”

Lipstick mewled and nuzzled her thigh, but she pushed him aside. Leonidas reached for her hand, but she jerked it away. He’d rather she’d stuck a dagger in his palm than pulled back like that. Lightning streaked though his aura, black and zinging with elemental electricity.

Undeterred, Meena rested both hands on his chest as she shoved him away—hard. “Stay here.”

He stared at her curvy hips as she climbed the stairs. He’d give anything to have her legs wrapped round his waist while he cupped her spectacular ass in his hands. Instead he stayed rooted to the spot and drooled.

A few moments later, and she was back. Her eyes still flashed with fury, and her movements were tense and jerky. “Don’t think I’ve forgiven either of you for that stunt you just pulled. Keeping me out of my own kitchen, for goodness’ sake. Listen up, jackass. My house, my mother, and my right to look for her.”

Her words barely registered—not when he was busy admiring her change of clothes. She’d looked amazing in the mock Vampire outfit, but Elves’ blood, when she wore jeans… Tight ones that skimmed her rounded ass and made him want to run his hands over her lush curves. And could that corset top shove her breasts any higher? Maybe, if he stood closer, he could peer down that low-cut neckline and feast his eyes on her nipples.

Damn it, without his magic he was almost out of options. If he didn’t fuck her soon, his beast would take over his body. He’d become the creature he despised—all sharp fangs, claws, and raging emotions. His beast didn’t listen to reason, and it didn’t care for its partner’s needs. It fucked women senseless and absorbed their life force. Better to feed it monthly and keep it under some sort of control, but his twenty-eight days were almost up.

Bloody witch, cursing my bloodline like this
. Unless… “Lipstick, can you flash back to the Fae homeland and fetch help?”

A gamut of emotions crossed the dragonet’s face—determination and confusion followed by a howl of pure despair. No help there, then. Whatever blocked his magic blocked Lipstick’s too. Confused, the young dragon gave another piteous howl so despairing it tugged at even Leonidas’s heartstrings. He plopped down on the floor, put his head on his paws, and yowled again.

In an instant, Meena was kneeling at the dragonet’s side and stroking his ears. Suddenly Leonidas wanted her caressing his ears—the sensitive pointy ones every Fae possessed. Or stroking his cock. That worked just fine too, but whatever happened between them, it would only be a temporary pleasure at best.

Chapter Four

Meena stared at the Fae warrior. What was with this guy? For a moment, he met her gaze, seemed fascinated by her even, and then he spoke. “Querida, I am the fiercest warrior of my kind, with or without my powers. You lack both magic and battle skills.”

She shoved two-handed at his broad chest. “Rub it in, why don’t you? I lost my job, my mother’s missing, and then some jackass Fae pops up out of nowhere and thinks he’s got a God-given right to insult me. Then on top of everything, you stand there and stare at my breasts.”

He crowded her against the wall, mantled his massive body around hers, and brushed his lips briefly over her. “They are beautiful breasts that I still ache to stroke and squeeze. In fact, everything about you is beautiful. Maybe I should just call you Desire—because one look at you, and that is what I feel. Or maybe you should tell me your name.”

There he went with the compliments again. Dear Goddess, he was all her best fantasies rolled into one. A silver-tongued charmer, he overflowed with sensuality that left her hot and hungry for more. Her legs wobbled like gelatin when he stood so close. His sweet, sensual essence flooded her senses, and warmth pooled in her womb. Damn it, she wasn’t some easy mortal ripe for the plucking. At least, she wasn’t human, wasn’t experienced, but the plucking thing sounded…good.

Beautiful warrior Fae—but I can’t trust him an inch.

Determined to ignore the nervous tremors pulsing through her pussy, she bit her lower lip and dropped her gaze. Could that bulge in his pants be any bigger? Was it for her? No wonder she needed to undress him so she could touch and taste.

She wanted to bury her head in his shoulder and breathe in his wonderful essence—all melting chocolate with a hint of chili—but that was down to his wicked Fae magic. Usually men took one look at her dramatic clothes and multicolored hair; then they dismissed her as a weird Goth chick. Even knowing her Fae used his powers to tempt her, desire dried her throat.

Finally she managed a hoarse, “Wilhelmina. My name is Wilhelmina, but everyone calls me Meena.”

“And I”—he leaned so close his mouth practically brushed against hers—“am Leonidas.”

His eyes pulled her in like an emerald sea, but if she set foot in the water, she’d drown.
I’m so out of my depth already
. All she could do was squirm against him in a sensual wriggle that shoved her breasts into his chest. “Leo. I like that.”

He feathered his lips over hers, a brief, intimate caress that shattered her resolve. “And do you like this?”

How could such a fleeting kiss make her groan?
More
, she almost demanded.
Gimme more
, but her throat constricted, and she couldn’t speak. Her instincts screamed for her to shove him away or just turn and run, but when he cupped her cheek in his hand, she knew she belonged at his side.

The twinkle in his eyes touched her soul. And was that her who moaned? Really? Again? Oh Goddess, yes! And when had she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him so close? This wasn’t the time for sensual games, she knew that…honest. She definitely shouldn’t do this, but need crawled up her spine and flowed like lava through her veins.

A smile crinkled around his eyes, and his haughty manner dropped away. How could she have thought him too stern to be handsome?
He’s dev-a-stating, and just for a moment, he’s mine.

“I think my rainbow-haired Goth approves. Perhaps we should try this.” Leonidas swept his tongue across her lips—all possessive dominance and a promise of wicked delight.

She moaned into his mouth, her body drawing comfort from his touch. He was warmth and protection, his tender passion the highlight of her miserable day. Actually, make that her week, or better still—her life. She felt safe and secure in his arms, protected even. Usually strong and independent minded, she wanted to let him love her forever. Sweet Goddess, talk about an impossible dream. He belonged in the otherworld. She belonged nowhere, and even after eight years, that hurt.

When he ran his fingers through her hair, she rolled her neck and leaned her head into his hand. It was huge, calloused from archery practice and sword drills, but his fingers were gentle as he stroked and caressed her breasts. With him, life was touch, sensation, and so much pleasure she felt as if she’d drunk the sweetest wine.
Intoxicating, smooth-talking Fae.

Back arched, breasts overflowing his hands, she ground her hips against his—her desires exploding inside her like a nuclear storm. She opened for him, then ran her tongue across his lower lip. He tasted of melting chocolate tinged with the fire of chili, exotic spice, and all things nice.

Curling his tail around her, Lipstick grumbled. Reality intruded as firmly as if one of the local fishermen had thrown a bucket of seawater in her face. Slowly, sadly, she ended the kiss that turned her world upside down, and the lack of physical contact left her empty inside.

She slipped out of Leonidas’s arms and forced her customer-service training to the fore. Though brisk and efficient, she still couldn’t muster a smile. She swallowed hard and wrapped her arms around her chest. Finally she found a man she could love. Then, when her Fae tempted her with hot kisses, she wasted time kissing him back. Well, not wasted exactly…but she should be out there looking for her mother. “Leo, do you really think someone’s kidnapped my mother? The police said there was probably a more obvious explanation.”

“If there is, I cannot think of it.” He kissed her fingers, then pressed her hand on his erection. “We will find her, but meanwhile you should feel how much I need you. I ache for you. Let me love you, hard and fast; then we will discuss our next move.”

Beneath her hand, his cock pulsed a sensual rhythm that made her womb contract in response. Unthinking, she palmed it, and even encased in his leather pants, it throbbed at her touch.
Damn, did it just grow again? He’s enormous! And he wants to put that thing inside me
. Her heart demanded she give herself to him completely—but she refused to fall prey to his enchantments again. She’d pull her hand away if it killed her. Sweet Goddess, it just might.

His eyes dulled with disappointment, making her resistance doubly hard. Moving away from all that Fae temptation hurt; only, she had things to do, and her missing mother to find. Okay, her life was a mess, and she needed his arms around her the way Whitby harbor needed its strong stone walls.
Stupid Witch, always wanting things you can’t have.

He lifted her chin and stared into her eyes for what seemed like hours. The world stopped turning when she was caught in his gaze. Talk about fascinating—but this was neither the time nor the place. Finally she smiled and looked away, but she felt like he’d examined her soul. Suppose he found it lacking? Everyone else seemed to.

Unexpectedly, he released her and stepped away. She almost threw herself back into his arms.
Stay strong. Don’t beg for his touch, no matter how much you crave it. Stay strong, and think of Mum
. Life had taught her to depend on no one but herself. No way could she place her heart in an oversexed Fae’s hands—but the deepest, most feminine part of her whispered,
Too late.

Without his lips pressed against hers, she felt bereft. In a perfect world, she’d nestle in his arms while he whispered sweet words in her ear.
Yeah, like a stuck-up, superior Fae would want an otherworldly failure like me
. Time to toughen up and move on, but damn it, with him, she wanted to put down solid foundations.

How could she feel like this—overwhelmed, love struck, and desperate—about someone she’d only just met? Letting herself feel anything for him was madness, but his kisses had proven addictive. In her dreams, he slid his cock into her pussy, sank his fangs in her neck, and claimed her as his true mate. But why would a full-blood Fae bond with a misfit like her?

Goddess help me, I need to push him away before he rejects me like everyone else
. “A couple of hours ago, I didn’t even know you. Since then, you’ve done nothing but bellow at me and denigrate my lack of magical prowess ever since. That or try to bed me. Then, when my mother’s vanished, you still think it’s okay to seduce me. Well, you can just curb the pheromones. I’m not that desperate or that easy.”

Okay, with him she could be. But the instant his powers returned, he’d disappear back into the otherworld. Like an idiot, she’d let him into her heart. When he left—and he would—he’d rip it from her chest and take it with him as a trophy. That was all she was to him—a trophy fuck to prove his superiority. She’d rather he’d plunged his rapier into her heart than love her and leave her. When he flashed back to the otherworld, she’d shatter into a million pieces.

Leonidas paced the kitchen, all flowing emerald shirt and black leather. He moved with a panther’s easy grace, but anger darkened his eyes.

Meena almost apologized and told him she really hadn’t meant to be a prick tease, especially when his cock swelled up like that—for her. Truthfully, she hadn’t meant to raise his hopes. Not to mention hers. Even as she sighed with disappointment, she wondered how a failed Witch could stand against Fae enchantments.

Finally he lifted his chin in that sexy, arrogant way of his and spun on his heel. His face fell into the impassive mask the Fae used to cover their feelings—so cold she swore the temperature dropped a couple of degrees. Her apology died on her lips, and she expected him to take his dragon and leave. Instead he picked up the spilled groceries and dumped them by the sink. She straightened the chairs and cleaned up the spills. While the room soon appeared back to normal, her life was still messed up and strange. Lonely even.