Masked Attraction (12 page)

Mr. Sash grinned. “N-i-i-ce.”

“Shut up,” she said.

“You heard her.” Daniel rubbed the knuckles of his fist suggestively.

The marquessy guy turned his grin on Daniel. “Hey. You’re a guy. You know it’s flattery. Chicks should learn to like it.”

“You really are a shit.” He took two steps and punched Mr. Sash in the face.

His eyes crossed, and he folded unceremoniously to the pavement.

Her wolf approved.

The other buyers melted away into the night.

Zoe retrieved the scroll case from Zeus’ limp hand. Daniel’s wand lay next to the man’s head, normal size now. She scooped it up and handed it to him as he came up beside her. “That was a pretty slick trick. Why didn’t you simply blast him?”

“Security cameras.” He flicked a glance at the mounted electronic eyes. “They cover the terraces, but not the air above them.” He nodded at the case. “The parchment is in there?”

She peeked inside. “Yes.” It was hers to give away again. She could finally get the romance she’d desired with her whole heart. “You still want it?”

He frowned. “Yes.”

She reminded herself romance was a two-way street. And sometimes, that could be fun. She grinned and waved it in front of him. “Then you’ll have to earn it.”

She turned and bounded up the stairs, hoping he followed.

Chapter Twelve

Zoe ran all the way to the prep room, feeling excited and reckless, and a little too much like the night she’d told her boyfriend she thought she was pregnant. She had no reason to believe this time would turn out differently.

But the strong breath and steady footfalls behind her gave her hope.

She stopped in the middle of the prep room and turned to him. “Are we safe here? From the Witches’ Council?”

“Safe enough for now.” His back was to her as he locked the door. “What did you mean,
earn
the parchment? What do you want from me? Flowers, candy, sweet words of love?”

“No.” She set the scroll case aside. “Daniel, I want you to…”

He turned then. The fire in his eyes part arousal, part fury.

She blinked. “That’s wrong. I don’t want you
to
anything.
I want you
.”

He froze. His breath released in a groan. “You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to hear that.”

In two steps, he swooped in, seized her, and swept her off her feet. He carried her to the fainting couch behind the screen, and when he laid her on her back, there was no doubt who would be on top.

Because the instant he set her down, he pushed apart her thighs and went down on her.

The heat of his breath on her panties was scorching. He licked her. Her whole body tightened in response, wringing a mewl from her throat. He licked again, and once again, over and over until the panties were damp and molded to her. Licked until she was on
fire
. Until her muscles melted and she moaned, her head falling back, too heavy for her limp neck.

The moment she yielded, he grabbed the skimpy lace and yanked the panties off. Seizing her naked hips, he pulled her to him and kissed and licked and sucked until her limp muscles went taut, and she was so aroused she was practically riding his jaw.

When he thrust a finger inside her, she exploded with lust for him, surprising her with its intensity.

While her brain was spinning, Daniel stood. Gaze locked with hers, his starburst eyes so hot they were going supernova, he waved a hand from his crown to his toes. And his clothes… They simply disappeared, reappearing neatly folded on a nearby table. Leaving him clad in nothing but his mask and straining desire.

Howling moon, he’s gorgeous.
She stopped panting to swallow, hard, and managed a jaunty, “I approve. Can you do that to me, too?”

“No.” He knelt between her yielding thighs. “Well, I
can
, but I’m not going to. I’m doing this the old fashioned way.”

Without unzipping the dress, he tugged down her bodice, exposing both breasts, plump and tight and eager to meet him. He kissed one, then the other, so fast and hungry she burst out in a delighted laugh, twin to the excitement bursting in her belly.

He got down to suckling and her giggles dissolved into a long, low moan. She snared fingers through his hair and pulled him closer, needing more. He answered her unspoken desires as he always had, raking teeth on the edge of her nipple. She yowled.

He raised his head despite her strength. “Did I hurt—”

“
No
. More. Again.”

Zoe pulled him to her breast, and as she lay back, he came over her and thrilled her by giving her more, again. Harder. She petted his hair, releasing the scent of clean man, and ran her palms over the corded muscles in his neck down to the broad strength of his shoulders, delighting in the contradictory sensations of warm velvet skin over rock hard muscle.

“More,” she whispered, bent to his ear. “
Everything.
” She nudged his hip with one silk stockinged foot.

He raised himself to hands and knees over her, positioned between her legs. “You’re sure?”

The muscular tension in his chest and arms, the yearning in his cock and eyes, undid her.

“I’m certain.”

She wrapped arms around his neck, ankles around his waist, and pulled herself up onto him. He shouted as her thrust sank him inside her to his root. His voice twined with her groan of pleasure. His thick cock felt like heaven.

Pressing her back into the couch, he stretched himself over her and began riding her in long, undulating waves, lush swipes that ended with grinding his hips into her. She panted as her skin began to dew. His mouth found hers and he kissed her, both tongue and cock thrusting ever harder, ever deeper.

Zoe began driving her hips upward in the same rhythm, doubling the friction. He increased the tempo, and she met him thrust for thrust.

Her body caught fire. Faster and faster, she winched toward the top, her fingers digging into his back muscles, her tongue thrusting into his mouth, dueling with his so eagerly it caused sparks. She built, and built more, until she couldn’t stand it.

“Daniel,” she wailed. “
More.
”

“Yes. One thing more.” Grinning, he held his index finger before her eyes, haloed with energy.

“Wha…?”

“Magic.” Reaching between them, he touched her sex.

Lightning struck, magic igniting her clit like a rocket. He answered her need as he ever had—and yet, as he never had before.

Climax rushed her. Screaming pleasure exploded in her brain,
pow
. She shrieked. A cascade of starbursts lit her whole body like a fireworks finale, going on and on until she was nearly exhausted.

When the contractions ebbed into aftershocks, her breathing slowed, and her heated body cooled.

She felt light, happy.

Until Daniel collapsed on her. He was a heavy man.

“
Oof.
I almost wish for the ninety-eight pound weakling back. Just kidding.”

“Mmm.” He shifted slightly so that not all his weight was on her. But she still felt the thump-thump of his heart as it slowed. It was nice. Comforting. She could see doing this far, far into the future.

With pups playing in the yard, then grandpups.

When they were old and their muzzles were gray.

Forbidden by the Witches’ Council.

She sighed, nudged him off, and sat up.

Daniel sat up, too, watching Zoe carefully. Her head was down, her hair tousled around her face so that he couldn’t see her expression, but her body slumped.

Relaxed…or disappointed?

Probably disappointed. Tonight was about romance, and he’d screwed up, jumping straight to sex yet again.

He’d never stood a chance to be romantic and win the Quatrain, any chance blown to smithereens because he couldn’t stop touching her. Couldn’t stop kissing her.
Couldn’t stop burying myself inside her, over and over…

He’d tried to be seductive, but his need for her—more, her need for
him
—blasted through any restraint. Even their sex was uncontrolled, unsophisticated. He’d made love to her, not romantically, but like a raw boy.

“Zoe…” He sighed. “I can’t do it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Chivalry isn’t dead. Romance isn’t dead. But with you I
can’t
…I don’t know. I always mean to do flowers and candlelight, but shoot straight to naked and sweating.”

She didn’t answer him, head still down, face veiled by glossy mahogany hair, more camouflage than her actual mask.

“I lost the competition. I know it, and frankly, I don’t care. I hope you’ll do the right thing with the parchment, but I’m not concerned about that either.” He took her hands. “But sweetheart…I’ve lost my chance to make you happy, and that I do care about.”

She still didn’t answer. Was she crying? He was, inside.

He released her hands. “I hope you’ll be happy when you find Mr. Romance.”

She finally raised her face then…and she was smiling.

“You dork. We’re mated. Constant sex is a given. Romance is all but impossible. But Daniel—your wanting me for so long is more romantic than anything.”

He sucked in a breath.

“Come on. I have to get back to my guests and reward my best suitor with this parchment.”

“Right.” He stood, waved his hand and was immediately dressed.

She stared appreciatively. “I do like that.” She stood, too. Her dress fell to her waist. She straightened the skirt and glanced over her shoulder. “With all that squirming, the zipper came undone. Could you…?” Holding up the bodice, she turned her back to him.

“Of course.” He zipped the dress, covering her creamy skin. It was hard not to run his hands over her, push her back onto that couch, and take her again.

If they lived together, they could do that every day of their lives.

But no. He’d never make her his servant.

She picked up the scroll case on their way out. As they walked back to the ballroom, she
said, “You know, I asked you to zip me up before. Like you were my brother or a lady’s maid. But it’s not like that at all—I know you’re not either of those. So, maybe we can try that thing, me being
your
maid. You’d still know I was your mate.”

His heart stopped, on the edge of forever.

She nudged him. “Could be fun role play.”

He took a deep, painful breath. “Wolves and wizards can’t be together…”

A beat. “Oh. Of course.” Her voice was so small and hurt.

They stepped into the ballroom to the orchestra playing “Some Enchanted Evening.”

Daniel stopped her by taking her shoulders. “You didn’t let me finish.”

She frowned, and he went down on one knee before her. “We can’t be together…but the hell with that. I love you.”

Around them, the swirling couples slowed. Came closer. Conversations fell off, as if everyone wanted to hear what he had to say.

He raised his gaze to hers, loving the deep emerald of her irises, jewels set in her black mask, glittering in the golden light. “Lady Mystery. I’ve loved you forever. I never felt good enough for you, and I still don’t. But if you say yes, I promise to spend the rest of my life working toward your happiness and fulfillment.”

“Yes to what?” she breathed.

“To words I mean with every beat of my heart. Will you marry me?”

She smiled, radiant joy in her eyes. His heart leaped.

Then she blinked, and his chest hollowed. She glanced at the attentive faces around them. In an undertone she said, “We have witnesses. What if this gets to the you-know-what Council? We can’t get away with pretending not to know each other.”

He wanted to howl. “I don’t care.”

“
I
do. I don’t want to be a wife and a widow in one day.”

She was going to turn him down, again. His heart shriveled.

But his brain was already churning, chunking out a solution. Dork was definitely a good thing. He snapped his fingers. “The Council is potent, but not omnipotent. We’ll…we’ll go on the run. My cousin used to work for them. She knows enough to help us stay one step ahead of them.”

Even as he said it, he realized what he’d be giving up. On the run. No more living in high style, no more New York lofts or Ferraris. All those years, fighting for status and acceptance among the cool kids. Gone.

But for Zoe, worth it.

“How?” she asked.

“I’ll figure it out.”

She shook her head, and he wanted to die.

Then she said, “
We’ll
figure it out.”

“Yes.” His heart leaped. “We’ll figure it out—together. I love you, Lady Mystery. Make me a happy man. Marry me.”

“My Hero—and my sweet dork.” She tugged him to his feet and threw her arms around him. “I love you, too. Yes. My answer is
yes
.”

Applause broke out, swelling as more and more couples came closer and joined in.

While they were clapping, the clock struck midnight; the orchestra stopped playing.

Zoe turned in Daniel’s arms. Raising her voice, she addressed the assembly. “Good evening, everyone. I am the Queen of Hearts and this is my ball. Tonight, I award this parchment to the man who has romanced me the best. A man who romanced me, not with flowers and sweet nothings, but with his constant support, guidance, and commitment. With the light of his love.”

Give this to the Light, Zoe.
Now the cryptic words that had appeared on the parchment made sense. Daniel
Light
, but more, the light of her life.

“I present the prize to my true hero, my fiancé—the King of Hearts.”