Authors: Cheyenne McCray
Wicked Magic (8 page)
Rhiannon waved dust from her face as she stepped on the stairs leading into the apartment building's basement. Spirit delicately bounded down the stairs while Rhiannon followed the prints he left behind in the dust. When she reached the concrete floor she propped her hands on her hips and surveyed the room.
It was a mess, but it had possibilities. A good solid cleaning and the area could be used as another place for the D'Danann to sleep.
She rolled her shoulders to relieve the ache in her upper back. It was the morning after the fight with the Fomorii. She'd had a hard time falling asleep last nightâafter a very long, hot shower to wash off all that gross sewage. Even now she still had too much adrenaline rushing through her veins.
And thoughts of Keir and his kiss before they'd gone on their mission weren't helping matters.
The memories of the Shadows trying to escape from her again was like a punch in the gut, and she held her hand to her belly. They seemed to be getting stronger. What was wrong? Did it have something to do with Ceithlenn?
She held her hand tighter against her belly as if that would help get the queasiness under control. At the same time she did her best to turn her thoughts elsewhere.
This morning she had showered again and doused herself
in her favorite citrus body splash. As always she dressed as colorfully as she could. She wore a turquoise blouse and hot pink skirt and sandals. After breakfast in Enchantments' café, Rhiannon decided to check out the apartment building's basement. So much had gone on the past couple of days, the witches hadn't had a chance to do anything with the place.
in her favorite citrus body splash. As always she dressed as colorfully as she could. She wore a turquoise blouse and hot pink skirt and sandals. After breakfast in Enchantments' café, Rhiannon decided to check out the apartment building's basement. So much had gone on the past couple of days, the witches hadn't had a chance to do anything with the place.
A quick scan of the basement revealed rotting wooden shelves that held empty jars and rusted thin cans. Crates were stacked haphazardly around the cellar, along with numerous other items. A ratty mattress was propped up against one wall next to old garden tools.
Yup, the basement had possibilities. She'd get every available hand to help and they'd make this room livable in no time.
Spirit gave a loud meow, and Rhiannon startled when the cat chased a mouse across the concrete floor.
“Okay, so you're going to be doing your share, too,” Rhiannon said with a shake of her head.
Heavy footsteps pounded on the wooden stairs. She cut her gaze to the old staircase to see Keir coming toward her.
Rhiannon's heart rate picked up, but she took a deep breath and forced herself to maintain her calm. He was just a man, and when it came to women, men only thought with their
little
head.
little
head.
She glared at Keir and pointed her finger at an old wooden crate. A stream of magic shot from her. The crate flared then crumbled into a pile of cold ashes. “Just in case you need a reminder,” she said.
He reached her and gave her a deep, penetrating stare. She swore the man never smiled. He was so intense about everything. “I want you,” he said in his deep Irish brogue.
Rhiannon's hair brushed her chin as she pushed it behind her ear. She hoped he didn't notice her slight tremor. “When are you going to get it through your thick head that
I don't
want you?”
Bless it
. Her voice trembled, too.
I don't
want you?”
Bless it
. Her voice trembled, too.
He brought his hand to her hair and caught a lock of it between his thumb and forefinger. His callused palm brushed her cheek as he let the strands slide through his fingers.
Rhiannon raised her hand to push his away, but he captured
her wrist and drew her toward him. She gasped when she fell against his broad chest.
her wrist and drew her toward him. She gasped when she fell against his broad chest.
He smelled of tea tree oil, marigold, comfrey, and magic that had been used over the purple slashes he'd gotten in last night's battle. Because he was Fae, and the Fomorii tipped their claws with iron, it was likely those slash marks would never fully heal.
Cassia had probably doctored him up when they returned. As arrogant as Keir had been with Rhiannon from the moment they'd met, she sure wasn't going to stick around to watch or help. He could bandage himself up for all she cared. It hadn't been like he was mortally wounded.
But right now he held her so close she almost whimpered at the delicious feel of his body against hers. Her heart stuttered. She placed her palms against his chest and pushed, at the same time tilting her head. She'd let him have it with one of her cutting remarks for pulling her up against him like this.
He gripped the back of her head in one of his hands and his mouth came down on her fast and sudden. She struggled in his tight embrace while he kissed her with as much passion and intensity as he had after she returned from the congressman's office.
Goddess, his mouth, his lips. It didn't matter how hard he was kissing her, how hard he was holding herâit was one of the most incredible kisses she'd ever had in her life.
She stopped fighting and started responding. Her head was spinning, her mind and body spiraling out of control.
It was an unearthly, almost Otherworldly kiss.
She slipped her palms up his chest, tangling her fingers into his long hair that was slightly damp, probably from showering. He growled and at the same time she moaned. She couldn't help it. The sound of desire just slipped out.
His stubble chafed her skin as he kissed her harder, impossibly more urgent. His tongue did magic with hers and he tasted so good. Of something primal and wild ⦠of Keir.
Shocking her with his boldness, he slid one of his hands up her bare thigh and under the short skirt. When his fingers
moved inside her panties he slipped them into her wet folds, causing her to moan into his mouth at the exquisite sensation of his rough fingers against her clit. Moisture lubricated his hand as he thrust two fingers deep inside her core.
moved inside her panties he slipped them into her wet folds, causing her to moan into his mouth at the exquisite sensation of his rough fingers against her clit. Moisture lubricated his hand as he thrust two fingers deep inside her core.
It was only then that he relinquished his hold on her mouth, but she kept her arms wrapped around his neck, afraid her knees would buckle. All she could do was moan. No words would come to her as he pumped his fingers in and out of her. He brought his other hand from her hair and moved it to squeeze one of her nipples.
“You are wet for me, little one,” he said in a low rumble, his rich Irish accent sending more thrills through her body. “I could fuck you right now.”
She couldn't answer, couldn't say anything. All she could do was feel. Before she knew it, he popped off the top two buttons of her blouse and they clattered on the concrete flooring.
He yanked down her bra and freed both of her breasts. When he ducked his head to lightly bite one of her nipples before sucking it, she nearly screamed at the incredible feeling of his hot mouth taking her.
At the same time, he continued to pound in and out of her core, her hips moving in rhythm with his hand. She came closer and closer to reaching an orgasm that would put all other orgasms to shame. With a groan, she tilted her head back, letting go, enjoying the sensations. She was almost there ⦠almost there â¦
“Keir!” A tiny feminine voice sliced a path through Rhiannon's awareness.
Rhiannon gasped, bringing her hands from around Keir's neck to try to cover her breasts. He slipped his fingers out of her folds and shielded her body with his. He backed up just enough to allow her to stuff her breasts back into her bra.
Anger replaced passion when she realized she couldn't button up her shirt, thanks to Keir popping off a couple of them.
“Galia!” Keir roared as he turned, keeping Rhiannon behind him.
Galia?
Rhiannon tried to move, but Keir's arm blocked her from coming forward. The best she could do was peer around one of his broad shoulders.
To see a dainty, naked blond Faerie.
A very pissed-off-looking Faerie.
Arms crossed over her tiny breasts, she tapped her little foot in the air as if she were doing it on a hardwood floor, sending poofs of pink dust along with the smell of lilacs into the air.
“What are you doing with thisâthis
human,
Keir?” the little Faerie called Galia said as she hovered in front of him.
human,
Keir?” the little Faerie called Galia said as she hovered in front of him.
Rhiannon raised her eyebrows. If she wasn't mistaken, the tiny twit was jealous. She frowned. Maybe Galia could grow into a full-size Fae and she and Keir had a thing going? At that thought, Rhiannon's cheeks heated. The ass wouldn't have been after her if he had another womanâFaerie, whateverâwould he? Two-timing them both?
Been there. Done that. Had the scars on her heart to prove it.
Keir cut into her thoughts. “Go to our room before I send you back to Otherworld,” he commanded.
Rhiannon blinked.
Our
room?
Our
room?
She tried to back away from Keir, but he had a hold on one of her wrists. Maybe a good blast of spellfire to his ass was in order.
The Faerie's angry expression vanished. She bit her lower lip and Rhiannon swore she saw tiny tears glistening in her eyes.
“Please don't send me back.” Galia wrung her hands and her hovering became more erratic. She looked at Rhiannon and raised her little chin. “But what are you doing with a
human
?” she said, as though being human was lower than being a Fomorii.
human
?” she said, as though being human was lower than being a Fomorii.
Keir released Rhiannon's wrist and scrubbed one of his hands over his face. “Damnation, Galia. You do not belong here. I should have sent you home as soon as I found you in my haversack.”
The memory of the small
oof
sound came back to Rhiannon when she thought about Keir slinging his pack into a
corner when he'd first arrived. So this Faerie was a little stowaway, was she?
oof
sound came back to Rhiannon when she thought about Keir slinging his pack into a
corner when he'd first arrived. So this Faerie was a little stowaway, was she?
“Excuse me.” Rhiannon pushed past Keir so that she was between him and the Faerie. “So nice to meet you, Galia,” she said in a sweet-as-honey voice before she turned and headed up the stairs. “This human
witch
has other matters to deal with.”
witch
has other matters to deal with.”
She cast a glance over her shoulder and saw Spirit sitting below the Faerie, staring intently up at her. His tail twitched as if he were about to leap for a succulent treat.
“Come on, Spirit,” Rhiannon said. “Isn't one rodent a day good enough for you?”
Keir had never seen Galia's cheeks so red as she stared after Rhiannon's retreating backside. The imp looked like she could breathe fire. He frowned. For all he knew she
could
breathe fire. All Fae had different talents and abilities.
could
breathe fire. All Fae had different talents and abilities.
“Galia,” he said in his harshest tone possible, drawing her attention back to him. “When I let you out of the room today, you promised to stay out of sight unless I gave you leave.”
The Faerie's shoulders slumped and her coloring returned to normal. “But I was so
bored
.”
bored
.”
“I think it is time you returned home.” Keir braced one hand on the end of the stair railing. “You do not belong here. You need to be back with Fae of your kind.”
Galia fluttered out of his reach. She glanced around the basement and back to him. “I could clean this place, like our room. I'll make it look just as nice.”
And make it smell of godsdamn lilacs while she's at it.
“No.” His body still raged for Rhiannon, and he was none too happy with Galia for interrupting what was sure to have led to far more than touching and kissing. He could probably have had his cock inside the witch, taking her until they were both sated. Then he would have taken her a second time. And perhaps a third.
“Keeeeiiiirrrr.” This time Galia's voice came out as a whine. She gave a distasteful look at the stairs. “I promise I will not interrupt you and the human again.”
“That is for certain,” he growled. “You will not have the opportunity.”
“Look.” A small glittering pink arrow appeared in her hand and she flung it at the stairs. For one moment Keir thought she was going to burn it down. Instead, her magic hit the stairs and exploded into of puff of pink sparkles that engulfed the staircase and gave off the strong smell of lilacs. When the sparkles vanished, the staircase was spotless and freshly polished. “See?” she said. “I am useful.”
Keir rolled his eyes to the rusty exposed pipes in the basement's ceiling. Rhiannon and the other witches
had
been talking about cleaning the basement for the D'Danann. Galia would make that task much easier.
had
been talking about cleaning the basement for the D'Danann. Galia would make that task much easier.
He blew out a huff of air and brought his gaze back to the Faerie. “What about your promise to remain out of sight?”
Galia nodded with such vigor that her hair floated around her shoulders. “I promise.”
“Do not show yourself to D'Danann, witches, or humans,” he said, unable to believe he was allowing a compromise.
Her chest rose and fell and disappointment colored her pretty features. “I understand.”
Keir felt a twist in his gut and he wanted to thump himself upside the head for feeling bad about forcing the Faerie to hide.
“Thank you,” he said, with a slight incline of his head, “for setting this room to rights for the D'Danann. I will take you out with me again to see more of this Otherworld.”
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