Magical Mistakes(30)

Ciar waited for the world to right itself. As he did, he allowed himself a few stolen moments to study the woman who had landed him in this mess. He shouldn’t have come out here looking for her. Seeing her now drained any will to fight. Tomorrow they could battle. Tonight he just wanted her in his arms.

He knew he should walk away, shouldn’t put them both through another encounter, but his body refused to obey him.

Instead he stepped forward, a twig snapping under his foot.

Mikayla’s expressive green eyes opened at the sound. He knew the second she saw him. Noted the flare of joy in her gaze followed by the wariness.

For a moment neither spoke.

“Go away,” she said finally. “I don’t want to fight.”

A sentiment he shared. He kept silent, waiting to see what she’d do.

“Ciar.” She pushed from the bench. “I just need a minute of peace.”

She needed peace, this woman who had turned his life upside down. He hadn’t known a moment’s respite since he’d first laid eyes on her and now she asked him for the mercy she’d never shown him? The thought brought a slight smile to his lips.

Mikayla shifted from foot to foot. “Where’s Alina?”

He didn’t know. Didn’t particularly care right at the moment.

Green eyes dropped from his. “Fine,” she said, as if his silence had given her answers. “You stay, I’ll go.”

When she tried to brush past him his hand shot out to capture hers. Mikayla stiffened, turning back to look at their interlocking fingers.

“Let go.” Her command was breathy and soft.

Never. The word echoed in his head, stunning him with the vehemence with which he approved the notion.

“I don’t want to fight either,” he said, breaking his silence. “Not tonight.”

She looked up at him with luminous eyes. “What about your answers?”

“Maybe we can stop caring about them for a few minutes.”

“Tomorrow—”

“Is tomorrow,” he said, cutting her off. “I meant what I said. You need to tell me the truth or I’m done, but right now…” He used her hand to pull her closer. “Can we forget about everything else?”

“A time-out?”

“Exactly.”

“It will make things more complicated later,” she protested even as she stepped into his arms.

“I don’t give a damn,” he replied, resting his chin on top of her head. She fit so perfectly into his arms. “Staying away from you has been torture.”

Her arms wound around his waist to embrace him back. “I know the feeling.”

He’d never been a demon prone to sentimentality but standing there with Mikayla in his arms, Ciar felt complete in a way he’d never experienced before. The troubles around them didn’t matter so much when he touched her. Somehow she’d become someone he didn’t want to live without.

“We don’t have long,” she whispered. “They will notice we’re missing.”

“Then we need to make every minute count.” His lips touched hers before she could utter another word.

* * * * *

Mikayla clung to her lover. She knew there were a hundred reasons to push him away. Sleeping with him now would make fighting with him later so much harder. But when he touched her, all rational thought drained from her mind.

She parted her lips and flicked out her tongue to tease his. He pulled her against his body as he kissed her. Mikayla shared the desperation evident in his touch. These days without him had been torture. Every time she’d turned around the man of her dreams had been with another. The two demons made such a striking pair with their dark hair and silver eyes. It was hard to think of ever coming between them.

But here he was, in her arms. He’d sought her out. Maybe he cared more for her than he let on. She sure as hell did. He’d been a challenge at first but now the thought of him walking out of her life cut like a blade. She needed him in a way she’d never needed another man.

He tugged at her sweater, pulling it swiftly over her head. She reached behind herself to unclasp her bra. The night air was chilly but she didn’t mind the cold. Not with Ciar beside her. She burned with every brush of his fingers.

“Off,” she whispered against his lips, tugging at his shirt. He tore the t-shirt over his head in seconds, only to claim her mouth once more.

Mikayla ran her hands over the exposed skin. He had the body of a warrior, all hard muscles and toned skin. He had no weaknesses.

Except, perhaps, her.

It was a heady thought, that this powerful demon was able to forgive her sins he’d never let stand with anyone else. Every time he should have hurt her he’d protected her instead. And she wanted to protect him just as badly.