When they were on their way back to the mansion, he felt the first stirrings of her magic. It stopped him in his tracks, the desire so pure, so potent he was instantly, achingly hard for her.
If she had been with him, he’d have had her up against a tree and her clothes off, plunging inside her. He lengthened his strides, but not even Laith’s shouts could slow him.
The closer he got to the mansion, the more he could feel Laura’s magic. It came at him in waves. Her magic would crash into him, shattering him with the heady, intoxicating feel of it, only to have it ebb away.
Just as he got control of his body, another wave of magic would crash into him. Charon’s body burned with a need so great, so intense that he had to find Laura immediately or explode from the desire.
He leaned a hand upon the outside of the mansion and shook off the water that coated him as he hurriedly kicked off his boots. He threw open the back door and stalked inside.
“Charon!” Laith called as he caught up with him.
Charon whirled around on the King as he reached the kitchen. “Leave me.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you, mate?” Laith demanded.
Charon reached for the back of a chair as another wave of magic swallowed him. “Can you no’ feel it?”
“What? Laura’s magic? Is that what this is about?”
Only when her magic diminished was Charon able to lift his head. “Doona disturb us,” he said and used his speed to get up the stairs and down the long corridor before more magic assaulted him.
He threw open the door to find Laura standing in the middle of the room. She lowered her hands, which had been raised before her, and frowned when she caught sight of him.
“Charon?”
“My God, woman. Do you have any idea what you do to me?” he asked as he stalked inside and slammed the door behind him.
He gave her no time to answer as he pushed her against the wall and slanted his mouth over hers. The kiss was almost cruel in his need, but she moaned into his mouth, which only sent his already heated body into a frenzy of fiery need.
Her hands tore at his soaked shirt as he cupped her breast. She had one leg wrapped around his hips while he rocked his arousal against her.
Their heated exchange came to a grinding halt at the knock on their door.
“I’m going to kill whoever it is,” Charon said as he rested his forehead against hers.
Laura laughed and glanced at the door. “We had a few hours last night without being interrupted.”
“I warned Laith no’ to bother us now. I’m on fire for you.” When she frowned, Charon lifted his head and said, “I could feel your magic. You were using it.”
“Yes. I was trying to learn it. Is that why you came barging in here?”
“Aye.”
She looked at him beneath her lashes, a look that made his rod ache for her. “I like knowing that. Now I know how to call you.”
“Wench,” he said as he nipped her ear.
The pounding on the door began again. Charon sighed and stalked to the door. He yanked it open to find Hal standing there with a grin upon his face.
“What the hell are you smiling at?” Charon demanded.
“We’ve got a bet going on how many times we can interrupt the two of you.”
Charon leaned a hand on the doorway and growled. “You better have a good reason to be banging on the door, Dragon.”
“I do, Warrior,” he said, still grinning. “Your friends have arrived.”
“How many?”
“Fallon deposited four before he left again. Lucan, Cara, Broc, and Sonya are waiting for you and Laura below.”
Charon turned to Laura as Hal walked away. She was pale as she stood quietly by the window. Concern quickly washed away his desire. “They’re good people.”
“I know. You keep telling me that.”
“What are you afraid of?”
She shrugged and nervously bit her lip. “You didn’t trust me. What if they won’t either?”
“They will.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I told them they could.”
Her green eyes grew round. “You did that for me?”
“Aye.” He’d had a good reason to doubt her, and there was still a chance Jason had spelled her somehow. But Charon needed her beside him. Whatever else came, they would deal with it.
He held out his hand and waited for her to take it. Then he pulled her toward him and walked her to the door. “If there is one thing you can count on, it’s that every Druid down there is going to stand with you.”
“They’re powerful.”
He nodded as they left the room and started down the hallway. “Verra. Just as you are. You may no’ know how to fully use your magic, Laura, but I know the feel of magic. Yours is verra potent.”