From his expression he knew exactly what she was talking about. “I had to make sure Jane Smith, waitress, was the right woman. And I wasn’t sure you wouldn’t run if I’d come in without that subterfuge. Looking for you these last three months has been difficult. Then I find you here, living like this.”
He made a face, looking around her cozy apartment as though it were a garbage heap before he continued. “Seeing how much danger you put yourself into tonight made it clear it was time to put a stop to this. If I hadn’t found you, you would’ve been killed. Do you understand that? You’ve had your fun, you’ve played poor little human, put yourself in harms way and now it is time to settle down with your triad.”
Unbearable… Insufferable… No multi-syllable word could cover it. She took one final gulp of the cooling potion to hold back her growl. He was an ass. “I have no triad. And when I tell my family how you’ve behaved, what you’ve said, I’m sure the Proxenos will conclude that regardless of our magical compatibility, we are not a match.”
He crossed his arms, a broad smile, a real smile curving his lips for the first time, taking Harrison’s breath away. “I had a feeling you’d say that. Which is why I added another dose of your concealment potion, as well as a bit of binding I made myself, to the healing draught.”
She gasped, the cup dropping out of her suddenly nerveless fingers. “You said—”
“I said I’ve never physically harmed anyone with my potions. I never said I was above a little manipulation.”
At his words she bolted for the door, determined to escape into the hallway, scream for the neighbors. Anything. If he was willing to do this, had he done more? Something like making her believe she was about to be murdered to scare her back with him?
Jacob grabbed her shoulders and electricity shot through her body. She watched her magic reach out and twine with his, gold and blue arcing between them. Felt it heat her to her core. Damn it. It felt as amazing as she’d known it would.
He groaned at the pleasurable sensation. “That’s right. You can’t use your powers for now, but they will come when I call them. And so will you, before this is done.”
She heard the words she was surprised he knew, the ones few but the elders and protectors were given for fear of abusing the power, followed by a whooshing sound as the transport portal opened beside them.
“You can’t do this. It goes against Magian law.”
He gazed into her eyes, the darkness in his giving nothing away. “We already have one thing in common, Harrison. Neither of us likes to follow the rules.”
She heard Prince bark, and then nothing but the roaring of the portal as they flew to their destination. She refused to close her eyes, meeting his glare with one of her own. Feeling his need as if it were her own. Hating him for making her feel it.
When she got her powers back she would find a way to make him suffer for the rest of his stuffy, gorgeous, miserable life.
She just had to resist him until then.
Prince was licking her knee where it stuck out from under the covers. She’d been asleep. Thank the holy witches, it had only been a dream. She’d definitely hit her head too hard.
Why couldn’t she have had one of her usual dreams about the dark eyed Magian? The kind where he took her the way he’d taken his partner in the stairwell. Where he’d bent her over and filled her with thrusts so powerful she saw heaven.
She licked her lips and rubbed her naked thighs together at the familiar ache that train of thought always caused. No. Instead she had to imagine him a pompous douche who cared more about bloodlines than lust. Yet, he’d still been compelling. Still drawn her. Yeah, good thing it was only a dream.
“Stop, Prince, that tickles.” She slid her hand beneath the covers and pushed the dog’s head away as his tongue lapped at her hip.
A deep voice startled the smile from her face. “But I bet it tastes delicious.”
“Hell and damn,” she muttered, pulling herself quickly to a sitting position. She held the covers high against her chest, suddenly aware that she was completely naked. And knowing now how she got that way. “I was hoping you were a head injury.”
Jacob quirked his lips, looking cool and unaffected in a white linen shirt and khakis. “Flattering. You’ve been sleeping for hours. I’ve brought you breakfast and something to wear. I’d rather you ate naked of course, but a good host always has to offer.”
“Where are my clothes?”
He shrugged, tossing a dark blue summer dress on the edge of the bed before turning toward the small table that was heavily laden with food. “Burned. A woman as beautiful as you are should be in fairy-charmed lace, the finest satins, not that monstrosity.”