Binding Magic (An Obscure Magic Book 7) (4 page)

The silk of her skirt and his trousers were no barrier to the heat coming off their bodies.

His mouth fed at her, and his right hand pressed her against him, covering most of her back with his palm.

She felt the surge of magic before it enveloped her, but everything went dark and she was too distracted to fight it.

The world brightened again, and he was holding her against him in what had to be his bedroom.

“What just happened?” Her body was still limp, and it was his hand and her corset keeping her upright.

“I relocated us. As romantic as it would be to take you under the stars, it would not be comfortable for you, and I would feel guilty for giving you pain.”

She quirked her lips and felt the pull of the swollen skin.
Damn, he can kiss.
“I thank you for your consideration, but the pause is a bit of a mood killer.”

He sighed. “I thought as much, so I will give you this.” He leaned toward her and exhaled.

Magic swirled into her and twisted around her. It was more of an aphrodisiac than anything she had ever experienced. She reached up and pulled his head down to hers, extinguishing the smile on his lips with her own.

He ran his hands up and down her spine, and her corset loosened. She found the closure of the belt that was supporting the wrapped fabric and opened it with a few short motions. The belt and the fabric rushed to his feet in seconds.

He broke from the kiss, spun her around and reached around her to open the busk of the corset. The rush of cool air against her silk-covered skin was enough of a sensory shock, but his hands covered her breasts, taking their measure with delicate slowness.

Her sharp inhalation shoved her breasts into his palms, and his measured squeeze demonstrated his appreciation for her curves.

She was just getting used to that touch when his right hand released her and shifted down her belly to press between her thighs. The silk became damp as he worked his fingers against her.

He stroked her, licked and kissed at her neck, and used precise strength on her breasts. She could hear her breathing echoing in the room and the whining moans mocked her as he took her senses to the edge of release before he set her free.

Her wail echoed back and muffled the wet sound of silk being torn.

He carried her to the bed, turned her and tipped her backward. She had just gotten her balance when she felt him parting her thighs and delving between them with his clever tongue.

The slick, wet thrusts brought her to the edge in a matter of moments. She twisted against his mouth, and he gripped her hips, holding her where he wanted her.

This time, the fire in her blood flared and held her in a stimulated state with her screams echoing and his tongue moving within her.

Minerva thrashed in his grip, and she gritted her teeth as she slowly ceased to spasm around his tongue.

He deliberately pulled his tongue out of her, licked his lips and went back in for a final long stroke. His smile was anticipatory as he straightened and eased her back onto the bed.

She had to let go of the sheet she was clutching as he slid her back so that he could join her on the bed. It wasn’t an easy manoeuver. Her hands were knotted in the fabric and didn’t want to release her one anchor to the world.

She looked over the ferocious expression and let her gaze slide down his body. The musculature looked as hard as the stone around them, to say nothing of his erection. In theory, all dragons were different in biology, but the dramatic tapering of the head of his massive cock was startling. It looked like it would pierce her before he got halfway in.

His grimace showed that he was watching her face. Without speaking, he reared back, slid an arm under her and flipped her to her stomach. Once he arranged her to his liking, he ran his hand under her, speaking soft words in a language that she didn’t know, and she knew most ancient and extranatural languages.

As he cupped her sex, he ran his tongue up her spine, nibbling at her shoulders in turn. She quivered and sighed as her skin began to glow with heat again.

The words he muttered spoke to something in her, and she rocked her hips against his palm, inviting him to do more than simply caress her.

He groaned and trailed his tongue in lazy loops to the base of her spine. He moved in behind her and pressed the tight head of his cock between her folds, and the first few inches slid in easily because of the taper.

Minerva lowered her head and closed her eyes, biting her lip as he retreated and plunged in, deeper and deeper.

She rocked with him, taking him in as he slid and stroked every cell inside her.

He groaned and gripped her hips as he moved against her. To her shock, she felt his thighs against her ass, and he shuddered in a move she felt all the way through her.

The slow undulation began, and he leaned down, moving her hair away from her neck, licking and biting at her skin while he took his time working to his own release.

They rocked together for what felt like hours. He ran his hands under her, worked her breasts and stroked her clit. She was covered in sweat and grunting as he thrust into her. Her arms ached and trembled, her back and shoulders stung from the grazing of his teeth and claws, but her body’s welcome still coated her thighs.

When the first twinges of orgasm struck, she froze. Her body tried to tighten around him, but she was stretched to capacity. She trembled and her breath caught in her throat, leaving her to shake and twitch as it gave way to pleasure once again.

Zemuel’s cock began to move, but his hips were still pressed against her ass. She gasped at the slow undulation, and when his hands tightened on his hips, his guttural shout echoed back to her.

He held himself against her, and when the undulation ceased, he slowly bore her down to the bedding.

It was like being flattened by warm stone. The slight yield of the bedding was enough to let her breathe but only just.

He slid a hand under her and turned them to their sides. He remained inside her and held onto her.

She squirmed and tried to ease away.

“Minerva, you and I have begun something that will not be undone.” Zemuel’s tone didn’t brook argument.

She twisted and whispered a spell, building magic between them until he was locked in place and his eyes slowly drooped into sleep.

She eased off his cock and wasn’t surprised to see it hadn’t flagged. A lot of extranatural species carried it over into sex.

She gathered her clothing and checked on her victim one more time. She whispered the memory spell and transported away before he could see her and break her hold.

Home was not an option.

Emile opened the door and smiled. “Minerva, how nice to see you.”

He was wearing his human form, but his nostrils flared at her scent.

“Mage Ganger, I am in need of a place to stay. A heavily warded and off-the-map place.”

“Come in, come in. Lenora will get you something to wear. Perhaps a shower?”

Minerva stepped inside. “Both sound good.”

“Excellent. Head for the gold room. I will send Lenora up in a few minutes.”

Minerva ran up the stairs with cum running down her thighs. Surprisingly, it was not her most humiliating entry into the Ganger home.

She couldn’t believe her stupidity. The one time she let her hormones gallop away with her and she had to pick a dragon.

The shower took the traces of him from her, but the scratches and bites were still throbbing in her skin. The mirror was fogged, but she could see the red welts that Zemuel had left behind.

Sighing, she wrapped herself in a towel and entered the bedroom. Lenora came in with folded fabric and a smile. “I am guessing that it was a one-night stand?”

“I am hoping so. I didn’t intend for it to happen, but he and I just fit so well...”

“Ah. What was he? Giant?”

“No. Dragon.”

Lenora sat at the foot of the bed. “Which one?”

Minerva took the nightgown that Lenora held out. “Zemuel. I did some treaty work for goblins.”

“Does he know where you are?”

Minerva scowled. “He did know a lot about me. I wouldn’t doubt that he does.”

“Well, you get some sleep, and if you don’t want to see him again, we will work on a concealment spell.”

“Thank you. I know that Mom’s house is hidden, so that is a relief.”

“Do you want me to call her for you while you rest?”

Minerva thought about it and then nodded as she climbed into bed. “Would you? She and I need to have a conversation, and at least, we are safe here.”

“Rest, dearling. She will be here when you wake.”

Lenora drew the shades and left her alone without any additional questions. That was what had made her go to the Gangers. Nothing in the realm of sex surprised them.

* * * *

Lenora opened her door to Deirdre. “Good afternoon, Deirdre.”

“Lenora, is she all right?” Deirdre looked frantic.

“She is fine. She is resting. Would you like coffee or tea?” Lenora smiled helpfully.

“Coffee, please. Is she safe here?”

“Very safe. Even she couldn’t force her way in. She had to ring the bell, just like everyone else. They are the strongest barriers in the country, and she helped set them in place.”

Lenora linked arms with Deirdre and led her to the kitchen. She set up the coffee press and waved her hand to boil the water.

Deirdre looked pale and her hands were shaking. “Lenora, may I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Can the gods hear us here?”

Lenora sat at the table and took Deirdre’s hands. “No.”

She slumped in relief. “Good. I don’t want them to hear what I have to tell Minerva.”

“Is it about her being a demigod?”

Deirdre blinked. “Demi? Don’t be silly.”

Lenora’s eyes widened as she caught on to what her acquaintance was saying. “I see.”

“I have to tell her first. It is only right.”

“Of course. She will be up around dinnertime. Will you stay?”

“If you will let me. I need to tell her what she is.”

“Are they threatening you?”

“My goddess has my loyalty, but I value my life. This is getting scary.”

“Nothing to be frightened of here, and your daughter will see off any threats. She is not a woman to be taken lightly.”

Deirdre smiled. “No, she isn’t.”

“You did an amazing job raising her.”

“You did all the tricky work, Lenora. Try as I might, I just couldn’t learn to do magic.”

“You weren’t touched by the waves, nor were your people. There is no shame in that. You are what you are, as Minerva is.”

“Why is she here?”

Lenora smiled. “A lover’s tryst got her more than she bargained for.”

Minerva arrived, and she cleared her throat. “A lot more.”

Lenora raised her brows. “I thought you would be out for a few more hours.”

“Accelerated sleep spell. I got what I needed in three hours.” Minerva went to her mom, kissed her cheek and then headed to the counter to make the coffee. The kettle announced the boil just as she arrived.

She poured the water into the waiting press and set cups along with cream and sugar on a tray. She carefully walked it over to the table and had a seat.

Lenora smiled at the motions of the woman who had spent nearly as much time in the kitchen as Benny. “Well done, Minerva. I will leave you and your mother to your discussion.”

Lenora got up, got a plate of cookies and set it on the table next to them. With her duties as hostess done, she left her apprentice to the discussion of her origins. She wondered if her suspicions were correct.

* * * *

Minerva got the coffee ready and poured her mom a cup, setting the cream and sugar in just the way she liked it. “There you go. Thanks for coming. Today was a little unreal.”

“You had a bad date?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Something like that. You know the kind of work I do.”

“Of course. You negotiate between extranatural folk.”

“Yes, and yesterday or possibly a few days ago, I met a man I felt attracted to, but he wasn’t going to let me go easily, so I bespelled him and ran for it, so to speak.”

“And you are afraid that he will come after you.”

She shrugged. “If anyone could get through the wards, it would be him. Now, as we have been left alone for a discussion, shall we have it? What were you going to tell me about my origin?”

Her mother gripped her coffee cup and sipped slowly. “It was a cold moon. I remember that much. The rest is a little fuzzy...”

“I can lift it from your mind as you think of it.”

Deirdre nodded. “I think that would be best.”

She walked to her small temple to the goddess of magic, and she knelt with her offering, placing the rare herbs on the altar and lighting the candles.

“Beloved Hecate, I beg for magic in my life. I am a hollow being without the touch of the energy that so many take for granted. Please, grant me magic.”

She knelt there for hours as the moon moved above her. She was about to leave when she heard a small cry.

She looked at the altar, and in the place of the exotic herbs was a naked baby girl, wailing under the moon.

A woman appeared behind the infant and more women appeared behind her.

The voice was in her ears, her mind and her soul. “Deirdre, we charge you with raising our daughter. We have created her from our own beings, and she is the magic that you seek. Take her to one of your places of refuge and apply to adopt her. We will make sure that you are the one to take this piece of us into your home.”

Deirdre stuttered, “My ladies, I do not have the means to raise a child properly.”

A bag dropped to the ground in front of Deirdre and gold spilled out.

“You may use it all and create a space that will honour our daughter and her new mother. Tonight is the day that you receive your magic, daughter.”

A moment later and the goddesses were gone, leaving only the child and the gold behind.

Deirdre quickly took off her robes, and she wrapped them around the baby. The infant smiled up at her with wise eyes, and Deirdre felt her heart thud until it beat for the little goddess in her arms.