Fire's Ice (7 page)

It’s not like he hadn’t seen every inch of her skin, but he had been dreaming–even if Arianne had opened up that dream link. Did it count? “Wake up, Ari.” Shaking her shoulders, Devin wished she would wake up to do it for him. Ari only mumbled. Great. “Come on, sweetheart.” Nothing.
Just vanish and replace the dress with something lighter
. He’d close his eyes and protect her modesty.

And then he remembered what she’d said about Raine’s magic feeding off his. Damn. There went that idea. Looked like it had to be the old -fashioned way. Stalking into the adjoining bath, he wet a washcloth with cool water before going back to her. He folded the material and laid it on her forehead. Steam rose from the cloth.

Tessa pounced onto the bed beside him, meowing her distress, and began licking Ari’s limp hand. “Stay with her, Tess. I’ll be right back.”

Hurrying into the walk-in closet, he dug through the garments looking for shirt to dress her in. He would have rather conjured something more suitable, but no chance of that with magic out of the question. Maybe she’d be awake when he returned. Grabbing a long white shirt, Devin went back to the bed. On her smaller frame, it would be almost like a gown.

Tessa stood guard by Ari’s pillow.
Such a smart kitty
.

He really didn’t want the first time he undressed her to be like this. In a sense, they had been lovers for three years, but in reality? His fingers itched to touch her skin, compare the dream to the real woman.
Come on, Dev. Be cold, calculating. Ice. Just get it done. She’d do the same for you.
Yeah, maybe, but his wicked lady would probably take a good, long look first.

“All right, baby. If you don’t wake up now, we’re about to get a lot more acquainted. Real fast.”

Ari still didn’t stir. He couldn’t wait any longer without putting her health further at risk. Hands shaking, he searched for the fasteners holding the heavy material in place. Finding them at the center of her shoulders, he reached around, lifting her gently to rest against his chest, and unfastened the button loops down to her hips, along with the ones at her wrists. The smooth skin of her back was as soft as he remembered.

Stop that
.

Devin tried waking her again, but the only coherent sound she made through delirium was his name. Determined to be a gentleman about the awkward situation, he quickly peeled the red material from her creamy skin and tossed the damp garment into the corner.
Don’t look
. He looked–he was a guy after all–but he wasn’t a pervert and quickly averted his gaze.
Ah, hell.
She wore no chemise, no garments at all.

Devin pulled her into a sitting position and tried not to think about the way her bare skin was brushing his arms. Slipping his shirt over her head, he tugged it down to cover her bare hips, and then let her lean back against the pillow. He rolled the sleeves up to her elbows.

He should have known Ari wouldn’t stop until she had done all she could. Now it was up to him to make sure she survived it. Devin felt her forehead. Still burning up. “Ari, honey, please wake up.”

She shivered, moaned and tried to shift closer to him. Not a good idea. Not like this. Not until she knew what she was doing. Not until he held her heart.

He got up, pulled a fan from the top of the closet, set it on his antique nightstand and turned it on the highest setting. Tessa flattened her ears and stretched out behind Arianne to avoid the wind.

Twenty minutes later, after a cold shower and a sandwich, Devin walked back into the bedroom where Ari lay curled on her side on the bed, the fat black cat snuggled and purring in her arms. He felt her forehead; there had been no change.

Leaning down he kissed her gently, hoping she would stir. He had to intervene. Dressed in black sweats and a dark gray t-shirt, Devin climbed onto the bed and stretched out behind her. This was going to be hell. Pure, unadulterated hell. “Move, Tess. I’ve got her.” Pulling Arianne into his arms, he let her head rest in the crook of his arm, while his right hand lay palm down on her forehead; the other went around her waist to lie against her stomach. Using his cold fire, Devin tried to cool her heated skin. If only he could stop thinking about the way she felt pressed against him. He fell asleep with Arianne’s feverish body snuggled against his chest and the cat’s purring sounds mingling with the whir of the fan.

* * * *

The wind was so cold. Where was she? Back on the cliffs? Devin promised her she wouldn’t have to go back. Someone was holding her. Devin. Shifting, she opened her eyes to see him lying close to her, his breathing slow and even. She remembered being dizzy and then…nothing. His hair had fallen across his face into his eyes. She brushed it aside, snuggled closer and kissed him.

Devin groaned and pulled her closer. Shivering, she clung to his heat as his hand trailed down her spine. Yes, much better than waking inside the dance from one of their dreams.

“Good morning.”

“You’re awake. I think you took ten years off my life. Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

“Sorry. I can’t remember what happened. Were you worried about me? No one ever has before.”

But he didn’t explain, only met her lips with his, coaxing them open for him. She let him set the pace. When his tongue dipped inside to taste her, she met his with her own. Finding the hem of his t-shirt, Arianne slid her hands underneath the soft material to the warm skin of his chest. When his hand smoothed along her bare thigh, she became aware of her lack of clothing. “Devin.” Fearless with him, whispering his name, she tried to get closer, to ease the vicious need he stirred inside her body.

“Not yet, sweetheart.”

“We’ve been together like this so many times before. Do you not want me?”

“It’s different now. I can’t breathe without smelling your scent. I see every inch of your skin in my dreams. I know your taste. Where and how you like to be touched. How it feels to have you wrapped around me. I crave you. Lust for you drives me insane.”

“Then why not take what we both want?”

“Because I fell in love with you, Ari.” He kissed her once more and then climbed out of bed. “And I’m not cheating you out of the experience. We have all the time in the world. Why not take it?”

Stunned into silence, she could only stare at him.
I fell in love with you, Ari.
He loved her?

“The en suite is through there. Are you steady enough to manage on your own?”

“Yes.”

And then he was gone. She wouldn’t have taken Devin for a coward. Alone, she stood on shaky legs and walked to the window. Pulling the drapes back, she saw a garden filled with blooming fruit trees. Pink petals littered the ground. So many dreams. So many nights in his arms and now that she was finally free, he wanted to wait.

She explored the room. Dark and rich chocolates covered the bed and picked up on the colors of the fireplace. The furniture was dainty with curved legs and soft cushions, yet the poster bed was large and sturdy. She’d seen it before while she visited his dreams. Definitely Devin’s room. And remembering didn’t help the ache snaking through her body.

The first thing to catch her eye in the bathroom was floor-to-ceiling mirror hanging on one wall. Arianne studied her reflection. Her long, dark curls were mussed and tangled around a pale face. Her lips were pink and just a bit swollen from Devin’s kiss. The only thing she wore was a long white shirt. Sniffing the collar, she smelled the crisp, clean fragrance clinging to the material. His shirt, not conjured. Devin didn’t wear cologne, but the scent of his soap always stayed with her. He must have changed her clothes. What else had she missed?

Because I love you
. Men were ever a puzzle. Still, hadn’t she known? The dreams they shared had changed over time, slow and sweet instead of hot and fierce. A softness came over his face each night she visited his sleep, the same one she had seen this morning. Just that look was enough to have her quaking inside.

She found a bottle of bubble bath on the side of the tub. Thanks to Devin's dreams and Allie's influence, she had knowledge of modern conveniences such as indoor plumbing. Turning the faucet on hot, Arianne poured two capfuls under the stream and let the water run until the big round tub filled. Reluctantly, she unfastened the shirt buttons and let the material fall away to the floor. Slipping into the frothy bubbles, she sighed and let the reality of her situation sink in.

I am finally out of that wretched circle
. True enough, but she was still in a prison of sorts. One with running water, walls, food that didn’t taste like air, and a sexy male witch bent on driving her to frustration. Not so bad, all things considered.

Being trapped didn’t mean she hadn’t noticed changes in the world around her for a thousand years. She tipped her feet out of the water, waved toward them, and turned her toenails a bright fiery red. Allie brought her little things from the modern world. Mostly books filled with sweet love stories; more than a few of them brought a blush to her cheeks. What would Ryan think of his daughter’s taste in novels? Better not to head down that road. Allie had dreams of being a writer like her aunt and uncle. If what she liked to read was any indication, she’d write hot. Very hot. Speaking of hot, a soft tapping sounded at the door. Her maddening laird had returned.

“Okay in there?” His voice sounded hesitant. “Breakfast is ready.”

Time to ruffle the phoenix’s feathers a bit. “There is no need to be shy, Devin. You can come in.”

Chapter 9

The sound of splashing water rippled past his ears.
Temptress.
Knowing Ari was just on the other side of the door, naked and wet, willing to succumb to every fantasy he could imagine, was a torment in itself. All he had to do was accept her sultry invitation and toss aside his plan. But she deserved a sweet slide into love, not the wild, mad rush of pleasure he craved. One palm rested on the door of its own volition, ready to comply. Not yet. Now, if only his traitorous body would listen to his heart. “That depends, sweetheart.”

“Oh?” she called out from the other side. “On what?”

Devin chuckled at the line, but he just couldn’t resist teasing her. “What are you wearing?”

She laughed. “Bubbles. Lots of bubbles. Share them with me.”

He saw it so clearly. Ari’s creamy skin peeking through the frothy bubbles. Open, welcoming. Need clawed under the skin, screamed at him. Why the hell not? Feeling a quiver of desire vibrate through his body, he called her bluff. “And what would you have me do with those bubbles? Hmm, Ari?”

“Oh, I am sure you could think of something. Something deliciously wicked. I have shared your dreams. I know your fantasies, lover.”

Oh, you have no idea
. His mind made up, Devin opened the door.

She lay in his huge garden tub, feet propped up on the rim, eyes closed, waterfall of black hair piled on top of her head. A soft smile graced her face. So she was enjoying their teasing banter. “Have you changed your mind and decided to join me?”

“Maybe.” No reason he couldn’t push them both to the edge. Pulling the t-shirt over his head, Devin tossed it into the corner. He laid his cellphone on the sink–out of danger–kneeled by the edge of the tub and dipped one hand into cooling water, using his magic to heat it.

“Mmm. Nice trick.”

He let his voice drop to a whisper as he leaned close to her ear. “I want to slick my hands over every inch of your skin until you shiver from the heat.” His fingers found the back of her knee in the water and trailed higher along the inside of her thigh until he touched her softness. “Then I’d slip inside you, Ari. Make love to you slowly until you cried out my name. And then…”

A soft “Devin” slipped from her lips as Arianne’s eyes flew open. “And then…”

“I’d take more.”

Wet arms twined around his neck, pulling him down to meet her kiss as he caressed her intimately. She opened for his touch, met his circling fingers, arched toward him. Soft moans echoed off the walls. His breathing became ragged; he ached to be inside her. Not yet. Instead, he pressed one finger just inside her snug channel. So tight, so hot.

“You make me ache. I need to be inside you.”

“Then don’t wait.” She plunged her fingers into his hair, brought his mouth back down to claim hers in a desperate kiss. He toppled into the tub with her still half-dressed, his hand trapped between them.

“Too soon.” Devin sounded like he was trying to convince himself instead of sway her to his way of thinking. “We should wait.”

“Not soon enough. We’ve been waiting a thousand years,” she whispered. “Your clothes are wet.”