Spell Bound (Darkly Enchanted) (36 page)

“I don’t know.” He hoped so, for Quinn’s sake and for Serena’s and Leo’s. “He will, if he can. And there’s someone coming to take over your training, someone I think you’re going to like.”

Leo’s mouth quivered. “But…I like you.”

His heart twisted in his chest. This shouldn’t hurt so damn much but he was already in deep with these two. “I like you, too. But your sister and I have something to do.”

Leo blinked, as if trying to hold back tears. “I’m not supposed to leave Sissy, not ever. And I could help.”

Gabriel kneeled down to look into Leo’s eyes. “I’m sure you could help. But you need to train, too. And we won’t be gone long.”

Leo just stared and Gabriel could tell the kid was about to lose it.

The tightness in his throat told Gabriel he was, too. He stood, not all that steady himself. He didn’t want to leave the kid behind. But it was the right thing to do. “Don’t worry about it now, bud. Come on. Let’s find something to eat.”

* * *

Another pot slipped from her hand, making a jarring clatter as Serena tried to put a meal together. That was the second pot she’d dropped. If she wasn’t careful, she’d break something. She’d nearly cut her finger off slicing the ham—

“Serena.”

Gasping, she dropped that pot one more time.

Sweet Mother Goddess, she hadn’t heard Quinn enter the kitchen. That was dangerous. The boy slipped through her defenses in more ways than one.

And that voice. Goddess bless her, his voice tugged at her very soul.

She caught herself just before she turned and threw herself at him, which would have been completely embarrassing for a woman of her age. She drew in a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart before she faced him.

Oh…Goddess. This was why she stayed locked in her house on a hill.

He stood in the doorway, sweaty, intense and, Goddess help her, completely naked.

And no longer a boy.

If she was honest with herself, Quinn hadn’t been a boy for six years. Still, he was young. And so damn mortal.

“Are you hungry?” She refused to back down from his stare. “I’ve got pancakes, eggs, bacon, ham, home fries.” Because she knew he loved all of them.

Jaw set, he nodded. “You know I am. I need a shower first, but after I eat, I’m leaving. Gabriel called Matt, so they won’t need me. I’m not staying.”

Her heart contracted in her chest until she was sure she was having a heart attack. “Where are you going?”

He looked at her with weary blue eyes, his beautiful face set in stern lines that looked so out of place there. Those lines were her fault.

“I’m tired of this game, Serena. Tired of waiting. You won.” He moved toward her and she struggled to keep her gaze from slipping lower than his chin as he got right in her face. “But here’s something to think about, babe. Until you decide to take another lover who isn’t me.”

She should have seen it coming. Should have known he was going to kiss her. Maybe she had. Maybe she didn’t care. She closed her eyes and shut off her brain.

Quinn wrapped wiry-strong arms around her shoulders, brought her body flush against his and took her mouth in one perfect motion. His lips, hot and firm, devoured and devastated. The heat of his naked body blasted through the thin cotton of her dress, and the musky scent of his sweat made her sex clench in response.

Quinn groaned deep in his throat, and his body surged against hers. His erection hardened against her stomach and his kiss became more powerful, more desperate.

His lips ate at hers with a hunger she echoed, and her mouth opened to allow his tongue in. His taste seeped into her blood-stream like a fast-acting drug, tantalizing her nerve endings and making her head spin.

She shouldn’t respond, for both their sakes. But she couldn’t help herself. This was her man, the man she’d always loved, would always love. Couldn’t live without. Couldn’t bear to lose him again.

Her arms rose to snake around his waist—and he shoved away from her.

Eyes wide, bare chest heaving, Quinn looked as shocked as she felt. She didn’t know how long they stood there, staring at each other.  She couldn’t help but hope he wasn’t done. That he didn’t have the strength to walk away from her. Because she knew if he took her in his arms again, it would be the end of her resistance. She would give herself to him because she wouldn’t be able to stop, wouldn’t want to stop.

Then his eyes closed and he groaned, just a small sound at the back of his throat.

“Gods-be-damned, I love you, Serena. It’s in my genes, for fuck’s sake. But I can’t live like this. If you don’t want me, then tell me. I’ll find someone who does, someone who won’t turn me away.”

Without looking at her again, he walked out of the room.

Despair tore through her body with poisonous agony. Images of Quinn with faceless women bombarded her brain. She didn’t want to imagine him with anyone else, couldn’t bear to think of some other woman’s hands on his lean body or sinking into his shaggy blond hair.

Though Quinn had the soul of her mate, she also knew he was just Quinn. Niccolo had rarely smiled and his mood had scarcely wavered. Quinn’s smile appeared at the slightest provocation and his mood could change in a blink. His fierce loyalty to his family and friends was legendary, but Goddess forbid if you got on his bad side. He could be intractable.

Like now. He wanted all or nothing.

And either would tear her heart out of her chest.

* * *

They sat down to eat in the kitchen around eight. Tension hung in the air like smoke, and Gabriel had had just about as much as he could take.

The kid was too tired to talk so he just shoveled food. Shea looked shell-shocked and only managed a couple of mouthfuls before she started pushing food around her plate.

Quinn couldn’t take his eyes off Serena, and Serena didn’t look at anyone as she floated between the stove and the table, refilling bowls and picking at a few pieces of melon. She never could eat when she was worried. Stress showed in the furrows on her forehead and the ashen pallor beneath her skin.

Gabriel knew his mother. He knew she was worried about Quinn, worried about Shea. But it was Leo that had her tied in knots at the moment.

He’d caught the look of absolute desolation in her eyes when she’d first seen him. The same look Gabriel probably had the night Shea came to his door in Reading.

Leo looked so much like Nino. Her dead son. The brother Gabriel hadn’t been able to save.

Christ, they were lucky the house didn’t explode from the tension.

“So, Quinn,” Gabriel asked the first question that came to mind that didn’t deal with a touchy subject. “How’s the new club in Jersey?”

Quinn jerked then shook his head as if to clear it. “Good. We’re almost ready to open.”

“You gonna work there for a while?”

“Yeah, then I thought I’d head out to Vegas, see how the casino’s holding up.”

At the sink, Serena dropped the plates she’d been holding, pottery clattering on porcelain.

Quinn’s eyes narrowed as he continued. “After that, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll head overseas for a vacation. A few months away might do me some good.”

Serena stiffened but continued to stack dishes in the sink.

Gabriel knew what Quinn was up to, knew he was pushing her. At any other time, he’d be okay with it. But not now. Not—

“That sounds great,” Shea said. “A vacation sounds great right about now.”

She said it in a teasing tone but the longing in her voice made Gabriel’s stomach twist. He wished he could take her and Leo away. Make it safe for them to go to Disney World or the Grand Canyon or hell, even the Jersey shore for a weekend.

“Somewhere with a beach,” Leo added, his little-boy enthusiasm digging the knife just a little deeper in Gabriel’s gut.

“Sure, bud,” Shea answered. “Somewhere with a beach.”

The sorrow in Shea’s voice sent that knife straight up into his heart. He knew she thought that trip would never happen.

And Gabriel’s hatred for Dario burned through his blood like acid.

Carefully, he put down his utensils before he bent them like matchsticks.

Luckily, the kid’s mouth cracked open with a huge yawn and Shea smiled.

And the dagger in his heart became an ache in his groin. Damn, he did not want to be sporting an erection right now.

“Time for bed, isn’t it?” Shea said.

Serena frowned, flashing a look at Gabriel.

“Shea worked nights, so she and Leo slept during the day,” Gabriel answered Serena’s unspoken question.

“Oh, really,” Serena said. “What did you do, Shea?”

“I was a dancer.”

“Really? I love the ballet—”

“I worked for Harry.” She never lowered her gaze, but Gabriel knew she was waiting for Serena’s condescension. “It paid the bills. I had aspirations of being a ballerina, but they never panned out.”

“Sissy’s a great dancer,” Leo piped in.

“I’m sure she is.” Serena smiled at the boy, meeting his eyes for only a brief second before looking back at Shea. “There’s a studio in the house. My daughter Madrona had it built years ago so she could practice her yoga. It doesn’t get much use now, but the floor’s wooden and there are mirrors. You could practice if you like.”

Shea’s expression eased a little. “Thanks, I might take you up on it. It’s been a few days since I stretched and my muscles are starting to tighten.”

“What about you, Leo?” Serena’s eyes skimmed the boy before going back to the dishes she was washing in the sink. “What do you like to do?”

Quinn’s sharply indrawn breath drew Gabriel’s attention. His golden skin went pale beneath his tan and his fingers tightened around the fork in his hand.

Quinn looked like he’d taken a blow to the head. Seemed he’d finally realized why Serena was so upset. Christ, he could practically see Quinn berating himself for his insensitivity earlier, watched his gaze shift back to Serena. Quinn’s desire to take Serena in his arms was written all over his face.