My magic sang in my veins. Even with his snuffed out with that barbaric mark, I knew it would entwine with mine if allowed. Connect us on a level I’d never permitted myself to imagine.
It ached to know we couldn’t have that. But I hadn’t lied—my magic was more than enough to show him what it could be like with me. To remind him what it felt like to have it flow through his veins as natural as the blood that kept him alive.
I could do that.
And I wanted to.
So badly it hurt.
Reaching for the bottom of his shirt, I tugged it up until he raised his arms enough for me to pull it over his head. The tattoos on his arms had caught my attention when we’d first met, but they weren’t the only ones he had. Ink of all colours decorated his chest, back, and shoulders. Intricate patterns and elegant script that fit together like the finest artwork.
I splayed my hand on the centre of his chest. The magic infused in each mark on his skin was muted, dulled to the point of inactivity, but I felt its promise. Felt the power that lurked there, waiting to be released, and my heart ached for him all over again.
I couldn’t imagine a world where I was denied access to a part of me that was as essential to my existence as breathing.
Nick caught my fingers in his, curling his hand around mine. “Don’t think about it,” he whispered, voice strained. “Make me forget.” Brown eyes met mine, pleading and yet full of challenge that called to me on a primal level.
“I will. I promise.”
The slow smile that curved his lips turned filthy as he moved my hand lower, trailing it over his stomach until he flattened my palm and pressed it against the bulge in his jeans. I licked my lips.
So hard for me.
I rubbed him through the material, each groan and tiny thrust of his hips making me eager for more. His hand closed over mine as I reached to undo his button.
“Bedroom,” he murmured, grabbing my hand again and pushing off the counter.
I let him lead me out of the kitchen, away from the curious eyes of Satan and Beelzebub as they passed judgement from the corner.
The curtains were open in the room he took me to, illuminated by the light of a moon that felt foreign, missing the sea-green hue of the Fae Realm.
But it gave off enough light to steer Nick to the large bed in the centre. To peel the rest of his clothes off until he lay naked, spread out on the dark blue sheets like a prize.
He was big, broad, and corded with muscle under all that ink. Maybe I should’ve felt intimidated in the face of all that strength, but as I’d shown him earlier, I was more than capable of giving him what he needed. What I wanted.
And I wanted everything.
Reaching down to stroke himself, Nick watched me with hooded eyes. “Your turn,” he said, gaze drifting lower and lingering on my groin.
I did as he asked, shedding my clothes quickly until I was as naked as he was. His gaze raked over me again, this time making it all the way up to my eyes. “Come here.”
He lay back with his head on the pillows, arms open in invitation.
Not what I had planned though.
Magic danced under my skin, only a thought away as always, and I wanted Nick to feel that. To give him back what had been stripped away. Whether he’d deserved it or not was irrelevant. The politics of the witches’ council were no concern of mine. I didn’t care if it was a just punishment, didn’t care if I was going against their edict by giving this to Nick.
I wanted to make him feel as good as I was capable of.
Kneeling on the bed, I wrapped my hand around his ankle, loving the feel of his warm skin under mine. Then, with a slow exhale, I relinquished every hold I had on my magic and let it flow.
Nick gasped, wide eyes searching mine, and I grinned.
“Ready?” I stroked his ankle, loving the way his breath hitched with each brush of my fingers.
He grinned back at me and spread his legs a little wider. “Yeah.”
As I ran my hands slowly from Nick’s ankles, along the length of his calves, I watched as his eyes rolled back into his head, fists gripping the covers.
