“Different is beautiful, Karis.” He dipped his head to her nipple and took the beaded tip into his mouth.
She arched her back to help him take more with a strangled moan of pleasure. His molten wet tongue flicked and teased the swollen tips of her breasts as she writhed beneath him. She ran her hands down his back and opened her legs as he settled between them.
More, I want more, Vander.
He lifted his mouth from her flesh and the cool air tortured her ultra sensitive breasts.
How much more?
he asked as his fingers dipped into her wetness.
She gasped as he touched the delicate creamy folds with slow, tender strokes.
All you have to give.
Her eyes widened, her mouth parting in a cry of bliss as the same subtle vibrations he used to make her climax before began emanating from his fingers.
No magic, Vander, just you.
He smiled at her, moved his hand from her moist heat and shifted his position to kiss her stomach.
I don’t want your mouth.
She grabbed his head as his hot tongue flicked her inner thigh.
I want you. Please, now.
As you wish.
He swung back up over her, spread her thighs wider as he took his cock into his hand. She watched as he dipped the dark crown into her and waited with bated breath for all he had to give. The tip of his cock pressed against her soaked entrance as he leant down to kiss her. His tongue darted into her mouth as he rubbed his hot dick up and down her inner folds. He paused for a moment and Karis whimpered as he began to push his wide, ridged head into her slick warmth. She closed her eyes and grabbed the sheets as he coaxed more and more of his engorged flesh into her.
Karis, look at me.
She opened her eyes and lost herself in the molten golden depths of his gaze as he pulled back and sank his cock fully into her in one powerful stroke. She let out a sharp cry of surprise. There was no pain, only an incredible amount of heat and pressure as her body stretched to accommodate his hard length.
Are you okay?
He moved within her slightly.
Don’t stop.
She wiggled her hips and sucked in a breath as she adjusted to the width and depth of his penetration.
He began to move slowly, deeply, reverently within her. The delicious friction was unlike anything she had ever experienced, more than she could have imagined it to be. She was so wet; his cock seemed to glide in and out of her with incredible speed, faster and deeper as she moaned his name. The exquisite sensations intensified, her pleasure tripled and Karis didn’t think she could stand any more of the sweet tension building within her.
Her nipples ached and her breasts jiggled with the force of his strokes as she wrapped her legs around him. The sound of Vander’s hoarse groan pushed her closer to the edge.
Don’t stop, oh, my God, don’t stop!
If he responded, she didn’t hear him as the first ripples of her climax swept through her. She called his name, helplessly lost in the rings of ecstasy spinning through every inch of her body. Pinpricks of light fluttered behind her eyelids, brighter and brighter. She opened her eyes and gasped.
A halo of pink light surrounded them!
She stared at the light as Vander slammed into her several more times. His ragged groan as he climaxed was barely audible over her heavy breathing. She shuddered as he pulled out of her with another groan.
He collapsed next to her as the ethereal light around them danced off the beads of sweat on their skin.
“Do you see it?” Karis whispered in awe.
“See what?” He opened his eyes to look at her.
“The pink light around us.” She traced the outline of the aura above them.
“I don’t see anything,” he said, his bald head glistening in the soft light.
Karis frowned. “It’s so incredible. I’ve never seen anything so bright and beautiful.” She turned her head to look at him.
“You are coming into your gifts.” He played with an ebony curl. “Try to think of something right now and then focus on blocking the thought from me.”
“Anything?”
Vander nodded. “Anything.”
She looked at him for a second, closed her eyes and concentrated on shielding her thought as it formed in her head.
I think I’m falling in love with a genie.
She opened her eyes, surprised by her own thought. “Well?”
Vander shrugged. “Did you think of anything yet?”
“I did,” she said, sitting up. “You couldn’t hear it?”
“Not a thing.” He laughed as she let out an excited whoop and clapped her hands with obvious delight.
“It worked just like you said it would.” She kissed him. “Now I can use my gift to find my mother!”
“
We
can find her,” he said, grabbing her hand.
“Right.” Karis rubbed his beard with her hand. “Do you think I’m strong enough now to help my mom?” She searched his face, seeing a flash of something in his eyes that troubled her before he nodded.
“You need practice and time to hone your abilities. But we don’t have the luxury of either.”
“But, I just blocked you from my thoughts. That’s proof that I’m ready.” She shifted her attention from his jaw line to his face. “My mother’s running out of time. I can feel it.”
“I know, but first we shower,” he said, standing up. “You don’t want your mother to see you like this?” He gestured to her wild hair and dew slicked body.
Karis glared at him.
“I didn’t think so.”
Vander exhaled as Karis headed to the bathroom.
What was going on?
Obviously, she was coming into some of her abilities but why hadn’t she been able to block him from reading her thoughts?
He walked to the window and stared unseeing at the rain falling steadily over the woodland.
She was falling in love with him. He had been blindsided by her declaration, his own gut reaction to it. Before he could second-guess his actions, he had lied to her. How could he admit what he heard when he couldn’t respond to her vulnerable statement?
He cursed under his breath as he clenched his fists. It had been so easy for him to love Lona. He had surrendered his heart to her with no reservations. When she had walked away from him…from his love, he swore he would never experience that kind of heartbreak ever again. He was free from his past with Lona. Seeing her had confirmed it, but her betrayal had cost him more than years of pain. He had lost his ability to trust his own emotions when it came to his heart.
The sound of Karis beckoning him to the bathroom snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned from the window ready to join her in the shower. Telling her the truth could destroy the confidence she was going to need in the hours ahead. Not telling her left him alone to wonder if she was strong enough to help Nadine after all.
Chapter Ten
“I don’t have anything to wear,” Karis said, wrapping a thick fluffy towel around her as Vander shut off the water in the shower.
“Tell me your sizes,” he answered back, stepping out of the tub.
She fought against the familiar pull of desire splintering within her body as her eyes swept over the droplets of water dripping from his bald head and shoulders to the wet hard muscles she now knew so well. “Tell you my sizes?”
Vander grinned. “Never mind, I took a guess but you will have to give me your shoe size.”
“Nine.”
“Look behind you.” He walked out of the bathroom with a cheerful whistle as he secured the towel around his waist.
She turned, smiling as she saw the pile of clothes waiting for her on the bathroom counter. Upon quick inspection, she found a green sweater, jeans, thick socks, hiking boots and the sheerest, silkiest green bra with a matching pair of panties.
Blushing, she stepped into the panties, fastened the bra before taking a moment to look in the mirror. Through the steamed reflection, she appreciated the vivid colour against her skin and the perfect fit of the sexy undergarments. Vander had good taste and he tasted good. She laughed out loud at her silly joke, recognising the need to release pent up anxiety and the growing feeling of nervousness pooling in the pit of her stomach.
The time had come. Would she really be able to use her abilities to help her mother and save her from Rue’s crazy agenda? She pulled on her sweater and pants, wishing she knew the answer to her question. Fully dressed, except for her socks and boots, she smoothed lotion onto her face.
It was a good thing she had been able to block Vander from her thoughts. She wasn’t ready to profess her…her
love?
Her hands fell to her sides as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Did she love him?
“Karis?”
She whipped around from the mirror to see him dressed in head-to-toe black, looking deadly and utterly sexy at the same time.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m good.” She flashed a bright smile. How else could she answer such a loaded question given the chaos of her thoughts? Right now, she had to remain focused on bringing her mother back home and somehow stopping rogue genies from stealing portals necessary to world balance. “I don’t have any of my make-up and that’s okay, but I really miss my strawberry lip bal—”
“Here.” Vander held out his hand.
Karis walked to him and took the small tube from his fingers. It was the exact brand she always wore. “Thank you. You read my mind?”
“No, I remembered seeing the tube of gloss in your bathroom.”
“Oh.” She followed him back into the bedroom as she smoothed the lip balm on her lips.
“My friend, Rafi is here. He is another genie who has been working with the High Council to stop Rue and his men.”
“Okay, give me a minute and I’ll be right out.”
“Are you hungry? Technically, we never did eat.”
Karis blushed as she grinned. She would never forget the feel of his warm mouth on her breasts. “Do you have any fruit?”
“Whatever you want.”
“Surprise me.”
“Done.” He kissed her hard on the lips before exiting the roomy bedroom.
She sunk down on the freshly made bed, took a deep breath and blocked out the low voices of the two men talking in the living room as she reached out to her mom. Closing her eyes, she focused on seeking out her mother’s energy.
We’re coming for you, Mother.
She breathed deeply, welcoming the strange buoyant sensation rising within her body.
Be careful, Karis.
Mom?
Her mother’s presence continued to slip from her mind no matter how hard she focused then she was gone.
Her eyes flew open. There was no time to lose. She stood up and strode out to the bedroom to join Vander and his friend.
Ready or not, she had to try.
Vander had his back to her as she entered the living room and offered Rafi a smile. The first thing she noticed was his warm smile back to her and the incredible bulk of muscles not easily concealed beneath his thin grey pullover sweater. He stood a few inches shorter than Vander and had the physique of a body builder.
“Karis, this is Rafi,” Vander said, turning to face her as she approached. “Rafi meet Karis.”
“Nice to meet you, Rafi.” She took his large hand in a friendly handshake, noticing the coolness of his touch compared to Vander’s. He released her hand, concern etched in the strong features of his handsome tanned face.
“I wish it were under more pleasant circumstances.”
“I’ve asked Rafi to handle back-up for us once you’ve got a sense of where Nadine is being held. I’m sure Rue is anticipating a rescue attempt and has stationed more men on guard.”
Karis nodded. “What about, Lona? Has she told the High Council how many men he has prepared?”
“She did and they’ve already got more reinforcements ready to go.” Rafi unfolded his bulky arms from across his chest. “She asked me to give you this.” He opened his hand with a small smile.
Karis gasped as she took her mother’s necklace from Rafi with one hand and touched her neck with the other. “Thank you! I didn’t even realise it was missing.” She touched the dainty silver pendant in her palm. “Rue must have taken it when I was out of it.” She looked up at Rafi. “Is Lona okay?”
Rafi glanced at Vander. “She’s going to be fine.”
“What does that mean?” she asked, looking to Vander, but Rafi answered.
“It means she has to go before the High Council for a hearing.”
“What will happen to her?” she asked, glancing at both men. “I’ll testify or whatever it’s called her on her behalf. She tried to save me from being raped.”
“It’s not that easy, Karis. The High Council won’t even consider letting her back into our community until she has answered all of their questions and explained how she could go along with Rue’s plan for as long as she did.” Vander touched her arm. “I know you want to help her but the only way we can is to stop Rue.”
“Then let’s stop talking and get started,” she said with bravado she didn’t feel. “There’s a lot riding on us.”
On me.
Vander cupped her face with his warm hands. “We will find your mother and bring her back home safely.”
Together.