Trent: Her Warlock Protector Book 7 (12 page)

Finally, Goddess finally, he was human again.

He untied Elaine and pulled her from where she’d been water-boarded. Her body was icy and limp in his arms.

No!

He started first aid, compressing her chest, praying to the Goddess in a terrified litany for his mate. He listened to her chest. Still nothing. He resumed compressions.

“Please,” he muttered. “Elaine!”

He pinched her nose closed, opened her mouth, and tilted her jaw up. He blew in a lungful of air––then another.

“Elaine!”

She coughed. With a watery sputter, she coughed again.

“Thank the Goddess!”

He swept her into a hug.
 

Her lungs heaved as she fought for breath between racking coughs. Finally the fit ended, and she leaned against him, limp and trembling.

“How did you find me?” she gasped. “I dreamed you did, saw myself flying on the wind to find your wolf.”

He grinned and pulled back, running hands through her tangled, wet hair.
 

“You didn’t dream it, you did it.”

“No I didn’t. I was here.”

He looked into her brown, doe eyes.

“It was magic, and you’re more talented than I knew.”

She slowly shook her head.

“It doesn’t feel like that,” she said weakly.

He scooped her up in his arms and stood.

“Let’s just get you to Atlanta. Then we’ll talk.”

TRENT STARED AT the two interlinked silver pentacles of the pendant in his hand. It was the official insignia for his newest rank, captain. It was everything he’d thought about and planned for in the last ten years. With it would come the chance to command a few Magus Corps first lieutenants of his own, probably even a choice for better assignments on the front line. Hell, it was the chance to cut down more of those Templar bastards, like the one’s who’d almost ended his Elaine’s life.

No, not mine.

He’d lost the ability to claim that when he hadn’t initiated her. He could stop a giant rampaging Knight from killing her or take on a cleric bent on torture. He’d bend his bones to any form to keep her safe. But when she’d needed him the most, he’d failed her.

Only too late had he realized that all he really wanted was her. Why had it taken her nearly dying? Now that he had his rank, it felt hollow. He set the pendant down on the bed.
 

“You’re shiny, I’ll give you that,” he said.
 

“Mulling things over, Captain Williamson?” A familiar voice intoned.

Logan MacCulloch stood in the doorway to Trent’s guest room. The Atlanta coven had at least three guests today.

“General MacCulloch, you didn’t have to come all this way to present this.”

“A senior officer has to present the insignia. I stick to the rules––most of the time.”

Trent had to laugh. There were many things that Logan MacCulloch was, but by-the-book was never one of them.
 

“Still, it’s appreciated. A promotion was the last thing I expected after being shipped to the middle of nowhere.”

“There’s sometimes little difference,” MacCulloch said, “between an assignment you need, and one we need.”

“Meaning?”

“The Corps suspected Elaine would be special, as did I, though in a different way.” MacCulloch fixed him with a wry smile. “I thought she might be special to you.” For a moment Trent had to wonder at how transparent he was. “I’ve centuries on you, lad,” MacCulloch said, clapping him on the back. “One day, you’ll understand.” He laughed a little. “But it’s not complicated. It’s really not. Your head said one thing, and your heart said another. Now that you have your promotion, what do they say?”

• • • • •

Though Elaine knew that Trent’s room was only up the hall, she stayed put. The pain of seeing him, being near to him, and not having him, would be too much. Especially after everything they’d been through.

Instead, she’d busied herself with studying her grandmother’s journals. The room she’d been given on the old plantation was spacious, bright, and comfortable. There was hardly reason to leave. She gazed out the second-story window to the giant spreading tree that hung thick with Spanish moss. Besides being introduced to the High Priest and Priestess of the Atlanta coven, she’d kept to herself, trying to come to grips with how her life had changed. The heartache of separation still twinged: the loss of Rainstone, leaving her home, family and friends…and soon Trent.
 

She’d played out his rescue of her from Norine a thousand times. But the end was always the same. Eventually he would leave. She glanced at the door. He wouldn’t go without saying goodbye, would he?

Just then there was a small knock. She started a little at the timing and realized it was probably just one of the coven come to check on her again. Everyone had been so kind.

“Come in,” she said.

To her shock though, it wasn’t a member of the coven.

“Trent,” she breathed, almost not managing to say his name.

He stepped in and closed the door behind him.

As quickly as her heart had leapt into her throat, her stomach sank. This was it. He’d come to say goodbye. As if to confirm it, those beautiful, tawny eyes of his bored into hers. They were tinged with a somberness that could only mean one thing. He held out something in his hand. She could hardly tear her gaze away from his face to look at it. It was a necklace.

“I don’t understand,” she said.

“This is the next rank up,” he said. “I’m a captain now.”

Her throat went dry.
 

“That’s great. That’s what you wanted.” She paused as her chest tightened, and she couldn’t meet his gaze. She turned to the window, but closed her eyes. “So it’s back to New York or D.C. now?”

“No.”

What?

His hands gently gripped her shoulders and turned her to face him.

“I’ll stay here,” he said, the nearness of him almost overpowering. “If you’ll have me.”

Her head was swimming as she absorbed the scent of him and the warm feel of his hands.

“But I thought–”

“So did I,” he said, laying a finger gently across her lips. They tingled at his light touch. “But now I know. I’ll follow my heart, country gal, and that means you.”

Her heart beat so hard she thought it might break through her breastbone.

“Trent,” she managed. “Please be sure. I already thought I’d lost you. I can’t do that again.”

“You won’t have to,” he said, leaning down to her, his lips brushing hers. “Not ever.”

• • • • •

Trent was a lucky bastard and he knew it. The most beautiful witch in the world was his. He kissed her, softly at first, reveling in her taste. But as she responded, the feral side of him took over. His mouth enveloped hers, his tongue spearing into her, as he laid his claim. He could hear her harsh breath and the wild fluttering of her heart. He could smell her sex. She was as ready as he was. His fingers found the top button of her blouse, but that would be too slow. Without warning, he ripped it wide open. Their mouths separated as Elaine gasped, swaying. With a low growl, he bent his head to her breasts, and unbuttoned her jeans. He gnawed at the tender flesh, pushing the pants and panties down her hips. He deftly undid her bra and in moments, she stood naked before him.

“By the Goddess,” he whispered harshly, “you are beautiful.”

He scooped her up, took her to the bed, and laid her down. He tore his own clothes off, ignoring the ripping sounds, and the painful throb of his erection. As he moved over her, the heat from her already quivering body washed over him. They were both so ready, it hurt. But it couldn’t be fast––not this time. As he took her nipple in his mouth, she moaned. He sucked at it, enjoying the way she squirmed. He trailed his fingertips over her stomach, relishing the control he had as she bucked.

But as he approached her pussy, the wild part of him took over. Her wetness, her scent, and her parting legs called to him. He positioned himself over her.

• • • • •

Elaine had never felt anything like this. Laying her head back, she kept her eyes focused on him––on his gorgeous chest, the gold of his hair, and those savage amber eyes. As he arched over her, she felt the first pressure at her entrance. His flesh was hot, probing her, slotting into place. She sucked in a breath, and he paused.

“No,” she begged, hands on his hips. “Don’t stop.”

He pushed into her then, a savage thrust that made her cry out. The fullness of it, the stretch, took her breath away. But Trent didn’t stop. He plowed into her again, deeper, and her back arched as he thudded against her. She gasped for air, clutching him, as he did it again, grinding into her clit. It was too much and not enough, as a heat like fire spread into her belly. Her hips were no longer hers to control. They tried to pump against his weight.

“Yes,” he growled. “More.”

His throaty words unlocked something wild. She gripped his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist. As he speared into her again, her hips rose to meet him. He grunted and she cried out as their bodies collided. He was moving inside her, hot and hard, pushing into a place that ached with need. He thrust again and then again, as a primal rhythm took over. He pounded into her, faster and faster. Her clit swelled under the mounting pressure.

“Harder,” she heard herself gasp. “Harder!”

He buried himself to the hilt, his groan matching her own. His hips flew into a wild staccato burst, and he threw his head back. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, as pleasure surged through her. Then she came.

She convulsed with a climax so fierce that she screamed. Her sex clamped on him so hard, she thought it might split her, but she couldn’t stop. Impossibly, he thickened inside her. Wild waves of pleasure swept her away. Mindless, her body drew his in. They moved as one, thrashing, hips locked together. Then he climaxed. He jerked deep within her, stretching her yet again, and then his hot seed slapped into her. It was fire, it was ecstasy, it was pain, and she couldn’t get enough. She clenched on him hard and he spilled into her again. His entire body shook, and she was dimly aware of him screaming her name. But her own voice joined his, as her body shuddered in another orgasm. It came out of nowhere, spiraling out of control, and hit her twice as hard. As she struggled for breath, she convulsed around his still hard flesh. He collapsed on her, his weight helping to still her wildly gyrating hips. He thrust erratically now, slowing, but responding to her lingering need. With one final clench, the wave of ecstasy crested, and she felt herself floating away––but not alone.

Trent wrapped her arms around her, both of them still gasping. Then he brought his mouth to her ear.

“I love you, Elaine, and you are mine.”

“I love you,” she managed between parched lips. “My mate.”

• • • • •

“I don’t know about this,” Elaine said, a few weeks later.
 

Trent smirked, an irresistible look she was beginning to hate. Hate because it distracted her and made her want to ravish him right away. He knew it too.

“You know, Elaine, you’re the one who said we needed to up your training.”

They sat naked in an empty field, far from the plantation.

She snorted and sat up straighter. It made her breasts jiggle, and she hoped he was as distracted as she was.

“I’m ready,” she said.

Though his eyes were on her breasts, he placed the charm in her hand. It was a leather pouch on a plain strap, but inside was a strand of Rainstone’s mane.

Trent waited for her to slip the pouch over her neck and then did the same with his own.
 

“I’ve never done this before,” he said. “It’ll be new for both of us. I doubt it can replace hunting like a wolf or flying, but–”

“The speed must be something,” she said.
 

She closed her eyes, trusting her lover if not herself. If Trent said she could do it, then she believed him.

The usual crunching of bone and sloshing of viscera followed, temporary pain helping to birth a new shape. When she opened her large eyes, a gorgeous chestnut stallion stamped the ground beside her. Letting out a loud whinny, Elaine reared on her back legs.

Bet you can’t catch me
.

Then she bolted off toward the horizon with Trent at her heels. Though she had a good start, he was right behind. Barely into the breathless run, she already knew that he would catch her––because she would let him.

• • • • •

THE END

• • • • •

A new series is waiting for you in
FOUND: Castle Coven Book One
. All six books in the series are available now.

For a sneak peak, turn the page.

FOUND: CASTLE COVEN Book One

Though novice witch Hailey Devereaux seems to have settled into her latest coven, she knows that it can’t last. Tucked against the remote Alps of northern Italy, the Angioli coven is ill at ease with their newest member. Whispers and fearful glances follow her everywhere.

But the arrival of a Magus Corps major ends all that. Kieran McCallen isn’t afraid of her singular ability. Instead he’s been sent to nurture and test it. Though Hailey’s waif-like and delicate beauty are charming, her power is the stuff of legend.

Each loners in their own way, Kieran glimpses Hailey’s fiercely protective spirit when it comes to friends. For her part, Hailey dares to hope that she’s found the person and place meant for her. But their bond is put to the test by danger and by duty, forcing each of them to impossible choices.

Excerpt from FOUND: Castle Coven Book One

Kieran’s arms came around her from behind, stilling her thoughts. This close, his scent filled her nose. There was something spicy about it, sharp and masculine. She turned and buried her face in his chest. He was a big man, a giant compared to her diminutive height, but for once, she didn’t care at all. All she wanted was to be close to him.

“I want you, but…” His voice trailed off.

“There’s nothing that stands in our way,” Hailey said forcefully. “When we go down those stairs, we are back in the world. There are Templars to fight, orders to follow and tests to complete. Not now.”