A Matter of Fate

A Matter of Fate

Janet Eckford

www.beautifultroublepublishing.com

A Matter of Fate JANET ECKFORD Copyright © 2010 by Janet Eckford All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including but not limited to: printing, photocopying, faxing, recording, electronic transmission, or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from the authors or holders of the copyright. This book is a work of fiction. References may be made to locations and historical events; however, names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination and/or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), businesses, events or locales is either used fictitiously or coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. Published by Beautiful Trouble Publishing, LLC PO Box 61 Colfax, NC 27235 www.beautifultroublepublishing.com Cover Art: Marteeka Karland http://www.marteekakarland.com/ Editor: Stephanie Parent Proofreader: Novellette Whyte http://proofreadernovellette.blogspot.com/ Formatter: Savannah J. Frierson, http://sjfbooks.com/editing/ E-book Conversion: Jim & Zetta, http://www.jimandzetta.com/ ISBN: 978-1-936271-93-1 (e-book)

To the witches in my life, Blessed Be.

Note about eBooks eBooks are NOT transferable. Re-selling, sharing or giving eBooks is a copyright infringement.

CAVEAT This work of erotica contains adult language and sexually explicit scenes, which are smoking hot. This book is intended only for adults, as it is defined by the laws of the country in which the purchase is made. Keep this book out of the hands of under-aged readers.

Author’s Note Witch is a term used to describe practitioners of Wicca. There is no gender distinction for the terminology, and it is actually an insult to call a male Witch a Warlock. The term Warlock means “oath breaker” and also has no gender distinction.

Chapter One Lailah Nar didn’t know how much longer she had until another witch tracked her to the small town of Lauréa, Texas, but she knew she had to hurry. When she’d discovered the grimoire Light and Shadow was in a small town about forty miles outside of Austin in the Texas Hill Country, she wasn’t surprised. The original owner’s spell to protect the book made sure it was always hidden in plain sight. Now if she had known plain sight meant a smalltown library in Texas, it would have saved her years of searching the globe for it. Daria, the author, was the historian of one of the most powerful covens of sixteenth-century Europe and made sure the spells and practices of her people were meticulously recorded. Unfortunately, her meticulous nature did not prevent her from being killed and her coven disbanded because of the witch hunts of the period. Lailah always found it ironic that even with their powers, witches had no control over Fate. She just hoped, as she slipped from the fundraiser gala she’d

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snuck into, that Fate was on her side tonight. Light and Shadow was the tool she needed to advance her study as an elemental witch of fire. She’d worked for years to perfect her craft, but there always seemed to be something holding her back. She knew she had her spells in the right order and spoke them with the clarity of years of practice, but it always seemed as if something was missing. Of course she refused to listen to the nonsense her former teacher yapped about all the time. “Lailah, your element is fire, but you have no passion. Until you learn to harness the fire that burns from within, your spells will lack the depth that you seek,” Catherine said, the day Lailah set out to find Light and Shadow. “Catherine, with all respect, I know this grimoire is the key to me really unlocking my powers,” she responded, packing away the supplies she would need for her journey. “Fate has decided this must be your path, Lailah; just make sure you follow her directions better than you follow mine.” Catherine sighed from her place on the window seat in Lailah’s room.

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Shaking her head at the memory, Lailah continued to walk silently through the empty halls of the upper library, away from the noise of the fundraiser downstairs. She had no worries about the path Fate had decided for her—it was to find Light and Shadow and move forward in her studies of her craft. Catherine and her beliefs about passion and burning had nothing to do with it. *** Sebastian De Winters made sure he kept his cloaking spell in check as he followed Lailah Nar through the Lauréa Library. When her mentor Catherine told him she was going on this wild goose chase, he knew he had to follow. He’d waited years for Lailah to notice him, but she was always much more interested in perfecting her craft. He loved being a witch as much as any of their people, but he understood there was more to life than creating new spells and potions. Of course that didn’t mean he didn’t work to perfect his skills as an

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elemental witch of ice. But for him, that more in life was Lailah Nar—he just had to convince her. Slipping in and out of shadows behind her, he tried to tap down the erection that was straining the pants of his tux. He’d always found her lean, lithe dancer frame attractive, but in the cocktail dress she was wearing for the event it was breathtaking. From behind he noticed the fabric hugged the soft curves of her hips, bringing attention to the firm globes of an ass he ached to sink his teeth into. With heels on, her legs seemed to go on forever, causing an image of them wrapped around his neck as he devoured the very essence of her to pop into his head. He didn’t have time to let that fantasy wander because she’d stopped and was currently reaching toward the top row of a shelf. From his angle he could see the outline of her breasts snug against her outfit, as she strained to get the book. “Need any help?” he asked, breaking his spell and stepping out of the shadows. He hadn’t intended to reveal himself this soon, but the sight of her in that dress was making it hard for him to think rationally. Tired of silently following

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behind her, hoping she would notice him, he was going to make her his tonight.

Chapter Two Startled by the sound of the deep baritone male voice behind her, Lailah lost her footing and almost fell. Catching the shelf in front of her for balance, she turned to glare at the man who’d interrupted her search. She wasn’t surprised to find her nemesis Sebastian De Winters smiling at her. She knew he was looking for the grimoire also, but she’d hoped she would have lost him by now. As she’d used some of her best distraction and avoidance spells, she was upset he’d managed to trail her this long. Even though he was one of the best elemental witches in the world, she’d hoped something of hers would have thrown him off by now. Scowling, she pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. Tonight she’d straightened her usually unruly curls and wore her hair down around her shoulders. She’d never been good at creating a glamour, and often relied on non-magical ways of altering her identity. Her look for the fundraiser she snuck into was the boldest she’d ever tried.

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Lailah didn’t like being the center of attention. All she wanted to do was study her craft and work on new spells and potions. Never caring about looks, she usually wore her hair piled up on her head out of reach, and wore loose-fitting cotton peasant tops and skirts. Comfort was important because of the hours she spent in her study. During her search she didn’t really have to deviate that much from her regular attire, but tonight was different. Through her research, she’d learned the annual fundraiser for the library was one of the more glitzy events the small town of Lauréa put together. Everyone would be dressed to impress, and she didn’t want to stand out. She’d felt confident with her choice all night— until Sebastian found her. The way he was looking at her made her feel awkward and out of place. Hell, the way he looked made her feel awkward and out of place. If witches had celebrities, Sebastian De Winters would be one. It wasn’t just his magic that made him stand out, but also his ridiculously gorgeous looks. He stood well over six feet with toned muscles from hours of fencing. She’d always thought fencing

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was pretentious and sneered at people who practiced it, until she saw Sebastian during a match. The liquid grace he showed while sparring with his opponent, and the way his breeches clung to his thigh muscles and ass, had her grudgingly admitting there was some merit to the sport. His inky black hair, which was starting to gray a little at the temples, contrasted well with his ice blue eyes, light golden skin and aristocratic features. The timbre of his British-accented voice completed the package of the sophisticated witch intellectual he’d crafted over the years. Lailah absolutely detested him. He represented everything she found lacking in modern witch culture. Granted he was one of the better elemental witches in the world, but what was he doing with it? Nothing. It was a complete waste of talent Fate had given him. She could never respect someone who found being popular was more important than bettering his craft, no matter how much the sound of his voice caused her pussy to come to attention. “No,” she answered, giving him a hard stare.

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“Are you sure? Because I’d be very happy to provide any assistance you may require,” he said, smiling at her as he moved closer. She tried not to make it obvious that she was backing away from him, but the way his eyes seemed to track her every move, her actions seemed futile. “Nope, doing just fine,” she replied, trying to work up a quick distraction spell to get away. “Now, now, Lailah, you wouldn’t be trying to spell me, now would you, love?” he chided as he moved closer. Damn. He really was good. She could sense a spell only when it’d been completed; he seemed to know even before she’d invoked it. “I can tell by your face when you’re about to invoke a spell. Your nose does this cute little scrunchy thing.” Sebastian chuckled, as if he read her mind, as he still closed in on her slowly. “I do not,” she replied indignantly. “Oh you most certainly do, love.” He chuckled again, now only an arm’s length from her. She really tried not to focus on how that deep chuckle of his felt like it was strumming her clit. Of

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course his distraction spell would use sex. Disgusting, absolutely disgusting, and she was going to make him pay for the new pair of panties she was going to have to buy because the ones she currently wore were about to be useless. “Don’t you have enough power, Sebastian? Must you be so greedy?” she asked angrily. “This has nothing to do with your silly little book, Lailah, and we both know it,” he replied with a crisp, clipped tone. “Light and Shadow is not a silly little book. It was written by one of the greatest witches ever, but since that witch was a woman, I’m sure you wouldn’t agree,” she said with a sneer at the end. “I don’t care if the blasted book was written by a toad. It’s you I care about. Why do you think I’ve been tracking you around the damn world? I’ve got power. I don’t need or want any more of it. What I want, what I need is you,” he stated, closing in so only a bare inch of space separated them.

Chapter Three Sebastian hadn’t planned on letting his feelings be known so early, but with all of her scholarly knowledge, Lailah Nar was completely oblivious to most things—more specifically, him. He worried over the years that he’d crossed the line from silent admirer to stalker, but Lailah’s mentor Catherine’s words of encouragement reinforced his belief they were meant to be together. “Sebastian, watching is not going to get her. Take action and you will have her heart. Stay silent and it will be lost to you forever,” the tiny Greek woman said to him one day outside his practice arena. He was always amazed by the wisdom Catherine possessed. If he was thought of as powerful, there was no word in their vernacular to describe what Catherine controlled. “Catherine, I’ve tried to let her know how I feel, but she won’t give me the time of day,” he replied, feeling frustrated.

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“Trying isn’t always doing, Sebastian, but Fate has given you an opportunity to fix that. Lailah is searching for Daria’s grimoire, but until she harnesses the passion that burns from within, it will be useless to her. You are that key, Sebastian, to unlock what she possesses from within,” Catherine told him, staring deep into his eyes. In that moment he knew Fate was indeed giving him purpose, and that purpose was having Lailah now and forever. “What…what do you think you’re doing?” Lailah sputtered, placing her hands on his chest to block him. He felt as if he was being burned through his clothes. He didn’t think she knew she’d called upon some of her most basic protection magic, but the thought she might be frightened of him hurt more than her spell. Stepping back, he looked down at her hands still resting on his chest. Summoning some of his magic, he began to chill her slightly, watching as she put distance between them, then pressed into the bookcase behind her and stared down at her hands in shock.

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“I didn’t…I didn’t mean to do that,” she said, looking up at him with a horrified expression. “I’ve never hurt someone with my magic. I…” She trailed off. “Lailah, it’s okay, love, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said with a soothing tone. Taking a tentative step forward, he reached for her hands, then turned them over to examine for damage he may have done. Slowly bringing them to his lips, he paused, giving her a chance to pull away. When she continued to look at him with wonder, he softly kissed each palm. “You’re very good,” she whispered. “At what, love?” he asked, lowering her hands but not releasing them. “Your magic, of course. I don’t think I could create a distraction spell this strong.” He looked into her large brown eyes that were currently staring at him with awe. Her perfect bowshaped mouth was slightly parted as she breathed heavily, and her creamy toffee-colored skin was flushed with the faintest hint of rose. She was beautiful even while being completely aggravating.

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“Love, this isn’t a distraction spell. This is what we make together,” he said, pulling her body to his. Releasing her hands, he placed one of his at the small of her back and another on her hip. “I don’t believe you. I’ve never felt this way before with a man,” she said with a gasp. Giving her a wicked smile, he pressed her closer so she could feel the evidence of his arousal against her stomach. He chuckled softly when she made another gasping noise and the slight flush of rose bloomed on her cheeks. “That’s because, love, you were never with me,” he said huskily against her ear. She snorted. “Please, I’m not some blushing virgin, Sebastian. I’ve been with men before. There was even this one time I was with this shifter and he was…” Sebastian growled and brought his mouth down on hers in a possessive kiss to silence her description of some male touching her who wasn’t him. He felt her stiffen briefly, but then she freed her hands, which were crushed between their bodies, and wrapped them in his hair, bringing him closer to deepen the kiss.

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*** Lailah wanted to be angry with Sebastian for assuming she would be okay with him kissing her. She was really working on that, but the way he was nibbling softly on her bottom lip made it hard for her to concentrate on anything but the tension that was building in her womb. When his hand at her lower back drifted down to her ass and began massaging her in firm caresses, she decided being angry could go on hold. Opening her mouth, she felt a little thrill of excitement begin to coarse through her body as his tongue dueled with hers. She’d always found kissing with tongues to be just okay, but with the way Sebastian used his lips and teeth to draw hers into his mouth, she knew she’d never been kissed properly before. The sensual in and out of his tongue in her mouth was accompanied by him grinding his impressive erection into her. Impulsively she bit down on his lip and reveled in the feel of her teeth sinking into the plush firmness.

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Breaking their kiss, Sebastian pulled back and looked deep into her eyes. Panting softly, she feared maybe she’d taken it a little too far. She’d always loved biting and scratching her partners in a purely primal way. Unfortunately, the few men she’d been with only tolerated it to a certain point. “Well, it seems my little witch has teeth and claws. If I make you purr some more, will you use them on me?” Sebastian asked, with a wicked smile and lust in his eyes. She didn’t even bother to respond; she just pulled him back down for a kiss. Their previous kiss couldn’t compare to what they created now, in this moment. The clash of tongues, teeth, and bodies fusing into one made her feel as if she was burning from within, and yet she couldn’t pull away, even for the oxygen she needed to survive. Lifting her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist, Sebastian pressed her into the bookcase at her back. She worried momentarily about the stability of the position, but the feeling of his covered penis rubbing against her pussy caused all rational thoughts to escape. Arching her lower body up at an angle to

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cause better friction, Lailah began to meet him thrust for thrust. When he bit down deeply into her bottom lip, she felt it all the way to her clit. Moaning, she lightly ran her nails along his scalp as he pushed her dress up higher on her hips, exposing her flesh to his cool touch. She was on fire, and the only thing keeping the flames within from consuming her was his chilled hands running along her flesh. “More, I need more,” she whispered along his lips. At their current angle she could look directly into his ice blue eyes. She didn’t care any more if this was one of the most elaborate distraction spells created or if he was using her to get Light and Shadow. With his hands soothing her feverish skin, and the thought of him inside of her pushing her to completion, she was going to enjoy this moment and worry about the consequences later. “Are you sure, love?” Sebastian asked, with a probing look. “Yes, I need more,” she whimpered, as he thrust forward between her thighs.

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“Then it’s more you shall get,” he stated, gathering her in his arms and turning toward a table off in the corner of the room. She just hoped the “more” was enough to sustain her when this moment together was over.

Chapter Four This wasn’t the way he’d imagined their first time together, but he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Placing Lailah on the table he spotted in the corner, he paused briefly to take in the image of her sprawled out before him. She was beyond beautiful with her skin flushed and her hair disheveled. Her lips were glossy and swollen from their frantic kissing earlier, and her liquid brown eyes sparkled with passion. Gazing up at him, she reached out to bring him down on top of her, but he had other plans. Stepping between her legs, he pushed them farther apart and began to lower himself to his knees. Leaning forward, he kissed her panty-covered area. The smell of her was intoxicating. The black lace of the tiny material that covered her was soaked, and he could see the evidence of her arousal. “You’re so wet,” he whispered, as he ran a finger along the fabric at her entrance.

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“Oh, Sebastian,” she moaned, arching herself up closer to his mouth. “Um, yes, love. What is it you need?” He couldn’t help teasing her. “Sebastian, please don’t tease me,” she pleaded. “Tell me what you want, love,” he said as he rubbed his lightly stubbled cheek against the inside of her thigh. The action caused her legs to spasm briefly and another moan to escape her lips. “Eat me, Sebastian. Use your tongue and teeth and lips,” she replied breathlessly. He almost came in his pants at the words she used. His scholarly little witch had a very naughty side, and he couldn’t wait to see just what else she had in store for him. Pulling off her wet panties, he looked up at her from between her legs. She was watching him, and the fire that burned in her eyes was setting him aflame. His already engorged penis swelled almost painfully in his pants. Smiling, he winked before he lowered his head and did as his little witch asked. The taste of her on his tongue was spicy and tart. He found himself slurping up her essence as if it were

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the elixir of life. Running his tongue across her clit, he moaned softly as she reached down and grabbed his hair. When she tugged on his thick locks, he bit down softly on the sensitive bundle of nerves. The sharp cry of pleasure she made let him know he was doing exactly what she wanted. Sebastian was glad he’d put the protection spell around them, because he didn’t know what he would do if someone interrupted their lovemaking. Even though the party downstairs in the main part of the library was pretty loud, he didn’t want to run the risk of getting caught, particularly because it appeared Lailah was going to be a screamer. Abandoning her clit for the moment, he ran his tongue down until he got to her opening, then pressed his tongue inside. The sheer heat momentarily shocked him. Narrowing his tongue, he began simulating what he planned to do with his shaft later. The feel of her inner walls trembling slightly caused him to let out a low growl. He wanted to push her over the edge so he could experience her orgasm on his tongue before he felt it grasping at his penis. Bringing his hand up to pinch her clit while he pressed

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his tongue in and out of her, he knew he was close to getting what he wanted. *** Lailah never thought one could pass out from pleasure alone, but she was on her way to doing just that. When Sebastian gave her his signature sexy grin and wink, she was expecting something good, but when he leaned down and began to devour her pussy, she didn’t think she had words to describe what he was doing. Clutching his head closer, she began to ride his face. Panting, she arched her back and let out a guttural scream when he began to fuck her with his tongue as he pinched her clit. Wave after wave of pleasure worked its way through her nervous system, and all she could think was, more. She’d never thought of herself as selfish until this moment, but she didn’t want what he was creating to stop. “I need you inside of me now,” she shouted down at him as she tried to pull him on top of her.

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Pushing her hands away, he made a feral sound and began eating her as if it was his last meal. Arching her back, she braced herself for another tsunami of pleasure to pour over her. She could feel his hands digging into her hips as he pulled her lower body up from the table, providing a better position for him to work his magic. Keening softly, she wrapped her legs around his neck and let him have his way. The cool texture of his lips against the fire he’d created between her legs was one

of

the

most

erotic

contrasts

she’d

ever

experienced. She was awash with pleasure, and she hadn’t even had him inside of her—yet. Feeling as if she couldn’t take any more, Lailah’s body exploded into a million little pieces as he pulled another orgasm from her. Detaching himself from between her thighs, Sebastian began to rise from his position on his knees. Lailah was far too exhausted to do anything but lie on the table and breathe heavily. Her limbs felt as if they were lined with lead, and her pussy was vibrating with tiny aftershocks from the intensity of her orgasms. She could faintly hear the rustle of fabric being removed

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from his body and hitting the floor, but she was too tired to even raise her head to peer at his impressive body. “Let me help you take the rest of your clothes off,” Sebastian whispered as he pushed her dress up and over her head. Lifting one of her legs, he removed her shoe and proceeded to do the same with the other. She really didn’t have the strength to do anything except lie there, but she was touched by the gentle way he handled her. This was not the Sebastian De Winter she knew, or at least thought she knew. Well, if she had to be honest with herself, she really didn’t know that much about him. Over the years, she’d noticed they’d begun to travel in the same circles, but she’d made a point to avoid him. Focused on improving her skill, she always found him far too distracting. She would like to blame it solely on his looks, but she knew it was so much more. His talent as a witch was overwhelming. If she’d just been jealous of him, that would have been tolerable, but she’d always found herself drawn to the very power of him. That scared her because when he

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was around she didn’t think about her craft or increasing her skill. When he mentioned earlier their kiss created something special, she had to admit she was momentarily

frightened,

because that was

something she always felt tugging at her when he was around: magic in its purest form. “Why are you so far away, love? Come back.” Sebastian whispered as he kissed along her jaw line. Running her hands up and down the tight muscles of his back, she realized the previously hard surface of the table was now a soft daybed. “When did you do this?” she asked, indicating the daybed. “When you went wherever it is you go when you want to escape me,” he replied, pulling back so he could look into her eyes. “I don’t try to escape you,” she said indignantly. Chuckling, he placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Later—save that sharp tongue of yours for later. I’d much rather use it for more pleasurable purposes now,” he stated, leaning in and giving her a deeper kiss.

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She wanted to respond to his insult, but he was doing that thing with his teeth on her lips that caused pleasure to flow straight to her clit. Yes, later—she could yell at him later.

Chapter Five Sebastian was worried briefly when Lailah began to drift off. He knew that look from the countless times he’d tried to engage her in conversation during the years. He noticed that she made a point never to be alone with him, and would often fade away into the background when they were in large groups. It amazed him she couldn’t feel what tugged between the two of them whenever they were in a room together: magic in its purest form. Biting and sucking at her plush mouth, he reached down from the bespelled table. It wasn’t one of his finest spells, but it would serve its purpose. Grabbing a condom, he broke the kiss so he could sheath himself. He couldn’t help the smile that formed when he heard Lailah’s soft gasp of appreciation upon seeing his engorged penis. This was one of the main reasons he’d turned the table into a daybed. He wasn’t going to have their first time be on the hard surface of a library table. When he sank inside of her, he wanted to make sure she was

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focusing more on the pleasure he was bringing than discomfort. Also, he didn’t plan to let her up until she admitted what existed between them, and a table was not conducive to that. “Do you like what you see, love?” he asked, watching her watch him. He didn’t think he could get any harder, but when she ran her tongue across her lips he felt his penis spasm. He could only imagine what it would feel like to have that perfect bow-shaped mouth wrapped around his dick, sucking him to completion. “Um, yes, but I want to know if I’m going to like how it feels more,” she answered, with a wicked glean in her eyes. He didn’t even bother replying. Spreading her legs open, he pushed himself into her wet channel. Arching her back to take him as deeply as possible, she moaned loudly and dug her nails into his shoulders. The feel of her wet and hot for him, along with the sharp pain of her nails digging into his shoulders, sent him over the edge. Pulling back so only the tip of his penis was at her entrance, he slammed back in. He felt like a man

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possessed. Urged by a primal nature he hadn’t known existed, Sebastian wanted to brand her as his. Pumping in and out, he poured out all the years of unrequited affection he’d kept bottled inside. Her body’s response encouraged him in his frantic lovemaking. She’d wrapped her legs around his hips and met him thrust for thrust. Her hands were tangled in his hair and pulling him down to her mouth. Capturing his mouth, Lailah used teeth and tongue in pace with the thrusting of his penis inside of her. She was burning him with a slow sexual pleasure from

the

inside

out.

His

magic

responded

instinctually, and he felt a blending of fire and ice that couldn’t be replicated in nature. As her body began to spasm from within, he knew Lailah was close to exploding. Pushing harder and deeper, he staved off his own orgasm, wanting to come with her. “Come for me, love. I want to feel you come undone,” he said huskily as he broke their kiss to gaze down at her. ***

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Lailah couldn’t do anything but come after hearing Sebastian’s words. If she’d thought the previous orgasms he’d created were intense, this one shook her to her very core. This was not only her body or magic responding to him, but her very soul. She didn’t even realize she was crying until hot tears trailed down her face behind her tightly clenched lids. Increasing

his

already

demanding

pace,

Sebastian let loose the most untamed cry imaginable as he came deep within her. His call of passion triggered another orgasm from within, one that left her seeing stars, and fearing she was going to black out. She hadn’t realized he was murmuring words of endearment softly against her neck until the ringing in her ears began to subside. Finally spent, Sebastian rested on top of her. Lailah rubbed her hands softly up and down his muscled back, not minding the weight of him. She had never felt more powerfully feminine than in that moment of having Sebastian’s large frame resting between her legs. The feel of his semi-erect penis still inside of her caused her to smile with pleasure.

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“Am I hurting you?” he asked, his face buried in the space where her neck and shoulder connected. “Um, no,” she purred. “Good, because I don’t think I could move, love,” he said, kissing her softly. “Not ever?” she asked playfully. Leaning up so he rested on his forearms, Sebastian looked down at her. Searching her face as if he were memorizing every angle, he gave her a full smile. It caused the austere nature of his aristocratic features to soften, and she noticed lines crinkling at the corners of his eyes. “You are really far too attractive,” she said, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead. “Would this be better?” he asked, creating one of the ugliest glamours she’d ever seen in her life. Shrieking, she closed her eyes as she was seized with a fit of giggles. “Don’t tell me you’re that shallow, love. Come now, wouldn’t you still love me if I looked like this?” he asked, tickling her gently. “Oh don’t, Sebastian, please, I’m really ticklish,” she gasped.

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“Only until you answer me,” he said devilishly. Opening her eyes, she looked at him, feeling confused. He couldn’t be serious. “I’m serious, Lailah. Could you love me?” She looked into his blue eyes that now looked like a summer sky. She didn’t think he was talking about the glamour he was using. The hope and fear she saw in his gaze spoke of something deeper, something she felt would change her life forever. This was what she’d been running from for so long. He’d taken the small embers of passion that existed within her and caused them to flame brightly. This man, whose magic should have been the antithesis of hers, had awakened something inside of her that both frightened and invigorated. Bringing her hand up, she traced the outline of a face that without the help of magic was masculine perfection. “You are not your face, Sebastian. Therefore, I could love you in any guise,” she answered honestly. Thinking of the comments of her mentor Catherine, Lailah knew that Fate had brought them together—and who was she, after all, to question Fate.

Epilogue “Have they found it?” Catherine asked the woman kneeling over a garden patch. “Of course,” she replied absently. “My Lady Fate, what of the grimoire?” Catherine asked her mistress. “Isn’t

finding

love

far

more

important,

Catherine?” Fate answered Catherine’s question with one of her own. Angling her head, Catherine looked at the deity she’d followed faithfully for more years then she could count. Nodding her head, she smiled, because only Fate knew what would happen to the book, and Fate liked to keep it that way.

**JE**

Janet Eckford Like most great superheroes (or super-villains, depending on who’s telling the story) Janet Eckford lives a double life. By day Janet is a mild-mannered crusader for justice (or nefarious deeds, depending on who’s telling the story) and by night an indestructible creator of prose (or pathological liar, depending on who’s telling the story) while munching on her favorite cookies—oatmeal raisin. A native West Coaster who hails from the sunny state of California Janet, has loved the romance genre ever since she convinced her dad it was required reading when she was eleven. Janet believes love shouldn’t have a color code and strives to create stories that represent that belief. Send her your praise and adoration and she will return it in kind. [email protected]