Conqueror, p.18
Conqueror, page 18
He was so serious, she reached up and kissed him. “I’m glad,” she said against his lips before she deepened the kiss, opening to him as he joined in the explosive desire that always seemed to flame between them.
A long moment later, she realized he’d been busy while his kiss had distracted her. She was skin-to-skin with him, her blouse and pants having disappeared somewhere along the line, along with her underwear. He wore only his pants, having kicked off his shoes and, somehow, even toed off his socks.
Fighting her way back to her senses, Amalie decided she wanted to take charge this time. Pushing back from him, she lowered her hands to his waistband and unbuttoned, then unzipped his pants. She looked up to find him watching her, the light in his eyes golden, like the sparkling fur of his lion half. Was she looking at the man or the beast… Or both?
Smiling, she lowered his pants and underwear, and he kicked the fabric away. He was hard and ready, and she wanted to feel. She wrapped her hand around him, loving the velvet heat of him as he pulsed gently in her hand.
“Sweetheart, you do much more of that, and this’ll be over before it begins,” he warned her.
Was he really so ready for her that the slightest touch would set him off? The thought gave her pause and filled her with wonder. Did he really want her that much? It seemed incredible that such a handsome man—who probably could have any woman that caught his eye—would be that turned on by her. But there he was, hard and almost quivering in her hand.
Huh. Amalie thought about that for a split second, and the idea made her feel fierce and wanted and…loved. Not for what she looked like or what she could do, but for who she was. Because deep down, she knew this kind of attraction was for the entirety of her being, not just her body or her power. He wanted her. All of her. Not just the superficial bits that would change over the years.
Just as she wanted him. Certainly, he was the most handsome man she’d ever known, but it wasn’t his looks alone that attracted her to him. It was his mind and his heart and his incredible courage. She remembered him taking on that Tauror and winning—when not jinxed by Mrs. Entwistle. She admired him for that and for so much else. He really was the most amazing man she’d ever known, and her heart had been won very, very quickly. Maybe there was something to that shifter way of knowing your true mate so quickly. Meeting Billy had made her a true believer in love at first sight.
She squeezed him once more and then released his hard length, moving her hands to his shoulders until the back of his knees hit the side of the odd-shaped bed. She pushed gently, and he sat, scooting back into the middle of the bed. She liked the way he watched her as she climbed over him. Straddling his legs, she reached between them and took him in hand again.
“Would you mind if we sped this along this time? I’m not really into waiting right now,” she said, her breath coming in short pants as her excitement increased exponentially. She loved the idea that he was letting her have her way with him.
“We’ve got all night, sweetheart, and I’ve got shifter stamina on my side. I’m fine with taking the edge off so we can take our time later.” His grin told her all she needed to know. That and the pulsing hardness in her hand.
She guided him to her and slid downward, taking him deep. She was so wet and ready, it didn’t take much work to slide him deep inside. Then, she paused for a moment, savoring the feel of him.
He reached up to fondle her, and she began to move. Slowly at first, she felt the rhythm of the waves against the boat increasing a little from what they’d been before. She went with it. The inexorable motion of the ocean helping her emulate that motion between them.
She rode him for a good long while, only escalating things when it all became too much. She needed more. She keened as she rose toward the moon that was pulling on the waves, and on them. Rising higher, taking her pleasure somewhere it had only ever gone with Billy. Crying out his name, she came hard, pulsing with need as she felt him shoot to the stars with her, coming inside her as they completed their pleasure together.
Always. Together forever. As it should be.
Long moments later, she rested on him, her head cradled against his chest as they began to breath more normally. Billy’s big hands stroked her back, holding her against him as if he would never let her go. Basking, Amalie placed lazy kisses along his pectoral muscle and collar bone, then the underside of his jaw.
“This is even better than I dreamed,” Amalie said lazily. “And I didn’t think anything could get better than those dreams.”
“Wait.” Billy raised his head to meet her gaze. “You dreamed of me too?”
“I’ve been dreaming of you for quite a while, Billy,” she revealed, feeling warm and loose and wanting him to know everything. The time for secrets between them was well and truly over.
“I thought I was the only one,” he murmured, his gaze filled with confusion.
“I think we’ve been sharing the same dreams for the past few nights. I especially enjoyed making love to you in my private study at the castle,” she revealed.
“The octagonal room with the magical chandelier?” he asked. “I meant to go looking for it before we left, just to see if it was real.”
“Oh, it’s real, all right.” She paused to place a smoking hot kiss on his lips before drawing back. “I’ll take you there someday, and we can reenact that dream.”
“I’d love that,” he replied, caressing her cheek and rubbing his thumb along her lower lip.
“It’s a date, then. Next time we go there, I’ll give you the nickel tour.”
“Deal.” He gazed into her eyes, and her breath caught as he lowered his lips to hers once more.
“I love you, Billy,” she whispered, in between kisses.
“That’s good because I love you too, sweetheart. Always and forever.”
He rolled them over and began loving her all over again. This time, he was most assuredly in charge, and she wouldn’t have had it any other way. Their loving was slow and tempestuous and filled with the finesse she’d been too eager to find in their first encounter that night.
As he’d promised, he made love to her long into the night, over and over, in different positions and ways, but always with the greatest love she had ever felt from any man. She was left in no doubt that they were perfect for each other. Not that she hadn’t known it before, but with such a whirlwind romance, it was good to build on each experience so that eventually, their love would be as solid as the foundations of the home they would build together.
They were only just starting out on this amazing journey together, and she was eager to see where it all would lead. She knew the whole world was going into a rough chapter, but with any luck—and the two of them working together—they would weather the storm and come out better on the other side. It was what she prayed for, and what she hoped in every part of her being, would happen.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The next morning, Amalie and Billy took a quick look at the two houses in the neighborhood that were for sale. When they arrived at the second house, Mr. Humblebee was waiting for them, sitting patiently on the front stoop. Billy looked at Amalie as they walked up the front walk.
“I think we know which house your cat likes,” he said, grinning.
“This one is a bit bigger than the other one, and it’s closer to Gran. Closer to Meg’s house too,” Amalie observed.
Billy said nothing as he punched in the code the real estate agent—another member of the coven—had texted them earlier on the lockbox that would allow them to enter and tour the empty house. When he got the door open, Mr. Humblebee went inside as if the house was already theirs, going from room to room, checking out the place. They did the same, only a bit slower, and returned to the front foyer to find the cat waiting for them once more.
“What do you say, Humblebee?” Amalie addressed her cat. “Is this our house?”
The cat answered her with an emphatic meow and raised one paw.
“I think that’s a yes,” Billy said, grinning at the orange cat. He had to ask her about Humblebee’s behavior. He wasn’t like normal cats. Not by a long shot. “Is he what they call a witch’s familiar?” The question had been bothering Billy ever since he’d met the strange orange housecat.
Amalie picked up the cat and stroked him as she cradled him in her arms. “You’d have to ask Gran to be sure, but I do know he’s a lot smarter than your average cat. Aren’t you, Mr. Humblebee?” She turned the cat’s face to hers and placed a kiss on his forehead. Surprisingly, he licked her cheek in return. Yeah, that wasn’t a normal cat.
Billy called the realtor once they relocked the house and walked away, Mr. Humblebee slinking along close behind them. He put in an offer on the house as they walked toward Amalie’s grandmother’s place. They had a long to-do list today and spreading the news of their impending marriage was high on the list.
For the sake of their human neighbors, they were going to say they were engaged with a wedding to follow as soon as they picked a date. But the shifters and the members of the coven knew that they were already bonded as deeply as magically possible. It shone out of their eyes and when they touched. Sparks of magic twining in their souls.
They told Amalie’s Gran first, out of respect, and she regarded them coolly. So much so that Amalie’s hackles—if a human could be said to have hackles—rose in instant defense of her mate. Then, her grandmother smiled, just a little, and asked Billy why he’d taken so long to seal the deal. Amalie was appalled, but her grandmother only cackled in that way she had perfected over centuries of living and patted Amalie on the back.
“You caught a good one,” Gran whispered to her as they hugged, and Amalie knew then that her Gran’s gruffness was just a big act.
Meg and Rich’s response, when they told them, was joyous. Rich teased his brother and gave Amalie a big hug, officially welcoming her to the family. Meg had tears in her eyes when she hugged Amalie.
“I’m so glad we’re going to be family,” Meg said. “I always wanted a little sister, and I think you’re just about perfect for the job.”
Amalie was touched and felt like she had a beautiful future ahead, not just with her mate, but with his family. If not for the specter of evil trying to overtake the world once again, everything would’ve been perfect. As it was, today was beautiful, and tomorrow would be here soon enough. She decided to bask in the present and worry about the upcoming darkness when it showed up.
No matter what happened, she would have her new mate at her side, and that made any challenge a little bit easier to bear.
The only sticky bit to their announcement was that the youngest brother, Colt, was on a mission of his own, and they had to wait until he checked in with base—that was Rich—later that day. Billy took care of telling his youngest brother that he was also a newly mated man. That left Colt as the only bachelor of the three left.
For that reason, Billy wanted a chance to speak to Colt about this privately before introducing him to Amalie. She was having coffee with Meg while Rich and Billy took Colt’s call in the guest room they were converting into an office for Rich.
When Colt called, Rich took the report first then handed the phone over to Billy. He took a deep breath before speaking.
“Hey, Colt, guess what?” Billy knew this probably wasn’t the most original opening line or the best way to handle the announcement, but he’d always been a man of few words. That was, until he’d met the love of his life. Thinking of Amalie steadied him. “I found my mate, Colt,” Billy said quickly in a strong voice. “Mrs. Talridge’s granddaughter. We ran into trouble and had a little encounter with Mrs. Entwistle in Ohio. She’s in the wind, so keep a weather eye out for her. We’re back on Long Island now and plan to move into the neighborhood and have a wedding for all the neighbors to enjoy.”
“Whoa, Billy, slow down. That’s the most words I’ve heard you speak at one time, like, ever.” Colt chuckled on the other end of the phone. “Your lady must make you pretty excited if you’ve become a chatterbox. I’m happy for you, man. And tell your mate, I plan to dance with her at the wedding reception.”
“Of course,” Billy replied at once, wondering if Colt was really as happy about this as he sounded.
One never knew with Colt. He tended to be the still waters that ran deep, and he often hid his real emotions with a jovial exterior. He was saying all the right things, but Billy was still concerned. Colt was the only one without a mate now. So much had changed for them in such a short time. Which reminded Billy…
“And by the way, if you happen to run into a Clan Kinkaid named Gavin, he’s okay. Dude saved my life when Mrs. E summoned a demon to fight me while she tried to make off with Amalie.”
“Really?” Disbelief colored Colt’s tone, but Billly figured he owed Gavin. He was going to be invited to the wedding, so his brothers had better understand that Gavin was okay.
“Yeah, really. Don’t give him any shit for being what he is. His mother was a mage, by the way,” Billy looked at Rich, telling him at the same time, “so he knows a bit more about magic than the average lion. And though he wasn’t in the service, he did a stint as a soldier of fortune in foreign lands. Crazy S.O.B.” Billy shook his head. “He didn’t talk about it much, but I got the impression it wasn’t a good experience. He’s okay, and we’re…sort of…friends.”
Silence reigned for a moment as those words were absorbed by both of his brothers. It seemed Billy was going to be the first to officially call one of the extended family of Kinkaids a friend. Well, then. So be it.
It was Colt who finally broke the silence. “A guy saves your life, I reckon he qualifies as a friend.”
Billy nodded, grateful for Colt’s understanding. Rich looked a bit harder to convince, but he wasn’t saying anything negative.
“When you get someplace you can do a video call, I’d love to introduce you to Amalie,” Billy turned the subject to one a bit less prickly.
“I’m driving at the moment, but I plan to stop and set up a secure call tomorrow morning if you’re around. I’m entering a later time zone, so it shouldn’t be too early for you,” Colt offered.
“We’ll make it a point to be here when you call in. I want you to meet her. Colt, she’s the best thing that ever happened to me.” Billy didn’t really care if his words sounded like dialog from a mushy chick flick.
Rich simply nodded, understanding. He’d found his mate. He’d figured it out.
“It’s good to hear you sounding so content,” Colt said softly. “I am truly happy for you, bro.”
“Thanks, Colt. You be safe out there, and we’ll see you tomorrow morning at the check-in. I’m handing you back to Rich. Bye for now.”
Rich took back the phone and finished up the call with only a few more words of caution. Then, he ended the call and stood there, looking at Billy.
“Gavin is a friend?” His tone was challenging, but Billy wasn’t going to back down on this point.
“Yeah, he is,” Billy replied, shaking his head. “I know he’s one of them, but he’s a good kid, and he did the right things when push came to shove. You should’ve seen him in the fey realm. He knew how to handle himself politically, putting out feelers for alliance talks and doing more than I would’ve known how to do when I was his age. He really impressed me.”
“You talk about him like he’s another little brother,” Rich observed.
Billy shrugged. “I can’t help it. That’s how he feels to my lion. When I caught him following me and Amalie, I wanted to put the fear of God into him, you know? But I just couldn’t do it. My lion kept thinking of him as a younger sibling or something. Kind of like Colt, but not exactly.”
“He’s a cousin, I guess,” Rich observed.
“Yeah, he is, but he feels closer than that. Not quite a brother, but not as far away as a cousin. I’ve been thinking about it, and it might be because his mother was a mage too. He’s got more magic than the other lions we’ve met. For that matter, according to Amalie, so do we. Even if we’ve never learned how to use it or had it really manifest in any way.”
Rich looked thoughtful. “I never really thought about that, to be honest.”
“Maybe it’s time we explored a little bit of the magic legacy left us by our mother,” Billy suggested. “We’re both going to be living in a powerful coven of ancient witches, mated to women of incredible power. I think we need to start asking questions about the magical side of our heritage. I don’t mean getting in touch with the Rollins family. From all accounts, they’re as shady as they ever were, and we don’t want to get mixed up in anything like that, but we have magical resources now. People willing to tell us more and maybe some who can diagnose any magical gifts we might have that we’ve just never known about or used.”
“Our mates can help with some of that,” Rich thought aloud. “They’ll know us better than anyone else in time.”
“I suppose they will,” Billy agreed with a broad smile. He liked the sound of that. “But there is a wealth of magical information in the coven. I think some of them would be willing to help us explore the magical side of our heritage. If there really is anything there that could be useful. I see this as a time for preparation. We know the war is coming. Now’s our time to get sharp enough to face all contingencies.”
“That in mind, I bought a small building on the edge of the development, and I’m going to open a dojo,” Rich said, astounding Billy.
“You what?”
“You heard me.” Rich was smiling like the cat who got the canary. “It’s the perfect cover since we’ll be living in an area that is densely populated with non-magical humans just outside this development. We can’t spend all our time here. We need a cover job. I’m going to be a sensei. You could work with me, if you want. That would give us both more flexibility. What do you think?”
