Magical Moments Part 49

"You knew of the burnings?"

"I didn't witness them, my sister did. When she heard of the conflict, she knew there would be a problem, and she attempted to stop the senseless slaughter of mortals. But she wasn't successful." "They say three hundred burned." "I don't think there was that many, and it was not far from here were the chaos took place. Fear and ignorance drove righteous men to do evil deeds, and yet they thought themselves G.o.d-fearing men. Do you know not one true witch has ever been executed throughout all of history?" "I have been taught that, but I have wondered over its validity. I have thought maybe one or two might have succ.u.mbed by mere accident."

She smiled. "You don't remember your lessons. There are no accidents where magic is concerned." "I stand corrected," he said with a raise of his winegla.s.s. Their conversation continued as dinner was served. "What help did your sister offer those unfortunates?" he asked. "First she saw to securing the safety of the witches in the area. All were immediately dispensed elsewhere. Then she attempted to reason with the unreasonable."

"I'm surprised they didn't accuse her of being a witch; she is certainly beautiful enough to be termed a seductress." He bit his tongue as soon as the words left his mouth. Sarina hid her smile with a frown. "I didn't mean it the way it sounded," Dagon attempted to explain. "It's just that beautiful women, though she's not as beautiful as you, have often, through the ages, been accused of being witches." He stopped and shook his head. "I'm just putting my foot farther in my mouth." She laughed then and leaned over to kiss him. He didn't relinquish her lips, he tasted them and savored them until Sarina pulled away nervous that they might draw attention.

"No one pays attention to witches, or lovers today, dear heart," he said and kissed the tip of his nose.

"Now let me correct my blunder." "You didn't blunder, you were correct in your a.s.sumption," she informed him. "Tempest was accused of witchcraft, and it was her beauty that caused the accusation, that and a man denied."

"How did she escape?"

"She could have simply vanished in thin air, but there was one whom she could not leave behind."

Dagon remained silent, eager to hear the tale.

Sarina continued. "A young girl, barely twelve and possessed with the power of sight-"

"But not one of us?" he asked.

"No, though I am sure somewhere in her bloodline was a witch, needing saving. Tempest simply would

not leave her behind to suffer a vicious and senseless death. She cast a spell over the guards and went in search of the girl. The man who had propositioned my sister had the girl. He was telling her that he and he alone could save her."

Dagon shook his head in disgust. "And by submitting to him, evil itself, she would save her soul."

Sarina nodded. "Fortunately, Tempest had other plans.

"She materialized in his home, and he all but fainted at her feet. She then cast a spell over him that

would only allow him to make love with a woman if there was love in his heart."

"d.a.m.n, your sister's good. Didn't hurt or harm him, but taught him a much deserved lesson."

"Yes, my sister is wise," Sarina said with pride.

"What happened to the young girl?"

"Since she wasn't a witch, Tempest couldn't transport her to safety as fast and easily as she wished.

She had to journey with her for several weeks until they finally reached a safe place. She then talked with the young girl, and I suppose you could say they became good friends. She died in Tempest's arms when she was ninety-two, never having betrayed Tempest to anyone, not even her husband or children."

The story tugged at Dagon's heart. "d.a.m.n, I'm getting to like your sister."

"She really is likable."

"You could have fooled me."

Dagon ordered tea and dessert.

"I would like you to get along with my sister," Sarina said after the waitress had left.

"As long as she does nothing to hinder our relations.h.i.+p we'll get along fine."

"She is accustomed to having her way."

"So am I," he said firmly.

"You two will forever clash," she said with a shake of her head.

"I disagree," Dagon said with confidence. "All she needs to realize is that you will be my lifemate, and

she is not to interfere."

Sarina threw up her hands. "That's all? How simple. And did you follow your own dictates when

dealing with Sebastian and Ali?"

"That was different," he protested.

"How?"

"Ali needed protecting and help."

"And what if my sister thinks the same of me?"

"She doesn't need to, I'm here to protect and care for you now."

"And Tempest should just accept this after looking after me for over a thousand years?"

"You're over a thousand years old?" he asked with surprise.

"d.a.m.n," she muttered.

"You told me-"

"No, you a.s.sumed."

He shook his head. "I better get some mighty good life insurance on you."

They both laughed and it eased the mounting tension.

She took his hand, turning it over to trace circles on his palm. "You do realize that when my powers are

restored, they will far surpa.s.s yours."

"Warning me, are you?" he asked, her playful finger causing heat to rise within him-and that wasn't all

that was rising.

"Will it disturb you? My powers being greater than yours?"

"I'll worry about it when the time comes."

Her finger ceased its gentle play. "You don't think my powers will be restored?"

"Let's just say that your powers are not significant to our relations.h.i.+p."

The thought should have delighted her, but it didn't. She missed her powers and yearned for their return.

"If the spell is fulfilled, then I return with my sister and it matters not about my powers."

"You're not going anywhere," he said firmly and with a grasp of her wrist. "We are going to be

lifemates, and nothing, not even the Ancient One, is going to prevent that feat."

"You certainly are tenacious."

He leaned close to whisper in her ear. "And aroused, dear heart. Your playful finger worked its

magic."

"Should we go back to the castle?" she asked with her own anxiousness.

He brushed his lips across hers. "I was thinking more of a hotel room."

She turned wide, teasing eyes on him. "Sir, are you attempting to seduce me?"

His smile charmed and his blue eyes invited. "I can only seduce if there is love in my heart."

Her smile warmed, her hand slipped into his. "I love you, Dagon."

"That's all I needed to hear."

She didn't know the name of the hotel and didn't care, though she realized it was expensive. The lobby had been grand, the staff gracious, and the room they were showed to was simply stunning. Large and expensively decorated in blue and gold, and the bed a king-size that openly invited lovers.

Their clothes were discarded in haste, their hands reaching out to roam as they collapsed on the bed together. He teased her nipples with his tongue and his teeth, she moved in an exotic rhythm against his hardness, and they both moaned in pleasure.

This would not be a fast joining, they would take their time, pleasing and teasing each other, driving themselves to madness and enjoying every crazy, pa.s.sion-filled moment.

His fingers penetrated, hers cupped, his teased, hers stroked, and they both sparked and flamed their raging desires.

Their bodies grew damp, though they felt no chill, they rode on a fever pitch that had them aching for all they could give and more.

And when he entered her with a methodical slowness, she cursed him and arched beneath him, but he merely laughed, pulled back, and leaned over her to nip at her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and lips, and instructed her to be patient.

She cursed him again and he laughed again, though he reached out and grabbed her wrists tightly in his hands. "It's patience I'll teach you, witch."

He yanked her up along with him as he moved to bended knees, forcing himself deeply into her, and she yelled out with the pleasurable penetration of his full hardness. But then he released her wrists and slipped his hands down to her waist, grabbing hold of her slender curves, and ordered her to wrap her legs around his waist.

When she did he set a rhythm with his body and his hands on her waist, that was tormentingly slow, but erotically aware, and together they rode on a crest that swelled and peeked and collided like a cras.h.i.+ng wave on sh.o.r.e.

That was only the beginning. The night was spent in a frenzy of lovemaking. Tender and slow, fast and furious, quick and urgent, patient and gentle, they shared it all. And Sarina fell in love all over again, but then she had the distinct impression that she would do that time and time again throughout their lifetime together.

Dagon felt the same. When he thought he knew everything about her, understood her every move and feeling, she surprised him and he discovered her all over again. He would never grow bored with her, never tire of making love to her, never stop telling her how very much he loved her.

They fell asleep wrapped around each other at the foot of the large bed, the sheets twisted around their damp bodies and their breathing finally returned to normal.

Sarina was embarra.s.sed the next morning when she looked about the room. The bedcovers were torn from the bed and lay in a heap on the floor-only a crumpled sheet remained on the mattress. The couch cus.h.i.+on lay clear across the room, and the chair cus.h.i.+ons were strewn beneath the windows along with the throw pillows. Empty champagne bottles lay discarded on the table and floor, and all that was left of a bowl of plump strawberries were the stubby stems.

She immediately began to straighten the room, rus.h.i.+ng around naked, picking up pillows and tripping over sheets.

Dagon simply laughed at her antics, scooped her up, and demanded she shower with him. The bathroom looked no better, and she blushed when she recalled their time together in the tub and out of it.

He merely laughed and dragged a protesting Sarina under the warm pulsating shower spray.

She slept in his arms all the way home, and he held her tightly, protectively.

"Three days," he said to himself, and they still had not come to a rational decision of how to handle her sister. Tonight, they would talk this out and make definite plans. He would not lose her. She belonged to him and he to her, and they would join as lifemates. Her sister would simply have to understand. He would make her understand.