Authors: Caryn Moya Block
He wrapped his arm around her waist and fingered the silver chain that was used in the ceremony. The pretty heart-shaped lock kept the chain firmly around her middle. He liked that the ceremony included h
is fastening it around her. He was possessive enough to enjoy the symbolism. The same thing applied to the rings he had gifted her with. He wanted everyone to know that Gabriella was his.
A string quartet started tuning
up, and Garrett sighed. As guests of honor, he and Gabriella couldn’t sneak out early. He picked up his flute of champagne. Somehow, he needed to be patient. A single sip let him know champagne wasn’t the answer. He pushed the food around on his plate and finally chose to eat a strawberry. The fruit was nice and sweet. He picked up a second strawberry and offered it to Gabriella.
She smiled and nodded. But instead of placing the fruit on her plate
, he put it up to her lips. The color of her eyes darkened like storm-swept seas, and Garrett repressed a moan.
When the
tip of her tongue licked at the fruit, he shuddered. He pushed the pointed end of the fruit a little harder against her red lips.
Her lips opened
, and he pushed the fruit deeper into her mouth. His body responded, and he worried about his reaction while surrounded by so many people. She bit down next to his fingers, leaving the green leaves in his hand.
He watched her face, entranced as she enjoyed the sweet bite. Unable to help himself
, he kissed her lips, sucking the juice from their softness before diving in to taste the last subtle sweetness left in her mouth.
When they both came up for air, Gabriella was crushed to his chest, her arms wrapped around his neck.
His hands buried deep in her hair. “We need to leave. Now,” Garrett insisted.
§
Garrett held Gabriella around the waist and ported them to his townhouse in London. At their arrival, candles magically lit around the room. Gabriella smiled at the rose petals sprinkled on the sheets and the soft music playing on the stereo.
“Your sisters?”
“I would think so, maybe with a little help.” Garrett continued to hold her, his fingers running around the chain at her waist. She knew he had the key to the little heart-shaped lock in his pocket and wondered when he would deign to remove it from her waist.
“I want to make love to you. The last few hours at my father’s drove me crazy.”
“Really?” Gabriella reached up to unbutton Garrett’s white shirt. She took her time, making sure to brush his chest with her fingers as she released each button.
“Feeding you the strawberry was nearly my undoing. I wasn’t sure I could keep myself from throwing you over my shoulder and leaving right then.”
Gabriella reached up and removed the floral wreath from her head the girls had made. She threw it onto a chair and let down her hair. Garrett had left his wreath on the table at the reception.
“But you didn’t
,” Gabriella said. Her hands returned to his chest, slipping inside his shirt to feel each muscle.
“No, I didn’t …” He buried his hands in her hair and pulled her close to kiss her. Gabriella sighed. Garrett wasn’t the only one who wanted this. Saying goodbye to all those
guests had driven her crazy too.
He licked
, and teased, and then nipped, demanding entrance. Gabriella shuddered and opened her lips to him. He thrust inside, claiming and conquering. She loved it and responded with a little claiming of her own. She sucked his tongue deep and wouldn’t let him retreat until she wanted to release him. He moaned, pulling her head back, pushing his tongue deeper.
She felt the knot on one shoulder of her dress release
, and cool air blew over her skin. Garrett’s fingers ran around the bra that kept her from his touch. She pushed against his hand, wanting the bra gone and the warmth of his hand resting on her skin.
Garrett kissed her below her ear and moved down to her neck. Gabriella found the button of his trousers and released it before slipping her hand inside to find his steel length. She brushed her fingers over him, teasing him in his briefs. Then
, it was his turn to push against her hand and demand that she remove the fabric impeding her touch.
Garrett released the second knot
, and the top of her dress fell around her waist. With a quick flick of his fingers, her bra was undone and slipped to the floor. Garrett’s warm hands settled over her breasts, kneading and massaging as he continued to kiss her neck and shoulders.
Gabriella released the last two buttons of his trousers
, and they, too, slipped to the floor. When he went to step out of them, she pushed down his underwear, as well, and finally he stood gloriously naked and erect. Her hand surrounded his hardness and squeezed gently.
He pushed against her hand
, and she squeezed a little harder. Garrett pulled her dress under the chain, and it slipped free to the floor. He cupped her and found her panties damp. He pushed down her underwear, and she, too, was naked except for the silver chain around her waist.
He leaned down and took her nipple into his mouth. He sucked hard
, then rolled the nubbin with his tongue. Gabriella moaned and wrapped one arm around his neck to hold him in place.
It feels so good.
Garrett released her nipple with a pop and took the other one into his mouth. Gabriella moaned and stepped closer. Teasing both of them
, she rubbed the head of his steel shaft against her wet core.
“You’re killing me, baby. I wanted our first time to last.”
“Next time,” Gabriella panted. “I need you inside me.”
Garrett lifted her. “Put your
legs around my waist.”
Gabriella complied and helped lead him into her hot core. She groaned at the feeling of fullness as she sank down on his shaft.
Garrett gripped her butt and encouraged her to rise up and then drop back down.
“More, I need more,” Gabriella complained.
Garrett walked them over to the bed and laid her down. He began to pound into her, pushing deep. A wave of longing overtook her, and she began to tremble. Her nails bit into his back as she tried to hold on. She panted while pushing up to meet his thrusts. She was close, so close.
“Garrett!”
“I know, baby.” Garrett reached down and tweaked the little bundle of nerves between her legs. She exploded, calling his name. She floated free. Garrett groaned and stiffened and joined her in the ether.
They both came down in
a tangle of limbs. Garrett rose up, but Gabriella pulled him back down, running her hands over the muscles in his back. “Not yet, I want to feel your weight.”
“I don’t want to crush you, baby.”
“You won’t. Hold me.”
Garrett tightened his arms around her. “
Ella, I’m never letting you go.”
Garrett leaned down and pulled the covers over them. Gabriella lay tight against him. He chuckled and rolled onto his side. She pushed against his length and snuggled down. They had slept a couple of hours after making love.
Most of the candles had gone out, leaving only two to spill a little light onto the bed. The velvet duvet lay on the floor, but the sheet was all they needed tonight. It lay gently across Ella’s waist
, bringing his eyes to the silver chain still locked around her body. He would have to retrieve the key from his shirt pocket and remove the lock.
Garrett fingered Ella’s
long black curls flowing across the pillow. He picked one up and began to brush the silkiness against her breast. She shivered and wiggled closer. His body responded, growing hard with wanting her. He kissed her shoulder and licked her neck before sucking her earlobe into his mouth. He bit down lightly, and moved back to her neck. All the while, he brushed her hair lightly over her breast and around her nipple.
The little nubbin grew harder and longer the more he teased it. Gabriella whimpered
, and Garrett decided to stop tormenting that side. He leaned over and sucked her nipple into his mouth while bringing her hair over to the other side and brushing lightly against it.
“Garrett,” Gabriella sighed and ran her fingers through his hair.
Garrett continued to lick and suck while using her hair to tickle and tease the other nipple. He released her nubbin from his mouth when she pulled on his hair, forcing his head up.
“What?” h
e asked.
“Stop teasing me.”
“I thought you liked what I was doing.”
“I do, it’s just that you’re driving me crazy.”
“I hope so, Ella. I wouldn’t be a very good Destined One if I couldn’t drive you crazy.”
Gabriella pushed him over on
to his back and straddled him. “Then, I guess I need to drive you crazy for a while.”
Garrett reached up and pinched her nipples before rolling the nubbins in his fingers. She retaliated by leaning down and sucking his nipple into her mouth. He chuckled
. She was determined to give as good as she got. He liked that about her. Her hair swept forward over his chest, tickling his flesh with each breath he took. He reached up and tucked her hair behind her shoulder.
She switched sides
, licking and nipping his chest before she sucked the second nipple into her mouth. Garrett’s body hardened even more. If she continued this way, he’d explode.
He lifted her
body up, and then lowered her hot warmth over his shaft. He raised his hips so he could thrust up, filling her to the fullest. She moaned against his chest before she bit down on the nubbin in her mouth.
Garrett shuddered as he lifted his hips again to meet her downward stroke.
So much for soft and easy. She inflamed him
. All he could think about was getting deeper inside her, joining their bodies until nothing could keep them apart.
“Ella, I’m not going to last, honey.”
“It’s okay, I’ll catch up later.”
Garrett grabbed her waist and rolled, pinning her beneath him. “You’ll catch up now.”
Gabriella panted as he pumped harder within her. In and out, building the tension, until she writhed under him. He leaned down and sucked her nipple into his mouth, then bit down on the sweet berry. Gabriella shuddered and came with a rush. “Garrett …”
Her muscles clamped down around him, holding him tight. He pumped his hips, once, twice
, and joined her in ecstasy.
Garrett gathered her close, running his hands over her back and shoulders. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you. I wanted this time to be soft and sweet.”
Gabriella laughed. “I guess we’ll have to keep trying.” She yawned and slipped off his body, laying her head on his shoulder.
He brushed her hair off her face and kissed her lightly on the nose. “Give me an hour and we can try again.”
“Let’s make it a few hours. I’m all tired out for some reason.” Ella kissed his mouth and closed her eyes, slipping her palm under her cheek.
“Sleep well, baby.” Garrett wasn’t surprised when she didn’t answer
. She was already fast asleep.
He slipped from the bed, and retrieved the key to the heart shaped lock, before returning to Ella’s side of the bed. He hesitated. He liked knowing she wore the chain. Shaking his head he leaned down and released the lock. He pulled gently on the chain wrapping it around his hand as it came free from Ella’s waist. She was his Destined One. He didn’t need a chain around her waist to prove it.
§
Gabriella woke in a rush.
Sun streamed through the windows. She and Garrett hadn’t set an alarm last night, but from the amount of sunlight in the room, she guessed they had overslept. Garrett lay wrapped around her with his arm holding her waist and a leg thrown over her thighs. His face was buried in her neck, and his breath tickled her ear with each exhalation.
She tried to move, but his arm tightened and drew her back close. She smiled, her heart warming at his possessiveness, even in his sleep.
He certainly fulfilled her dreams as an attentive lover. She was achy in parts she didn’t know could get achy. She could use a soak in a hot bath.
Garrett’s cell phone began to ring. He groaned and rolled over to answer it.
“Amhurst. What do you mean they’ve been taken? All right, I’ll be in the office in an hour.”
Gabriella sat up, worried
by the tone of his voice. “What is it? Who was taken?”
“Elise and
Brant were kidnapped off the street in front of the Coffee House last night. I have to get to the office to see the footage from the traffic cam. There were a bunch of witnesses, and the local police are involved in the case. This could get messy really fast. You’ll be safe here. The house is warded. If you need me, just call, and I’ll port in. I’m sorry I have to cut our time short.” He rubbed a hand over his eyes.
“Don’t be sorry. I understand.” Gabriella smiled in reassurance even though her heart dropped.
Was this the life ahead of her—Garrett being called away at a moment’s notice?
“Come shower with me. I don’t want to let go of you just yet.”
“Is that all we are going to do?” She didn’t want him to leave.
He smiled and ran a finger down her cheek. “I have heard that water witches can do amazing things with their element. Want to show me?”
He wanted to see her play in the water. “I would love to show you.” Gabriella jumped from the bed.
§
Each droplet of water felt like lips kissing Garrett’s skin. Gabriella motioned with her hands a graceful flowing movement. A stream spiraled around his shaft, squeezing and massaging. Garrett moaned.
It feels so good.
He wanted Gabriella to share in the experience.
Tentatively
, he reached for his magic and felt the energy of the water. He merged with the element, then tried to bend it to his will. There was a slight response as the water coming from the showerhead seemed to split into two streams.
He
motioned with his hands and pushed harder with his magic, willing the water flowing over Gabriella to lick at her skin. Nothing happened.
He merged with the water again. Water flows. He relaxed into merging with the element, letting it fill him up, before causing the water to lick at her skin. Gabriella
gasped. “How are you doing that?”
“We are Destined Ones
. I can use your element, and you can use mine.”
Garrett pulled at a stream and sent it searching between her legs. Gabriella moaned and leaned back against the tiled enclosure. She stared at him, her eyes smoky with desire, as he sent the water diving into her core. First pushing in
, then receding.
“You’re a quick learner. I’m not going to last.”
“Yes, you are. Come here.” Garrett let the water drop to the floor and gathered Ella close to his chest before lifting her and filling her with his need.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. Her muscles tightened
, and he knew she was close. “Now, Ella. Come for me, now.”
She shuddered and cried out. The sound of her pleasure whipped through him
, and he exploded with a groan. “Good Goddess, I’m never going to get enough of you.”
She smiled and kissed him on the nose. “That’s good, because I’m always going to need you.”
He slowly lowered her to the floor and touched her forehead with his. “Don’t worry, Ella. You’re all mine now.”
§
You’re all mine now. No, I love you, or I can’t live without you. What did she expect? She hadn’t said the words to him, either. But she had hoped he might tell her.
Gabriella wandered through the empty townhouse
, wondering what to do. Garrett had asked her to come to headquarters with him, but she had declined, miffed that he wouldn’t tell her what she wanted to hear. What did he want her to do while he worked? She couldn’t just sit there in the office. Still, she might go and surprise him at lunch.
She wandered into the library and ran her fingers over the spines of the
antique books. Maybe she should read one. The sun glinted off the tooled leather of the covers. In a way, the book covers were a piece of art.
She wandered to the French doors and looked outside. It wasn’t that long ago that she had run away through these doors. Sig
hing, she spotted a tree. A sudden idea blossomed in her mind. If Garrett could use her element, then she should be able to use his.
Gabriella
opened the door and walked up to the huge oak. Gently, she pressed her palm to the bark.
Hello, s
he thought to the tree. Opening her senses wide, she waited to see if she got a response. A shiver of awareness went through her. The branches on the tree moved as if a gentle breeze blew through them. A feeling of welcome slowly filled her.
She s
ank to her knees and pressed her back to the tree. Leaning her head against the bark, she closed her eyes and opened her senses even more. A piece of her consciousness seemed to sink into the tree and travel down its root system into the earth. Everything was alive. She could see sparks of consciousness in every plant and rock.
Things seemed to move slowly here. The tree reached for the sun and glorified in the light that fed it. There were no other concerns. The roots reached beneath the soil
, seeking water and nutrients. What surprised her more was that they also sought information. Somehow, this lone tree was in contact with the tree in the next yard and the one in the yard after that.
Flowing along the root system
, she realized the bushes were also part of this information system. She pushed her hands against the earth and felt energy crackle under her palms. Below her was a spur of quartz that seemed to be humming.
Using her magic, she invited it to come to her. A large piece the size of her fist slowly rose through the soil to rest in her hands. She cupped it and felt
a shiver of awareness as she connected with the stone, and the stone recognized her.
The Earth
had gifted the stone to her. She lovingly caressed the white opaque quartz and sent feelings of gratitude back into the soil. The Earth was very much alive and aware of the people that walked on its surface.
Calling on her magic again, she let her spirit burrow down in
to the soil until she found a seed waiting. She coaxed it and sang to it. Summoning moisture from the lower levels, she fed the little seed. It awoke and quivered. Roots came out and pushed down into the nutrients. Finally, the seed broke open and sent out a tiny shoot. Gabriella continued to coax and plead with the little plant. The shoot shot up from under the dirt, seeking the light. It grew thicker and a leaf unfurled and then another one. Enchanted, Gabriella continued filling the soil with her magic.
Soon
, the shoot had become a young plant. A bud appeared and opened into a purple flower. “Yes,” Gabriella shouted. She wanted to dance and celebrate. A new life had been born, and she had helped it grow. The earth element felt safe and solid. Love for the entire planet filled her.
She fingered the petals of the flower
, feeling their softness. Then, holding the quartz crystal in her hand, she slowly rose to her feet. She swayed, feeling light-headed, and reached a hand out to her new friend, the oak. Using magic took energy on the casters part. She needed to eat and soon.
§
Garrett stood, looking at the large monitor, as Seth played the disk from the traffic cam.
“You can see here where they enter the co
ffee shop. The time stamp reads 20:40.” Seth pointed to the lower corner. Garrett nodded his head, his jaw clenching.
Brant
and Elise were holding hands. She looked up at him and smiled warmly as he held the door open for her. They seemed much taken with each other. Garrett had never seen Elise respond to a man like that before.