Without The Magic

Without The Magic
Mara

The sound of boots against the stone floor is what draws us out of our silence.

I look away from the fire to find Kaelith standing in the doorway, his eyes on mine. They’re dark, hooded over like he’s upset, or tense… or both.

The thread between us is tight, momentary waves of longing making the pain in my chest almost sour. My eyes shift to the open window, eyeing just how dark the night sky has become. Almost none of the red remains.

Nythera shifts beside me, standing as she brushes her hands down the front of her pants. She sighs. “Looks like it’s time for us to head to bed.”

She gives me a small smile, bowing her head slightly. The movement takes me off guard, and I feel almost embarrassed. A queen bowing for me?

My cheeks heat, watching her as she walks away. She whispers something as she walks by Kaelith, but I don’t hear her and he doesn’t even acknowledge her.

When it’s just us, everything else disappears. I can’t force him out of my mind, can’t remove my attention from him. He is all. He is everything. We stare at each other for what seems like forever, letting the seconds drag on.

My magic mutedly bumps inside me, as if begging to be released. It craves Kaelith, almost as much as I do. But that’s how I know that I don’t need the magic. Wetness pools between my thighs, making me slick with need. My heart hammers in my chest, anticipation and yearning taking over.

I find it hard to breathe beneath his red gaze. I want to enjoy the torture of looking at him but not touching him while simultaneously wanting to close the distance between us and make him mine.

And all of this comes so easily to me. I feel it so clearly.

Without my magic.

Kaelith inhales deeply. My scent is everywhere in this room, and his jaw tightens when he senses it. “I’ve prepared a room for you.”

His voice is rough, almost inaudible. I want to correct him, tell him that whatever room is mine, is ours. But I say nothing, instead standing and making my way toward him. He barely moves, only letting his eyes follow me as I move across the room, as I pass by him and make my way into the hallway.

I stop where I am, not knowing where to go.

Kaelith walks up behind me, pressing his lower body against mine.

My breath shudders as I feel him against me. His body hard and yet warm. He doesn’t use his hands, just leads me with his body, letting my legs move as his push mine forward.

We turn into the last door in the hallway and step right into a private room. There is a basin to wash, a fluffed bed with furs and a fire in the hearth. Kaelith closes the door behind us, locking it in place. I close my eyes in relief, letting out a slow breath.

He’s staying here with me.

The silence is almost deafening. I don’t dare say anything. I have poured my heart out to him one too many times. This perfect moment, where we are finally together again, is not something I want to ruin.

I feel him behind me, feel his breath on the back of my neck as he takes in my scent. It’s extremely tense in here, my nerves on edge. My magic knocks in my mind again, begging for release.

But I don’t want it to interfere.

Not in this moment where it can just be us again.

He lifts his hand, tucking my hair behind my ear and running his fingers down the curve of my neck. My skin lights up, my nipples turning hard against the fabric I’m wearing. The heavy dress the queen let me borrow this morning.

It’s like that’s the answer he was waiting for.

Without hesitation, his fingers move over the back of the dress, unbuttoning. He takes his time, the air hitting my skin one inch at a time. I’m wearing nothing underneath it and my body still feels hot.

As the dress slowly starts to slip down my arms and back, bunching up at my hips, Kaelith presses kisses down my spine. The feeling is sensational, leaving me wanting for more but also not wanting him to stop.

His lips are soft and hungry as they move over my skin. He doesn’t pull away from me, shoving the dress down my hips until it falls and pools at my feet.

“So fucking beautiful.”

The words steal my breath, his touch sending my clit into overdrive. I’m still so sore from Thane, sore from the saddle, and yet I cannot stop myself from wanting him. Wanting more.

He finally pulls his lips from my spine, standing to his full height as he walks around me to stand in front of me. He buries his hands in my hair, pulling my head back. I claw at his shoulders, wanting him as close as possible. It had been too long since I’ve had him and I crave him more than I thought I could.

He closes the distance between us, taking my mouth with his. Completely taking it. He overpowers me, devouring me as if I were like him. As if I could also stop breathing and be fine. I press myself onto the tips of my toes, wrapping my arms around his neck as I take more from him as well.

I don’t let him pull away when he tries the first time, biting down on his bottom lip to keep him in place. He growls in response, tightening his arms around my waist to keep me in place as he deepened the kiss.

I could feel the desire building in the pit of my stomach, need wetting me between the thighs. I want Kaelith and I want him now.

Eventually, the pain in my lungs forces me to stop the kiss, gasping for breath as I step away. Kaelith’s eyes are black now, completely overrun by his pupils.

He’s beautiful.

His shoulders move as he breathes heavily, lips wet from my tongue and lifted in a scowl.

“I want you,” he growls.

I nod desperately.

“But you are in pain.”

I shake my head. “I don’t care.”

He flinches as if the words are offensive to him. We simply stare at each other for a moment. He lets his eyes lazily and heatedly travel down my body. My immediate reaction is to cover myself, but I want him to see me.

I want to see the need he has for me, the want he has for me in his eyes.

He tilts his head as he studies me, as if aware of my thoughts. The silence is killing me, but I’m reassured when he reaches for me, grabs my hand and leads me to the bed.