MagicalMistakes (7 page)

“I don’t,” she agreed. “But I’m asking anyway.”

Ciar pushed himself from his seat. “You dare too much.”

“I have to know.”

He narrowed his eyes, pacing toward her. “Tell me why.”

Mikayla opened her mouth to respond but had no answer for
him.

Ciar laughed bitterly at her silence and turned away from
her. “It’s always games and tricks with you,” he snapped. “Find another man to
torment, Mikayla, and leave me alone.”

He tried to stride past her but she caught his arm before he
could leave.

“I can’t find someone else.”

A muscle throbbed in his temple as he turned back to her.
“Why?”

“Because I can’t get you out of my thoughts.” She hated how
the confession made her vulnerable but he deserved at least this much from her.
“Not since that first night in the bar.”

He froze at her words. After a moment of hesitation, he
stepped back to her. Mikayla gasped as he pulled her body tightly to his, books
raining to the floor around them.

“I should forget you,” he murmured. “My life would be much
easier.”

“Yes,” she agreed, her heart hammering in her chest. “But
not necessarily as exciting.”

He smiled slightly. “I can do without the spells.”

She drew back, looking up into his silver gaze.

“How can I be so very mad at you,” he whispered, cupping her
cheek, “and still want you this badly?”

“If I had a nickel,” she joked.

Using his shoulders for support, she rose to her tiptoes and
dragged her lips across his.

He groaned under her touch. Mikayla smiled as his hands
gripped her waist. Alina might wax poetically about the past but right now he
wasn’t with his former fiancée. He was with her.

Choose me
, she thought as his lips crushed down on
hers.

If only he would.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him
closer.

Ciar waltzed her backward until her back hit the hard brick
wall. He trailed his lips over hers as his hands explored her body.

Mikayla’s fingers raked down his chest, pulling at the shirt
that hid his skin from hers. She wanted what she’d had last night. His
closeness, his heat, his ability to give her mind-blowing pleasure.

“What are you doing to me?” he demanded in a harsh whisper
against her lips.

“Nothing,” she murmured, trying to get closer.

“No,” he said, stopping her. “The last time I felt this
way—” His words cut off abruptly.

She froze in his arms as if cold water had been poured over
her head. “You were with Alina,” she finished for him.

He met her gaze straight on, not hiding the truth from her.

Mikayla shrugged out of his grip, hurt more than she wanted
to admit. Was what he felt for her just a poor imitation of what he’d once had
with someone else?

“She told me about her past,” Mikayla said, not meeting his
gaze.

“Her past?” Ciar replied sharply.

“And yours.”

“What did she say?” he demanded.

Mikayla swallowed hard. “That she left you for your
brother.”

Ciar laughed bitterly. “Alina never could keep her thoughts
to herself.”

“I can’t understand why she would make such a choice.”

He raised a mocking eyebrow. “Teivel was the heir. Surely
she told you that.”

“But it doesn’t make sense,” she replied. “Had I been in her
place, I never would have let you go.”

Surprise flashed across his face. “Not even for power?”

“Why would it matter?”

He smiled at her words but there was no pleasure in his
eyes. “Ah, Mikayla. If only I’d met you in a different time.”

The hollow smile hurt her heart but his words gave her hope.
His hostilities were lessening a little, if only temporarily. It might be her
only chance to say what had been weighing on her mind. Taking a breath, Mikayla
chose her words carefully. “Alina told me what happened to your brother,” she
said. “I’m sorry, Ciar.” He made no immediate reply but Mikayla saw how his
shoulders stiffened.

“Demons are bloodthirsty. Ruling them is dangerous.”

“That doesn’t make it any easier to lose someone you love.”

A sardonic smile twisted his lips. “Demons don’t love.”

“Teivel was your brother.”

“So?” Ciar looked up at her with emotionless eyes. “We learn
as children that emotions are a liability. We shared blood but nothing else.”

She studied him for a moment before reaching out to touch
his cheek. “I don’t believe that,” she told him. “And you have my sympathies
for losing your brother. I can’t imagine a world without my sisters.”

For a brief moment he leaned into her touch. “The
relationship you have with your kin was nothing like the one I had with mine.”

“Okay.” She stood close, offering what support she could.

“I could have rivaled my brother in terms of power. He
rejoiced the day I left for this world. I was one fewer challenge he’d have to
fight to win the throne.”

“But you didn’t challenge him,” Mikayla said. “You left
because you didn’t want to fight him.”

Ciar said nothing.

“I’m right, aren’t I?”

“You ask for answers from me, Mikayla, when you won’t return
the favor.”

Mikayla inclined her head. “I’ll tell you anything you want
as long as it’s not about Alina or the spell.”

“Really?” he murmured. “Then match me an answer for an
answer.”

Mikayla hesitated only for a moment. If he was willing to
help her solve the riddle of his life, it’d be worth confessing to a secret or
two. “All right.”

“Hmm,” he said, walking around her in a slow circle. “Is
this my chance to find out all your secrets?”

“I don’t have many for you to discover.”

“Ah, lady,” he murmured in her ear, stopping behind her.
“You are a complete mystery to me.”

She laughed softly. “I’m not very complicated.”

“You wouldn’t give up your lover for power. That makes you
the most complicated woman I’ve ever met.”

Mikayla turned in his arms. “Maybe you’ve been hanging out
with the wrong women.”

“So I’m beginning to wonder.”

She smiled at the heat in his gaze. “Who gets the first
question?”

“Me,” he replied. “Since I’m the one who will revert back to
canine form whenever the magic gives out.”

“Fair enough.”

He reached out to tilt her chin up. “Why was I the man who
was on the receiving end of your spell?”

“I was angry.”

He shook his head. “No, I didn’t ask why you did it. I asked
why it was
me
. All these months, why didn’t you give up on me?”

She swallowed hard. Looked like he wasn’t going to waste any
time beating around the bush.

“Tell me,” he urged.

Mikayla lifted her chin and met his gaze squarely. “Because
I wanted you. And not because of the chase. Maybe I started out wanting to
prove you wrong but then…” She paused. “You were all I could think about. I
hated that you could brush me aside so easily when you invaded my every
fantasy.” Heat flooded her cheeks but she couldn’t look away from his unwavering
gaze.

“Do you care for me so much?” he asked softly.

She inhaled a sharp breath. “It’s my turn,” she said,
avoiding his question. “Tell me if I was right. What is the real reason you
came here?”

She saw his jaw clench but he opened his mouth to answer.
“My brother had just stolen the woman I loved and the only way to get her back
was to kill him. It was one sin I wasn’t ready to commit.”

Not even for Alina. The words lay unspoken between them.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Doesn’t mean I miss him.”

“Of course.” She forced herself to keep a blank expression
as she said the ridiculous words.

He growled at her softly. “My turn. How much do you care
about me?”

“Ciar…”

“Tell me.” He pulled her closer. “Give me this at least.”

Mikayla gripped his arms to steady herself and rose onto her
tiptoes. Her lover held very still as she drew her lips over his in a gossamer
kiss. “I care,” she breathed. “More than I ever have for any other man.”

His muscles tightened under her hands but he made no reply.
A bitter smile curved Mikayla’s lips. What had she expected? That he’d confess
he had feelings for her too? She knew better than to hope for such a happy
ending. Instead, she pressed a light kiss to the corner of his mouth before
stepping back.

“Did you love Alina?”

Ciar met her gaze squarely. “Yes.”

She inhaled sharply, as if his word had been a physical
blow. “Do you still?”

“It’s not your turn,” he chided.

Mikayla exhaled. “I’ve never been good at playing by the
rules.”

“Well then.” He grinned, pressing a leg between hers. “Shall
I tell you what questions are weighing most heavily on my mind?”

“Go for it,” she said, trying to concentrate on his words
with his body pressed intimately against hers.

Ciar leaned down until his lips grazed her ear. “I want to
know what you’ll taste like if I strip you down and run my lips over your
silken skin. What you’ll feel like if I pull you against me.”

Mikayla shivered as his hot breath tickled her sensitive
ear.

“What you’ll sound like if I take you right here against
this wall,” he whispered wickedly.

Turning her face to his, Mikayla murmured, “Those are all
questions I’d be more than happy to answer.”

His grinned before leaning closer.

Mikayla moaned as he kissed her, rubbing her body against
his. Her back hit the wall as he pinned her there without ever taking his lips
from hers. Muscles flexed beneath her hands, hinting at the strength he
possessed, yet despite his nature, it didn’t scare her. If anything the show of
dominance merely fueled her passion higher. She wanted him every way she could
have him.

Ciar’s hands wrapped around her waist and he pulled her hips
hard against his. She gasped as she felt the hard length of his cock straining
against the fly of his jeans.

“God, you drive me crazy,” he whispered.

“Right there with you,” she replied, angling her head back
to allow him to run his lips down her throat. “I think we need to lose a few of
these layers.”

Ciar pulled his shirt over his head without any hesitation.

Mikayla licked her lips as she stared at his firm chest.
“Much better,” she purred, drawing her fingers down his bronzed skin.

“Your turn.”

Grinning, Mikayla fingered the hem of her sweater.

“Don’t tease,” he whispered, his breath burning her
sensitive skin.

“Say ‘please’.”

“Please.”

She blinked at the instant response but the lust in his eyes
left her with no doubt what motivated his capitulation.

Mikayla tugged the shirt over her head. The clothing slipped
from her fingers, pooling at the ground by their feet.

She stood before him in her bra without a drop of self-consciousness.
When he looked at her with those burning eyes there was no room for doubt.

“Wondrous,” he murmured as his hands slid up her bare
abdomen.

Mikayla shivered at his touch. She gasped as his hand rose
to cup her breast. “Ciar,” she breathed, needing more. Mikayla tilted her head
toward his and was rewarded by his burning kiss. No matter their personal
difficulties, physically there was no denying their compatibility.

“I need you,” Mikayla whispered. “Now.”

“Say ‘please’,” Ciar taunted her.

Mikayla bit her lip as he slid his leg between hers.

“Please,” she whispered.

“Good girl.” He grabbed her hips and pulled her roughly
against his hard body.

“Yes,” Mikayla groaned, wrapping her arms around him.

“Damn you for feeling this good.”

“It cuts both ways.” Mikayla cupped his face and forced his
gaze back to her. “As crazy as I make you feel, be assured it is returned
twofold.”

“Irresistible Mikayla,” he breathed, running his lips along
her jaw.

Mikayla merely smiled at his words but inside she was glowing.
This was exactly what she wanted. He should be as desperate as she was.

She grinned as he pushed her back onto the window seat. He
reached for the clasp of her bra and Mikayla made no protest as he striped the
material from her body.

Ciar bent his head and pressed his lips to the skin above
her heart. Mikayla stiffened as his mouth moved lower. She gripped the seat
beneath her as he trailed his lips over her breast. When his hot mouth closed
over a nipple she shuddered in pleasure.

“Ciar,” she whispered, arching away from the window and
toward his sinful mouth.

“Beautiful,” he breathed, running his tongue across the
sensitive bud.

In retaliation, Mikayla slid her hand down his chest. She
didn’t stop until her palm cupped his hard erection.

Ciar hissed in response.

Mikayla curled her fingers around his cock, stroking him
through the rough material of his jeans.

“Mikayla,” he groaned.

“Please,” she begged. “I need you inside me, just like
before.”

Ciar dropped his head onto her shoulder, breathing heavily
as she continued to torture him through his clothes.

“You’re driving me crazy.”

Mikayla smiled. “That’s the point,” she whispered in his
ear.

“Be careful who you play with.”

“Only you,” she replied with a sigh.
Only ever you
,
she wished she could add. But he wasn’t ready to hear the words and she wasn’t
ready to say them.

Apparently her reply was more than enough for him. He
grabbed fistfuls of her skirt and lifted. She held her breath as he raised the
material to her hips, baring her to his view.

“Tell me,” he commanded her, his fingers tracing the skin
along her panty line. “Say that you want me.”

“I’ve always wanted you,” she told him. “I’ll never lie
about that.”

“How?” he asked in a wicked whisper.

Her body jumped as she realized what he was offering.