Part 15 (1/2)
”That was . . .” Sydney didn't finish the thought.
Straight from his heart.
”It was,” he panted, afraid to speak his thought aloud.
Now that the time to part had come, he wondered if he could keep her, tell her the truth, let her decide if she wanted to deal with magickind and the war. Or should he let her go, try desperately to forget her and know he'd likely never mate?
He didn't want to think of such things while still buried within her. Not while he had his arms about her.
But that wasn't reality. The phone vibrating on the table beside them was. Duke, again. No doubt wondering where the h.e.l.l they were.
His breathing had not yet recovered when he withdrew from Sydney with a curse, then picked up the phone. He didn't bother with pleasantries. ”We'll be there in ten.” Caden didn't wait for a reply, but simply hung up.
”Are you all right?” He caressed her shoulder, down the line of her spine, admiring the sleek curve of her waist, then pulled her body against his, front to her back.
She gave him a shaky nod. ”What happens after this meeting? With us?” Though a fair question, it stabbed him. Putting distance between them would be best for her, but could he stay away?
”After this meeting, we'll talk.”
Caden guided Sydney into the crowded pub with a hand at the small of her back. Pathetic. Twenty minutes after one of the most amazing s.e.xual experiences in his life and the only thing it had done was make him greedy for more. Now was the time for business.
He hoped he could focus.
The walls of the crowded pub seemed to close in, pressed with tables and bodies and the smell of ale.
He started to sweat again, shake. His energy waned with every step. He'd like to think he'd simply needed a bit of a nap after an o.r.g.a.s.m that had nearly blown his head off. Given his urge to hold Sydney close and drown in her again, he knew better.
”Where the h.e.l.l have you been?” Duke grabbed his elbow and barked in his ear.
Sluggishly, Caden turned his head. The wizard looked incredibly bra.s.sed off. Splendid.
A few feet in front of him, he was vaguely aware of Olivia introducing herself to Sydney and smiles being exchanged. Olivia led Sydney to another table. He barely let her go with a growl. The women began chatting.
”Sit down,” Duke commanded.
Perhaps he should and rest his head. He needed sleep. Badly.
He swayed on his feet, the room spinning. Duke peered into his face, then sniffed. ”Never mind. I know what you've been about. s.e.x at a time this critical?”
”p.i.s.s off,” he growled, then collapsed onto a stool.
”d.a.m.n it!” Duke hissed. ”Look at me.”
Caden slowly opened unfocused eyes. ”Wha . . . ?”
Duke pinched the bridge of his nose. ”Have you been sweating all day? Shaking?” He nodded.
”Craving s.e.x?”
A snort punctuated Caden's answer. ”Last two weeks.”
”You just s.h.a.gged her and you're already exhausted?” In the battle between Caden and his heavy eyelids, the eyelids won. ”Watch your mouth.”
”Answer me.”
Somehow, Caden found the energy to nod.
”f.u.c.k.”
Usually, the t.i.tled wizard was every bit a gentleman. Caden winced at Duke's curse.
”Your magical signature is beginning to take shape. Black, blue, and gray. But there's something yellow and white trying to merge with it.” Duke turned his attention toward Sydney. ”Is she your mate? I know you haven't spoken the words but . . .”
Caden nodded. He'd finally admitted what his body had been telling him since virtually the moment he'd met her. It wasn't a happy admission.
”Your transition from human to wizard is upon you. We've got to find a female to go through it with you.
You'll need great amounts of s.e.xual energy.”
”Sydney-”
”Is a reporter! If you transition with her, you'll bed her like a madman for the next few days, then emerge as a wizard involuntarily displaying your special power, which will likely be impossible to hide. How do you know she won't print it in her human newspaper? You cannot choose her.”
”Want her.”
”I know,” he soothed. ”But you can't have her for your transition. Not for your mate, either. She'll learn too much and expose us to humanity. I'll call Bram. Certainly, he'll know a witch who will help you.” Duke reached for his mobile.
Caden's sluggish brain took in Duke's words. Everything inside him rebelled. Drudging up all his energy, he grabbed Duke's phone and banged it against the table. It chirped and broke into a dozen little pieces of plastic and wires.
Duke recoiled, looking around to see who had noticed. ”Have you gone mental?”
”I want Sydney.”
Duke clenched his jaw tight, but then a fresh tremor overtook Caden's body, rocking every muscle. The wizard closed the short distance between them and draped an arm around his shoulders. ”Let's go.”
”What's wrong with him?” Olivia. Caden knew that voice.
”Guess,” Duke barked. ”Mr. Hormones destroyed my mobile. Use yours to call Bram. Tell him I'll be babysitting for a few days.”
”Get him out of here quickly,” Olivia said to Duke. ”People are staring. They probably think he's having a seizure.” She turned to Sydney. ”Perhaps we can continue our discussion-”
”Sydney comes with me.” Caden raised his head and glared daggers at Olivia. Marrok would kill him for it later, but now all that mattered was keeping Sydney at his side. He turned his heavy stare on Olivia, willing her to understand.
”What's wrong with him?” Sydney looked stunned and concerned.