Even the thought sent him straight over the edge, into a white-light abyss that burned into his brain brighter than anything hed ever experienced. Ecstasy jolted him, an unrelenting vise of need hed strangled since hed last been inside her. Now freed, the pleasure clawed down his spine, up his cock. He shouted, mesmerized by her feel, her smell. He drank her in, as if he was destined to know her above all others. Remember her only.
From this moment on, there is no other for me but you.
That was . . . Sydney didnt 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 hed likely never mate?
He didnt want to think of such things while still buried within her. Not while he had his arms about her. But that wasnt reality. The phone vibrating on the table beside them was. Duke, again. No doubt wondering where the hell they were.
His breathing had not yet recovered when he withdrew from Sydney with a curse, then picked up the phone. He didnt bother with pleasantries. Well be there in ten.
Caden didnt 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, well 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 sexual 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. Hed like to think hed simply needed a bit of a nap after an orgasm that had nearly blown his head off. Given his urge to hold Sydney close and drown in her again, he knew better.
Where the hell have you been? Duke grabbed his elbow and barked in his ear.
Sluggishly, Caden turned his head. The wizard looked incredibly brassed 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 youve been about. Sex at a time this critical?
Piss off, he growled, then collapsed onto a stool.
Damn 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 sex?
A snort punctuated Cadens answer. Last two weeks.
You just shagged her and youre 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.
Fuck.
Usually, the titled wizard was every bit a gentleman. Caden winced at Dukes curse.
Your magical signature is beginning to take shape. Black, blue, and gray. But theres something yellow and white trying to merge with it. Duke turned his attention toward Sydney. Is she your mate? I know you havent spoken the words but . . .
Caden nodded. Hed finally admitted what his body had been telling him since virtually the moment hed met her. It wasnt a happy admission.
Your transition from human to wizard is upon you. Weve got to find a female to go through it with you. Youll need great amounts of sexual energy.
Sydney
Is a reporter! If you transition with her, youll 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 wont print it in her human newspaper? You cannot choose her.
Want her.
I know, he soothed. But you cant have her for your transition. Not for your mate, either. Shell learn too much and expose us to humanity. Ill call Bram. Certainly, hell know a witch who will help you. Duke reached for his mobile.
Cadens sluggish brain took in Dukes words. Everything inside him rebelled. Drudging up all his energy, he grabbed Dukes 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 Cadens body, rocking every muscle. The wizard closed the short distance between them and draped an arm around his shoulders. Lets go.
Whats wrong with him? Olivia. Caden knew that voice.
Guess, Duke barked. Mr. Hormones destroyed my mobile. Use yours to call Bram. Tell him Ill be babysitting for a few days.
Get him out of here quickly, Olivia said to Duke. People are staring. They probably think hes 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.
Whats wrong with him? Sydney looked stunned and concerned.
If youll go with Caden and help him, Id like to take the book and examine it overnight, Olivia said.
No. Sydneys refusal was a crisp syllable that didnt surprise Caden at all. Ring me tomorrow. Well meet again. Tell me whats ailing him.
Duke and Olivia shared a glance. No way to answer her. Caden didnt care what they said. He only knew that he was burning up from the inside and that he needed these clothes off and Sydney under him. Immediately. She would soothe him. Only she would do.
He lifted his head and sent a burning gaze to her. Need you.
Im here.
Olivia edged Sydney away. Caden lurched across the feet separating them. Duke dragged him back with a yank and got in his face.
You do not, under any circumstances, kiss her. Or get oral with her. No tasting at all. No speaking the Call. Is that clear?
CHAPTER NINE
BUGGER OFF, CADEN SNEERED, then staggered toward Sydney.
She steadied him with an arm about his shoulders. Dear God, he was an inferno. She gasped. Fear knotted her gut. What the devil was wrong with him?
He needs a hospital! she barked at Duke and Olivia.
Duke sighed, and Sydney recognized his expression; shed seen it on other male faces prior to conversation: dread.
No. He needs a bed with you beside him.
What? If hes ill, the last thing he needs is sex!
She opened her mouth to argue the virtues of modern medicine, but Caden nuzzled her neck. She shivered and momentarily lost focus, until a cultured voice brought her back.
That, my dear, is the very thing he needs.
She could not have heard Hurstgrove right. I dont understand. Is this what his brother has? Some sexual compulsion?
No.
A horrible thought skittered through her head. What if she had done this to him by writing the latest fantasy in the book?
We cant talk here, Hurstgrove went on. Ill explain when we reach your flat. Can you . . . care for him?
If Caden needed her, Sydney wanted to be there for him. She owed him, really, in case her midnight fantasies had put him in this state. But he was more than an obligation to her.
Though Caden hadnt always been honest with her, she understood his reasons for subterfuge. If shed had a sibling and a few lies could save their life . . . she would likely have done the same. Besides, she sensed Caden needed her on a deeper level. Maybe helping him through this ailment would enable her to see all the way to his core and bring them closer.
Yes, she said finally.
Thank you. His eyes closed in relief. Very much. Lets go.
She didnt understand what was happening, but now wasnt the time for a lot of chatter. After Caden had recovered, absolutely. Shed want every detail.
Ill come along, in case you need help.
From curious to bizarre. Help in bed? Ive got sex covered, thank you.
Despite her confusion, when Caden nibbled on her ear, Sydney shivered. He was insistent, almost feral. The female in her basked at the intensity of his desire, though she didnt fully understand.
I need you, Caden breathed, caressing a palm up her hip, under her shirt, to cup her breast. With me . . .
As his touch burned her sensitive skin, Sydney met his gaze. Blistering blue supplication radiated from him, along with anxiety. Whatever ailed him, he wasnt in complete controland that terrified him. Never had Caden seemed vulnerable, and even if her writings had nothing to do with it, she wouldnt deny him.
Ill be in the next room to make sure he doesnt get . . . out of control. Hurstgrove yanked Cadens hand off her, then pushed them toward the door.
Sydney risked a glance around. People were staring loads of them. Her cheeks heated up as if she flushed twenty shades of red. How many had seen Cadens intimate display of public affection? Duke didnt have to push her again; she dashed out of the pub, dragging Caden along. Olivia held the door open.
Outside, Sydney halted in the stinging November wind. She and Caden had walked to the pub. How the devil was she going to get him to stroll back to her flat when he was solely focused on unbuttoning her shirt?
A moment later, Duke provided a solution, sprinting toward a very posh black SUV and opening the door. Sydney climbed into the backseat, and Caden followed with a growl, his predatory blue eyes glowing in shadow. Those eyes told her that he wanted her in every way possible. Though his condition concerned her, Sydneys belly flipped with desire.
With a feral smile, Caden grabbed her legs and swung her sideways until she reclined across the seat. She gasped as he covered her until most of her body lay beneath him. Then he lifted her skirt.
Caden, she whispered, trying not to surrender entirely to the delicious feel of him and the fact he needed her. Wait! My flat is five minutes
Cant wait. His voice was rough. Need you.
There again, that vulnerability. She wouldnt abandon him. Somehow, she had to make him understand that she was only putting him off until they were alone.
Just a few minutes longer.
Caden growled and wrapped his body around hers. Sydney supposed she should be mortified, but desire, both to hold and heal him, trampled her modesty. Hed never insulted her intellect or her professionshe couldnt say as much for her last date, let alone her parents. And given her brief conversation with Olivia, she knew Caden had truly brought her experts to talk about the unusual book she possessed. And how many men would move across an ocean and go to such lengths to help a brother? Shed been suspicious and judged him without really knowing him or understanding his behavior.
The fear shed seen earlier on his face resurfaced, and he reached for her. His expression confessed his need for her body and heart. Help me.
Of course. Five minutes.
He growled.
Two slams penetrated her consciousness, and she turned her head to see Duke and Olivia settle in the front seat, resolutely not looking their way.
Did you call Bram? Duke asked Olivia.
Who? Sydney wondered. The thought dashed away when Caden took her blouse in hand and ripped it in two. She gasped as the remnants of her top drifted to the floorboard.
Not here!
He didnt listen. His mouth latched onto her breast through her bra. Her nipples, still tender from their last encounter, leapt to full, aching attention. She stifled a moan. God, she hoped no one was watching, but couldnt tear herself away to check.
I left him a message, Olivia whispered.
Duke cursed softly. Damn. This is going to take a while. He glanced in the rearview mirror, then looked away. Where do you live?
With the feel of Caden, the smell of his musk and desire, she didnt worry what Duke saw. Then Caden planted soft, open-mouthed kisses all over her abdomen and began edging lower.
With an impatient roar, he pushed her skirt up around her waist. Cripes, she was wet. Caden latched onto her breast again and his fingers dove under the silk between her thighs.
Peeling out and away from the curb, Duke cursed again. Quickly. Where do you live?
Moaning between a kiss and a touch, Sydney rattled off her address, and he darted away, programming his GPS accordingly. Three minutes later, he reached her building. Caden was trying to work her knickers off with one hand, her bra off with the other, kissing the flat of her belly in between. She was trying not to help him along, only because she couldnt walk to her flat naked.
Car park? Duke barked.
No, Sydney managed to croak out.