Page 29 of The Mage's Rake
Hugh was trapped beneath me. I knew that he could have easily lifted me up, pushed me down into the mattress, and had his way with me, but Hugh remained taut beneath me. The power of the moment was heady, making my skin tingle. My heart began to race, and I was overwhelmed with the desire to bend down and taste the warmth of his tongue and lips.
Instead, I focused on the feel of his hardened muscles flexing between my thighs. My hands ran up the bunched muscles of his stomach to the curve of his ribs and up to the hard planes of his chest. My cock was full—with magic and desire. I could feel how much Hugh wanted me, and he could feel the echo of my twinned desire call back in response.
Choking out the final spell, I allowed myself to lower, rubbing my hard length against his throbbing erection. The potions had taken full effect. My body was fully prepared, open and aching and ready for the one who had been made to fill me, match me, drive me wild.
Biting my bottom lip, I moaned softly as I positioned myself over his cock. Already, the tip pearled with pre-cum, ready for me. I too was slick, thanks to the preparations earlier in the evening—All thought fled as I eased down. Hugh’s length filled me. Unyielding, yet velvety; strong, yet smooth. My back arched instinctively as I thrust myself down onto him brutally. I nearlyscreamed, then. My body gave its last offering to Nyria—that of pain and passion.
…antë vilya!
Of life.
Chapter 11
Hugh
Every fiber of my being screamed at me to flip Alan over and bury myself within him. I wanted him in my arms. I wanted to drive the surge of pleasure that arced through us, passing from skin to skin. Yet, at the same time, there was something mind-blowing about seeing Alan take control, ride himself to the edge of pleasure. My fingers curled into the sheets.
Beneath his touch, as his fingers ran along my chest, I arced upward, seeking his touch. I didn’t intend to, but I wanted more—more of Alan. More of him than ever before. Alan’s scent combined with mine, creating a delicious mix of apple trees and the faint scent of air before the rains.
Then, Alan finished chanting, and an explosion of light burst from his skin, circling about us, spreading through my body. Alan’s rhythm sped up as he drove himself to a glorious climax. His face was suffused with light and joy. In response, the pleasure that had filled me spilled over. Every muscle within me contracted, spasmed in delight as I gave myself to the moment.I shouted and my hands moved to his thighs as I came, finding completion in a hazy world of passion and desire.
For a second, I felt as though I were flying, carried away from my body, until my soul suddenly returned to the land of the living, of sense and sight and sound. I came to and discovered Alan still sitting on me, but slumped forward a little. Lifting his silvery white hair that had fallen about his face, I cupped his cheek. He felt cool to the touch, oddly so.
Worry suddenly pierced my heart. Had something gone wrong?
Carefully, I turned on the bed, cradling his slender frame. With him now lying on the soft quilt of his bed, I drew the edge of the blanket up and over him. I turned and looked beyond the open door. The fire had been snuffed out as if by magic. The patter of Aileen’s drum had ended. Silence reigned. All that remained was smoke, the scent of our desire, and the faint tinge of magic in the air.
I focused back on Alan, pushing the sweaty tendrils away from his angular face. Here, with him lying quietly in my arms as if asleep, I could study the hard lines of his face, now revealed without his over-sized spectacles blocking the view—and notice how young Alan truly was. His high, sharp cheekbones ran down to the hard line of his jaw that met in a pointy, almost elfin chin. Alan was not very muscled, nor did he carry much weight. Now, more than ever, I was struck by how slight he was.
My fingers brushed against his right temple up over the edge of his gently arching white eyebrows. Then down, over his eyelids and his thick white lashes… down to the slender lines of his neck. Beneath my thumb, his heartbeat thrummed slow and faint. Too faint.
I gently laid Alan on the pillow, cleaned the two of us up, and then wrapped him up in his thick blankets. Now clothed in my red robe, I went in search of Aileen, only to discover herreturning with a servant in tow and a trolley of food. At the sight of me, Aileen took control of the trolley and shooed the servant away.
“You’re lookin’ fairly fit, all things considered,” Aileen said. “Fair bursting with magic, I shouldn’t wonder. Alan really did give it his all.”
“He’s… Aileen, he’s not waking up.”
Aileen frowned. I fairly pushed her into the room and hovered as she checked Alan’s vitals. Leaning back, Aileen hummed a few soft words. With a soft moan, Alan’s eyelashes fluttered, and then his violet eyes focused on Aileen and me. A soft smile graced his lips fleetingly, falling away as sadness flitted across his face.
“It didn’t work,” he said.
Aileen caught Alan’s gaze, and an undecipherable look passed between them. Then she turned, looked at me, and nodded slowly.
“He’s bursting with magic, but, aye, the curse is still there.”
Alan rolled over and then sat up, drawing his blankets around his shoulders. There was a droop to the lines of his posture as he huddled in the center of his bed. Without thinking twice, I crawled onto the bed and drew him into a huge embrace which surprised a squawk out of him.
“Alan.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “You have no idea how much you scared me—not waking up like that! I’m just glad you are still here… even if it didn’t work.”
Alan didn’t reply for a moment and then he sagged back into my arms, allowing himself to rest against me.
“We won’t give up, Hugh,” he finally said. “I promise. We’ll fix it.”
“I know we will.” I rested my head against his and reveled in the feel of his soft white hair against my cheek. “We will be unstoppable. You’ll see.”
I wasn’t sure if it was entirely true, but I didn’t care. Even if my days were counted in a matter of weeks, I would treasure the night I had shared with Alan forever. Seeing him dancing, surrounded by the glory of his magic and aura, would remain with me to the end of my days. Having Alan there was all I wanted. I just wanted him in my arms. The rest would sort itself out eventually. Alan was here. That was all that mattered.
If I had my way, Alan and I would have spent the night cuddling together beneath his thick blankets. Aileen, however, was determined to feed Alan and ensure that he had “proper rest.” She said the last while giving me a sharp look, as though I would have kept Alan up all night for some reason or another. I knew better than to protest. After we sat and ate the light meal that Aileen had rustled up for us, I retired to my own rooms.
