Aeromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 3)

“Not yet,” he said, even as he tensed behind her in a way that told her he was close.

Gently, he untangled his fingers from her hair. Placing one hand on her breast and the other between her legs, he pinched her nipple and clit while driving so hard into her that her knees buckled.

Her climax tore through her, detonating with sparks that sizzled all the way to her toes as he emptied himself in her body. They were both breathing hard when he finally pulled out.

He brushed her hair aside and kissed her shoulder while rubbing away the sting on her ass cheek. “You like that, don’t you?”

She uttered a sigh of exhausted happiness. “You know I do.”

His turned her back to face him and kissed her lips. “I love you.”

A whisper of air caressed her naked body, skittering in ripples over her skin.

“Did you feel that?” she asked.

He nuzzled her temple. “Always.”

She burrowed against his chest. “Do it again.”

“I can’t control it.” He scooped her up and carried her to bed. “It just happens.”

“Have you never felt it before?”

“Never,” he said, laying her down and getting onto the bed beside her. “Only with you.”

Already, she felt the pull of sleep. “Tell me again.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Only with you.”

When she drifted off, his arms were still around her .

Chapter 9

Lann quietly showered and dressed in the bathroom, and left the room without waking Katherine. She was worn out after their lovemaking.

Joss had called a meeting before dinner. When he entered the library, Cain, Maya, Joss, and Clelia were already there. Joss was pouring wine while Clelia tended the fire. Maya and Cain sat on a sofa by the window. The wind howled outside. Darkness had fallen, but he didn’t need light to know it was going to rain again.

He walked over to the fireplace and addressed Clelia softly. “I owe you an apology for earlier.”

“I get why you’re upset,” she said, straightening, “but do you understand so little about women?”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“She needs to do this. Don’t you see? She needs to know you’ll look after the baby.”

He wanted to say there was no question about him taking care of his child, but Joss called for their attention, saying, “We should start.”

“David was spotted at a vamp bar in Paris,” Cain said.

At the mention of David, Lann tensed.

Cain gave him a warning look. “This isn’t about revenge. This is about getting intel on who David is hunting for.”

That cannibal bastard threatened Katherine and his child, and he wasn’t going to just let it go. “What do we have?” If David was spotted at a vamp bar, it meant the informant was a vamp or a hunter. No one else got into the Paris vamp bars, and he didn’t trust either. “Who’s the source?”

“Daniel,” Joss said.

Daniel was David’s twin brother. It was common knowledge that Daniel was missing a few marbles. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if Daniel betrayed the brother who openly disrespected and publicly humiliated him, but it could also be a trap.

“Blood runs thicker than water,” Maya said, voicing his thought.

“She’s right,” Clelia said. “What if it’s a set-up? What if David is using Daniel to draw us in?”

“That’s exactly what it is,” Joss said.

Maya took the glass Joss offered her. “So we’re just walking into it?”

“We’re going to walk into it,” Joss said, “with open eyes.”

“You’re going to let David believe we fell for his trap,” Lann said as he caught on.

“While we set a trap for David,” Maya added.

Clelia regarded her husband. “How?”

“We’ll let him believe we’re leading him to Kat, but we’ll be the ones doing the questioning,” Joss said.

Maya twirled her glass, studying the color of the wine in the light of the fire. “What makes you so sure he’ll be deceived?”

“We don’t have much of a choice,” Clelia said. “It’s our only lead to Godfrey.”

“True.” Maya turned to Joss. “Who’s going?”

“We can’t leave Kat here alone and unprotected,” Clelia said.

“No, we can’t.” Joss’s gaze rested on his wife. “Clelia and Lann will stay with her. Maya, you’ll come with me.”

“You can’t take this from me,” Lann said, clenching his hands.

“He’s right, Joss,” Maya said. “David went after his woman. It’s Lann’s hunt.”

Joss studied Lann. “Are you sure you want to leave her? You know the risks. I can’t guarantee you’ll get out in one piece.”

“I’ve always known the risks,” Lann said, “and I guarantee you I’ll get out in one piece. David won’t.”

“Lann,” Cain said, “remember my warning.”

Joss fixed Lann with a stare. “Cain is right. If David is dead, he’s of no use to us.”

“Do you really think it’s only him I want?” Lann asked. “I want Godfrey as much as you do.”

“Fine,” Joss said. “Clelia, you and Maya will stay here with Cain to protect Kat.”