Owed A Night (An Obscure Magic Book 12) Read online

  His eyes were heavy-lidded. “Aren’t you still upset?”

  “Even the coals of fury grow cold over time. It has been over eighteen years. The forest can regrow after the fire.” She paused. “That being said, I haven’t shaved the forest for a while. Will that be a problem?”

  He paused and then laughed before he grinned. “I did notice yesterday. It looked delightfully soft. Watching the high-speed striptease earlier today was fascinating as well. Late for work?”

  “Yeah, my registry as an XIA consultant. So, now that’s done, and I have a fancy badge to prove it.”

  “So, what do you do as a seer?” His warm hand was around her back with his fingers curled under her breasts.

  “Psychometry for the most part. I can tell the story of an object, details, recurring details. I see it, and in a dark room, I can show others.” She smiled.

  “So, you have your credentials?”

  “Yup. Lanyard and everything.”

  “Want to come on a ride-along tonight?”

  She leaned back. “Is that a euphemism?”

  “I wish.”

  “Um, no, but any other night would be fine. Corit just found out, and I don’t want to not be here if he is upset.”

  “Ah. Right. Sorry. Was being greedy.”

  She squirmed around until she was kneeling on him and face to face. “Be greedy. I certainly am.” She slid her torso across his, her breasts rubbing against his chest.

  He leaned his head back. “Since it will be your first time, I am supposed to be polite and attentive.”

  She snorted and bit his lip gently. “Fuck polite and attentive another day. I am in my thirties, use toys the size of my fist and am looking forward to not having to work through the choreography of what has to go where for me to get off. I just want someone else to be in the room for once.”

  His eyes went black, and he held his lips to hers while he slid a hand under her sweats, shoving her panties aside, and then, his thick digits were pressing into her. She moaned, and her neck went limp when he speared through her wet folds and got two fingers inside her. She slid her tongue along his and got a thick ironing board of a tongue in return.

  She whimpered and rocked against his hand while his fingers moved inside her. His thumb rhythmically grazed her clit, and her world went bright after two minutes of rolling her hips against his hand. She screamed into his mouth, and he took the sound and stroked her until her body slowly slumped against him.

  He slowly withdrew his fingers, and she flinched when he grazed her clit. He brought his fingers to his lips and sucked and slurped eagerly. She panted against his chest.

  He popped one finger out of his mouth and smiled. “You are still really tight, so I will have to take my time. Tomorrow morning, what are you doing after Corit leaves for school?”

  She looked at him through heavy lashes. “You? I mean, if you aren’t too tired.”

  “Oh, good answer.” He chuckled and rubbed his head along hers.

  “Isn’t this going to irritate your teammates?”

  He snorted. “Absofuckinglutely.”

  She sighed. “How long until you have to head to work?”

  “Forty minutes. I am going to cut our cuddle session short because I am going to end up balls deep in you if I don’t, and Oory has been known to peek into backyards, despite the privacy issue.”

  Jen sighed. She wanted to slide to the ground, unzip him, and take him into her mouth, but she knew that she needed time to play and get used to him, and since time was a factor, she would have to defer experimentation.

  She sighed and looked back at the house then nodded. “Right, you get your stuff organized; I will check on my... son. It feels really good to actually say that.”

  He smiled. “I can’t believe how you have recovered.”

  “I have lived an entire lifetime from that moment to this, with some extra years. My family was wonderful. Corit is amazing. I still want to gut that bastard, but that isn’t something that I can do without repercussions to my boy.”

  “The blood bans.”

  “Yup. I know it would affect him, but no one else back home was aware of it once my sister and her husband died.” She was still snuggled against his chest.

  He sighed. “The blood bans are effective, but yeah, I can see the problem.”

  She sat up and sighed. “I guess I should let you start your day.”

  “Oh, honey, this has been the best start to my day in a long time. Normally, Jennor just shows up early with donuts.”

  She kissed him softly. “Whether this works or not, thanks for trying to help.”

  “If you think I want you as my lover just to protect you... that is just the means to an end… I want you, you want me, and if we can accelerate getting together by cloaking it in urgency, I am definitely willing to play along and even come up with more reasons that it is a fabulous idea.”

  Jen giggled. “I guess I should dismount.”

  He sighed.

  A bellow came from next door. “Day-ek. Where the hell are you?”

  Jennel was shocked when he whipped an arm around her hips, and he yelled, “Over here. Next door.”

  The thudding of the hooves approached, and she struggled against Day-ek, but he kissed her and kept a hand threaded in her hair. Her sex throbbed, and her clit pulsed, and she whimpered when his tongue tangled with hers. She smelled donuts and slowly relaxed into his arms.

  “Aw, that is so not fair. I really thought I had a chance there.” Jennor groaned.

  Reymark’s voice was amused. “Working quick, Day-ek.”

  Day-ek pressed his forehead to hers, and she narrowed her eyes. “Really?”

  He laughed. “Really. We don’t get out much.”

  Reymark came and crouched within her line of sight. He was wearing his XIA uniform and dark lenses. “Read, at all. Jennor lives with his sister and is covered with nieces and nephews most days, and I spend my days under the bed.”

  She was going to laugh, but then, she looked at him and covered her mouth.

  Jennor snorted. “Now she gets it.”

  “I always thought that monsters under the bed were imaginary.”

  Reymark chuckled. “That is what our publicists want you to believe. In reality, we are a spirit-born species who feed on the night terrors of sleepers.”

  “Children.”

  “Sure. If you are comfortable not imagining me under your bed.” He slid his lenses down, and his red eyes raked her up and down.

  Her body shivered, nipples pebbled, and her hips shimmied slightly.

  Day-ek chuckled. “Oh, she liked that.”

  She made a fist and hit his chest.

  Reymark laughed. Jennor snickered.

  “Don’t you guys have to go to work or something? Save the citizens or rescue damsels or something?”

  Jennor walked toward them and plucked her out of Day-ek’s grasp. “Bad orc. There. Rescued enough? Do I get a reward?”

  She paused and laughed. “Small reward. A kiss, but where would you like it? I have never kissed a minotaur before.”

  He chuckled and pointed to the front of his muzzle. “Right there.”

  “Fine. But no tongue. I think you would choke me.”

  He sighed. “Spoilsport.”

  The other two laughed. She held his muzzle and kissed him softly. His lips were smooth, soft, and tasted like donuts with sprinkles. Weirdly, she was getting the idea that it was his normal taste.

  She clutched his vest, and his hand closed over her hip until she pulled back. “Rescue rewarded?”

  He was blowing slightly through his nose. “Fine. Day-ek, grab her so I can rescue her again.”

  “Dude, I am having trouble standing after watching that. Reymark, you grab her.”

  “Don’t mind if I do.”

  Tendrils of shadow shot out and wrapped around her. Jen yelped as she was yanked from the minotaur and pulled into darkness. She looked around. “Reymark?”

  “Yes, dear Jennel?” The crimson gaze floated near her.

  “Um, where are we?”

  “I am in your backyard. You are inside me. Interesting twist, yes?”

  “Um, are you going to cause a fear response?”

  “Oh, no. I don’t do that. I have a more selective diet.” The red eyes got closer. “I think I need to demonstrate.”

  Darkness slid under her clothing, and she started to breathe heavily. She moaned long and low.

  “Oh, poor thing, still so hot. This might help. Might make it worse. It will be interesting to find out.”

  She arched her back and screamed a moment before darkness slid into everything, and then, everything went bright.

  Jen was rolled onto the grass of her new backyard, and she was panting and trying to straighten up. Reymark reached out to help her up, and she accepted his help. He murmured in her ear. “Well, I don’t need to eat for a month.”

  She balled her fist and punched him in the vest. He chuckled.

  Day-ek frowned. “What did you do?”

  Jen looked at him. “Shadows everywhere. Not bad, just surprising. Do not want him under my bed.”

  She looked at Reymark, and he jolted when she said in a dark voice, “In it or nothing at all.” He lifted her in his arms and cuddled her.

  Day-ek laughed. “Dark fae. They need more or nothing at all. No in-between interactions. I am going to be very tired.”

  Jennor raised his hand. “I volunteer to help.”

  She kicked to be set down, but Reymark didn’t want to let her go. “I will be courted or nothing at all.”

  He whined, “But your pleasure tastes so good.”

  She rolled her eyes and looked at Jen
nor and Day-ek. “Rescue?”

  Reymark chuckled. “Nope. I have you now. My dark sin lollipop.”

  She turned bright red. “Fun is over. Put me down.”

  He sighed. “Too much too soon?”

  “Too fucking chatty about it.”

  He sighed and let her go. “I am a little drunk.”

  “Then, I hope it isn’t your turn to drive.” She stepped away and brushed her sweatpants to make sure that there weren’t any hidden shadows in them. She did not trust Reymark.

  Reymark sighed. “I like her, Day-ek. Can we keep her?”

  Day-ek cupped her jaw. “You okay?”

  She nodded. “Fine. A lot for one afternoon, let alone twenty minutes.”

  Reymark grunted. “What I could do with you in twenty minutes.”

  She looked at him then back at Day-ek. “How long was I out?”

  “Two minutes.”

  She smirked. “Hah! I knew he’d be quick.”

  Reymark gasped and reached for her, but she hid behind her orc.

  Jennor stepped so that he and Day-ek were side by side. “She was right. You were quick. If I managed to get her agreement, I would spend hours with her.”

  Shadows reached around Day-ek and lifted her up, pulling her toward him with a dark tentacle over her mouth. He held her up, and she finally had enough and started to crackle with energy. He dropped her like a hot stone. She smirked. “Aren’t you going to be late for work?”

  Jennor put his huge hands on her and pulled her back against him. “What did you do to him?”

  “Made the tentacles lick a battery. He’ll be fine. Parts of him are just super tingly right now. And not the fun parts.”

  Reymark flexed and inhaled as he straightened. “Right. Fair enough. I was pushing it.”

  Day-ek looked at her. “You are going to be okay?”

  She nodded. “You go and finish getting changed for work. I will be here trying to get some writing done.”

  He kissed her quickly and headed over to his place. Jennor offered her a donut, and she had a seat. He picked her up and pulled her onto his lap, rubbing his jaw on the top of her head.

  “So, Day-ek is muscle, Jennor is more muscle, and Reymark is...”

  He chuckled. “The fun bits.”

  She snorted and put her hand on Jennor’s chest, feeling the slow thud of his heart. What she could feel under her felt eye-watering for a start, so she stroked his chest idly, and he huffed.

  “You are a torment, Jennel.”

  Day-ek came out, and they reluctantly got to their feet. Jennor hugged her close, and he sighed, “I wish I had more of your scent to keep me busy.”

  She pulled down his head and whispered in his ear. He laughed, and it was a low sound that resonated. “You know I am going to check that.”

  She shrugged. “Your shift, your business.”

  He grinned and walked out front, leaving her the box of donuts. Reymark grabbed her and kissed her wildly, not letting her go until he had a whimper from her. When he grinned and backed away, she hit him again.

  “To think folks think you show up for children.”

  He grinned. “That is what all the ladies say. Keeps the husband clueless.”

  He slid down his lenses, winked one red eye, and then slid them back in place.

  She took the donuts back inside and called out, “Corit, I think we are going to be drowning in donuts very soon.”

  He didn’t reply, so she went looking for him. He was sitting in front of his laptop. It was closed, and tears were coursing down his cheeks.

  She wrapped her arms around him and held him as he wailed for innocence lost, both his and hers. She had already shed her tears and was upset that he had gotten that from her. It was a sucky inheritance.

  Chapter Seven

  They were four hours into their shift when someone brought up the obvious.

  Jennor chuckled. “So, Jennel seems friendly.”

  Reymark laughed and pulled into Dem-rah’s lot. “Yeah, that is one way to put it.”

  They crossed the tarmac to the food truck.

  Day-ek commented, “I had thought to start dating her, but we have to become lovers first.”

  Jennor remembered something and grabbed Day-ek’s right hand. He pulled it to his nose and sniffed then rolled his eyes back in his head. “Oh, gods. I am restraining myself, but what does she taste like?”

  Day-ek got his hand back while they were in line. “Honey and wildflowers with a sumac chaser.”

  Jennor chuckled. “Oh, what I wouldn’t give for that.”

  Reymark asked, “Why lovers before dating?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  Dem-rah looked them over and grinned at Day-ek. “You are Jennel’s orc.”

  “Not yet, but I am working on it.”

  Dem-rah nodded. “Good man.”

  Jennor grinned. “I am her minotaur.”

  Reymark crooned, “I am her monster.”

  Dem-rah cackled. “So, the dark fae rose finally. Good. I have been worried that she has been trying to be a good orc mom for too long.”

  He took their order, and there was extra on their trays when they collected them.

  Day-ek raised his brow. “What is this?”

  “You will need to keep your strength up.”

  Jennor snorted. “There are three of us.”

  Dem-rah chuckled. “I courted a dark fae once.” He put extra tacos on Jennor’s tray. “You’ll need it.”

  Day-ek snorted, and they all sat at a table, and he looked at them. “So, I have to claim her as a lover to get her coverage from my clan, and they are going to check.”

  Reymark frowned. “This is different. Why are you rushing this and not waiting for a day off?”

  Jennor scowled.

  “Corit took a photo of me and Jennel.”

  Jennor chuckled. “And now her family demands that you make an honest woman of her?”

  “No, I have been bombarded with emails and texts to leave her alone. The clan leader that Corit was born under is insane and possessive of Jennel. He was content to leave things alone as long as Jennel was single, but if she wants a relationship, things are going to hit the fan. My clan has been warning me off her, so the initial plan has to be altered. Instead of using my powers as speaker for the clan, I am going to use my powers as speaker for myself. If I take a lover, the clan has to protect her.”

  Jennor frowned. “How serious is the danger?”

  “Pretty serious. The high points are that Corit is her son, and she’s nearly thirty-two.”

  Reymark sat back. “Fuck me.”

  Jennor did the math, and then, he did it again. “The clan leader did it?”

  “He wasn’t clan leader then, but he is now.”

  “Can we help?” Reymark growled.

  Day-ek stared at him. “Why do you want to help? I thought you were the love ‘em and leave ‘em type.”

  “You don’t leave that. You treasure that. She’s amazing. That time with her will sustain me for a month or more.”

  Jennor smiled. “I want to kiss her, cuddle her, and lick every inch of her. My people will defend a lover of mine.”

  Reymark laughed. “Of course, they will. You are their king.”

  Jennor shrugged. “We don’t really look at it that way. I am just a descendant from the original.”

  Day-ek chuckled. “You have gold horn bands and a forehead piece that you have to wear at festivals.”

  Jennor waved his hands. “Fine. I am king.” He smiled slyly. “That means I outrank you. I can pursue Jennel first.”

  Day-ek sorted. “Good luck with that. She’s my neighbour.”

  They bickered until they finished dinner and tossed the remains to the trash troll. Back in their SUV, they resumed their shift and dealt with the minor annoyances that the extranaturals caused in a city. With the most recent wave, powers were changing, and those who had lived as human were becoming something else. Whirlpools of chaos broke out, and they smoothed them into ripples.

  * * * *

  Jennel stroked Corit’s hair as he cuddled in her bed. He hadn’t done it since his parents died, but this was the moment for him to seek comfort, so she gave it. She had been seeking the same thing from the agents earlier, in her own way.

  She soothed Corit to sleep, and then, she dozed next to him while she waited for dawn. When she had gotten up, gotten him ready for school, and taken a lazy shower, she pulled on a sundress with nothing underneath, just in case.