Chapter 2

Mari realized what Cisco was smirking about as soon as they were through the back door. Every member of her father's very significant guard force was out in the yard, milling around and talking about what their next moves were. Of course they were. They had the second half of a coup to plan.

Two dozen curious gazes, sharp with feral intensity, pivoted their way. There were shifters of various types, a few hellhounds, and a handful of other paranormals that were strong and liked to hang out in packs. Her father's recruitment was very single-minded.

Some of them didn't watch them at all, but many of them did. Some of them had hunger in their eyes, but some had other emotions too. Pride. Awe. A couple of them bumped fists. There was even a high five. She could hear the murmur of their continued conversations over the beat of her magic in her chest. She could feel their desire rising up. Hell, when she squinted, she thought she could almost see it spiraling away from them toward her in every color of the rainbow.

"Fuck," she said under her breath. Her eyes went to the pool house, where the wall of windows stood open in the warm summer night. She felt her cheeks heating already. She'd known something like this would happen eventually, but she didn't expect it so soon. For sex witches, orgies and exhibitionism were common, even expected.

He leaned to whisper in her ear, "What's your safeword, Princess?"

"Dandelion," she said as steadily as she could manage so there could be no misunderstanding. Though she felt a bit shy, every inch of her stubbornness rose up to meet the challenge in front of her. "This isn't even as many people as would be watching me at the club."

He shrugged as much as he could while holding her, still grinning ear-to-ear. "That's true."

"That's not helping as much as I thought it would."

"Well, this definitely isn't going to help then." He leaned close again. "They know exactly what's going to happen now."

Mari suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe. Her skin prickled with magic. "Oh, Saints."

They were inside the pool house in another moment, and he ordered everyone out with the world's most annoying smirk on his face. The large bedroom was decorated tastefully in neutral colors and had mostly been used as a guest house for business associates over the years, but it was spacious and had good light, so Mari had used it as a hideout from time to time.

He set her down on the bed, thankfully facing him and not the yard. He waited until the last of the crew that had been preparing the room left. "I haven't heard the word yet."

She knew without doubt that if she used the word, he would let the matter drop with no judgment. Instead, she shook her head because she couldn't say anything. She was too nervous. And too turned on. It felt like a dozen pairs of eyes were boring into her from behind. Somewhere inside her, she could feel her magic rising in response.

The fear she'd expected when facing down the specter of the awakening ritual wasn't here, in this space between them. She supposed that was because, this time, it was her choice. Something she walked into under her own power. She could stop him with a whispered word, and that made all the difference.

He started unbuttoning his shirt, giving her a few more seconds to consider and anticipate. The shirt slid from his shoulders, and then his wings, in a practiced and elegant movement that was like a full-body shrug. When he reached to toss his shirt aside, she knew her time was up. "Turn around. On your hands and knees."

She closed her eyes, because he hadn't said she couldn't, and then did as he commanded, carefully turning around on the bed. After a long, tense moment, she felt him reach over her, and then a low whirring noise came from the windows. When she opened her eyes, the blinds were dropping into place, cutting off the view to the courtyard beyond. She looked back at him over her shoulder.

"I decided I didn't want to share you." He smiled wide, showing his fangs. "Not this first time." He smoothed one hand over the curve of her ass with relish. "I hope that's okay."

Her magic swelled as her skin prickled under his palm. At the same time, her hips moved of their own accord, rocking into his touch. "Yeah, that's okay."

"Good." He pushed her hip to one side, turning her so she was sitting on the bed in front of him. "I also want to see your face when you come undone under me." He traced one claw delicately over her cheekbone.

Mari's power bubbled to a simmer as a blush rose into her face. "I don't know how much longer I can take your teasing."

Cisco smiled, slow and hot. "You won't have to wait much longer now." He dropped his hand to her thigh and pulled open her gown, his fingers whispering over her bare skin and raising goosebumps in their wake.

"Cisco…" she said on a whisper.

His eyes drifted to her lips as hunger took over his expression. "I love it when you say my name like that." His hand skated up her thigh. "Like you need more."

"I do need more." She rocked her hips to try to tempt him, but his hand remained frustratingly still. Her magic unfurled, reaching for him, willing him to touch her with more intent.

"Tell me what you need, Princess," he rumbled seductively. His thumb eased down to rub over the damp lace fabric between her legs.

Mari arched her back, trying to increase the pressure of his featherlight touch. "I need you to fuck me, Cisco." She gained more confidence from the lust rising in his all-black eyes when she voiced her desire. "I need to feel you inside me." She put her hand over his and pressed it closer. "I've ached for it for so long."

He used his thumb to pull her panties aside and parted her folds. Her power surged through her body, turning every nerve into a wildfire. Cisco groaned when her magic wrapped around him and then claimed her mouth with a hungry kiss. He thumbed her clit with a firm touch that coiled the tension low in her belly.

Cisco worked her clit slowly, building her arousal until she moaned against his lips. He nipped her lower lip as he pulled back from the kiss, his breathing ragged. "Undo my belt."

She reached for him with shaking hands and did as he asked. He rewarded her by slipping his fingers inside her and then stroking hard with his thumb until she was panting for breath and rocking her hips in time with his movements.

"Keep going," he urged as he set up a steady rhythm that threatened to drive her to distraction.

She unzipped his fly slowly, letting her fingers enjoy the feeling of his erection through the fabric of his jeans for as long as possible. When she finally managed to free him, his cock sprang up, hardening as she handled him. He was immense, far and away bigger than anyone she'd been with in the few times she'd managed to sneak away with someone during one of her father's interminable parties.

The instant she grabbed his cock, she felt in control again, like she'd been born for this. Her magic roared inside her, the heavy press of it making her skin tingle. Three raised ridges encircled the thick base, and when she ran her thumb over them, he rumbled with approval.

Though she could tell he wanted to urge her onward, he pulled back to watch her handle him. He knew exactly how inexperienced she was and the baggage she carried. He was letting her take the time she needed, and that made her feel cared for, even cherished.

She squeezed, enjoying the firm feel of him in her hand and the way her power purred inside her. "I'm okay." She smiled when he met her eyes.

Cisco nodded hurriedly, and she felt a moment of regret when he withdrew his fingers. "I need to see you." He tore her gown open and pushed it from her shoulders with little fanfare.

Mari lifted her hips to assist him when he reached to remove her panties. She thought she might feel bashful when she was bare before him, but the desire in his gaze as he took in her nude body only made her feel bolder. Leaning back a bit, she parted her thighs and was rewarded with a deep groan of appreciation as he watched her.

He stepped into the space between her knees, and she welcomed him by wrapping her hand around his cock. His hissed intake of breath was everything she needed to hear. She pulled him closer and worked the head of his cock over her clit a few times, relishing the way his hips twitched as she bit her lip at the glorious sensation.

Her teasing didn't last long, because she needed so much more. She moved toward him until the first few inches of his length slid into her. Her thighs shook as she engulfed him, desperate to feel more of him but not wanting to rush. Chuckling, he ran his hands over her hips and around to her ass, scooting her forward a bit more and further onto his cock.

She shivered. The combination of the feeling of him inside her and his hands ravaging her ass was delicious. She rocked her hips, moaning as she worked herself back and forth along the first few inches of him to give her body time to adjust. She felt the magic building deep in her belly, spreading slowly through every part of her. It was the first time she'd felt her power completely unfettered, allowed to grow and consume her arousal as it swelled. She knew he could feel it, too, all around him.

He leaned down to kiss her, his mouth hard and demanding. At the same time, he pulled her hips forward so that she took him all the way to the hilt. She moaned into his mouth as the thicker ridges passed into her. The sharp prick of his teeth very nearly broke the skin of her lips, but his control was tight as a vice.

Cisco pulled back from the kiss with a shuddering breath, his hands gripping her ass so she was flush against him. "Saints, you feel so good."

Mari rocked her hips. The sensation was delicious, and she wanted to make it last, but she wasn't sure how much more she could handle. His fingers dug in, and she shuddered at the possessiveness in his grip as it amplified the growing pleasure until she wasn't sure she could stand the tension of it all a moment longer.

He squeezed again, and she knew what he wanted immediately. She began moving her hips in long, slow strokes, fucking herself on his cock, her magic rising inside her like a dark tide she had no hope of holding back.

She let herself really enjoy the slick friction of his cock entering her body over and over, allowing the noises of pleasure to rise up and crest until she was sure they shook the windows and poured out into the yard. Cisco didn't move beyond curling his fingers every so often to slightly adjust her angle. He let her desire run the show, and it made her feel so powerful in this moment that exposed her in a way she'd never been exposed before. She rode his entire length, picking up speed slowly and increasing the intensity until their bodies slapped together with every stroke. The power rising inside her felt too damned good.

"It's so hot watching you take my dick like this." His voice rumbled around her. "Like you were made for it."

Her climax roared over her, inevitable as a tidal wave. She embraced the sensation, letting it crash over her and around her and through her. She knew those still out in the yard would feel the magic crest, and somehow, that felt exactly right.

Cisco took over when her movement stuttered as she clenched around him. He dug his hands into her ass and fucked her forcefully, grunting as he drove into her. He didn't give her a moment of respite as he took his pleasure from her still quivering body. She collapsed back on the bed, and she moaned helplessly as he continued, unable to fight the surging of his powerful body any longer.

She held on for dear life. The only thing keeping her in her body was the feeling of his hands on her and the impact of his hips against her. She came again, the pleasure twisting and sharp, like she was being rent apart from the inside out. This time, she cried out, wordless and triumphant, though the sound was muted by the ringing of her ears. Her power finally fully unfurled, releasing into the network of wards that centered on the compound around them and into Cisco because he was in intimate contact with her.

The movement of his hips sent jolts of sensation and prickles of power into her. Still, her traitorous hips lifted to welcome him, unable to get enough of the feeling of him surging into her even though she was wrung out and getting sore. He held her fast, making her feel every inch of him as he drove into her repeatedly.

Plunging to the hilt one last time, he gripped her ass tightly as he groaned with his release. He tensed over her, his pulsing cock buried deep within her. When he recovered a few moments later, he leaned over her to claim her mouth with a long, slow kiss.

As the kiss lingered, her body started to respond to him again, her skin heating and her back arching. He pulled back slightly and grinned down at her.

Her nipples hardened as they rubbed against his chest. "Saints, how am I horny for you again already?"

He moved to cradle her face in one hand. "You're a sex witch who hasn't been able to properly exercise her libido. It's to be expected."

She leaned into his touch. "I can't wait to feel all the ways you're going to help me exercise it."

He chuckled, low and dark. "Neither can I. But right now, I have a few things I need to go over with the guards to get ready for tomorrow." He pulled the blanket around her, kissing her twice softly. "Wait here. I'll send Rio in to keep you company."

She tried to convince him to stay a while longer, and it almost worked, but he grumbled good-naturedly and wrapped a few more blankets around her before settling her in the middle of the bed. She watched him as he went into the bathroom to clean up a bit and splashed water over his head to calm his curls.

After buttoning his shirt, he stopped by the bed again on his way out. He kissed her upturned mouth with the longing of all the years they'd wanted each other somehow wrapped into it; filled with the promise of a lifetime of carnal pleasures ahead of them. When he began to pull away, she pressed her face into the base of his throat, inhaling the scent of him so she would never forget it: orange and spice. Some combination of hair product and cologne and him that she hoped she never unraveled. She snuggled down into the blankets with a smile as she watched him walk out the door.

Once she was alone, she reached out with her magic. She'd been afraid that without her father, her magic would no longer be harnessed properly, but she felt the lines of power humming around her, heavy and potent with what they had just released. Satisfied that the wards that protected this compound and the entire city weren't going to collapse overnight, she relaxed back into the bed.