He brought his lips to within a hairbreadth of hers and breathed a kiss over her mouth. Her nipples pressed into his chest and tightened. His desire mounted when he felt the way her body reacted to his close proximity. “My sweet Brianna. All you need to know is that tonight I am the man, or rather the pirate,” he said with a grin, “who is going to make all your fantasies come true.” He fingered the soft material of her costume, his mind visualizing the path his tongue would take while ridding her of her clothes.
Her mouth fell open, her eyes widened. Clearly, understanding had dawned.
“The spell,” she whispered.
“Yes, the spell.”
“She opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off.
No more questions. Just know that tonight you are mine.” He slid his hand down to the small of her back, then traced the curve of her lush ass. “Say you’ll be mine, Brianna.”
She nibbled her lip, as though undecided. But her hesitation lasted only seconds. Xander knew she wanted this as much as he did, so much so that she’d gone against her own best interests and written a forbidden love spell.
She sucked in a breath, then whispered, “Unbelievable.”
He chuckled and pulled her impossibly closer, until she could feel his arousal pressing insistently against her hip, clamoring for attention.
She gulped air and glanced around as though realizing where they were.
Wanting to ensure their privacy while he did delectable things to her body, he lowered his lips to her ear, and whispered, “Say it, Brianna. Say you’ll be mine.” Jesus, her nearness made his whole body quake in heated anticipation.
Her breath came in a low rush. “I’ll be yours,” she murmured.
A flurry of emotions passed through him and filled him with longing. “Good, then come with me.”
Her hand slipped inside his. “Where to?” Desire clouded the depths of her chocolate eyes.
“To your place, where I’ll have all night to make your dreams come true.”
All night to make your dreams come true.
Those eight simple words rang in her head. Well not all night, Brianna thought sadly. Just until midnight. She stole a glance at her watch. Four hours away. Oh my, what she could do with her very own pirate in four hours.
Anchored to his side, he effortlessly moved them through the crowd, ushering her outdoors. She went willingly, forgetting about everything and anything except this man and this moment.
A cool evening breeze whipped around them, but the feel of her pirate’s strong hands moving over her body drove back the cold. Tuning out the trick-or-treaters bustling around them, they walked quickly down the sidewalk and hopped into her vehicle, both eager to reach their destination. A moment later she found herself unlocking her apartment door, inviting a mysterious stranger in for one night of passion.
As she took in the handsome man before her, her stomach clenched. A barrage of emotions closed over her like a bed of fog and shook her to her core.
At the stroke of midnight, he’ll be gone.
A pang of regret hit her hard and nearly wobbled her knees. That reaction shocked her. She barely knew him, yet she felt so close to him, as though they belonged together.
He locked the door behind them, gathered her in his arms, and carried her to the bedroom. How did he know where it was? She was about to ask, but his words cut her off.
Her body slid down his as he set her on the floor. His green eyes darkened. His jaw clenched. His voice dropped an octave. “You have something of mine.”
Her heart leapt. “I do?”
“Yes, you do.” He drew his sword from its sheath and circled her, keeping his body close. “And I believe you know better than to keep a treasure from a pirate.”
Oh. My. God. He was playing out her fantasy. Almost word for word.
She lifted her chin in defiance. “I know of no such treasure that you speak of.”
His grin turned wicked and did mysterious things to her nerve endings. “Is that so?”
“Yes, that is so.”
He got quiet as though mulling things over. “I’m afraid you leave me with only two choices, my sweet.”
She met his glance unflinchingly even though it took effort, especially with the heat pooling between her thighs, moistening her panties. She arched one brow. “And my choices are?”
“You either hand over the treasure, or I’ll be forced to search for it myself.”
Her breasts tightened and tingled to the point of pain. She pursed her lips and held her ground. “I told you, I do not have your treasure.”
He slipped his hand around her back and cut the knot with his sword, releasing the straps on her sorceress costume.
In an automatic reaction she reached for the dress, pinning it to her chest.
“Don’t.” The authority in his tone excited her beyond anything she’d ever known, but the traces of tenderness did weird things to her insides. “Remove your hand.”
Pleasure raced through her when she saw the hunger in his gaze. Her skin came alive, and the tang of her arousal saturated the room. He inhaled, slowly, as though savoring the smell of her excitement.
Holding his steely gaze, she let go of the fabric. It fell to her waist and bunched around her hips.
Green eyes full of lust traveled to her swollen nipples. He licked his lips, and she nearly cried out in euphoria.
She arched her back and lowered her tone. “Is this the treasure you seek, pirate?” God, she hardly recognized her voice.
The heated look in his eyes excited and frightened her at once. “Perhaps,” he murmured, dipping his head. He cupped her breasts in his palms and lifted them higher, giving his mouth easier access. He pulled one breast into his mouth. Oh God, his lips felt like fire on her skin. His tongue made a slow pass over her nipples. Then he drew them in for a more thorough taste, sucking and kissing until she thought she’d died and gone to heaven. Beneath his expert ministrations her sex quaked, and her nipples throbbed in heavenly bliss.
She angled her chin and worked to find her voice. “Well, pirate, have you found your treasure.”
After his mouth had had its fill, he inched back and met her glance. His eyes flared with heat. “It is close but not the treasure you are still keeping from me.”
She starched her spine. “As I said, I know of no such treasure.”
He glanced the length of her, letting his gaze linger between the apex of her thighs. “Perhaps you are hiding it elsewhere.” His dark tone excited her.
Brianna sucked in air. “Perhaps you are mistaken.”
“Then let’s find out.” There was a challenge in his voice. He pressed his sword between her breasts and trailed it over her skin until it touched the silky costume at her hips. “Remove your clothes.”
She angled her chin and thinned her lips. “I most certainly will not.”
“Then you leave me no choice.” With a quick swipe he sliced her dress down the center, all the way from her hips to her ankles. It fell from her body and landed in a puddle at her feet.
Standing before him in nothing but her silky bikini panties, panties that were drenched in arousal, she gasped and shivered with pleasure.
He slipped the sword under the thin elastic holding the slip of material together and tugged. Her panties joined her costume on the floor.
“Ah, I believe I have found the treasure I seek.” He licked his lips, his breathing labored. “Spread your legs,” he commanded.
She caught his torrid gaze, heard the raw hunger in his voice, and noted the way his body fairly shook.
His deep, authoritative voice prompted her into action. Her pirate sank to his knees and insinuated himself between her legs. He inhaled.
She heard him swallow. Hard. “You must be punished for withholding such a fine treasure.”
The scent of her arousal swirled around them. Knees wobbling, Brianna gripped his shoulders to support herself. Her words came out broken. “Yes, pirate. I never should have withheld such a treasure. I now know it was wrong of me, and I must be punished.”