“No.” He pushed forward and came to take her in his arms. She let herself relax against his chest. “The Assembly is looking into it, of course, but that’s a question we might never get an answer to.”
“Officially, anyway.” They might hear through the grapevine, or Millie might let them know what she found out, but Selina doubted the Assembly would ever publicly admit there had been a cursed talisman still floating around out there.
He kissed her forehead. “I can’t believe Gregor turned it over.”
“He’s not evil, you know. He’s just not that good. There’s a difference.” Gods, didn’t she know that. She’d seen the clear distinction between the two Night brothers. One who lived by his own tarnished code of ethics, the other who had none at all. “My question is, did he know Isaak had it in New Orleans or did he find out here, like the rest of us? Another question we’ll probably never get an answer to, huh? I doubt Gregor’s stopping back in for a debriefing.”
“Yeah, that’s unlikely. I don’t want to talk about our enigmatic Mr. Night.” Jack nudged her chin up and smiled at her, everything she felt reflected in his eyes. “I’m much more interested in making love with ... my wife.”
The word sent a shiver through her. Gods, she was married. It was insane, and it felt amazing. There’d been no frills to it, but she didn’t have time or patience for that anyway. It had been just right. He took her hand and led her toward the bedroom. He didn’t have to tell her twice. She couldn’t get enough of him, and she doubted she ever would.
He pulled her into his arms and danced her up the hallway and through the bedroom door. When he stopped next to the bed, she leaned in to kiss her husband. His lips moved over hers, savoring. Damn, but he could kiss. She smiled against his mouth, sliding her tongue in to deepen the contact.
He groaned and drew her closer, his arms tightening until she could feel his erection prodding her belly. Heat unfurled within her, spreading tendrils of lust and magic to every part of her body. She coasted her hands up his chest, enjoying the bunch and flex of muscle there. She moaned when his big palms curved around her ass and pulled her up on tiptoe so that his cock settled in just the right spot.
Releasing her lips, he worked his mouth along her jaw and down her neck. He sucked and bit lightly until her breath rushed, and magic began to sizzle over her skin. He groaned. “Give me the spell.”
She did, twining their desire together until they were one. His cravings stoked hers, and everywhere he touched her left a trail of golden light that glowed on her flesh. He tugged at the bottom of her shirt and pulled it over her head. A grin spread over his face when he caught sight of her magenta bra. “I do love your lingerie collection.”
He bent forward and sucked her nipple into his mouth, right through the fabric. The lace scraped against the sensitive flesh, and her back bowed as lava flowed through her veins. She let her head fall back, whimpering at the intensity of the feeling. So good. She bunched her fingers in his shirt, wishing she could stroke his skin instead. Her magic responded to the barely formed wish, and his clothing disappeared.
Biting down on her nipple, he made her cry out, shuddering and twisting in his arms. He straightened to look at her, his pupils dilated so that only a thin rim of blue showed. “No fair. You still have clothes on.”
“I wanted to touch you.” She suited actions to words and drew her hands down his torso until she cupped his hard cock. She pumped his thick shaft between her fingers, and he groaned, his hips arching to increase the stimulation.
Jerking away from her touch, he flicked open the fastenings on her pants, hooked his fingers in the waistband, and drew both slacks and panties down her legs. “Step out of them.”
The low rumble of his voice made moisture flood between her thighs. She loved when he used that tone. Goose bumps went down her arms and legs as she obeyed him. She reached behind her to pop open her bra and let it slide away.
Dipping his fingers into her sex, he stroked her clit until she was grinding her hips into his touch, her hands braced on his shoulders. Pleasure spells whipped out of her, flowing like liquid fire over their bodies. His fingers pierced her sex, driving in hard. The heel of his hand rubbed over her clit, and his fingertips curled until he hit her in just the right spot. She bit her lower lip, her nails digging into his flesh, and her sex spasmed. So close. She was so close.
He pulled his hand back, and she cried out in denial. He couldn’t stop now. But he did. “Get on the bed.”
“You had better make that up to me.” She turned and crawled onto the mattress, not at all surprised when he swatted her ass.
A chuckle rolled out of him, affection warming his tone. “I love you.”
Her heart turned over. She reached for him. “Jack ...”
He rolled them to their sides and she hooked her leg over his thigh. The hot stretch of his cock penetrating her sex made excitement quiver through her. When he was seated to the hilt within her, he stopped. His eyes were a dark, fathomless blue. “I want to hear you say it, Selina.”
She hadn’t said it much since that first time, too terrified to let herself really believe that she could keep something so good. It felt like forever since anything earthshakingly good had happened to her. Only death and loss and loneliness. She held his face between her palms and met his gaze, no pretenses, as open as she’d ever been in her life. “I love you, Jack. I love you so much. You make me happy.”
Happy. The feeling was so rare, so precious. She’d loved her family, even the ones who’d turned on her, but happiness? She wanted to hold on to this forever.
“Again. Say it again,” he whispered, and plunged his cock into her slick sex. The rhythm he set was slow, but he powered into her with each stroke, burying himself deep. He picked up speed and force, and it was all she could do to hang on to her control.
“I love you, Jack. I love you, love you, love you.” She chanted the words in time with his swift thrusts, and every movement pushed her closer to the edge. She laughed, holding him tight. Clenching her inner muscles around him, she made him groan for her.
It was as good with him as it had always been. No, it was better. The feeling was somehow richer, deeper. There was none of the desperation to forget the past or the future, no need to deny the present. It was honest. Perhaps more honest than anything she’d ever done in her life.
He sank into her, and every other thought disintegrated. The way he filled her was so right, the fit as perfect as if he’d been fashioned just for her. She tightened her leg around him, arched her body into his, and let herself revel in being alive and with him. Her heart pounded, her muscles shook, and she teetered right on the edge of orgasm. The sound of their skin slapping together was loud in the room. Each time he entered her, his pelvis made rough contact with her clit. Her pussy contracted around his cock, and she couldn’t hold back even if she wanted to.
“Jack! Jack!” Her back bowed, shoving her forward so that her pussy sealed tight to the base of his cock, taking all of him. Pleasure burst within her, and magic exploded out of her. Her sex clenched again and again, milking his shaft.
The sound he made was like a human volcano erupting, and he hammered into her sex. His hot fluids flooded her pussy, and the sharp ecstasy of his orgasm crashed through her mind, dragging her under yet again. Her pussy spasmed as she came hard, the pleasure endless. Magic and physicality merged, became one. Their desire was one need, their love was one feeling.