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~5~
Nic shuddered withthe aftermath of Gabriel’s primal, nearly violent lovemaking, barely able to drag in a breath, her throat sore from her screams of ecstasy—which she hoped no one had heard over the storm.Gabriel lay over her like a deadweight, his ragged breathing and pounding heart confirming that he lived.That and his magic, streaming bright and hard-edged in the air.Silver gleamed over the surface of the desk, gritty under her cheek and hands.
And the rain outside poured in a deluge, unleashed, as wildly loosed from control as her wizard.
“Gabriel,” she murmured, and he grunted, unmoving.She wriggled, not able to do much, his muscled body so dense, so much larger than hers.Besides, with him still buried deep inside her, quite hard despite his recent climax, the movement sent aftershocks of enervating arousal through her.Her breasts were crushed against the desk, erotically aching, her taut nipples compressed, and she wanted nothing more than to stay exactly as she was, pinned and utterly vanquished, even her heart obediently synchronizing to the rhythm of his.
But there were other considerations, and apparently it fell to her to remind him of them.She unlaced her fingers from his, pinching the back of his hand.“Gabriel!”she said more sharply.
He tensed, then nearly leapt off of her, withdrawing from her body so abruptly she cried out for the loss of him.“Nic!I hurt you.”His hands settled warm on her, pulling her skirts down again and bodily lifting her, though she’d already begun to stand on her own.Gabriel sat her on the desk, running firm hands over her as if checking for bone breaks, then he cupped her face in his big hands, thumb traveling over her cheek where it had been pressed against the wood, no doubt leaving a mark.He searched her eyes, his own flat black with despair.“You’ll never forgive me,” he informed her.
“Is that so?”she asked with deliberate archness.“Will you also instruct me on exactly what it is I’m supposed to never forgive?”
His expression darkened, thunderous, echoed by the storm outside.“Don’t toy with me, Nic.We both know what just happened here.”
“Really excellent sex,” she agreed, wriggling a bit, as her sensitive sex still throbbed and tingled from his passionate assault.“But,” she said as his hands tightened on her and a growl rumbled through him, “no fair seducing me again.Not when—”
“Seducingyou?”he nearly shouted in incredulity.“I ravaged you just now.”He released her as if she’d burned him, so abruptly she swayed a little before recapturing her balance, and he—seeming to realize his disarray—tucked his cock back in his pants and fastened them firmly.“I don’t know what came over me that I practically raped you.”
“It’s not rape if I consent,” she pointed out.“It’s just rough sex, and I think I’ve made it clear I’m an enthusiastic participant there.”
“Youdidn’tconsent,” he bit out.
“Did you hear me say no?”
“No, but you wouldn’t—”
She stopped him, winding her fingers in his shirt and tugging him close.Seated on the desk like this, she could reach his mouth easily, so she kissed him, hard at first, then softer as he melted under her touch.“Iwouldsay so.Give me credit for knowing my own mind and body.AndIknow what came over you.That was a major emotional storm, resulting in pressure from a number of truly aggravating sources, fueled in part by an escalation in your magic.You needed an outlet, and I wasn’t at all surprised at the one you chose.In fact, I’m glad you trusted me that much.”
“Trusted you?”he repeated, looking as if he didn’t understand the words.
“Trusted me,” she affirmed, stroking his cheek.“Your magic is powerful, Gabriel, and you were sorely provoked.Cycling all that fury back through me was an excellent choice.However, pouring it into this storm that’s going to wash away all that topsoil and test our tender new levee isnota good idea.Plus,” she added, “it will keep the proctor from leaving, and all your fracturing of our carefully laid plans will be for naught.”
He gazed at her a moment longer, dumbfounded, then glanced at the roof overhead, seeming to just then register the pounding of the rain.“Is that me?”
“I’m pretty sure it is,” she told him cheerfully.“The storm escalated along with your sending silver spikes at the proctor.”
He winced, stepping back and scrubbing his hands over his face.“I’m so sorry, Nic.I really screwed up everything tonight.”
She slipped off the desk and went to pour him a finger of brandy—not great stuff, but better than what they were giving the minions—and pressed the smooth wooden cup into his hands.“You were actually spectacular,” she purred, gazing up at him through her lashes.“I was aroused long before you dragged me in here to be ravished, although that part got me going even more.”
He grimaced at her.“Nic, you can’t be serious.”
“I can and am.Drink the brandy.Stop the storm.We can deal with the rest.”She waited until he sipped the brandy, wizard-black eyes watching her over the rim.“Your, er, eruption may have not been what we planned, but you’ve suitably terrified everyone.It was a magnificent display of both power and control.You intimidated even Jadren El-Adrel!That was immensely satisfying to watch.”
“We’ll have to start over with minions if I frightened everyone away.”
“You won’t have.You’ll see.I’m laying odds you only cleared out the ones here for nefarious reasons.Everyone who sincerely applied to House Phel will stay, because you just demonstrated how well you can defend your house.”
“And now the proctor will tell the Convocation everything.”He sighed heavily, staring into the empty cup.
She shrugged nonchalantly, one ear on the rain, which lessened with each moment, the thunder receding, and slipped the cup from his hands.“They were going to know anyway.At least this way, if it comes to war, the Convocation will have an idea of what they’re up against with you, and—”
He snagged her hand before she could turn away.“Withus,” he corrected.
“And,” she continued, “this buys us time to find Selly and make other plans.”
He laced their fingers together, gazing at her intently.“Thank you, my heart,” he said with soft intensity.“I’m aware that you managed me in there.”
