That’s it, sweet. That’s it. Come for me, Dorothy!”
It rose up in her like a summer storm at his command. All fire and fury and sweet release. As her climax shattered around her, she felt his energy fully join with hers. For an instant, everything he was filled her until she wasn’t sure where she ended and he began.
Zenamulous. King’s wizard.
A window in the living room shattered. Emily’s porcelain Mardi Gras masks fell from the wall, crashing to the ground. Even the table lifted from the floor, sliding the dishes dangerously close to the edge.
Power. Magic. It was all around them.
When his cries joined hers, she knew he felt it too. Knew he’d come just from touching her. Knew how much he wanted her. Needed her surrender.
Surrender?
The wind died down, disappearing as quickly as it had come. Her body was released from its prison against the wall, and she wobbled when her feet touched the floor. She looked around at the mess and chuckled a little hysterically. “How am I going to explain this to Emily?”
A bright light flashed in the room, momentarily blinding her. When Dorothy could see again the walls, the windows, even her clothes—all spotless and unbroken, as if nothing had happened.
Aunt Glin had never taught her how to do that. “Wait a second. How did you…?”
Her throat closed when she turned to find him pulling a necklace from underneath his shirt. It was a ruby inside a silver starburst. And it was glowing. Pulsing with an urgency she could feel in her bones.
She looked up to meet his gaze, the helpless anger in his whiskey orbs unmistakable.
And she knew.
“You’re leaving.” She’d given in to him, let him touch her, and he was leaving. She knew it to her bones. Her arms wrapped around her waist defensively. “That was fast. From my observations, you usually spend a few more hours with your conquests.”
Had he decided her powers weren’t tempting enough? Or that she wasn’t?
“Damn it, Dorothy, don’t close up on me again.” He dropped his amulet, hands fisting as he paced in front of her. “I admit, the timing is abysmal, and you have no idea how much I want to ignore it.”
“But?”
“But I have a responsibility that must supersede all others.”
“This king of yours?”
Z’s eyes widened in surprise. “Yes. How did you know?”
She waggled her shaking fingers between them. “Some kind of transference. Don’t ask me. I’ve never made out with a wizard before and I don’t plan on making a habit of it.”
“I want…” He sighed heavily. “It doesn’t matter what I want. I don’t have time to prove to you that your teacher was wrong, Dorothy, but she was. Entirely, utterly wrong. Especially when it comes to you and I. I wish I had more time to s
how you.”
She took a step away from him. “Sadly, your necklace is blinking. As far as excuses go, it’s better than a headache.”
He grabbed her arms, pulling her close. “It’s not an excuse. My world is in danger and it’s calling me back. I’m bound by an oath. A spell that can’t be broken. More than that, my allegiance to my king.”
His world? Was he saying what it sounded like he was saying?
Yes.
“Sorry, honey, I’d stay if I could, but Mars is in trouble,” she mocked, trying to yank herself out of his embrace. “I said it was fine. Just go already.”
He snarled, his grip tightening. “You belong to me and you know it, don’t you? Somewhere, deep inside you where you aren’t afraid of what your magic can do, you know you can trust me. With everything, Dorothy. Just as I’m trusting you with this knowledge.”
She watched him head to the balcony door, heard a thundering rumble growing louder outside. “What the hell are you talking about? What are you trusting me with? And where exactly do you think you’re going? We’re on the fourth floor.”