Unwanted Magic (The Ancient Magic Series Book 3) Read online

  “I needed you.”

  I sighed, not knowing what to say, except... “I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”

  “Do you care more for her than you do for me?”

  “No, of course not but I need to be there for her.”

  “Why? Why do you have to be there for her?”

  Once again I had no answer. “I don’t care more for her than I do for you.”

  "Prove it. Stay the night with me, Art. The whole evening."

  A part of me instantly answered no. That it wasn’t fair. She couldn’t ask that of me. I couldn’t leave Lia alone. She needed me. The other part of me knew if I didn’t do this I might lose Eisha. I didn’t think I could do that.

  “If you have to think about the answer then…”

  “I don’t have to think. I’m here. I’m staying with you.” I said interrupting her. “I’ll stay with you tonight. I’ll hold you all night. I promise.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered looking into my eyes and pulling my neck down to kiss me.

  There was a raw iron being twisted into my chest at the thought of Lia being alone tonight. If she had a nightmare or if she awoke crying, reliving the torture and there was no one there… but there was nothing I could do. Eisha was all I had ever wanted. I had to stay with her tonight.

  "The hot bath is ready for you. Do you want to take it now?" She nodded, smiling and I helped her get up. Her body was still weak from the trance, so I walked with her to the partition. Standing in front of her, I reached for her top and pulled it over her head. My gaze was fixed on hers as she held my shoulders and I continued to help her undress. I had done this so many times without a second thought, yet tonight all I wanted was to look at her bare skin and let my eyes bask in the beauty of her naked body. Every second that passed I needed her more. Holding her arm, I helped her into the bath and stepped away closing the partition.

  "I'll be right back. I'm going to going home to bathe, change, and tell Lia I won't be there tonight."

  “No. Do not leave me, please. Stay here with me while I bathe. You can bathe here after I’m done.”

  I silently cursed and closed my eyes taking a deep breath. Lia wouldn't even know I wasn't coming. I never spent the night out of the house. Even when I had visited Seima in the past, I did it during the day or after Lia was asleep. I always returned before she awoke, so she never noticed I was even gone.

  “I’ll stay.”

  “Thank you.”

  I walked towards her bed and took my shirt off. "Are you hungry? I can make you something if you want."

  “That would be nice. Thank you.”

  I took another forced breath, and headed for the kitchen.

  EISHA

  * * *

  I brushed my hair while Art bathed. We had the loveliest dinner together, and I was truly grateful he was here. I needed him. It meant a great deal to me that he chose to stay with me tonight. Especially after I awoke from the trance last time and he had left me.

  The memories of the vision suddenly returned to me. I had dreamed of Ailidh once again. It had been such a beautiful vision tinged with sadness. She laid in Marcus’ bed with him beside her. His arms held her close to him while he gently kissed her cheek, caressing her belly. There was so much love between them. Anyone could see that he had genuinely loved her. Her enchanting voice floated in the air as she sung to Felix. The beautiful Celtic lullaby was one I was no stranger to. My mother had sung that to me when I was a child. A smile curved my lips as my heart warmed with the image. The vision must have been successive to the one where they mistreated her, because her bruises were gone and her belly was bigger. She still seemed weak though. There were black circles under her eyes. The cruel treatment she had previously received had taken a toll on her. Based on the size of her belly I was sure she would give birth at any moment. Marcus had kept his word of keeping the others away. The brush fell from my hand as I suddenly realized something.

  “I felt him,” I whispered remembering the feel of Art’s arms around me during the vision. My heart began to race at the realization. I had felt his arms around me even while I was deep in trance. He was my anchor. My smile widened as I picked up the brush and placed it on the dresser.

  “I love seeing you smile that way. You look even more beautiful.”

  I turned at the sound of Art's voice, and my breath instantly caught in my throat. He was standing next to the partition covered only by a towel that hung low on his hips, and did not aid much in shielding his body. He finished drying his hair with a smaller towel and hung it over the partition. I swallowed as he began walking with a half smile on his face. He sauntered towards me, and I couldn't help it when my eyes began to roam his body. That towel was remarkably low on his hips. He stopped in front of me and pulled me into his arms. The warmth of his bare chest seeped though my hands as they rested on him. He held my waist and kissed me.

  “It suddenly occurred to me that I have nothing to change into.” He whispered, brushing his lips over mine.

  “I did not think this through,” I answered, looking into his eyes as my pulse picked up speed. I was not ready to be with him that way yet.

  “Mmhhh. I noticed,” He answered, amused. “I think it would be ok if I didn’t need clothes for bed tonight. Don’t you think?”

  “But then you would be naked.”

  He nodded, and his gaze suddenly became serious. "I would be. Is that ok?"

  I looked into his eyes wishing I knew the answer. "I am not sure, Art. I am not ready to be with you that way yet. I…"

  “I’m not asking you to let me make love to you, mo sgòthan. You know me. You have known me for many years, more than many get the opportunity to share with one another, and you know that I would never disrespect you. I would never do anything that you do not wish to do with me, but I am asking you to see me as a man tonight, and not as your friend. I need you more than you can imagine, Eisha. I have needed you for so long, yet my intention is not to rush you. All I wish is for you to see me this way. All of me. I want to show myself to you, for you to get used to me this way. That way when you are ready to give yourself to me, it will be easier for you to accept me. Our relationship has changed, mo sgòthan. We must also change the way we see each other.”

  He held my gaze as his eyes searched mine for an answer. I wasn't sure I had one to give, but I knew he was right about one thing. I needed to see him as a man and not the friend that had always been there for me. Our relationship had to change if I desired for us to become what my visions promised I could have. I could not keep Art at bay forever.

  “Would this mean you would want to see me as a woman too?”

  A small smile grazed his lips, but it instantly disappeared. "Yes, but I just want to hold you in my arms like this. If that is too much to ask of you, I understand. You don't have to do it."

  I swallowed again and took a deep breath.

  “It’s just me, Eisha,” He whispered, cupping my cheeks.

  “I know,” I answered and closed my eyes as he kissed my lips softly. “All right.”

  He smiled and kissed me again. “Thank you.”

  His hands held mine and dragged them down his chest and stomach until my fingers were on the towel. He guided them until they slid over the edge, and pulled it loose. My gaze followed the towel’s progress until it fell on the floor and Art was bare to my eyes. My heart lodged in my throat, yet, I could not look away from him.

  “It’s just me,” Art whispered again, and kissed my forehead.

  His hands still held mine but he took a step back, allowing me to see all of him. My eyes roamed every inch of his skin, appreciating him differently. He was so manly. The muscles of his chest and shoulders, his abdominals, his hips. I had seen him shirtless many times, yet it was not the same. At this moment I was seeing a completely different man. My eyes continued down, and I couldn't help but compare him to Gildas. They were night and day. Gildas had been the only man I was ever with, the only one to be part of me int
imately. We were so young when first we made love. His body was still that of a young man, yet Art's body was all man, and he was far too different from Gildas in one aspect I had never seen until tonight. My gaze returned to his, and I gently pulled at the edges of my shirt pulling it over my body. My heart raced out of control as I let my pants fall to the floor and uncovered myself to him. I had been naked before Art many times, but he had never looked at me.

  His gaze left my face, and it slowly traveled over my body. I could see the need growing in his eyes, but I trusted him. I always had. He looked at my breasts as though admiring them, then continued down my abdomen and even lower.

  “You are so beautiful, mo sgòthan.”

  His words reminded me of Gildas, and my heart constricted. Art must have noticed because he gently cupped my cheeks and kissed me.

  "Will you hold me now?" I asked, needing his arms around me, and he smiled.

  “For as long as you want.”

  His hand was on mine as we walked to the bed. He stood in front of me and pulled me into his arms. A small gasp left me when our bodies touched. The way he felt against me, my breasts pressed against his chest, it awoke sensations I had not felt in years. His eyes roamed my face once more.

  “Do you like the way it feels when I hold you like this?”

  “Yes,” I answered, breathless, looking into his eyes. I could feel his body responding to the closeness of our skins.

  “It’s just me,” He said as I felt him harden against me.

  I stepped back, and my gaze once again roamed his body. I could not help but stare at him. He chuckled and pulled my hand, laying on the bed. I laid beside him and as he usually did he pulled me into his arms, but this time I could feel all of him against me. His hand slid between our bodies and he fixed himself then pressed me to him. My breasts pushed against his chest, and when he slid his thigh between mine as he always did, a small gasp escaped my lips. The sensations as his skin rubbed mine were unexpected.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. Are you ok?” He asked, but his voice seemed strained. I rested my cheek on his chest.

  “Yes.”

  He held me tighter against him but didn’t move. His body continued to touch mine, and I was not entirely sure with these sensations he was stirring in me I would be able to sleep tonight.

  CHAPTER 10. A SECOND CHANCE

  ART

  * * *

  What the hell was wrong with me?

  Eisha should be my whole world right now. I had her naked in my arms, her soft body against mine after so many years and I couldn’t seem to shut the damn voice in the back of my mind that wondered if Lia was ok. Had she worried about me when I never got home? Did she make the tea and drink it? Was she sleeping soundly or did she need someone to calm her down?

  I took a deep breath pushing the voice aside once again and stared at Eisha's beautiful face on my chest. Her eyes were closed, but I knew she wasn't sleeping. If I was right, she was fighting the reaction of her body to mine right about now. I could feel her with every single part of me. Every inch of our bodies was against the other, and I knew she was as aroused as I was right now. My intention hadn't been to rush her into having sex with me. It had been for her to realize that I was much more than the friend she could count on, that I was a man who needed her. Change her perception of me. I had wanted to see how her body responded to mine, if she could really feel the way I felt for her. Her reaction gave me hope.

  “What are you so afraid of?” I whispered, kissing her cheek.

  Her eyes opened, and she looked at me, uncertain. "I do not know."

  Lifting her chin, I closed my lips over hers, kissing her deeply. Her mouth moved against mine, slowly giving into me. My hand lazily caressed her back, and I allowed it to go lower, following the curve of her spine until my palm was on her glut. I gently squeezed it feeling the firm, plump form under my touch. She felt so good. She pulled away from the kiss, and I looked into her eyes with hooded eyes.

  “If you don’t like the way it feels when I caress you, you can tell me. I will stop.”

  She swallowed holding my gaze, and I could see the indecision in her eyes. What would it take for her to trust me intimately? I wasn't sure. Taking a deep breath, I removed my hand from her body, but she held it tight, stopping me.

  "No, Art. I want to see what it feels like to be touched this way by you. Please caress me again. I want you to show me," She whispered, holding my gaze. I wanted to let go and show her every pleasure my hands and lips could give her body. Yet, I could still see the one thing I wished she didn't feel with me. Doubt.

  I nodded and stared right into her eyes. My hand slid down her back and around her waist. It began to travel slowly up her body, and a small whimper left her as my fingers traced her ribs. I smiled, noticing the sensitive areas on her body while my hand made its way to her breast. When my fingertips reached her nipple, they slowly circled it and rubbed the tip. Her eyes closed as her breathing changed. I smiled and turned our bodies so that I was half on top of her, while she lay on her back. My hand cupped her breast, and I massaged it softly. Another small whimper left her, but her eyes remained closed. Fuck, I wanted her. I traced her jaw with my lips and kissed her neck, while my fingers continued to play with her nipple. I sucked her neck, and she whimpered yet again. The noises she made were driving me crazy.

  "I want to kiss your breasts. May I?"

  “Yes,” She answered, breathless.

  I smiled briefly and began to make my way down her chest, placing small kisses on every inch of her skin. My hand cupped her breast again, lifting it up, and my lips went straight to her nipple. My tongue swirled around it, a second before I sucked her tip and she moaned for me. The sound was so fucking sweet. I jerked against her hip. I opened my eyes and looked at her beautiful face as my tongue licked the tip. Her eyes were still closed, and the expression on her face said it all. I lost myself for a moment and sucked her nipple hard this time, biting it. She gasped.

  "Please be careful."

  “I’m sorry.”

  I closed my lips around it once more, and soothed it with my tongue. Her body relaxed once more under me. My kisses found their way to her other breast, and gave it the same attention, licking and sucking her nipple gently. When my lips reached hers again, her kiss was hungrier than before. I could feel her against my thigh, and I knew she wanted me, but I didn't want to rush things. Still, I wasn't exactly a saint. She could handle a little more.

  “I want to give you pleasure, mo sgòthan," I whispered against the skin right under her ear and continued to kiss her neck. My hand slowly traveled down her body until it slipped between her thighs. She immediately tensed. "I'll be gentle. I just want to show you how it can feel with me." I said, looking at her, and hoping she wouldn't close up to me. "You can stop me at any time." Her eyes opened, and she held my gaze, but she didn't say no. Her breathing had become ragged, and I took her silence as a yes. My fingers glided over her delicate skin, and she gasped, holding my wrist tightly. I had barely touched her.

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  “No.” She said, barely above a whisper and I smiled kissing her.

  My fingers slid between her delicate skin, and it felt like paradise. Fuck, she was so ready. I caressed her, slowly guiding my fingertips along her soft skin until I reached the most sensitive part of her. I briefly touched it, and she moaned on my lips. Her grip tightened on my wrist, but she didn't stop me. She just held on to my hand as though she needed the reassurance. My lips continued to move on her while my fingertip circled the sensitive spot over and over again. It felt so deliciously silky under my touch, and every time it pulsed for me it made me want to drive into her. Before I realized what I was doing my hips were rocking against her, rubbing myself on her skin, I wanted to find release with her even if it was this way. I hadn't had sex with Seima since Eisha agreed to give us a chance and I was going crazy. I took a deep breath, not letting go of her lips and stopped the movement
of my hips against her. This was about her not about me. I didn't want to overwhelm her.

  “Let go for me.”

  I whispered against her lips and instantly felt her thighs tense and begin to tremble around my hand. Her sleek, sensitive skin pulsed under my fingertip as I stroked it faster. Her legs suddenly closed around my hand, but I didn't stop. Her back arched and a deep long moan escaped her lips. Fuck yes. I lifted my lips from hers and stared at her beautiful face as she cried out and trembled under my body with the wave of pleasure she was experiencing. I kissed her again and softly sucked her lips while she came back down.

  "Thank you," I whispered against her lips, and pulled my hand free, holding her close to me. I turned my body again and laid her on top of me. My arms wrapped around her, holding her fiercely to me. She looked straight into my eyes and rested her cheek on my chest. She was dazed by the pleasure she had experienced with me. I watched her panting breaths come and go until she calmed down and fell asleep in my arms.

  I gently laid her on the bed and stood, reaching for the towel. Wrapping it around my hips, I took the blessed passage stones from the dresser and threw them in the air.

  The portal opened, and my eyes instantly fell on Lia's face. Looking over my shoulder, I made sure Eisha was asleep and crossed the portal. Lia laid on the bed, the sheet had fallen from her body and was barely covering her ankles. My chest tightened when I noticed she was sleeping in my shirt again. My pillow was tightly gripped in her arms, and her chest slightly trembled with each breath. She had been crying. Shaking my head and feeling like an ass, I pulled the sheet up covering her again.

  “I’m sorry, Bòidheach.”

  I whispered, gently kissing her temple and wiping the tear off her cheek. Taking a deep breath, I turned and went back to Eisha’s room.

  I looked over my shoulder at her one last time as the portal closed.

  EISHA