Monique watched Erik at the dining room table. Whatever he found on his phone held his interest. He was either looking up anything he could find on Consuela, or searching for Tarek’s contacts without directly involving himself.
Half the damned problem with Erik being in the Silver Council was his dedication to his job. Though he did the same while he still worked as a cop for Hayden. One of his best qualities was his loyalty.
His dedication was a thousand times better than her fear of the Council. And her fear stemmed from her mother’s haunting. Nigel explained it to her long ago. The demon who clung to her mother had increased her negativity and that bled into her own emotion as long as her mother was around.
She had been reeling from the loss of her mother, learning she’d been influenced by a demon, and leaving Erik when she found him with Gwen. Her imagination ran wild, crushing any hope she could fix them. And she didn’t learn about the council ending the program for a few years because she was too busy attempting to do anything and everything to let him go.
Turning back to the stove, she stirred the stir-fry and prepared their plates. She needed him to listen. Maybe over dinner she could get through to him.
He’d spent most of the day avoiding her, so she busied herself with designs. She had some of her best ideas while letting her creativity flow. Yet, nothing sparked. She needed to prove she meant what she said. And after so many years of pushing him away, she didn’t know how to show how much she wanted to cling to him.
Taking their plates to the table, she stole a peek at his phone. Sure enough, researching Consuela. She couldn’t fight back the pang of jealousy. The worst part, she knew better. He clearly didn’t like the woman. Her methods upset him. But he spent the better part of the afternoon looking up everything he could about another woman.
She couldn’t help wondering if maybe someone with his talents would be better for him. They had similar abilities, they both wanted the Silver Council to accept all casters, and she had never pushed Erik so hard he broke.
Christ, she wanted to stop thinking about her mistakes and just fix them already.
So, she attempted to show support. “Anything interesting in there?”
His expression turned grim. “Not really. Luckily, she’s mostly kept out of the normal humans’ sight. So online isn’t helping. I don’t trust her, Monique. Why her?”
“Because she can do some of the same things you can, and she’d want to help keep you out of trouble. Perhaps I should have done my own research. I could contact Nigel, see if he would come out to help.”
“Would he? He hates the Council more than you do.”
She managed a tight smile. “I don’t know. Last I heard, he proposed to a Silver Council mage.”
Erik snorted. “That was ages ago. And you realize who that was, right?”
She smirked. “Bianca Bitshi.”
“She died about twenty years ago at the hands of a dark mage.”
Monique frowned. “She did?”
He nodded. “Guess she was on an assignment and turned up drained of life.”
“That’s horrible.”
Erik shrugged. It was never any secret that the woman got on his last nerve. Though he knew about Monique and Nigel’s relationship.
He couldn’t help asking. “Hasn’t he been your client all this time?”
She nodded, glancing away. “Sure, he comes in, buys clothes, and leaves. I keep the conversation focused on business because for a long time, he was trying to get me back. He gave up on me when he found Bianca.”
Erik shook his head in amusement. “Anyway, I’m hoping Robert takes Consuela back to New Orleans after the charges are dropped. Then you can stop playing this game.”
“Erik, this isn’t a game. This isn’t pretend.” She took a breath and set a plate in front of him. “I like you here. I wish I had the courage to say all of this before. At least then we wouldn’t have this mess standing in our way.”
“I honestly don’t know that last night would have been soon enough.”
She took his chin, forcing his gaze to hers. “Please, Erik. Don’t give up on me now.”
“Damn it, Monique. It’s been forty-two years. And the last five I groveled, and begged, and tried anything I could think of to fix us, and you pushed me away. You can’t really expect me to believe this shit after everything we’ve been through together.”
“I’m not giving up. I will convince you.” Even if it killed her.
* * * *
After a tense, yet silent dinner, Erik took the dishes to the sink. Monique certainly seemed to have a new outlook. His will was cracking, but he’d been fooled before. Too many times to count where she was concerned.
He needed Robert and Preston to give him the go ahead to go home. Trapped, he had no choice but to face Monique. The last thing he wanted to do, because for the last few years, she’d played his heart like a yoyo.
Erik closed his eyes at the pop behind him. He shut off the water and turned to find both Robert and Preston.
Preston wore a grim smile. “Seems Consuela is very interested in working with you. She’s booked a room at Victoria’s Bed and Breakfast. She’s staying indefinitely.”
“Oh joy.” Erik grabbed a towel to dry his hands. As much as he liked using the dishwasher, he still felt the need to wash them before putting them in. Old habits died hard.
“I should have called Nigel,” Monique muttered as she entered the room.
Robert nodded. “Perhaps. She’s convinced the justice tribunal to hire her for death magic related cases. She’s asked to work specifically with you, Erik.”
“Tell me you didn’t tell them yes.”
Preston shrugged. “Didn’t have much choice. They trust you. Right now, they don’t trust her.”
“Great, so if she gets herself in trouble, she’s going to bring me down with her. Can’t you get her to work with another mage? Instead of a necromancer? That seems like the wise choice.”
“Unfortunately, no one wants to work with her, so if you’re called out to babysit, we come too.”
“At least I won’t be alone with her. The woman makes my skin crawl.”
“In a serious way,” Preston muttered.
Robert shook his head. “There’s more.”
“What’s that?” Monique asked.
“Bad news. Tarek was drained by a dark mage.”
Erik’s eyes slammed shut as he pushed his hands through his hair and faced Robert. “Someone higher in the Council put him up to it. Someone old enough to hide the evidence.” He opened his eyes and met Preston’s stare head-on. “You happen to get a trace?”
Preston shook his head. “No. They’re good. Soaked up every last bit of their own energy as well as Tarek’s before leaving. Oh, and the victims’ home was burned to ash. Had to be Tarek. Nothing else on the block was touched. Hell, not even the grass.”
“What about the other two mages?”
“They’re in custody. Currently catatonic. No one has been in or out of those cells,” Robert explained.
“What the hell happened?” Erik asked.
Preston shrugged a shoulder. “Some spell linking them to Tarek. Shortly before his car and dusty remains were found, they went silent. Appears to be some spell keeping them that way.”
“Can Emily counter it?”
Robert answered, “She’s working on it. Not looking good, though.”
Erik shifted his weight, looking from one to the other. “What does that mean for me? Am I off the hook?”
“You are. Though it may be wise to stay here, where fewer people would look.”
“I could still go to a cabin. I don’t want Monique in danger,” Erik offered.
Her lips trembled and he had to look away. He knew he was being a cold-hearted bastard, partly to save her from the heartache that would follow them.
“I’d suggest you stay here,” Robert answered. “With a dark mage trying to purposefully frame you, your house isn’t safe.”
Preston added. “Monique’s enchantments here make it nearly impossible to track you.”
“You realize the spirits who follow me will warn me before the dark mage gets their hands on me.”
Monique shook her head, real fear in her eyes. “If the mage is as old as you say, would they necessarily know the difference?”
Erik paced away. She had a point.
Preston rubbed the back of his neck. “Stay a few nights at least. Try to keep a low profile if you go out. And if you come up with a lead, or have an idea, let us know so one of us can come with you.”
Monique rubbed one arm. “I can ask around. Some of my best customers are high-ranking Silver Council members. Others keep an eye on them.”
At least they might get somewhere that way. “I’ll go in with Monique. See if I can glean any information, either directly, or through an extra set of eyes.”
Preston snorted. “Don’t tell me you can’t keep yourselves busy.”
Robert sighed. “Ignore him. We’re leaving. Enjoy yourselves.” He grabbed Preston, and they were gone.
“Fuck,” Erik muttered, walking past Monique.
She grabbed his arm and hauled him back, glaring up at him. “Don’t leave this room. We need to talk.”
“Why? It never gets us anywhere.”
“Tell me the tattoo means nothing to you. Nothing at all, and I’ll drop it.”
“You know it does.” More than he dared to admit. Which was why he hadn’t given it a damned thought. “Why not do this sooner, Monique? Why wait until I’m ready to walk?”
“Because I’m finally ready to dive in headfirst and give you all of me. No more holding back, no more fear. Everything, Erik. That’s what you always wanted. All of me. I’m yours. Tell me what I need to do.”
The wall he’d built over the last few months shattered with the weight of her words. “Prove it,” he whispered, praying she spoke the truth.
* * * *
Hope flooded after he’d nearly drowned any chance they had when he tried to leave. Robert and Preston very likely saved any possibility she would fix things with Erik.
“I will,” Monique answered.
She closed the distance and touched his face as she pressed her lips to his. His mouth parted, and her tongue sought his. He groaned, his hands curling around her shoulders as she pressed tight, tilting her head to deepen the kiss.
The electric charge between them built, like it always did. She’d missed his touch. Earlier, when she’d tried to kiss him, he held back, shutting her down. Now the passion ignited.
She walked him backward to her room. He scooped her into his arms and hurried the pace, flinging the door open and setting her down.
Erik pulled his shirt off, dropping it on the floor. His eyes flashed to hers as she opened his pants and pushed them down his hips. His cock sprang free. She wrapped her hand around his hard length as he found the zipper to her dress, pulling it down.
He slipped the straps down her arms and let the fabric fall to the floor. Erik traced the raven on her side. “A month ago?”
She nodded. “You’ve been breaking my walls down for a year. Took me that long to let the last bit crumble.”
He pulled her hands up and kissed her palms. “Wish you’d told me when you did that.”
“Was still afraid to hurt as bad as I did years ago. And the sad part, you weren’t even with her.”
His fingers threaded into her hair. “Start fresh. From the beginning. Without the old doubts and concerns. Just tell me the Silver Council is no longer a deal breaker because I’m not walking away. Things are finally changing for the better.”
“You need to be a part of that change, and I’ll stand beside you.”
He brushed his lips over hers before delving in, sweeping wildfire through her veins. No one had ever kissed her like Erik did. His magic sparked along her nerves, calling to her own. His essence entwined with hers, a bond that shouldn’t exist, but always had.
His hands trailed around her sides and up to unhook her bra, letting it fall to the floor. His palms drifted down to push her panties down her legs. He gripped her ass, pulling. She hopped, wrapping her legs around his waist.
“Need you, Erik. Always have.” She blinked back tears.
He laid her down, looking into her eyes. “Don’t push me away again. I won’t chase you next time.” He kissed her again, rubbing his length through her folds.
She rolled her hips, seeking friction.
His crown pushed past her gate, filling her body. She clung to his arms that dipped the bed beside her shoulders, staring into his intense gaze.
“Be mine, Monique.”
“Always,” she whispered, meaning it to the bottom of her soul. He found her end and they clicked into place, like they’d never been apart. His mouth covered hers, his tongue taking the same rhythm as their hips.
They synced, pleasure pushing and pulling at each other, until they felt as one. His pleasure became her own, hers flowing through him. Breathy sighs and needy grunts joined their song.
He shifted his knees beside her hips as he pushed deeper and harder, rocking her closer to the edge, then she was freefalling into bliss. He pounded into her thrice more before joining.
His eyes bored into her, imploring.
“Always yours,” she answered.
He rolled to the side, crushing her in his embrace. Tension ebbed and flowed. There were things on his mind, and he had every right to doubt after the shit she’d put him through for years, but she planned to wipe away every mistake she ever made.
“Can’t let you go again,” Erik mumbled with a shaky voice.
She leaned back, capturing his gaze. “Can’t walk away again.”