Impractical Magic Part 8

"So they tell me." He came toward her. "Feel free to get comfy, take off your shoes."

He knew her well. The first thing Rose liked to do was get rid of her footwear. She hesitated, then bent to remove her heels. "What about dinner?"

"There's time for that yet." The mischievous glint in his eyes should have warned her, but she still gasped when he pulled her into his arms. "Dance with me."

"There's no music."

"I can hum."

He led her into a simple waltz, then slowly levitated so that Rose was forced to link her arms around his neck and rest her feet atop his to keep from sliding to the floor below. "What are you doing?" Acutely aware of his hard body, Rose couldn't stop the shiver of delight that traveled over her skin.

"Dancing with a beautiful woman." He tightened his hold around her waist until a piece of paper wouldn't fit between them. "How about I add this to my act? A spontaneous flying dance with a woman from the audience?"

Rose frowned. He'd get this close to a stranger? "I'm sure it would please your adoring fans," she muttered.

He chuckled. "You don't sound as if you like it. How about if I choose you every time?"

That brought her gaze to his. Despite his levity, his eyes held a dark seriousness that made her breath catch in her throat. She liked that far too much. "I'm not sure that would be wise."

"No, it wouldn't be wise." He bent closer until his breath mingled with hers. "It wouldn't be wise at all."

Antic.i.p.ation had her.raising her lips to his when a sudden knock on the door shattered the moment. Disappointment rose as Brand lowered them to the floor and glanced at his watch. "Right on time."

Huh? Before Rose could question him, he crossed the room to open the door and admit a waiter with a pushcart containing several covered dishes and a wine bucket.

"Excellent." Brand motioned toward the small dining table in the corner. "Set it up there, please."

Rose came to his side. "What's going on?"

"Dinner." He produced his heart-melting smile. "I ordered ahead of time because I knew nothing would be open mis late. Besides, there's less chance of leakage."

That made sense, but the thought of remaining in the intimacy of his room for an extended period created a quiver in her belly. She thought she'd hardened herself to his abandonment, eliminated her attraction to him, learned to control her emotions where he was concerned.

And she was rapidly discovering none of that was true.

Once Brand had shown the waiter out, he led Rose to the table. It had been set for two with a single candle burning in the center. "I hope you like it."

He seated her, then lifted the lids off the various dishes-beef tenderloins, rice pilaf, steamed vegetables, and warm bread with steam rising from it. The mixture of scents, especially that of the yeasty bread, made Rose's mouth water and her stomach growl in appreciation.

"It looks delicious." She heaped generous portions onto her plate. Brand lifted the bottle from the ice bucket. "And champagne."

Rose raised an eyebrow as he worked the cork free. "Are you celebrating?"

"I am now." He poured the bubbly into two tall narrow wine flutes, then handed one to Rose. Lifting his gla.s.s, he held it out. "To a successful show." "I'll drink to that." Rose clinked her gla.s.s against his, men sipped. The bubbles tickled her nose and she sneezed. As Brand grinned at her, she grimaced. "It's been a long time since I've had champagne."

Brand settled into his seat and served himself. "I thought you lived the high life."

"Me?" She had to laugh at that. "Where do you get your information? I work and go home. That's it."

"What about your flock of admirers?" Though Brand's tone was nonchalant, something in his expression caught her attention.

"What admirers?" Did he know something she didn't?

"You always had several around you in high school."

"Oh, that." She shrugged. "I never took them seriously. They were drawn to the magic, not to me."

"And now?"

At the intensity of his voice, she lowered her fork and met his gaze. "Men are drawn to me sometimes." But none had held her interest longer than ten minutes. "I haven't found one I wanted to keep."

A glimmer flickered in his eyes before he resumed eating. "I'm surprised."

"I don't have time for men. My work is more important." Through her work she could prove she was something more than her magic.

"Writing exposes?" Brand didn't look at her as he spoke.

She frowned. Was this wonderful evening going to deteriorate right now? "Among other things."

"Did you learn anything interesting during tonight's show?"

"Not much." When he glanced at her, she smiled. "I was too caught up in the performance to pay attention like I should have."

The tension left his features. "That's quite a compliment."

"Though I'm pretty sure I know how that flying act was done," she added.

He laughed and raised his gla.s.s to her. "Touche, Rose. I could always count on you to make me laugh."

"You need to laugh more." His entire countenance changed when he did, reminding her of the boy she'd once adored.

"I haven't had much reason to do so," he said.

Rose tilted her head. "You have Sequoia working for you. How can you not be laughing on a daily basis?"

"Good point." He glanced at his plate, then up again. "But she's not you. With you every day was an adventure."

His words added a twist to her gut. "Only because you never told me how stupid most of my ideas were." She struggled to keep her tone light even while she avoided his gaze.

"Because I didn't think they were stupid." Brand grinned. "Okay, the time you had us tie our bikes together to ride side-by-side down Dead Man's Hill was stupid, but other than that..."

She remembered that particular feat well. They'd ended up somersaulting over their handlebars and landing in a tangled ma.s.s of arms and legs. "At least we didn't break anything." Which her mother had claimed was a miracle in itself.

"No breaks," he agreed. "But I had enough bruises to pa.s.s for a Dalmatian."

She'd been covered with them as well, but she dismissed his comment with a wave of her hand. "Builds character."

"So I've heard." He hefted the champagne bottle. "More?"

"Please." She never even became light-headed while drinking liquor. It was Coca-Cola that made her drunk-a common affliction among the Fae, from what she'd been told. Taking her gla.s.s, she pushed away from the table and meandered to the wide windows where she could watch the lights twinkle among the darkened city. Despite the evidence of so much life, she felt very much alone.

And very aware of Brand's presence.

"I need to get going," she said. "Thank you for dinner." She turned, then gasped when she realized that Brand had moved silently to stand behind her. He caught her hands. "You don't have to go yet." He floated toward the ceiling, tugging at her to join him. "Come fly with me." She pulled her hands free. "I'd have to use magic to do that." And she'd lost the thrill of flying years ago. She couldn't very well do it openly. Transporting was easier and saved time.

As he soared around the room, she shook her head with a wry smile. "I'm going to call you Peter Pan from now on. You lost your sense when you gained the ability to fly." "Don't begrudge me this, Rose. It's a dream come true." He dived at her, tapping her shoulders before rising to the ceiling again. "I'm getting better at controlling it, too." His delight in this ability radiated from him as he darted around the suite, diving in to tease her before sailing off again. If she allowed herself to join him, he'd be in serious trouble. As it was, she burst into laughter as he twirled, nearly taking out a lamp in the process. "Come down from there," she ordered. "You're going to break something." He flew over her head, mussing her hair as he pa.s.sed. She giggled and ducked when he returned. Watching his next approach, she jumped up and caught his shirt, yanking him down. He fell hard, the force of his flight behind him, tumbling them both to the bed, his body plastered on top of hers. The initial blow stole her breath, but she found it didn't return very easily as his gaze locked with hers. The glimmer in his eyes darkened and flared with heat, his smile fading as he caressed her hair. He dipped closer, his intent obvious, giving her time to turn away, but she didn't... couldn't.

The touch of his lips against hers answered a yearning she hadn't even realized she possessed. He began gentle, tasting, teasing, seducing, forcing a response. When she opened to him, he plundered with an urgency that sparked fire in her blood.

He wove his fingers into her hair, holding her still as he claimed her mouth, the taste of champagne adding to Rose's headiness.

She shouldn't be doing this. She should stop. Instead she clutched his shoulders, holding him close, meeting the fierceness of his lips with her own. Nothing in her life had ever been this good.

Shifting, Brand nestled his rock-hard erection between her legs, the feel of him-so close, so solid, so hot- building the tight knot within her. She wanted him. Oh, Lord, he made her want him with a desperation that terrified her.

He continued to kiss her, seducing her, while he tightened his hold in her hair. When she moaned, wanting him to stop, wanting him to continue, he finally drew back, his breathing ragged.

"Rose?" He brushed the back of his fingers across her cheek.

"I... I can't do this." No matter how much her body wanted it, she'd regret it later. "It... it's not right."

He flinched, his ego obviously affected, then jumped to his feet and crossed the room. 'Then why kiss me back? Do you intend to make me desire you enough to give you all my illusions?"

She sat up, her body still trembling with need. "You know I wouldn't do that."

"What, then?" He whirled around, fire blazing m his eyes. "Why do I want you so badly? Leaking magic?"

"Perhaps." On his part, maybe, but her response had come from deep within, which frightened her all the more. She couldn't allow him to have that kind of power over her. She stood. "If it makes you feel better to believe that."

"What do you call it, then?"

"Grat.i.tude, perhaps, for the gift of flight." She retrieved her shoes. "How will you feel if it goes away?"

His eyes widened with momentary alarm, then he quickly regained his composure. "Will it?"

"I don't know. If I had cast the spell, probably not, but a wish from someone else..." She shook her head. "I honestly don't know."

"My clothing never returned after Sequoia wished it away." He said it as if trying to convince himself.

"I don't know, Brand." She'd never been through anything like this before.

Sparks flared as he stepped closer. "Why don't we test it, then? How about I wish for you to be in your underwear, and we see how long it takes your dress to return?"

She gasped, feeling her dress evaporate before he'd even finished speaking. Thank goodness she had worn a bra with this one, though the flimsy bits of lace on her bra and panties revealed as much as they covered.

Her first instinct was to cover herself, but she forced her hands to remain at her side as she defiantly met Brand's gaze.

He was staring, his pupils wide, his face flushed. "Oh, my G.o.d, Rose."

The deep rasp of his voice sent a shudder through her. He extended a hand as if to touch her, then curled it into a fist and dropped it again.

Her nipples tightened into hard nubs. She wanted his touch, craved it so much so that she took a step toward him before she caught herself. "Could I get my clothes back?"

He didn't answer, his gaze lingering on her revealed flesh, his hunger obvious. And the more he stared, the tighter the knot in her gut grew and the more her b.r.e.a.s.t.s swelled and ached. Only a few feet separated them, filled with a longing and tension that lurked as a nearly tangible presence.

In another few minutes she'd go to him, give him what he wanted... what she wanted. "Brand." Her panic sounded in her voice. "Please."

He jerked his head up as if she'd slapped him. "I'm sorry." He shook his head. "No, I'm not. You're exquisite, Rose."

She didn't respond, but she trembled, the longing more difficult to control.

"How about if I wish I were in my underwear, too?"

His clothing vanished, leaving him in hip-hugging navy bikini underwear that did nothing to hide the evidence of his need.

"Oh, G.o.d." Rose groaned and closed her eyes. "Brand, I can't." She blindly turned for the door. She'd run through the hotel half naked if she had to. To remain was to give Brand a power stronger than any magic.

She had her hand on the handle when he spoke. "I wish we were dressed again."

She felt the tug on her magic as her dress reappeared, though the neck was scooped lower and the hem shortened from what it had been. Turning back to glance at Brand, she noticed only his pants had returned. His excellent chest was still bare, as if her power hadn't been able to fulfill the entire request.

"Thank you," she murmured.

He shook his head. "Don't thank me. Just go. Now."

The roughness of his tone spurred her into action, and she fled to the elevator, escaping the room, escaping Brand.

Eight.

"What's he doing here?" Rose asked as she spotted Ewan sitting at Sequoia's table in the hotel restaurant the next morning. She still retained a niggle of guilt over seeing him lying on the theater floor last night, but he looked fully recovered today. In fact, the sparkle in his eyes contrasted sharply with the dark circles under her cousin's eyes.

"He's promised not to bother you," Sequoia said. "We've made a deal."

Rose raised an eyebrow as she slid into an empty chair. "A deal?" A faery raised by mortals, she didn't trust any of the Fae. Not while t.i.tania was their queen. "What kind of deal?" Did it have anything to do with Sequoia's haggard appearance?

"I've agreed to teach him what love is."

Rose frowned. What did that mean? "I hope you're not-"

"Oh, no. Nothing like that."