Darkest Nyte Read online

  He lowered his mouth to hers again.

  "Nyte, no."

  He paused, staring at her with unnerving intensity. He lowered his hand to the small of her back and drew her tight against his pelvis. The large bulge in his pants made clear to her how aroused he’d become.

  "Lucinda, you can’t really want to stop."

  She hesitated and he continued to lower his head. When she felt his full, firm lips settle on hers again, she couldn’t pull away. He grasped her waist and lifted her, settling her bottom on the edge of the counter. He leaned into her, his huge bulge pushing into the cradle of her thighs. The blazing heat of him seared her with need and she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling his erection hard against her. Slick dampness readied her for him. Her heated skin felt a wash of cool air as Nyte slid her sweater upward. His lips separated from hers as he pulled the garment over her head and dropped it to the floor, then he nuzzled her neck. His lips danced across her collarbone, then downward. His hand covered one breast, his thumb circling over her rock-hard nub, desire drilling to the core of her. She wriggled forward and wrapped her legs tighter around him, wanting to feel his naked skin against hers, wanting to feel the huge, rigid length of his erection slide inside her. Ecstasy called to her.

  She slid her hands under his sweater and stroked over the rigid hardness of his stomach, then over his ribs, to his small, hard nipples. His finger slid under the edge of her bra, touching her nipple, skin to skin, and she moaned at the raging desire the contact aroused within her.

  He disposed of her bra and drew her hard nipple into the warmth of his mouth. His tongue flicked across the hard nub.

  "Oh, God, Nyte." Her body went weak with need and her head fell back. He slid one arm to her upper back to support her.

  His other hand released the button of her jeans and slid the zipper downward. Some kind of sanity scratched through her.

  "No." Her hand stilled his fingers, drawing them away from her jeans.

  "But, Lucinda--"

  "Nyte, I can’t do this."

  He wrapped his hands around her hips and drew her tight against him. His penis pushed against her, triggering another wave of incredible desire.

  "Yes, you can."

  "No, I can’t make love with you."

  He stared into her eyes with intense scrutiny, then pursed his lips and nodded.

  "You aren’t ready."

  "That’s right, I’m not ready," she echoed, grabbing onto the lifeline he’d thrown her, knowing she’d need every scrap of help he offered to withdraw from the web of desire holding her in its grasp.

  "You aren’t ready to make love with me yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do this."

  "This what--?"

  His tongue lapped over one nipple, then the other. He drew it into his mouth and sucked.

  "Oh, Nyte," she moaned.

  He ripped off his sweater and pulled her against him. The feel of her breasts crushed against his naked chest sent explosive bursts of pleasure through her. His hands cupped her bottom and he pulled her tightly against his pulsing erection. He thrust against her, triggering a startling bolt of pleasure through her, then he eased back and thrust forward again. Only the fabric of their clothing stopped him from driving into her body.

  Oh, God, she wanted to feel him inside her. He thrust again and again and she felt a wave of pleasure wash over her, then more and more waves as his sweet, erotic propulsion drove her closer to ecstasy. A second later, she felt his finger slide between them, then slip under her panties. He zeroed in on the little bundle of nerves at the front. As he stroked it, she felt herself quiver inside, from top to bottom, then an intense swirl of energy pulsed through her and she sucked in a breath, then moaned from deep inside. The sound carried her to a rippling, blissful release.

  Nyte’s groan followed hers and his body stiffened against her. Slowly, his body relaxed as her climax eased to an end. She collapsed against him, reveling in the feel of his arms around her.

  He held her close, stroking her back. Slowly, realization dawned on her as to what they’d just done. She eased away, overlapping her arms in front of her to cover her naked breasts, her face flaming with heat. Nyte grabbed his sweater, which had landed on the countertop beside her, and tugged it over her head. She pulled it down to cover herself. The course wool rubbed roughly against her nipples but she ignored the discomfort as she shoved the overlong sleeves up her arms.

  "Lucinda, I--"

  She held up her hand to stop his words.

  "If you’re going to apologize, don’t. I got just as carried away as you did. It’s not fair to expect you to be the strong one."

  This attraction between them was real. How could she expect him to resist it if she didn’t? How could she expect him to respect her strength if she didn’t show any?

  "Lucinda, I lose myself when I get too close to you ... especially when you get vulnerable the way you did a few moments ago."

  Irritation zinged through her and she hopped down from the counter. The sweater hung almost to her knees.

  "I’m not vulnerable."

  She grabbed the kettle from the stove to put a little distance between them. She put it in the sink and started filling it with water.

  "I get an overwhelming urge to protect you."

  Lucinda glared at him. "I don’t need protection."

  He turned off the water and drew her towards him, then stroked her cheek with one finger.

  "Lucinda, consider this. You are very strong, but...." He tipped her chin up and met her defiant gaze. "Sometimes, you need someone else to be stronger."

  Her eyebrows dipped down. She was still stronger than he was. In fact, putting modesty aside, some of the wizards would say she was the strongest of them all. Besides Rand, of course.

  "Don’t think too hard about it," Nyte said. "Suddenly, it’ll become clear to you." He kissed the tip of her nose. "For now, we’ll take our time."

  Chapter 7

  Two evenings later, as Lucinda pulled a spell book from the top of one of her bookshelves, the doorbell sounded. It was Rand’s ring, she thought as she handed the book to Nyte. He always enhanced the electronic sound of her doorbell with his own particular musical flourish.

  "Take a look at the spells on pages eight through twenty," she said, as she pulled open the door to the den.

  The bell sounded again and she hurried to the front door. She hoped Rand wasn’t here to make further attempts to dissuade her from training Nyte. And, as much as she cared for Rand, she hoped he wouldn’t stay long. If he did, there was bound to be a blow up between him and Nyte, and she just didn’t have the energy to cope with that. Training Nyte, along with fighting the overwhelming attraction between them, had taken a lot out of her.

  She tugged open the door, but instead of Rand, a tall, blond, very good-looking stranger stood on the other side. A stranger who, from the feel of him, could work magic. Her fingers clasped tightly around the doorknob.

  Good heavens, not another unidentified wizard.

  "May I help you?" she asked.

  "Yes, you can let me in."

  That voice. Her gaze ricocheted to his startling, cobalt blue eyes. His gaze held hers with a disturbing intensity.

  "Rand, is that you?"

  This was not her Rand, the one she’d seen only a day ago, the one she’d known since her childhood. He stood tall and straight, with shoulder-length hair the color of wheat glistening under the warmth of a summer sun. His eyes, a more vivid color than she’d ever seen, held the vitality of youth. As did his well-muscled, virile-looking body. He appeared to be about thirty-five.

  His presence felt different, too. About him she felt a sense of purpose, a determination beyond anything she’d felt in him before.

  She had no idea what to make of that.

  "Are you going to let me in?" he asked.

  As much as she’d like to suggest he come back another time--like after Nyte had finished training with her--judging from the set of his jaw, s
aying no was out of the question.

  "Of course." She stepped aside to allow him passage.

  As he strolled across the room, she couldn’t help watching his strong, purposeful steps, and thinking it would take some time to get used to the idea that Rand was really quite a hunk.

  She didn’t want to think of him that way. The older Rand fit better into her view of life and she wished he could stay the way she remembered him, but at the same time, realized how selfish that attitude was.

  "Can I get you anything?"

  He settled into his usual seat--the recliner beside the fireplace.

  "A glass of wine, please."

  She glanced at the door to the den as she passed, hoping the spell book had captured Nyte’s attention enough that he wouldn’t come out for a while. She didn’t want the two men to start anything.

  In the kitchen, she poured some red wine from the bottle she kept aside for Rand and a glass of diet Coke for herself. When she returned to the living room, she handed him his glass, then sat down on the couch. Merlin uncoiled from his napping position on the hearth and arched his back in a long stretch. He sauntered toward her, then leaped onto the couch and stretched out on the cushion beside her. She stroked his head and he laid his chin on her leg and purred contentedly.

  Rand placed his glass on the end table beside his chair and folded his hands in his lap.

  "Do you mind if I choose where we go this evening?"

  "Go?"

  He raised his eyebrows. "It’s the third Thursday of the month."

  "It is?"

  Rats. Even though Rand had reminded her only a few days ago, with all the confusion associated with Nyte’s appearance, she had totally forgotten. She and Rand always reserved one day a month to spend together.

  "I’m sorry, Rand, I think we’d better postpone for a few weeks."

  His eyebrows arched. "Why?"

  She gestured toward the den door. "I have a responsibility to Nyte. You know he’s suffering from amnesia, and he’s still getting his bearings. I can’t just go traipsing off and leave him--"

  He leaned toward her. "It will only be a few hours. Surely he can take care of himself for that long."

  "Of course I can take care of myself," Nyte’s voice cut in, "but if Lucinda doesn’t want to go out with you, you shouldn’t coerce her."

  Oh, damn. She glanced around to see Nyte stride into the room. He raised an eyebrow as he took in Rand’s altered form, and sent Lucinda a significant look. She was certain it was meant to remind her of his suggestion that Rand would attempt to take his relationship with Lucinda beyond friendship. He obviously thought that was why Rand had taken on this young, attractive shape. Her hands clenched tightly on the armrest. Could he be right?

  "Nyte, please let me handle this."

  "All right." He strolled to the window behind Rand and stood watching, like an ominous shadow in his black jeans and sweater, hair loose and flowing over his shoulders.

  "Rand, let’s do it one day next week."

  "But I have somewhere special to take you tonight."

  The tightness in his voice, though barely perceptible, alerted her to his mood. His relaxed posture was only a facade, and she had a feeling he didn’t intend this to be an evening of simple entertainment.

  He shifted forward in his chair, his gaze intent. "I need your opinion on something."

  He needed her opinion? He’d never said that before.

  How could she turn him down? For years, they had maintained this one day each month as a special time to renew their friendship.

  "Okay." She glanced down at her bulky, denim blue, cable-knit sweater and faded blue jeans. "I’ll go change."

  "Lucinda," Nyte’s protesting voice broke in. "You aren’t really going with him? He’s been interfering from the beginning, and now--"

  She turned to him. "Nyte, Rand is my friend, and this is my decision."

  Her determined gaze held his until the simmering anger in his eyes cooled to resignation.

  "Of course," he said finally.

  "Wear something warm," Rand suggested.

  As she headed for the stairs, she wondered what kind of place Rand had in mind.

  In her bedroom, she pulled on a pair of black wool slacks and a purple, lacy knit sweater. She opened her jewelry box and selected the dragon pendant suspended on a silver chain that Randalph had given her last Christmas. She fastened it around her neck and checked her reflection in the mirror. A quick brush through her hair and she was ready to go.

  When she returned to the living room, both men sat stiffly waiting for her. Nyte took in her outfit with a quick sweep of his gaze, and then his lips tightened into a straight line. Suddenly, the pants seemed too snug and the sweater too formfitting. Distractedly, she toyed with the winged dragon pendant.

  "Nice necklace," Nyte observed.

  Lucinda’s gaze lanced to Rand, praying he wouldn’t mention it was a gift from him. "Yes, I like it."

  Nyte stepped toward her and his fingers lightly brushed her chest as he picked up the pendant. Awareness sizzled through her, which she was certain Nyte intended. He wanted her to be intimately aware of her overwhelming attraction to him, and her lack of physical attraction to Rand.

  "What is the dragon holding?"

  She stared at the half inch rectangular stone clutched in the dragon’s claws. "It’s an emerald-cut ametrine. Half purple amethyst and half yellow citrine." The effect of the single stone blending from yellow to purple was stunning. "It combines the properties of both gems--power and creativity."

  Of course, it was much more complex than that, but she’d learned long ago that most people didn’t enjoy hearing in great detail about the properties of crystals. Why, she didn’t know.

  Rand stood up and strode to the closet. He pulled open the door and grabbed her jacket, then held it for her to slip on. As she pushed her arms into the sleeves, she watched Nyte stroll toward the couch. As he sat down, Merlin trotted across the living room and leaped onto his lap.

  "Don’t worry about me," Nyte said.

  Something about Nyte’s easygoing tone bothered her. It was too relaxed. He stroked Merlin’s head several times, then started scratching behind the cat’s ear. Lucinda could hear the purring from the door.

  "This little fellow will keep me company." He lifted his head and smiled at Lucinda with a devilish grin. "And if I get bored, I’ll practice the fireball spell you taught me this afternoon."

  The steady thrum of Merlin’s purr broke into a staticky crackle and his ears pivoted upright.

  "I think it needs a little work," Nyte continued.

  Merlin, her cowardly cat, stared at her and mewed. He hated fire.

  Oh, Merlin, you’ll be fine.

  Nyte’s spell did not need work. Like everything else she’d taught him, he’d learned it the first time and been able to direct it with great accuracy.

  Nyte stroked the length of Merlin’s back. "I think I could put a little more force behind them."

  More force? Merlin’s green gaze flicked to Nyte, then turned to Lucinda in appeal.

  "I also saw a lighting bolt spell I might try."

  She clamped her hands together. "Nyte, I don’t think--"

  Rand grasped her shoulder. "Lucinda, never mind this nonsense. We must go."

  Oh, sure. Fine for him to say. He didn’t risk returning to find his house a pile of cinders on the ground.

  Merlin meowed in a rising note of desperation.

  Well, what am I supposed to do? Rand needs me.

  Rand took hold of her hand and drew her with him. As the air around them shimmered, then blurred, she saw Merlin’s fuzzy head plunk onto Nyte’s lap in resignation.

  Lucinda relaxed her body as Rand carried her with him, wondering where he was taking her. Somewhere far, she realized, as she felt the tug of time and space catching on her heels.

  After a few moments, the lightness left her body and she felt solid ground beneath her feet. The light of evening had faded to d
arkness and it took a few moments for her eyes to adjust.

  "Where are we?"

  "Delphi."

  He’d taken her to Greece? Why here? Light from the waning moon glazed the towering ruins around them, lending an eerie quality to the scene.

  It had been a long time since she’d been to Delphi. She wished she could see the spectacular view that lay below the mountain, but it was lost in the depths of the night.

  Rand had brought her here during her own training, centuries ago. From her first step onto this mountain, she had been moved by the power inherent in everything around her, but especially from the deeply stirring core.

  The Oracle of Delphi.

  She felt it now, percolating through her, an invigorating, exciting sense of power.

  Rand took her hand. "This way." They meandered further up the mountain.

  "Why have you brought me here, Rand?" She kept a steady eye on where and how she stepped.

  "I wanted you to feel it for yourself."

  "Feel what?" She felt the power of the Oracle, just as she had both times she’d been here before, but as unusual as that was, it wasn’t new.

  "I’ll show you."

  They continued their trek upward until they stood before a leveled building. Moonlight glistened along the flat surface of the bared floor.

  The temple of Apollo. Or rather, what remained of it.

  She could feel the energy emanating from it. The force pressed against her like the brush of a bird’s wing.

  The ancient Greeks had believed the Oracle could provide answers about the future. Many journeyed long distances to seek the advice of the Oracle.

  Today, scientists marveled at the strange magnetic fields in the area. It was a mystery even to the wizards. Rand had explained to her that this area had something to do with the spawning of the first wizards, but he had always been vague about it. She suspected he didn’t know the true story.

  That’s probably why she didn’t come here often. She didn’t like mysteries.

  Her own life was already too much of one.

  Rand walked around the perimeter of the temple, as though inspecting the foundation. After one pass, he returned to her side.