Читать книгу Vision of Seduction - Cassie Ryan - Страница 10

Misty fog drifted around Katelyn’s ankles, even as she recognized the vision for what it was. Twenty-three years of experience made it almost impossible for her to mistake a vision for anything else.

Yet, this one was more vivid than usual—less déjà vu and more current somehow. She couldn’t pinpoint the differences, but she knew.

The air was heavy with water and ripe with the scents of plants and earth. Katelyn couldn’t see anything past the mist even though the sun warmed her and shined off the soft green grass under her bare toes. From the smells, this place reminded her of the beautiful, grassy meadow in her last vision.

“Good morning, Katelyn.”

The deep bass rumble that made her name sound like an exotic delicacy startled her, and she turned toward the voice.

Grayson emerged out of the mist, looking much as he had when she’d first seen him walk into her shop. A plain black T-shirt stretched over broad shoulders and down to a tapered waist. Tight jeans molded over muscular thighs before covering the tops of well-worn black cowboy boots.

His dark hair gleamed with amber highlights in the sunlight. He’d pulled it back into a simple ponytail. It looked soft and satiny, and Katelyn’s fingers literally itched to reach out and touch.

Grayson’s chiseled jaw and sensual lips would be enough to make him handsome, but those eyes the color of deep melted amethysts made him breathtaking.

Unease skittered along Katelyn’s spine as images of the battle inside her shop flooded back.

Shit! Did that actually happen?

It must’ve been another vision. Yet, it hadn’t felt like a vision, but rather like something that had actually occurred. And why would she have a vision of something so bizarre when all her visions usually came true in some form?

A sinking sensation churned deep inside her belly, and she concentrated, attempting to crystallize the images inside her mind’s eye.

Try as she might, she couldn’t remember anything past the blue beam that had slammed into her chest like a sledgehammer. When the vivid memory of the searing pain made her wince, she knew she hadn’t imagined the attack.

Katelyn squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the memory. Somehow, when the sizzling beam had struck her, she had known if the beam hadn’t stopped draining her energy, she would have died. She brought her hand to her chest, wincing again as she touched the sore spot left by the beam.

“Am I dead?” Even in her vision, her voice sounded hoarse and unused.

Grayson’s deep chuckle vibrated through her. She longed to press her body flush against his and ask him to laugh or even speak so she could see what those wonderful, low rumbles would do to her in close proximity.

“No. Far from dead, my beautiful Seer. Unconscious, or maybe even asleep but not dead.” He stepped close, and Katelyn’s breath caught in her throat.

Heat and energy pulsed between them, and every coherent thought fled from her mind as she gave herself up to this vision.

“I’m glad you are all right. I have come to help you heal—to help heal us both, actually.” Grayson captured a strand of her hair and rubbed it between his thumb and first two fingers.

The innocent caress sent gooseflesh marching over Katelyn’s entire body, followed by a tingling wave of heat just under her skin. A low moan escaped before she could stop it.

She nearly let her head fall back in surrender, but then his words and not his actions filtered to the front of her awareness. “Are you a healer?” she asked. “Your energy is very powerful, but it doesn’t feel quite right for a healer.”

Grayson laughed, and once again, the beguiling sound roamed over her like a verbal caress. “No, my beautiful Seer. I’m no healer.” He traced a single calloused finger over her bottom lip, and she clenched her fists to keep from leaning into the light friction of his touch. “I’m a Klatch witch, an ancient line of otherworldly witches whose life force is sexual energy.”

It was Katelyn’s turn to laugh. “Wow, I’ll be happy to lend any help in that arena you might need. Although, unfortunately, I’m only human, and while sex is nice—stellar, if I’m lucky—I need rest and time to heal. That is, if I was sick or injured, which I’m not.”

He brushed his lips over hers, which left a pleasant buzzing sensation on her skin.

“You’re wrong, Seer. Healing doesn’t follow human rules here. And you’re still injured from the energy blast. Trust me.”

She stepped back.

“I don’t trust anyone.” She surprised herself by blurting out something she had said only to herself countless times before.

Grayson only smiled. “I know, my beautiful Seer. Then let me show you instead.” Before she could argue the point, he pulled her tight against him. He plunged his fingers into her hair while he captured her mouth with his.

Her hands found his chest, and her frantic mind sent her arms a signal to push him away, but her body betrayed her, and her fingers fisted in the soft cloth of his T-shirt. Heat sizzled between them, and she felt as if she would drown in the overwhelming sensations. Finally, his lips gentled against hers, and she was able to step away from him. She swayed slightly, but locked her knees and stared him down. “What are you doing to me?”

Grayson didn’t state the obvious, but seemed to instinctively understand her real question. “Every Klatch has a special gift, and mine is to cause arousal in others. I can control it, but it comes very naturally, and most of the time I don’t even realize I’m doing it.”

“It’s bad enough you’re a walking wet dream, but now you think you can magickally cause arousal?” She slapped her hand over her mouth as she realized she’d said the words out loud.

Arousal? Hell, so far he’s some sort of truth serum!

A pleased expression lit Grayson’s already too-handsome features. “Not only have you shown more resistance to my inherent gift than any Klatch woman ever has, but you seem to have the same effect on me. No woman has ever affected me like this. Until you.”

Inside her mind, Katelyn laughed at the ridiculousness of his statement. He thought she’d shown resistance? Hell, if Ethel hadn’t interrupted, Katelyn might’ve backed him up against her display case and taken advantage of him right there.

Besides, he was delusional. He had to be. She’d never encountered any type of magick or energy that would do what he described. It sounded more like a case of male ego and less like an “inherent gift.” Katelyn held up her hand stop-sign fashion. “On-demand arousal. Right. I don’t buy it.” She fisted her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Hit me with your best shot, Mr. Goddess’s Gift to Womankind. Show me this ‘inherent gift.’”

Grayson sighed as though disappointed in her lack of belief. “You’re a very stubborn woman, Seer. Please remember that you specifically asked for this demonstration.” He shrugged. “Although, it will help you heal, so I suppose it can’t hurt.”

Katelyn snorted. “You have no idea how stubborn I can be.” She held out her arms wide, making herself a bigger target. “Bring it on, stud.”

Grayson never moved, but a wave of his energy surrounded her, and her entire body burned with desire.

Her breasts ached almost painfully.

Her pussy throbbed with need.

Even her skin felt as if it might explode if she didn’t have Grayson inside her.

Katelyn wanted hot, kinky, explosive sex, and she wanted it now.

She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, drawing in lungfuls of air as she battled against her urges and desires.

Katelyn pictured a shield made of pure white light that surrounded her body and blocked his energy.

Immediately, the assault lessened but didn’t stop. Apparently, even her strongest shields couldn’t totally protect her. He hadn’t been kidding about his “gift.”

“Enough.” The word slipped from her lips with effort, and she hoped Grayson heard it over the pounding of blood inside her head.

Just as quickly as the desire began, it stopped, as if Grayson had flipped a switch.

Katelyn locked her knees, fisted her hands, and screwed her eyes shut tight. She refused to crumple to the ground with relief like she wanted to.

When her heart had slowed enough so she was sure it wouldn’t pound right out of her chest, she opened her eyes. She expected his expression to be smug. Instead, it was apologetic. He stood stock-still as though afraid to come closer.

“Okay.” Katelyn sucked in a shaky breath. “Remind me not to ask for any future demonstrations from you.”

Grayson winced. “I’m sorry. I did try to tell you.”

“Don’t be sorry. I asked, and you obliged.” She swallowed hard as her body gradually returned to normal. Vision or not, she might as well figure this out—even though she’d never had a vision quite this…interactive.

Katelyn glanced up at him. “Is that why I’ve been fascinated by you since you stepped into my shop? I thought my hormones had gone haywire.”

His closeness seemed to short-circuit the neural pathway that connected her mind to her mouth, because she could only stand and stare into those mesmerizing amethyst eyes.

“You have my word that I will keep my gift firmly in check with you, as much as I’m able.” He carefully raised his hand as though giving her the chance to step away.

As if I could move even if I wanted to. Her entire body felt like it had turned into a giant pile of Jell-O in danger of wobbling to the floor.

“Let me show you what’s between us—just us.” His fingers skimmed along her jaw, sending tendrils of heat racing toward her nipples and straight to her core.

Now that she’d survived the full demonstration, she could discern her innate—normal—reaction to Grayson. The only energy that emanated from him was pure male arousal, which was more intoxicating than any “gift.” Her body continued to respond in kind.

There wasn’t any sudden switch that would give her relief from this—only good, old-fashioned sex. She hoped they got to that part of the demonstration soon.

Those sensuous lips curved, and Grayson threaded his long fingers into her hair until he cupped the nape of her neck. Then, so slowly Katelyn thought she’d go insane, he lowered his face toward hers until his warm breath feathered over her lips.

A shudder ran throughout her body.

She drowned inside his searching gaze. Using all her willpower, Katelyn opened her mouth to try to speak.

Or, more accurately, to beg him to get on with the kiss and put her out of her misery.

Grayson must have taken her parted lips as an assent, because he yanked Katelyn against him as he fused his mouth with hers. He traced her bottom lip with his tongue before delving inside to explore and possess.

Her blood fired in her veins, and Katelyn returned his fevered kiss. She twined her arms around his neck and pulled him closer before molding herself against the hard line of his body. A sigh escaped, and she ground her hips against his growing erection.

Grayson winced, and she tried to pull back. His splayed hand on the small of her back kept her in place. He rained openmouthed kisses over her face and down the side of her neck. “My shoulder is still healing from the battle with the Cunts. But the sustenance you provide me should speed my recovery.”

A thousand very logical questions rose to the forefront of Katelyn’s mind, but she firmly pushed them all away. Vision or reality…she didn’t care at the moment. Since she’d first laid eyes on Grayson, she’d wanted him, and she was determined to enjoy this.

He nibbled a path along the side of her throat, sending arousal arrowing through her, and ripping a long moan from her throat.

“Oh, Goddess…” Katelyn’s head fell back, and her hips bucked against him as if they had a mind of their own.

All she could do was hold on to him as a storm of sensations assaulted her and threatened to tear her apart. “Swear to me you’ll never stop whatever it is you’re doing.” Katelyn’s husky voice hung in the thick air around them.

Grayson chuckled, and Katelyn discovered how right she’d been earlier. The bass vibrations echoed through her body, caressing her everywhere at once. Every inch of her ached to be touched and possessed.

Once Katelyn had gotten her fill of him, she wondered if he would be willing just to lie next to her naked and read the phone book—or read anything—just so those wonderful, low vibrations could skitter through her body, scattering all her thoughts and sizzling against her nerve endings.

“Patience, Katelyn. We have a lifetime to explore each other.”

The word lifetime threatened to bring her out of the wonderful sexual frenzy, but then his large hand closed over her bare breast, and any protest died away on her lips.

How did I suddenly get naked?

Then she noticed his clothes were gone as well.

Thank the Goddess for balance in the universe—even inside a vision, She provides!

Grayson pinched her nipple, then gently pulled it, causing a rush of moisture between her thighs, as Katelyn’s clit swelled and ached for attention.

“Grayson, please…” Katelyn’s mind refused to cooperate or form the words that would demand he fuck her senseless before she exploded from frustration. She reached between them, her hand closing over the silky skin on the most impressive cock she’d ever wrapped her fingers around.

Thick and long, Grayson’s cock overflowed her hand, and Katelyn stroked him from the base all the way to the swollen head. She grazed her thumb over the tip and groaned as her skin met the creamy wetness of his pre-come.

Grayson gasped and jumped back as if she’d scalded him. “Before your coming of age, my essence may be dangerous to you, Katelyn. I’m not sure how it affects humans.”

Katelyn’s blood roared through her veins, and her pussy ached to have Grayson fill her. She’d gone too long without a man inside her to have him pull back now. “I have no fucking idea what you’re talking about, and I don’t care. All I can say is this vision better not end before we’re finished.”

She dropped to her knees in front of Grayson, surprised to find the grassy ground soft and giving beneath her. Katelyn closed her mouth over the swollen head of his cock, caressing him with her tongue and lips.

He stiffened, and she thought he might push her away, but he let her take him deep inside her throat while she gently massaged his balls between her fingers.

When a long, strangled moan ripped from Grayson, Katelyn made an “mmm” sound deep in her throat and slid his long shaft from between her lips until she could tease the underside of the head with her tongue. She glanced up at him and smiled to herself as he closed his eyes, seemingly lost in the sensations she provided. Grayson threaded his fingers through her hair, his large hand cupping the back of her head.

Katelyn wrapped her free hand around the base of his shaft and stroked him in time with the movements of her mouth. She increased her speed, and each time the tip of his cock bumped the back of her throat, Katelyn’s own arousal spiraled tighter.

The salty-sweet taste of his pre-come burst over her tongue, and she groaned at the erotic sensation. Her pussy clenched, begging for attention, but an overwhelming need to feel Grayson come inside her mouth flowed through her.

His breath chuffed out in choppy pants, and his cock hardened further between her lips as his balls tightened against his body.

“Katelyn!” he roared as hot come spurted against the back of her throat.

A surge of energy flowed through her, making her skin tingle and every hair on her body stand on end.

She milked Grayson with her hand and lips until his spasms eased and then finally stopped.

Katelyn ran her tongue along his softening length and then sat back on her haunches to look up into his face.

Her body still ached with desire, and her skin was tight and sensitive.

Grayson smiled down at her, his eyes dark with passion. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were a Klatch. But at this point, I’m glad you’re human, and that my essence didn’t harm you.”

Katelyn filed that information away for later study. “Yeah, I think not. I can only provide arousal the good, old-fashioned way.”

“I think you have more power than you know.” Grayson dropped to his knees in front of her and then tumbled her backward onto the soft grass, capturing her arms over her head.

Katelyn squealed in surprise and then gasped as she found her hands magickally bound. She couldn’t see or feel the bindings, which only served to heighten her arousal. But a slow trickle of fear tripped down her spine. Visions had shown her situations she had no control over before, but this entire experience felt almost real, although she knew, like Grayson had said, her body was either asleep or unconscious.

Just what the fuck was going on here? “Let me up!”

“You’ve tormented me enough, witch.” Grayson smiled at her, a mischievous glint sparking inside his eyes. “It’s now my turn.”

Even though Katelyn had been a Seer her entire life, and many of her customers were practicing witches, she wasn’t a witch herself. However, she’d picked up enough of a working knowledge to understand and respect their path. “I’m not a witch, and I’ve never before run into whatever type of witch you think you are.”

He rubbed his stubbled jaw along the inside of her thigh like a cat marking his territory, scattering her thoughts. Goose bumps marched over her body, and her nipples tightened into hard buds.

When Grayson’s face neared her labia, he spoke. “A Klatch witch, Seer. Not a human practicing a set of beliefs, but a being who needs sexual energy to thrive.”

The meaning of his words scrambled inside her brain as his hot breath caressed her swollen clit. She arched her hips, offering herself, silently begging him to take her.

Using just the tip of his tongue, he gently traced a line from her clit down to dip inside her slick slit, and then back up to her clit. A surge of liquid fire flashed along Katelyn’s nerve endings with every swipe of his talented tongue, and she thrashed against her invisible bonds as the sensations seared through her body.

Katelyn gulped in a breath as Grayson sucked her clit between his lips. He continued to suck, even as his tongue teased the sensitive tip.

A vortex of tension curled inside her, tighter and tighter with each pull of his lips. The sensations roiling through her reached a fever pitch, and she knew her body couldn’t contain the sensations much longer.

Without thought, she struggled against her bonds and tried to twist away from his insistent mouth, but he palmed her ass inside his large hands and feasted on her—sucking, licking, and nipping until she thought she would explode.

A low keening filled her ears as a fine sheen of sweat broke out over her skin as he continued the relentless sensual assault.

Her orgasm slammed into her, stealing her breath and threatening to shred her reality. She rode the sensations as her body convulsed and Grayson continued to lick and suck.

She yanked against her bonds, expecting resistance, but they moved easily.

What the hell?

Katelyn gradually became aware of her sore body. Not the good ache after a steamy romp on the grass, but sore as if she’d been run over by an entire brigade of fire trucks.

Wisps of the “vision” floated inside her mind. The edges were fuzzy in the manner of a dream, but she knew without a doubt, that somehow, those events had actually occurred.

She resisted the urge to open her eyes because even the thought of opening them sent pounding pain along every nerve ending she owned—not to mention a few she was sure had been created purely to torture her.

Katelyn took a deep breath and then winced when the pounding increased.

Damn! I haven’t woken feeling this bad since that unfortunate night with an entire bottle of vanilla rum.

The thought of rum and all the long ago diet soda she’d drank with it kicked her bladder into high gear, and she mentally sighed.

Put on your big-girl panties and deal with it. You need to figure out what’s going on with the weird vision.

One of the unfortunate parts of being a Seer was having to interpret the visions she received. Sometimes they were very straightforward, but when there were subtle messages or misinterpreted symbols or events, life could really suck for a while. Katelyn knew she would have to make sense of the vision sooner or later, but first, she really had to pee.

With a silent plea to the universe to be merciful, she forced open her heavy eyelids. Light seared straight through her retinas and back inside her brain like a blowtorch. Katelyn groaned and pulled her forearm over her face until the pain receded to a tolerable level.

Memories of her shop in shambles flitted through her brain, waking her body better than any “hair of the dog” would have. Rita would freak when she saw the shop like that, no matter how good her evening had been with her spooky new boyfriend.

Good thing her friend was used to opening the store. Days in which Katelyn had visions were often days she didn’t make it into the shop at all because of the draining effects. Today she wasn’t sure she could even move.

A quick flash of guilt for leaving Rita alone to clean up the mess and to worry about her whereabouts caused Katelyn to frown, but when pain from even that small movement ping-ponged inside her head, she winced.

She rolled onto her stomach and allowed the world to stop spinning before she gingerly lifted her head and cracked her eyelids open again.

When only minimal pain branded her brain, she rubbed her eyes to clear the haze from her sight.

Shit—definitely not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

The white walls with pink crystal veins running through them and the deep-colored, real-wood furniture made her think of a high-class hotel, only more homey somehow. Katelyn blinked, sure that this was an alcohol-induced illusion, and then bit back a yelp as she realized someone had installed sandpaper on the backs of her eyelids while she’d slept.

She curled into a protective ball, her forearm covering her face, her eyes firmly closed as she resolved never to open them again. “Someone just please shoot me. It would be more merciful.”

“Seer?”

The soft, musical voice startled Katelyn, and her brain kicked into high gear. She gritted her teeth and forced her eyelids open again.

“Are you all right, Seer? Is there something I can get you?” A pixie of a woman stood at the foot of the bed, her large eyes the same liquid amethyst color as Grayson’s.

As Katelyn tried to nod, a wave of nausea rocked her, and her stomach roiled and bucked.

The pixie woman rushed forward and grabbed a basin off the nightstand. She handed it to Katelyn just in time for her to embarrass herself and barf all over what appeared to be a very classy ceramic basin.

When Katelyn finished, a cool, wet cloth was pressed against her brow, and she accepted it gratefully, bracketing her hand over it to hold it in place. Another cloth wiped her lips and then retreated as the basin was lifted out of her hands and she was pushed back onto the soft pillow-top mattress. Downy covers settled over her, and Katelyn huddled under them, her eyes shut tight against the light.

The whoosh of drapes closing, and then the resulting blessed darkness, made Katelyn sigh with relief.

She wondered briefly if she had been drugged, but then the vivid memory of the blue bolt hitting her squarely in the torso returned with force. She lifted her hand to touch her chest, wondering if the area was sore as it had been inside her vision. When her fingers brushed her skin, pain flared as though she was healing from a sunburn, and she winced again.

“Lie back and relax, Seer. It will take a while for the effects of the draining spell to diminish. In the meantime, I’ve brought you food and drink to help you recover.”

“Draining spell?” Katelyn asked from between cracked lips. “Was that the blue bolt?”

“Yes. Prince Grayson said one of the Cunts hit you with a draining spell last night. And from the nasty bruise on your chest, I’d say it was a powerful one.”

“Prince Grayson?”

“Yes, my lady. Prince Grayson is the Seventh Prince of Klatch.”

Katelyn’s foggy memories supplied her with the meaning of Klatch—some type of witch who supposedly thrived on sexual energy.

Right now, sex is the furthest thing from my mind—for once!

Katelyn didn’t dare move the cool cloth but settled it more firmly over her eyes, and she dropped her arms beside her on the bed, only now realizing she was completely nude. She couldn’t muster resentment at whoever had undressed her, because the cool sheets against her body were actually the only thing not painful about her current situation.

Questions sped through her mind, and she took a deep breath to slow them, shoving the pain aside so she could concentrate on the here and now. “Where am I?”

“You’re on Tador, my lady. Prince Grayson was afraid the Cunts would come back for you if he took you to your home.”

Because her home was actually upstairs above the shop, she had to agree with that.

Katelyn let the “cunts” comment go by…for now.

She wasn’t a big fan of that word—except for the few instances in which it was warranted—but she had more pressing questions to worry about. “On Tador? Is it a boat or a ship or something? And who are you?”

“I’m Holly, your lady’s maid. And Tador is a planet. The home planet of the Klatch.”

Katelyn sighed. I had to ask, didn’t I?

“Okay, Holly. I think I need that food and drink and a Volkswagen full of aspirin before I can even process any of that. But first, I really have to pee.”