Page 24 of Lunar Diamonds (Celestial Magic #1)

RILEY

“ W hat the fuck!” Isaac bellowed.

He saw it this time, wreathed in blue fire, bobbing in the center of the room. The black eel swam inside in tight figures of eight.

My bite mark stung in response.

“Moon slips away from me. You run. You run. You run. Give me what is mine. Go away, Sun. Go away.”

The temperature dropped, condensation puffing from our mouths. I froze, every limb aching.

Isaac stepped forward. “Who are you?”

Those blue flames flickered seemingly in response, the ball moving back slightly. “Sun too bright. Moon follows him. Mine. My Moon. Mine. Mine. Mine.”

My scalp itched, lungs on pause.

“Answer me, fucker!” Isaac barked, his hands igniting with sunlight.

“No!” the orb wailed. “No! No! No!”

The whole of my brother ignited in radiant light, putting the real sun to shame. His power smothered everything in warmth and that terrific glow.

“Tell me who you are!” Isaac’s voice bounced off the walls.

The ball recoiled, whimpering.

“Tell me!” he demanded.

Goodness, he was scary.

The door crashed open, Drake bounding into the room. “Shit!”

He saw it too. This wasn’t a me thing anymore.

Drake darted around the orb, shielding his eyes, coming to my side.

He came to help me…

The blue orb sobbed. “Mistake. Mistake. Keep it. Keep it. Would free me. Would free me. Would free me. Want. Want. Want.”

What the hell?

Isaac’s sunlight intensified. “Tell me who you are!”

The orb screamed under the thunderous demand, shrinking away until it burst in a puff of blue smoke.

Gone.

“Fucker.” Isaac shut off the sunlight, turning to me. “All good?”

Drake collapsed to his knees, drenched in sweat, his arm still across his eyes. “Shit.”

I crouched beside him. “Are you okay?”

“That was incredible,” he said, panting for breath. “The heat. The light.”

How hot could Isaac go? “Are you hurt?”

“No. Just feel like I’ve been in Death Valley.”

I touched his back, his body like a radiator on the highest setting.

My hand feels good here…

“Is he okay?” my brother asked, coming down to my level.

“I’ll be fine,” Drake answered for himself.

Isaac began to pace. “What the fuck is that thing? Give it what? Riley’s powers? Where’s Erin?” He stormed out of the room.

“Can you stand?” I asked Drake.

“In a few minutes.” He went from his knees to his arse, stretching his legs out before him, hunching forward. “That was intense.”

I kept my hand on him. “You shouldn’t charge into situations like that.”

Drake tilted his head up, showing me the full force of his handsome face. “I thought you were in trouble.” His brows pinched together.

And you came rushing in like my knight in shining armor? “That was…” What? Cute? Admirable? I failed to get the words up for him.

“As long as you’re alright,” he said, beads of sweat dripping from his brow. “Who needs a sauna.”

The urge to hug him made my fingers twitch. “Yeah.”

He looked away. “Cold shower for me. Stat.”

My hand slid down his damp tee. White, fresh on this morning thanks to Alice. It hugged his muscles, showing off his tight chest.

My fingers reached the middle of his spine. “Thanks.”

I felt the ridges of his spine, the cotton a thin barrier between my skin and his.

Those dark eyes drilled into me. “You’re welcome.” He licked his lips, drawing me in, his sweat-laced minty scent overpowering my senses.

“I… I…” I didn’t want to look away. Ever.

Drake’s hand found the back of my neck, his touch so hot and delicious. I went to my knees, leaning into it, confused, intrigued, and getting harder by the second.

“What… What are you doing?” And what was I doing twisting my body like this, granting him access to kiss me.

“Amplified desires,” he purred, licking those luscious lips again. “I wanted to do this back at Glitter Fox.”

He desired me?

“Do what?” I asked, hoping to hear the answer I wanted.

“I want you.” His hot breath washed over me as he closed in. “I want to know what you taste like so badly.”

Correct answer.

“Drake…” His name was the only word I could manage. My heart fluttered like a nervous hummingbird, unable to reason myself out of this magnified lust.

I cupped his face, losing myself to the moment. He nuzzled my palm, his stubble an enchanting scratch against my skin.

“Kiss me,” I whispered.

“Can I?”

“You started this.”

Gently, he dug his fingers into my neck. “Riley…”

Our lips collided, a million sparks going off as flesh met flesh. He kept hold of my neck, his other hand on my thigh. I crushed myself harder into him, my fingers sliding into his sweaty hair, his body temperature bleeding into mine.

He moaned into my mouth, his tongue bumping mine. The kiss grew wetter, hungrier, the kind of lip action to change a life.

He tasted so good. A candy cane dipped in vodka, his lips designed to be on mine. The perfect fit, every single cell aligned to create an exquisite kiss.

If I were standing, my foot would pop like they did in movie kisses.

We didn’t come up for air, luxuriating in the sensation, my body growing hotter. I wanted these clothes off me, to feel more of his skin on mine.

Isaac will be back any minute…

To hell with it. I wanted my fill. Amplified desires didn’t mean we were under a spell. It meant the thing blooming between us had less reason to be hidden, right there on the surface to take.

And enjoy. By Hecate, did I want to enjoy it.

Don’t rush into things…

He broke the kiss, resting his forehead on mine. Panting, his hands sliding to my sides. “Shit…”

“Was it crap?” I panted back.

He leaned back slightly, licking shiny traces of me from his lips. “I need more.”

I nodded, looping a finger into the collar of his tee. “Shall we go to my room?”

He smiled, breaching every defense. “Is this really happening?”

“Yeah. Is this silly?”

“Do you think it is?”

I slowly ran my finger around the collar. “I don’t care. I just want you inside me.”

Wow. Bold move, with no blushing.

Screw it. We had a big night ahead of us and sex was great for clearing the head. This thing between us didn’t have to be confusing. If we both wanted this, then why not go for it? Scratch an itch, jump over the ‘Oh, look at his lovely face while I blush’ crap.

Do. Not. Rush. Things.

“Inside you?” he questioned, both hands cupping my face.

Oh, I wouldn’t let the sex be rushed. I wanted a good few hours of slow and deep and mind-blowing. I’d give myself to him and?—

Don’t rush things!

Ugh. Damn the reasonable side of my brain.

My aching cock took the levers of power, drowning out the inner noises. If my desire was to have him, then I’d have him.

Screw denial.

Screw me…

“If you’d like,” I purred. I wasn’t much of a top, but was always happy to give it a go if he’d prefer taking me.

He kissed me in response, sliding his tongue across my bottom lip. I shivered, pre-cum already getting me sticky.

“Is this wrong?” His whispered tone sent electricity racing across my skin.

“Depends on what you want to do to me.”

He chuckled. “Naughty boy.”

“Let me show you how naughty I can?—”

Charging footsteps broke us apart. I pushed myself across the polished wooden floor, sliding back so far my spine bumped the back of the sofa.

Isaac returned, followed by Erin and Aaron.

What if they’d caught us? I mean, it wasn’t a sin to kiss, but given the blue orb’s appearance, it might look wildly inappropriate.

Drake Parish can be as inappropriate as he likes…

“Are you both all right?” Erin asked, striding into the room with purpose.

All day I’d thought she looked a lot more rested, despite last night’s events.

I scrambled to my feet. “Y-Yeah.”

Isaac offered Drake a hand. “You’re still boiling.”

He cleared his throat. “A cold shower will fix everything.” The twinkle in his eye almost got me jumping his bones.

Isaac started pacing again while Aaron investigated the room. “Who the fuck is it?”

“Definitely a guy,” I offered.

Erin walked over to the karaoke machine. “Is this what made all that noise?”

Isaac paused. “That would be my lack of talent. But who cares? We have more pressing issues.”

Erin scowled at him. “Don’t you think I know that?”

He turned on her, his face full of thunder. “Then why give two fucks about the noise?”

Her scowl deepened. How much could she say to us before she crossed a line? Like, what were the rules of the house? I was happy to be told off if I put a foot wrong. But Isaac certainly wouldn’t take much of it.

Desire officially deflated, I switched into mediator mode before anything escalated. “Let’s not start sniping.”

He glowered at me. “Who’s sniping? I’m pissed off.” He huffed, pacing again. “Fucking, fuck, fuck, fuck.”

“Nothing here,” Aaron told Erin cheerfully. “Now, who’s for tea.”

Erin moved toward the sofa, taking a pew on the back of it. “Hold the tea. I have a theory.”

“Oh?” I said.

Isaac stopped pacing.

“Judging by the words of this entity, this man,” she said, “I can only think its Jonathon Aurora.”

Well, strike me down with all the feathers.