Page 21 of Shadowed Spirits (Haunted Magic #2)

CHAPTER 21

IZZY

T hat’s the only thing I can think of to explain what happened. One minute, Daniel was vibrant and alive, and the next, he slumped to the ground, dead and cold.

I never saw his soul, so I’m pretty sure I just erased it completely. If there is peace in the afterlife, Daniel never got to experience it because of me. He was my best friend and one of the only people there for me. Daniel deserved so much better than me.

I look up at the ceiling, trying to get the damn tears to stop.

Cain surprises me by gripping me around the waist and settling me on his lap. He wraps one strong arm around my waist and cradles my head against his shoulder with the other. “Oh, angel. I’m so sorry you went through that.”

I pull back to look at him, my eyes narrowing on his. “Why are you sorry for me? I’m the monster who killed my best friend.” I don’t deserve his pity or understanding or empathy. I deserve hatred and reproach and condemnation. If I could trade places with Daniel, I’d do it in an instant.

Cain grinds his teeth, anger and helplessness warring for dominance on his face. Threading one hand through my thick locks, he pulls my head back, so I’m forced to meet his emerald gaze. “You’re not a monster, Isabel. Get that thought out of your head. I’m sorry because you’ve been carrying around guilt about what happened for so long. I can see how much it’s been hurting you.”

I shake my head, disagreeing with Cain. “I should feel guilt. I killed him.”

“It was an accident. You were a child struggling with power that you never should’ve had so early.” I shake my head at him, disagreeing that it being an accident makes it any better. Cain sighs. “Fine. Look at it this way. Let’s say Addie, one of the pups you worked with in the music program, got her wolf too early, had little control, shifted, and accidentally killed another child. Would you say that she’s a monster?”

My eyes widen in surprise that he thinks I’d judge a kid like that. “What? No, of course not! That’d be a tragedy for everyone, but it wouldn’t make her a monster.” Cain raises his eyebrows at me, and the point he was trying to make sinks in. I try to look away, refusing to concede anything, but he holds me steady. “That’s different.”

His hand flexes on my waist as he takes a deep breath and seems to try to calm himself. I’ve never seen Cain get angry, not even at Mira. My heart feels bruised and bloody that I’m the one to finally make him lose his cool. It seems like I bring out the worst in people. “How?” he grits out.

“Because I should’ve known better.” I should’ve done so much differently. I shouldn’t have let him climb up the outside of the slide like that. I shouldn’t have tried to heal him with magic I didn’t even understand. I should’ve kept him at a distance because all I ever do is hurt those around me.

“How? You didn’t know anyone with your magic. How, exactly, would you know better?” Cain asks incredulously.

“I don’t know! But I should’ve found a way. Don’t you get it, Cain? There’s something inherently wrong with me. My soul is evil. That’s why I have this magic, because the universe didn’t want it to taint someone actually good.” If I were good, I’d have a magic that doesn’t put everyone in danger and doesn’t do horrible things like kill my best friend.

“That’s a fucking lie,” he hisses before slamming his soft lips onto mine. I gasp into the kiss, and his tongue slips into my mouth, tangling with mine. From my sweet, gentle mate, the kiss is surprisingly hard and punishing. I’m doing my best to keep up with his kiss that’s equal parts frustration and concern, but all I can really do is just take it.

After a long moment of kissing me, he stands up from the piano bench, still holding me and devouring my mouth. He walks me over to one of the grand pianos with its lid closed and sets me down on it. I know I should feel bad about sitting on the lid of such a beautiful instrument, but I’m too consumed with Cain to care.

When I’m settled on the lid, Cain parts my legs and steps between them, using his hold on my waist to tug me until I’m flush against him. I can feel his hard-on pressed against my core, and I grind against it, needing some relief from the arousal pooling low in my belly and snaking up my spine.

Just when I’m getting close, Cain abruptly yanks his mouth from mine and moves his hips back. He closes his eyes and rests his forehead on mine. “You need to stop that, angel, before I come in my pants.”

I look at him with wide eyes, not realizing he was getting that close. I wonder if it’s because he’s inexperienced. “Are you, uh, a virgin?” My cheeks turn red at the intimate question.

He chuckles quietly. “No. I haven’t been in a long time.” My chest bubbles with jealousy at the thought of anyone else touching Cain. He’s mine. Some of my feelings must show on my face because Cain rushes to soothe my ire. “None of them meant anything to me, whereas you’re my entire world. Being about to make a mess of my sweats is all you, Isabel, not a lack of experience. I’m slowly losing the battle to keep from shoving my cock in you and seeing if you’re really as tight as I imagine.”

His words stoke the flames of my need. My mouth is suddenly dry, so I have to lick my lips before I can respond. “I want that.” Even though I know it’s a horrible idea. I’m tempting fate by continuing to get intimate with my mates. Eventually, my magic will have enough and bond them to me forever. I know I should stay away from them, but I can’t.

Cain groans. “You can’t say things like that, angel. If you keep it up, I’m going to put us both out of our misery and bury myself in you.”

I whimper. “I want to feel you, Cain, so bad.” My voice is pleading, which would be embarrassing in any other situation. Right now, though, I’m too overwhelmed with my need for him to care. I clench my thighs around him, hoping to get a little friction where I need it the most, but I can’t reach him.

His eyes flash amber before he closes them and bows his head, seeming to search for control. When he opens them again, they’re back to deep green. “Your first time isn’t going to be a rushed fuck in the music room, Isabel.”

“Please,” I whisper, hating myself a little that I’m begging him. Memories of other times I begged try to surge up, but I push them out of my mind. I’m not letting them ruin this moment with Cain.

“Fuck, angel. You shred my control, you know that?” He leans down to press a gentle kiss to the tip of my nose before he pulls back. “Fine. I’ll go in just enough that you can feel me. Will that give you what you need tonight?”

I nod my head so vigorously, I’m worried it’ll give me whiplash, but I’ll agree to anything that lets me feel him. My need is so intense, I’m guessing it’s magically fueled, but I can’t find it in me to care right now.

While I’m willing to do almost anything to tame the need raging in me, I’m unwilling to tie Cain to me for the rest of our lives. I want him to have the option to leave, even if it’ll kill me. Checking in with my magic, I feel it straining toward him, yearning to create a mate bond. I’m able to shove it deeper in my chest and cage it in. My hold on it is tenuous, but I’m fairly confident it will hold for now.

Cain laughs at my enthusiasm before tenderly brushing a few strands of my multicolored hair out of my face. “Okay. Just tell me to stop if any of it’s too much for you.”

“I can do that,” I whisper.

Cain waits until I agree before lifting me up slightly so he can pull down my running shorts before setting me back down. He steps back and slides them off my legs to let them drop onto the floor. He stares between my still-parted legs for a long moment. I get self-conscious and try to close my legs. Stepping between them with a growl, Cain keeps my legs spread around his waist. Capturing my chin in one hand, he forces me to meet his gaze. “Don’t. Don’t hide from me. You’re gorgeous, and I want to look my fill.”

With my cheeks flaming, I give him a small nod. After looking for several moments more, Cain shoves his sweatpants and boxer briefs down his slim hips to pool around his muscular thighs. When he frees his thick cock, my eyes widen. While he’s about as long as Luca, he’s the thickest of the three mates I’ve seen. I gulp at his girth, and my eyes flick up to his. He gives me a slightly smug half smile. I let out a quiet chuckle because it’s not an expression I’m used to seeing on him.

“Take off your shirt,” he orders. “I want to see all of you.”

My eyes widen. “We’re kinda in public. What if someone walks in?”

“They won’t see you. I’m blocking the view from the door, so all they’ll see is me.” He gestures behind him at the doorway that his tall frame is obscuring.

I worry my lower lip between my teeth for a moment. “Fine, but only if you take yours off.”

Cain whips his shirt over his head as soon as I ask, exposing his defined torso to me. I snort at his eagerness. It’s hard to rip my gaze away from his washboard abs, muscular pecs, and massive biceps. Eventually, I do, and with a deep breath, I pull my shirt over my head and let it drop to the piano beside me. I fight the urge to cross my arms over my chest as I bare myself to him in a way I never have for anyone else.

“You’re beautiful, Isabel,” he breathes. He cups my breasts, one in each hand. He kneads them before pinching my nipples. I gasp and arch my back, wanting more of everything he’ll give me. He trails one hand down my stomach, and I almost complain until he spears a finger into me.

I whimper at the sensation that’s more familiar now than it was yesterday. The stretching quickly turns to pleasure, and he adds another finger. Wet noises echo in the music room, but it feels so good, I don’t have a chance to feel embarrassed. After a few more pumps, Cain withdraws his fingers and lines his dick up with my entrance.

He grips my hips to keep me steady as he presses in slightly. He then stops and pins me with a serious stare. “It’s going to hurt a bit, angel, since you’ve never done this before. Tell me if you need me to stop.”

I wince as he inches in a little farther, and I brace my hands behind me to steady myself. Blanking my face and lifting my chin, I tell him, “I can handle it.” I think so, at least. I mean, we wouldn’t be mates if his dick were going to break me in half… right?

Cain huffs a laugh. “I have no doubt about that, Isabel. You can handle just about anything, but I want this to feel good for you, not just be something you’re getting through.” I duck my head at his praise. With my gaze turned down, I can watch his cock ever so slowly disappear inside me, stretching me in ways I’ve never felt before. “Fucking hell. You’re so goddamn tight, you’re strangling my cock.”

Just as excruciatingly slowly, Cain pulls back out of me. As he thrusts the head of his dick in this time, he moves one of his thumbs to brush against my clit. My hips buck at the pleasure that arcs through me, but Cain’s firm grip anchors me in place.

“Is that a bad thing?” My voice is breathy from being stretched beyond my limits around him and the pleasure coiling tightly with each movement of his thumb. I never would’ve thought that just the tip could feel so fucking good.

Cain chuckles, the sound strained. His fingers have a death grip on my hips, and his jaw is clenched so hard, I’m worried he’ll break a tooth. It looks like he’s trying to hold himself back and struggling with it. “No, it’s not a bad thing. Your tight little pussy feels like heaven, and I’d happily spend the rest of my days in you.”

The only acknowledgement I can give him is a small nod as I get lost in the sensation. As I hurtle toward the edge, I gasp, “Faster.” I need him to pick up his snail’s pace. If he’s trying to kill me by moving so slowly, he’s doing a great job of it.

The tendons in his neck turn white as he starts snapping his hips. The head of his dick plunges into me faster and faster until I’m climaxing with a hoarse shout, my hands clawing at the piano under me as I collapse onto it. My vision goes black as I’m consumed with wave after wave of pleasure so intense it feels like I’m drowning in it and set ablaze by it at the same time.

I don’t know how long it takes me to surface from my orgasm. He continues to rub my clit, prolonging the sensation. Cain’s guttural voice eventually brings me back to myself. “If you don’t want me to come in you, say something now.”

My thighs clench around his waist at the thought of him coming in me. When I don’t object, because I take regular birth control potions, Cain’s hips stutter as he comes with a low groan. I feel his warm cum shoot inside me, filling me up with a surprising amount of it. His hips continue to thrust gently for a little while. When he stills, Cain tenderly kisses my forehead and leans his against mine. “Was that good for you, angel?”

“Mm-hmm.” I’m too wrung out from climaxing so hard to form words, much less complete sentences. He chuckles before he pulls out. I feel his cum start to drip out of me, but he presses it back into me with his fingers. I’m so sensitive from just orgasming that I jerk at the stimulation. Cain holds me steady with his grip on my waist as he intently watches his fingers and cum disappear into me.

When he’s satisfied with his work, Cain steps back from me. “Arms up.” I do as he says, and he slides my T-shirt back onto me. He pulls on his own shirt and gathers my shorts in one hand. “You ready to get back to bed?”

I let out a big yawn at the question, exhausted from orgasming so hard. “Yeah. Should I, uh, clean up?” I don’t know why it’s so awkward to talk about it. His cock was just in me, so I shouldn’t be blushing like this discussing it. Yet here I am, as embarrassing as ever.

“No,” Cain growls. My brows shoot up at his vehemence. “I want you to sleep with my cum in you.” Not giving me a chance to agree or protest, he scoops me up in his arms and caries me bridal style back to the room. The gentle rocking motion of him walking lulls me almost to sleep. By the time we’re in Luca’s bedroom, I’m already half asleep and have forgotten all about the sticky cum dripping down my thighs.

Cain gently places me in bed with my back pressed up against Bishop. After shucking his shirt and sweats, he crawls into bed and settles on my other side, probably squished against Luca. He drapes an arm over my waist and holds my hand in his other one. “Night, angel. Sleep well.”

I swear I hear him mutter, “I love you,” as I’m falling asleep. But I’m dragged under before I can give it too much thought, more content and at peace than I ever thought I’d be.