Haunted by Your Touch

mystery. Hopefully, we’ll hear from him soon.”

Raiden rubbed a hand across his throbbing forehead. “When he returns, have him find me.”

Sabelle agreed. Raiden thanked her and took Tabby’s hand again, leading her through the shadowed, narrow caves to his own.

By all rights, he should send a message to Shock right now advising him that the Untouchable family tree was now in the Doomsday Brethren’s possession. That missive should reach Mathias quickly and lift the threat from Tabby. Then, Raiden knew, he should deliver her to Sean Blackbourne, the man who would be responsible for her safety and happiness for the rest of her life. Then she would be safe. Mathias should have no cause to hunt her.

But he couldn’t—not yet. First, he must talk to Bram, ensure this was, in fact, the secret family tree. In all likelihood, yes, but… better safe than sorry. And really, that was an excuse. Truth was, he yearned to keep Tabitha for another night. A whole night. Not merely long enough to make love to her. Not simply to comfort her after a staggering loss or to shield her from more danger. But because he needed her with him, from sunset to sunrise, in his arms, in his bed. His.

Swallowing, Raiden finally reached the door of the cave in which he’d been staying. He ushered her inside. “I know you’re used to better. Your father provided for your family admirably, and this cave is temporary—”

“A bed! I’m exhausted.” And she sounded thus. “Do you have a shower as well?”

He pointed the way, and Tabby closed the door between them. He spent the next twenty minutes listening to the sound of water sluicing over her naked skin and fighting the urge to break down the door and ravish her.

Just as his patience gave out, she emerged in a cloud of steam. And he caught his breath. She wore his black terrycloth robe. The sleeves fell past her hands, and the hem dragged on the ground, but something about seeing all that fiery hair of hers streaming over his robe made him hard as hell. He needed her madly. Now.

“Raiden?” She looked at him with wary eyes.

He should let her sleep alone and in peace. It was the honorable thing to do, since she didn’t belong to him and never would. But he’d never been accused of being honorable before.

Rising from the bed, he crossed the room and took her shoulders in his grip. “Tabby. I…”

Where to start?

She looked down. “I know. Now that the secret tree is safe, you’re going to take me to Sean.”

He refused to lie to her. God knew he wasn’t mate material or even a wizard of high morals, but he wouldn’t intentionally hurt her again. “I must. For you.” He dropped a hand to the gentle swell of her abdomen. “For the baby.”

Tabitha shook her head, her red hair tousling everywhere. “If you’re worried about the danger to us, then leave here! Don’t fight this war. Don’t put yourself in danger.”

In other words, stay with her. Bloody hell, it was so tempting. He’d love nothing better than to wrap Tabitha in his arms, and maybe, if magic-kind had been peaceful, he’d have put their futures and their hearts on the line and tried to mate as any normal wizard would. But everyone knew he wasn’t normal. He laughed. There were still bets out there among a skeptical few on the duration of Ronan’s mating to Kari. And of the twins, Ronan had always been the more steadfast. Raiden feared he had zero chance of making Tabby happy for more than a night.

And magickind wasn’t peaceful.

“I can’t leave Ronan, Bram, and the others to fight alone. But I won’t have you in the middle of the danger. Blackbourne will care for you. His mate passed to her afterlife without birthing a youngling, so he will cherish yours. He’s connected and powerful and—”

“Not you.” Her face crumpled as tears welled in her eyes.

Raiden’s heart turned over. Why did she love him? He shook his head, still trying to understand.

“He won’t mean to me what you do.” Her hazel eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “He won’t make me feel desired. He won’t challenge me. He won’t make every day an adventure. He isn’t the other half of my heart.”

Oh God. Raiden closed his eyes. Her plea was persuasive, and the urge to throw caution to the wind strong. He steeled himself. This was their last night together. It had to be. And he would make every second count.

“I’m sorry, Tabby. I can’t.” Raiden held out a hand to her. “Be with me?”

Tears fell down her cheeks and she shrugged. “You know it’s impossible for me to say no to you.”

And saying no to her sweet pleas had been the hardest thing he’d ever done.

Raiden didn’t say a word, just pushed his robe off her delicate, pale shoulders, unbelted it, and let it drop to the floor, baring her sweet curves to his gaze.

Breath left his body in a rush. Dear God, she was beautiful. He knew that, but every time he saw her, Tabby reminded him all over again. And not just physically beautiful. She oozed warmth, intelligence, sass… along with an alluring vulnerability and a pure heart. She opened herself totally every time he touched her, and there was something so compelling about falling deep into her. It felt like finding home.

Laying her on his bed, he quickly disrobed and covered her body with his. He captured her lips, knowing this would be the last time. And that hurt like a bitch. In a perfect world, he would do this every night: kiss her, caress her, show her how much he wanted her.

But in this flawed world, he had only tonight.

From the first touch, Tabby arched up to him, and Raiden closed his eyes, slipping into fantasy, a place where she was his—and always would be. Every night would be filled with her love. And after he’d swallowed her sated cries with his kiss, he’d roll over into blissful, untroubled sleep with her by his side and their youngling growing strong in her belly.

The thought was a powerful aphrodisiac. He deepened his kiss, claiming every inch of her mouth as if he’d been able to make his wish reality.

He drowned in her sweet taste, sinking into a pool of want so deep, he knew he’d never emerge. And he didn’t want to. He let the undertow of desire drag him under as he caressed her so-soft skin, down her neck, to the swells of her breasts. Her sighs tugged on his heart. This last time, he wanted her experience to be so special. She might mate with Sean Blackbourne and give her body to him for the rest of their days, but Raiden wanted to believe that she would never forget him.

He swept tender kisses across her skin, lingering at the sensitive peaks of her breasts, reveling in her slender fingers filtering through his hair, holding him close. He worshipped both nipples, laving them with attention for long minutes until she writhed, until the scent of her arousal grew unbearably, drawing him lower.

Raiden caressed the swell of her belly again, regretting like hell that he wouldn’t see his youngling born or know what it was like to hold him or her. After tomorrow, he’d lose most rights to the child. Yes, everyone knew he’d fathered Tabby’s baby. But as her mate, Blackbourne would be seen as its father.

Shoving the thought aside, he lowered his forehead to her stomach and cupped the swell in his hands. Tears pricked his eyes, and his mouth drifted across the little mound.

“Raiden… I’ll stay. The danger, it’s—”

“No. Please. Just let me… say good-bye.”

Tabby tried to wriggle up, no doubt to argue, but he eased her back down and found his way between her legs, kissing the sweet, silky-wet flesh there. He’d never forget her taste, no matter how many women he took to maintain the energy to fight. There would be no one like Tabitha.

Beneath his caress, she mewled and bucked, selflessly giving all of her pleasure to him so easily. God, even after everything, she trusted him with her body in a way that both humbled him and blew his mind.

As she convulsed and her cries of pleasure echoed off the cave walls, he rose over her and slid inside her. Deep, deep, so damn deep, Raiden didn’t know how he’d ever find his way out. She welcomed him, her slick heat a haven, the place he’d always crave. The place he’d want to stay in forever.

Ronan believed that Raiden loved Tabitha. Ronan was right.

Fucking impossible time to realize it.

He cupped her face in his hands, refusing to look away from her for a single second. Instead, he made love to her with a soft, reverent stroke, guiding her body up until she moaned, tensed, gasped, then surrendered her pleasure to him completely. Lost to her, Raiden followed Tabby into the abyss. And when she fell asleep in his arms, curling up like a trusting little kitten, he burrowed deep under the covers with her, hand over her belly, and drifted off, pretending that when he woke tomorrow, Tabitha would still be his.