Siren's Serenade (The Wiccan Haus) Read online

  “Condoms. Do you have any?”

  “Um, yes. I think so.” She looked around.

  “You don’t know?”

  “Sarka said she would have Myron bring some to me.”

  “You talked to Sarka about getting you some condoms?”

  “Actually, she suggested it.”

  “Who else knows you were planning to bring me here to seduce me?”

  Serena cocked her head thought for a second and shrugged. “Most everyone I would guess.”

  Most everyone. It wasn’t that he cared, but he was a private person. His crew never knew when he dated anyone, and he never kissed and told. Finding the object of his interest in the corner, he went to the side table and picked up a full box of XL condoms. With a note on top:

  Kaleb, Hope they fit.

  Have fun,

  Myron.

  Serena looked at the box and then back to him. He had a sinking suspicion she had no idea what they were or how they were used. “Have you ever used a condom before?”

  She shook her head. “There has never been the need before.”

  He could only assume that she’d been on the pill in the past and that had been her primary form of birth control. But as Kaleb had filled out a full health report and she must have done the same over the last five times she’d been here, he could only assume the staff wouldn’t push her to have sex with someone if she had a sexually transmitted disease.

  So she didn’t know how to use a condom. He did and it could be just as much fun teaching her how to put them on him. But not this time. He wasn’t sure he had the stamina or will power to last through that kind of lesson.

  He opened the package and rolled the latex over his cock. Only then did he glance at her; her head was tilted to the side as she looked at his covered cock. “I have so much to teach you, don’t I?”

  Her gaze lifted again to his face and the seductress was back, her pink tongue escaping her lips just long enough to wet them and drive him wild. “Let me do the teaching tonight.” Serena’s voice came out on a husky breath.

  She placed a warm hand on his chest just over his heart; he was sure she had the power to make it stop. His breath caught, and for a moment, all he could do was look in her eyes. There was no sign of the insecure woman he had seen at dinner and their walk the night before; this woman was a sex goddess, and she had him solely in her sights. Pushing gently, she backed him up until the back of his knees hit the chair in the corner.

  “Sit,” she murmured, throwing her hair over her shoulder before straddling his hips. “There may be a lot of things I have left to learn, but seducing you is something I know I can excel at.”

  “I’m convinced you can.” His head fell back as her hand explored his chest. Fingers traced every finely chiseled muscle from his collarbone to his abs. Kaleb’s muscles clenched as her hand reached between them and grabbed his hard cock and brought it to her opening. With slow, almost painful precision, she encased him in her warmth, holding him tight. Kaleb gritted his teeth, placing his hands on her hips. Every ounce of testosterone in him demanded he push up into her, take her as his.

  He had never felt a need this intense for anyone in his entire life. Lifting his head, he looked at her: her eyes were closed as she moved in a slow, dance-like rhythm. Her thighs tightened against his every time she moved up over his cock. As she slowly descended again, her full breasts, just inches from his mouth, were a temptation he couldn’t resist; wrapping one hand around her waist, Kaleb eased her toward him, taking one full nipple into his mouth while his free hand palmed and kneaded the other.

  Serena’s breath caught, renewing his determination to show her what he could give her. Her pace picked up, her vaginal walls tightening around him, squeezing him until Kaleb nearly couldn’t control his orgasm. With every bit of discipline he had, he stayed off the finish, this need to pump his seed deep into her. God, he had never wanted to have unprotected sex until right now, and every bit of him was screaming to remove the condom. Primal needs he didn’t think he had demanded he give her what she needed to create new life.

  He moved his hands down to her hips, to slow her down, to take back control. His fingers bit into her round ass cheeks as he pushed her down, hoping to make her pause for a second. Instead, he drove deeper into her and she shattered above him.

  With her head thrown back, Kaleb had a perfect view of Serena’s graceful throat as she fought for air. Her hair tickled his knees but the only thing Kaleb could focus on was her body as it shook over him. A sound, not quite a song but not a scream, came from her mouth. It hit him square in the heart and filled his whole body with a warmth that could become addicting.

  “You are so beautiful.”

  “Kaleb, help me,” she whispered, moving on him faster.

  Kaleb wrapped one arm around her waist and the other looped behind her and rested on her shoulder. He pulled her closer and forced her to take every inch of him. She bucked as he pressed his hips up. And then she fell apart in his arms again as a second orgasm overcame her. She collapsed into him, kissing his shoulder as he continued his assault on her body. Over and over, he drove into her until his own overwhelming needs returned. Standing up, he positioned her legs around his waist and walked the few feet toward the bed. Lowering both of them, he looked over her, letting one hand run through her hair, drinking in every inch of her face before taking her lips in an all-consuming kiss.

  Now with the leverage of the bed, he drove into her. She tightened her legs around his waist, and her nails raked down his back. She pulled away from him, panting again. But Kaleb was too lost in his own desire to focus on her making that amazing sound; all he wanted was to feel her fracture below him at the same time he did. Just as he didn’t think he would be able to hold off any longer, she arched her back off the bed and yelled his name.

  And the world went black as he came harder than he ever had in his life. The air left his lungs and his heart slowed. Kaleb’s last thought before he collapsed on top of her was, if this was how he was going to go, then what a way to do it.

  Panicked, Serena felt his body twitch and then fall still; he wasn’t breathing. Shaking him, she didn’t know what to do. They weren’t in the water, and the condom prevented his seed from getting to her. Oh, she felt the draw to have it. She craved to feel it inside her, reaching into her womb.

  “No!” she screamed, lifting his head and placing her lips against his. Then, ever so slowly, she brushed them. “No, Kaleb. Please, no.”

  A single tear escaped her eye. Shocked, she reached up to touch it. She had never cried before, and as the tear crystallized into stone on her finger, it turned a vibrant orange, the color of the sunset on the horizon. She turned her head to find his hand palm up and open. Placing the sea glass into his hand, she whispered, “I give you my tears, Kaleb. Breathe for me; take my breath.”

  Nothing. He didn’t move, and Serena’s despair was deep as she closed his hand and tightened her grip on his body. She had failed at everything; the condom hadn’t saved him from her. And now she didn’t even have his baby. Gulping in air to fill lungs that were compressed by his weight, Serena pushed at his body.

  Then his eyes fluttered open, and a smile came to his lips as he took a deep, life-sustaining breath. Reaching up, Serena kissed him hard, putting all her relief into it. Good god, that was close. Too close.

  Lifting up, he smiled. “You are amazing.”

  “So are you.”

  “We need to talk,” Kaleb said, rolling off her but pulling her with him as he went. Amazed by the sense of closeness, Serena nuzzled against his shoulder. His scent overwhelmed her until she couldn’t help but lick and kiss the side of his neck. She was just so relieved to have him alive and to know she hadn’t killed him. Or at least could turn it around if she had.

  “I can think of better things to do than talk,” she murmured against his ear.

  “You’ll have to give me a few minutes to recover. I’m only human, you know. I’ve never blacke
d out like that before. What are you trying to do, kill me?”

  Serena pushed away from him, backing off the bed. “Why would you say that?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Why would you say I was trying to kill you? I would never hurt you. You have to believe me.”

  Pushing himself up onto his elbows, Kaleb stared at her. “Serena, it was a joke.”

  “It’s not funny.”

  Sighing, he fell back onto the pillow and rubbed his hand over his face. He lay so still, that she wasn’t sure he would say anything at all. Then he turned his head toward her and gave her a smile that made her knees tremble. “You’re right. With your mother and your history that wasn’t funny. I wasn’t thinking; I’m sorry.”

  Taking his offered hand, she placed her fingers in his rough palm, letting him pull her back into the bed and into his arms. Only then did he look at the stone in his other hand.

  “What is this?”

  “A piece of sea glass I found today. I thought of you. I wanted to give it to you as a gift.” Not a lie, not really.

  “Wow, it’s in the shape of a tear. You know what they call sea glass?” She shook her head, watching him look at the light through the stone. “Sailors say sea glass is the tear of a mermaid.”

  “Do they?”

  “I love it. Thank you.” He palmed it again, smiling up at her.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Now I need a shower. Would you like to join me? Or we could swim.”

  “No swimming.”

  “So I am coming to understand.” He threw his legs over the side of the bed, turning his back to her. “Perhaps one day you will tell me why you have no issues fucking my brains out, but a simple swim is out of the question.”

  “It’s safer that way, but a shower sounds nice.” Well, a shower sounded nice, not that she knew what one was.

  “What I’m thinking is nothing nice at all.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her into a kiss as he walked them both into the bathroom. He stepped away long enough to remove the used condom before turning on the shower. “I hope Myron has more than one box of condoms on this island.”

  “She originally only gave me one condom, but then decided a box would be better.”

  “I think I need to get Myron a present.”

  “What kind of present?”

  “I’m sure we can think of something. I guess that will depend on how many we use. Do you think anyone is going to come looking for me if we don’t make it to dinner?”

  “Dinner? Oh no.” The siblings were going to kill her. She knew better than to break any more rules.

  At that moment there was a knock on the door. “I am guessing that’s a yes.”

  Serena made a move to the door and giggled when Kaleb stopped her to put on a robe; humans and their need to be covered up. Like any Para would care what she went to the door in. He stood next to her as she opened the door to find Cyrus standing there, looking less than pleased.

  “You need to get to the dining hall for dinner. I am not a goddamned babysitter.”

  “We know. We lost track of time.”

  “Let me get dressed and I’ll come right up.”

  As Kaleb picked up his swim suit and walked into the other room, Cyrus whispered softly. “I need the tear.”

  “What?”

  “Myron is in a fit. Her cards said Kaleb was dead. We were about to raise all mighty hell when Myron said you had saved him with a tear. I need that tear. Sarka needs to place it in a necklace for him to wear.”

  “Will that protect him?”

  “If you don’t have any intercourse with him unless he wears a condom, and not until he can wear that tear over his heart.”

  “Okay.” Running into the other room, she pried the piece of glass out of Kaleb’s hand. “Trust me,” she said, kissing his lips before handing the tear to Cyrus, who promised to have it back to them in the morning.

  Handing Serena an ornate wooden box, he paused for a second before turning to leave. “This is for you, and you both have ten minutes to get your asses in the dining room.”

  Serena closed the door behind her and moved into the kitchen area where Kaleb stood in his still-wet swim trunks. She handed him the wooden box. He let out a laugh when he lifted the top. Before Serena could ask, he held up a handful of condoms in a variety of colors.

  “Do we need another box?” she asked.

  “They seem to have a great deal more confidence in my stamina than I do.”

  Serena licked her lips just thinking about the ways they could use those condoms.

  “Whatever you’re thinking, stop. If we don’t show up to dinner, one of those security goons will probably break down your door.”

  “You’re no fun.” She pouted.

  “Is that so? I’ll show you after dinner just how fun I can be. Now go and change.”

  From somewhere outside the cabin they heard Cyrus yell, “Five minutes!”

  Chapter Five

  KALEB SAT ON NATURAL UNDERWATER stone bench that ran along the inner rim of the hot springs, Serena straddling him. The sun’s rays played over the water as the sun made its final descent into the west. Kaleb’s fingers went to his new necklace and the sea glass now attached to it; Sarka had, as a favor for Serena helping Yavonka get over her fears of the water, fashioned the glass into a necklace. Kaleb had only taken it off once since, and even then he’d found he didn’t want it gone. Strange, the need to touch a piece of glass, but there it was; when he couldn’t touch it, Kaleb felt empty somehow.

  The past several days had gone at a far different pace than the first couple; he no longer took classes on breathing and finding your center. He was now in sessions that were physically draining and seemed more like training than healing. Was there something healing about getting your ass kicked by the security guard from hell? But Kaleb had to admit, after each session he did feel stronger and more centered.

  His meals had changed too. No longer was he given grubs and greens—now it was protein and carbs. He had free time in the afternoon to swim, but did his best to stay away from where Serena was working with Yavonka. She seemed more at peace, as well. He wasn’t sure if it was that they no longer fought their needs for each other or if she just enjoyed helping the young woman with the missing arm learn to swim again.

  But when Cyrus suggested he stay on another week for more healing, Kaleb had hesitated. He’d felt ready to head back and hoped that he could pass his psych eval this time so he could return to work. It was only when Cemil mentioned that Serena had agreed to extend her stay to help Yavonka that Kaleb agreed to stay, on the one condition that they move him into Serena’s cabin. He hadn’t actually spent another night in his room since they finally made love. After a few whispers between the three present siblings and a growl from Rekkus, they agreed.

  So the next week began much as the last had ended. He woke early to make love to Serena and then had a quick breakfast in the dining hall. Serena would go off to do whatever she did when not working with Yavonka, and he would head off to tai chi with Cemil, followed by a strange form of aikido with Rekkus—also known as getting your ass kicked by a big thug with attitude—then lunch where he ate alone, a quick swim, a massage with Lakshmi, and then back to getting his ass kicked by Rekkus. If Rekkus was unavailable for the ass-kicking, Cyrus seemed more than willing to take over. But Kaleb’s evenings were free, free to walk the island with Serena.

  Their favorite place to go, the hot springs, was way off the beaten track. His achy muscles never seemed to hurt much after sitting in the hot water, and although she wouldn’t swim with him in the ocean and certainly not at the lake—they had been warned ad nauseum to stay away—she had no issues making love to him and draining the rest of his energy at the springs.

  Serena laid her head against his shoulder. “I don’t think I can walk home.”

  Home. He loved the sound of that but wondered what would happen when he left in four days. He feared he was falling in
love for the first time in his life, but Serena was here for a while to come, and though he could justify one more week, beyond that he knew it was time to go. “I can carry you.”

  “What? Have I left you with so much energy you can hike with not just your weight but mine as well?” Still straddling him, she lifted up to look at him in the glowing moonlight, her fingers grazing his shoulder. “Your bruise is already fading.”

  Looking at his shoulder, he nodded; she was right, it was fading. All of his injuries healed much quicker on the island. “It will just be replaced by another tomorrow.”

  “He’s a brute.”

  “He’s a hard task master. And I’m getting better already. By the end of the week, I might be actually able to take him down.”

  “Let me come see that.” Serena smiled, her eyes twinkling He loved her like this, when she was relaxed and herself. She was always at ease in the water. On land she tried so hard. Like she knew she didn’t fit in. At first, he had chalked it up to her past relationship with Rekkus and the tension there. But both she and Rekkus acted the exact same no matter who was around. With the exception of when Dana was around—then, Rekkus went from what he would call a wild animal to a pussy cat in seconds.

  Interesting, that. He supposed even the mighty fall sometimes.

  But still the unanswered questions swirled in his brain about what the hell was going on under the surface of this island. Kaleb had stumbled across a bizarre barracks-like building in the woods. Though empty, it was definitely ready for occupants—and soon. And there was a second dock on the other side of the island that he would have missed had he not stopped to retie his shoe. Only when he was in a kneeling position did the camouflage around the dock seem odd enough to make him give it a closer look. The small shed-like building housed a state of the art cigarette boat, capable of high speeds.