Gift (Enchanted Ardor #2)

Chapter Nine

Olivia shivered against Nick’s warm side, attempting to keep the conversation light.

The moment they reached the end of the alley next to the church, apprehension slithered up her nape.

You’re just unsettled from Mr. Anderson’s visit earlier. You’re fine, Olivia.

Quinn’s tea warning is getting to you.

Still, she scanned the darkness as she led Nick toward her building, taking comfort in his presence, negotiating their light-hearted annual challenge.

How had he done it? Had he somehow frozen time to stop the attack?

She’d been chewing it over all evening, desperate yet reluctant to bring it up.

She looked up into his solemn face. Ice crystallized his brows and beard, giving him an otherworldly appearance as they passed under the streetlamps.

Compartmentalize, Liv. Put it away and focus on the here and now. He’s leaving tonight.

Her chest tightened.

But I will see him again next year. Maybe?

She clung to that win.

Movement drew her attention to the shadows across the narrow street. An obscure shadow slid from dark patch to dark patch, matching their pace.

“I—I think we’re being followed.”

At the next lamp, Nick turned her so that her back was to the street, adjusting her collar.

He drew a deep breath, paused and dipped his head to kiss her, whispering. “I can’t see anything, but I feel something nearby.”

“In the shadows,” she breathed against his mouth before pressing it to his, her hand caressing his cheek. Ice melted against her palm, water trickled down her wrist into her sleeve.

“Do you want to call the constable?”

She shook her head. “He’ll be busy. I’ll be fine once we’re home.”

He scanned the street over her head. “Whatever it is, feels off and we shouldn’t lead them to your place. Come back to my hotel.” The wind shifted, swirling through the streets in the opposite direction, carrying the scent of sulfur with it. “You’re definitely not going home. Let’s go.”

He pivoted, arm around her, picking up their pace, turning at the next intersection. That stretch of street had two burnt out lights before the next corner.

They hurried, mindful of the slippery sidewalk.

Along the darkest stretch, an inky shape darted across their path, startling them.

Olivia’s foot skid sideways, forcing her to collide with Nick, who caught her before they both went down.

Distracted, the shape veered back, growing as it arced toward them, billowing.

Olivia’s lungs froze, denying her air as she flinched away.

Her gut twisted against the overwhelming forces of hatred and despair crowding her, dragging at her heart.

Nick’s hand shot out, freezing the oily black cloud inches before it touched them.

Sulfuric anguish floated toward them, caught on the frigid winds.

“Jésus,” Olivia finally gasped, eyes wide.

“What the fuck is that?” he breathed. “Hurry.” He dragged her off the sidewalk onto the road before the thing reanimated. He lifted his hand as it crackled to life, freezing it again as he instinctively pulled Olivia toward the light at the end of the road.

He turned to with one last flick of his hand to hold it in place before they rounded the corner toward a busy street with brighter street lights.

They didn’t speak again until they reached Nick’s hotel, glancing over their shoulders every few minutes. If the thing followed, it did so unseen.

He practically shoved her into the ambient lobby, dragging her toward the elevator, hand clamped around hers, securing her to him as though his body could shield hers from such a creature.

As soon as he ushered her into the room, he ensured the black out curtains were drawn across the window and flicked on every light in the limited space.

They faced each other, chests rising and falling until they exploded at once.

“What the heck was that?” Olivia burst out.

Nick demanded, “have you encountered one of those before? It looked like it was targeting you.”

“Me? Why would it come for me? I’ve haven’t had any trouble until you suddenly showed up in town.”

Love and a warning.

She flicked ‘love’ away from her mind to concentrate on the ‘warning’.

‘I have zero interest in love, as it always comes with large blaring danger signals.’ She’d said to Quinn.

Olivia suppressed a nervous giggle as she watched Nick considered her words.

He ran a hand over his thick hair then down his substantial beard as he paced the short stretch from wall to entrance. “Could it be what she was talking about? The balance in jeopardy during the Ascension?”

“You’re speaking words but I have no idea what you’re saying, Nick.”

He paused, gaze landing on Olivia. “No. That can’t be it. Your Mr. Anderson smelled of sulfur when I put him in the cruiser. It’s got to be connected to you.”

Olivia balked. “What the heck? No way. I’m a nobody. I go to work, I do volunteer work, I go home. Wash, rinse, repeat. That’s it.” She jabbed an accusatory finger in his direction. “You, on the other hand is Mr. Santa Claus himself. Jolly old Saint Nick, the ultimate Do-Gooder of the planet and it’s right before Christmas.”

Nick grunted at that, scowling.

“Anderson attacked you, Olivia. That thing billowed toward you , before I froze it.”

“And what was that , anyway? You can control time or something?”

“Don’t change the subject, Liv. You’re the target, I’m sure of it.”

“You can manipulate time, and I’m the target? You’re not making any sense.”

“It makes perfect sense,” he countered.

“Wha—why?” Olivia threw her hands up, dropping them on her thighs.

He stared at her, eyes wide, lovely lips compressed as thoughts ticked through his mind. He finally blinked.

“You can’t go home.”

“Excuse me?” Olivia planted her hands on her hips. “Of course I’m going home, I have to—work tomorrow. Some of us have to pay rent.”

Work on finding a new job.

The frown line between Nick’s brows deepened as he stared at Olivia.

“I’ll just go in the morning. Your flight is tonight, isn’t it? I’ll cover the room cost when I check out.”

“Come with me. It would only be for a short while. Till Christmas morning. Then we’ll resolve this. Somehow.”

Olivia gaped. “I—wha—that’s crazy. I can’t. I wouldn’t get through airport security. My passport is at home and I don’t have anything packed.”

“You won’t need a passport, and we’ll take care of anything you’d need once we’re there.”

Olivia lifted a brow. “You can manipulate airport security too?”

Nick grunted. “No, of course not. We’re not going to the airport.” He turned away, checking throughout the room as he gathered the last of his belongings and tucked them into a leather satchel. “My ride’s meeting me on the roof.”

“Holy crap, Nick—you can’t just land a helicopter on the roof of any building you like in this city.”

“We’re not traveling by helicopter,” he glanced at his watch. “Just a few more hours then we can mount up.”

“Mount up?” Olivia’s hands clutched her hair as all of the images she’d ever seen advertised of Santa Claus rolled through her mind. “Please tell me we aren’t flying in a sleigh to the North Pole. I don’t think I—,”

Nick snorted. “Sleipnir doesn’t like sleighs, they’re too bulky.” He secured the satchel and set it by the door. “Really, Olivia, I didn’t think you’d buy into the propaganda. Does your djinn friend live in a lamp or ride a magic carpet?”

“Well, not exactly—,”

“Do you have a portrait stashed away some place that ages for you?”

“Of course not, that’s creepy.”

“Bathe in milk—or better yet, the blood of virgins to preserve your ageless beauty?”

“Nick!” Olivia laughed finally noticing the twinkle in his eye. “Okay, point taken. But you’ve got my curiosity afire now.”

“You’ll see. If you come with me.”

“Will I be warm enough?” She glanced down at her winter attire.

“I’ll keep you warm.”

When she lifted her gaze to his, she blushed from her forehead down to her toes at the look in his eyes, desire flooding her body. The bed loomed nearby.

Suddenly far too hot, she unbuttoned her jacket, setting it aside. “That thing didn’t seem to like light and they’re all on in here. You’ve said we have a few hours to till… Sleipnir is it, arrives?”

Nick nodded, shrugging out of his own jacket, laying it atop hers. “I think we’ll be safe here.” He opened his arms to her.

Without a single thought to resist, she instantly moved into his embrace, whispering against his warm chest. “What a night. Weekend, really.”

“It has been eventful.” His low voice rumbled against her ear.

“Friday was… crappy. Yesterday I thought would be a magical one night and I’d never see you again. This evening we negotiated a once a year date and now you’re talking about whisking me away. It’s all so surreal.”

“You speak as though you haven’t had much contact with the paranormal world.”

“I haven’t. I’ve lived as far under the radar as I could. Barring actual invisibility, it’s the best way to survive. If no one knows you exist, no one can bother you.”

Nick leaned back, hand cupping Olivia’s cheek to draw her gaze to his face.

“I certainly know you exist and I plan to bother you as much as I can now that I know it.”

She smiled, rubbing her cheek into his hand then turned and kissed his palm.

Heart pounding in her chest, she closed her eyes. “It’s all just so fast. I’m not used to any of this.”

Nick chuckled. “Aside from delivery night, nor am I. Nothing changes much over the centuries. We just to our thing, day to day. I don’t think we’re all that much different.”

“You’ll tell me about it?”

“If you’re coming, we’ll show you all of it.” His thumb drifted over her cheekbone. “And we’ll figure out what the deal is with that black cloud. I can’t leave you here alone and at risk. Especially if it’s my fault.” Nick’s gaze caressed Olivia’s features.

“It isn’t. How can you say that?”

“Don’t worry about it. We’ll fix it, though.” He dipped his head to taste her lips.

Olivia had no idea how either of them could ‘fix’ a thing like that, but she wasn’t going to waste this new-found time with Nick dwelling on it.

She immediately opened to him, sliding her tongue across his in invitation.

He growled against her mouth, lifting her into his arms and carried her to the bed as he had the night before.

She’d thought there’d only be one night and was suddenly gifted with another. She was going to savour it.

Olivia’s hands were in a flurry to pull his shirt up over his head and unbuckle his belt, needing him, wanting his skin against hers again. She slid her hand into his jeans as his mouth traveled down her neck.

He pushed her shirt up over her head, nuzzling her breasts.

Over her, he met her lips, kissing her deeply as he pressed his bare chest to hers, arms cradling her.

He throbbed in her hand as she gently stroked him, slowing their fevered pace.

They didn’t have all night, but they did have some time and she didn’t want to go too quickly. This time was a boon and she had to make the most of it.

She still reeled from the sudden turn of events this evening and determined to shut them out for a little longer.

Maybe they’d imagined it. After all, neither had slept much the night before.

She had Nick. For at least a few more hours. That’s all that mattered right now.

Opening her eyes she stared into his dark gaze as she wiggled out of her pants.

He did likewise as she unhooked her bra.

Her fingers caressed his length, massaging his tip.

His breath shuddered against the crook of her shoulder. “Liv.”

She went up on tiptoe, snaked her arms around his broad tattooed shoulders and slid her legs around his hips, aligning him to her entrance.

He thrust, filling her.

“Nick.” She moaned, muscles clenching him tight, arms grasping his wide shoulders.

She’d been in love a few times in her long life—at least she’d thought so at the time.

This—with Nick felt so much different. She wouldn’t call it love, it was too quick, too soon.

But certainly… special. Magical.

Intense as it drummed her heart and echoed throughout her body.

Whatever this was between them just clicked together like a magnetic lock and key unable to resist one another.

His hands and lips seemed to be everywhere, all at once as his hard length slid in and out of her, driving her to the edge.

Too soon.

Everything about her time with him seem to reach its end too soon.

She wanted more. She realized in those moments as she reached her peak that she’d always want more, of Nick.

Olivia vowed that, if they did truly meet once a year, she would cherish every second of it.

She gasped, clinging to him.

“Livy, my Livy.” He groaned as he buried himself deep and went rigid.

The tenderness in his voice, in his most vulnerable moment, the longing in it made her throat tight.

She recognized the underlying loneliness whispering to her heart.

Catching his breath, he opened his eyes to hers. His fingers caressed her face as he kissed her with so much gentleness for such a large man.

Yes, she would go north with him.

I’d be crazy not to.