Love Potions Read online

  “Ah, yeah, but…” Lydia quivered. The electricity had made its precarious way over her entire length.

  “No. No business. This will be a family home.”

  “Oh, so you and the wife?” Disappointment threatened to unfurl in her stomach.

  His eyes narrowed at that. “No. No wife. Just cousins, brothers, uncles, a sister, father… We tend to stick together. Call it a cultural thing.”

  “Oh.” Okay, why did that little piece of information make her want to shout for joy? So what if he was single? She wasn’t going to get involved with a neighbor. Besides, maybe he was just being nice. She didn’t even want to think of how hellish it would be if all the MacGregors made her feel like this one did, all hot and shaky. She’d have to move to the Arctic Circle before the month was out just to cool off.

  “Sorry, I’m prying.” She forced her legs to move faster. The sooner they finished, the sooner she could run home and hide. “The house comes with about eighty acres, I believe.”

  “I’m more curious about the neighbors,” he interrupted her. “One neighbor in particular.”

  Why was he looking at her like that? All liquid hot and sexy, like he could already picture her naked? Or was that her imagination running wild? She couldn’t be sure.

  The sparks of his initial touch intensified, seeming to jump off his flesh onto hers. These weren’t the euphuistic sparks of romance novels, but real, sure as fire, sparks of pure sexual energy that incinerated her skin and made her so wickedly inclined that she became certain her knees might buckle. It was as if she could already feel him pressed to her skin, his naked body hovering at the point of entrance. Moisture gathered between her thighs, eagerly urging her to welcome him.

  They’d come to a shaded part of the gardens. The unkempt trees blocked the late afternoon sun, illuminating them with dancing spots of orange-cast light. Birds called from the distance, adding music to their seclusion.

  “Perhaps ya know her,” Erik said softly, his tone so achingly seductive she couldn’t speak. She swallowed in apprehension. The smoldering expression in his eyes said he felt it to. His words dropped an octave, as he continued, “About your height.” Long fingers reached for her shoulder, touching her as before. Only this time, they stayed. “Very pretty.”

  Lydia gasped, turning her head to watch his fingers, the flesh of them dark compared to her paler skin. Heat hummed where he pressed against her shirt. She tried to tell herself not to fall for the gorgeous foreign guy. He probably used the accent all the time to get sex. His finger moved the tiniest measure. All rational thoughts left her. She didn’t care that this was wrong, that this man was a stranger. She wanted him.

  Obviously, after three years of being denied, her body was going to have its say. His fingers trailed along her neck, skimming across her rapid pulse to the bottom of the V in her shirt’s neckline. He reached her top button and she felt the material over her chest give as he unfastened it.

  “Mm, aye,” he continued, “big, sexy eyes. Silky, dark hair.” Was he actually undressing her? Here? Now? Like this? “Incredible breasts that make my mouth water to suck on them. An ass so firm I’ve been thinking about sinking my teeth into a ripe cheek ever since first putting eyes on it.”

  At that her rounded gaze darted up to meet his. Was he serious? No man had ever dared to talk to her like that. She would’ve screeched in feigned outrage at him if she had a voice. His fingers popped open another button as he leaned forward. Lydia stayed grounded to her spot. Her heart hammered against the walls of her chest, and she breathed so hard and choppy she was sure she’d pass out soon.

  Just as his lips were about to close on hers, she whispered, “No.”

  The protest came too late. His lips captured hers, sending a potent wave of unspeakable yearning from her mouth to her breasts, only to make its way down to her very core. He didn’t grab her, didn’t force her to stay against his kiss. He didn’t have to. Lydia couldn’t pull away. The wind seemed to pick up, whipping their hair around them.

  This had to be a dream. Today had started so unmistakably normal. She was a good girl. She didn’t kiss strange men, didn’t let herself fall into an abyss of lust and confusion.

  The devastating erotic feel of his closeness only made her all the hotter. She itched to be freed from her clothes. His firm mouth worked gently against hers, and when his warm, delicious tongue slipped past her lips, dancing and twirling in her mouth, she lost all willpower. He tasted good, like warm, sweet liquor.

  Lydia gripped his shirt, feeling the hard, solid press of his muscles beneath. Damn, but he was in perfect shape! Moaning, she arched her chest, sucking his tongue like she suddenly wanted to suck the rest of him.

  He was a drug, some potent, virile sexual drug that made her want to get on her knees and beg to give him pleasure. Lydia had never been particularly fond of giving oral pleasure, but suddenly it was like she craved it—as of her life depended on taking him between her lips.

  He’d worked his fingers into her shirt and groaned as he found her naked breasts. The erect nipples were waiting for him, already puckered and sensitive. As if he knew their torment, he pinched them between his fingers, rolling the delicate buds before grasping the mounds in his strong, warm hands.

  The power of him flooded her each time he touched her, driving her crazy with animalistic lust. Her hips jerked in response. She broke the kiss and aggressively pushed, forcing him against a tree trunk, hidden from the outside world by the branches.

  Lydia had never been aggressive during sex—usually opting for a lights out, after dark kind of lovemaking. She gripped his waistband, pleased to feel the ready heat of his erection straining against the soft material. His hands roamed over her body as she worked his zipper. He ripped her shirt the rest of the way open. With a groan, he leaned over to take a mouthful of breast between his teeth. The way he devoured it, his low growl vibrating her flesh, was sinfully arousing. The dark silk of his long hair blew against her, just as much a caress as the rest of him.

  She didn’t want him to stop, but she had to wiggle free to reach his shaft. Her hand slipped down over his pants, and she was surprised to discover the full girth against her hands. Jerking his pants down, Lydia tensed, her eyes widening in surprise. The bulge only seemed to grow bigger beneath the tight fit of his cotton boxers.

  “Don’t stop, love,” he murmured.

  Almost in a daze, she clawed at his chest, trying to work the shirt up so she could feel his skin, even as she fell to her knees. Erik tossed the shirt aside. Lydia kneeled before him, her fingers shaking as she went to pull the tight black cotton down. Even as she was apprehensive of his size, her mouth watered for it. This was a man who could conquer every inch of her and suddenly she wanted to be conquered.

  What was going on in her head? Why did she suddenly want him to overpower her?

  She pulled the material, revealing the thick, blunt tip of his arousal. Lydia lightly touched it, watching as he gasped and arched, his knees buckling slightly before he caught himself. When he looked at her, his eyes filled with a dark plea, she knew instinctively what he wanted. Her breath caught in the back of her throat. Lydia didn’t stop to think as she flicked her tongue to taste the warm, salty essence of him.

  There was something potently erotic to the intimate smell. Her gaze raked over his gorgeous body, before she looked up into his eyes. His expression was strained, caught between pleasure and awe. Shaking with her desire, she pulled his arousal free.

  Erik groaned, his beautiful body leaning back against the tree as he bent his knees to better position himself. His pants were caught around his ankles, trapping them together. Lydia licked her lips.

  “Mo chreach!” The foreign words left him like a curse.

  Lydia wanted more. Running her hands over his tight stomach, she grabbed his hips and pulled. She wanted this, and she was going to take it.

  …

  Erik groaned, his entire body trembling. When he’d cast a small spell to loos
en her inhibitions, he’d not expected her to do this. The spell should have made her act naturally toward him so that they may talk without the awkward newness of having just met.

  Though, who was he to stop her?

  Her big eyes had looked up at him, and he just knew she ached like he did. The sweet smell of her told him she was wet, so ready to be taken. Erik had lived too long not to trust his inner instincts. As he’d kissed her lips, he couldn’t help thinking of how he wanted them intimately wrapped around his body. Almost instantly, she started sucking on his tongue, just as he would have her do his arousal.

  As if by instinct, she knew what he wanted. It was like she read his desires. Her fingers gripped his hips, just as he liked. The animal inside him sought a woman who was aggressive and confident. Good thing he’d bound the creature until he could get the house secured for his family, or he’d not be able to control himself with her.

  Her scent was in his head, calling to him. He wanted to lay her on the soft grass and spend hours worshipping her body, taking her until they came so many times they couldn’t move. And then, he’d take her again. If she let him he’d spend the next several weeks, as he got the house ready, hopping in and out of her bed.

  Oh, the things he wanted to do with her.

  Her gorgeous eyes opened and looked up at him. She licked her lips, wetting them as she moved them closer. Erik tensed, not having realized what had happened until that moment. A light sheen of his power was in her gaze, mixing with her passion. Suddenly, it all made sense as the truth came crashing around him. She was an inthrall.

  In a moment of painful sanity, he pushed her away. He wasn’t sure how he managed with as weak as he was becoming. She growled low in her throat, her head bobbing possessively forward as if she’d continue. Erik was torn. It had been so long since he’d felt such longing and desire. Only the look in her eyes stopped him.

  No. Not like this. Not with an inthrall. Already she’d taken too much from him, leaving his body weakened. Breathless he groaned. Half-teasing, half-serious, completely desperate to say anything to get her to back away until she could reclaim her senses, he said, “Aye, lass, it’s a fine welcome ya give a man.”

  …

  Lydia stopped moving, completely stunned by what was happening. Her lips were still parted, on the verge of going forward to finish what she’d started. The strange euphoria that urged her to act on primal, carnal instinct—and nothing else—lightened its hold over her. Slowly, as if by not moving too fast she could disappear, she pulled away, drawing her hands to the ground for support as she pushed up.

  Aye, lass, it’s a fine welcome ya give a man.

  Oh. My.

  She took a deep breath.

  Omigod!

  Lydia couldn’t look at him. What in the world had she done? She just got on her knees like some cheap slut and tried to give her new neighbor head like it was an everyday occurrence.

  Bad. This is very, very bad. And wrong. So very wrong.

  Horrified, she discovered her breasts were exposed for all to see. Well, for him to see anyway. Thankfully they were completely alone.

  Lydia struggled to her feet, gripping her shirt. Her sex was so wet, ready to be ridden. Each pull of her body shot fire through her limbs. By the look of his remarkable, still erect shaft, he was willing to continue their tryst.

  Lydia made a weak noise of dismay. If not for his words bringing her back to reality, she would’ve still been on her hands and knees begging him to…

  No. No. She couldn’t even think it. She had to get out of there. This was too humiliating. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. She shook her head, ready to run.

  “Lydia,” Erik said. “It isn’t a bad thing to have a bit of fun now and again. I’ll not think less of ya for staying and enjoying yourself if that is what ya chose to do. I know I would enjoy your company immensely.”

  She met his eyes for the briefest of seconds before taking off into a full sprint down the hill.

  …

  Erik tried to run after her, grabbing his pants as he tripped. He couldn’t stand the confused, hurt look in her eyes. Even more prevalent was a sense of utter humiliation. He knew instinctively that she’d never have done such a thing had he not cast the stupid spell. Usually the thing acted as a harmless icebreaker. With Lydia, it opened her up to him. He stumbled on a patch of grass, catching himself. With his size and strength, he could easily overtake her on foot. Suddenly, a gust of wind came from behind her, slamming him back into the tree. Feelings of horror, mortification and regret washed over him. The strength of them tore at his heart, making his entire being physically ache. They were her feelings.

  Erik had sex aplenty in his long life and with many women. None of them made him feel like she did without even completing the act. None made him feel like he did at this moment—weak and powerful at the same time, dominant and protective, possessive and slightly obsessive. He took a deep breath, pinned to the tree with magick unable to move, still feeling the aftereffects of the pleasure she’d almost given him, now mixed with her repentance.

  For a long moment, he stared, stunned that she’d absorbed so much of him from just a brief contact. They hadn’t even had sex. If she absorbed so much of his magick from just thinking about him between her lips, as to keep him away, then what would happen if he would’ve actually slept with her? Would she drain his energies dry? Would such an act be the end of his powers? Would the act be the end of his life?

  Remembering her sweet scent and the pleasure of her kiss, Erik groaned. He could tell by her reaction that she hadn’t meant to go that far. Had she been herself, the best he could have hoped for this first day was the brush of her hand, or perhaps a chaste kiss. Ah, but would it matter if she was the end of him? If he was ever to surrender to a woman, he couldn’t think of a better way to go than at the mercy of the most captivating Lydia Barratt.

  Chapter Three

  Lydia shivered from head to toe, letting the freezing cold water from the shower hit her skin. It helped to alleviate the full body throbbing, although barely.

  “Omigod,” she moaned. “What did I do? What did I do?”

  How in the world could she even walk out of the house again? She barely left it as it was, except to walk around on the hill and down to the post office. Now she’d become a total recluse, the crazy lady with the scary house little children dared each other to knock on. And what was worse, the mansion gardens had been a favorite spot of hers. It looked like she wasn’t going to be able to go there anymore. It wasn’t like she could face Erik after the little “welcome gift” she’d almost given him.

  “Omigod.”

  Just thinking of it made her tingle in a way she’d never experienced. Closing her eyes, all she could see was his firm body, the way his neck and face looked under the dancing lights of the shade. Lydia opened her mouth, letting the water hit inside. It was no use. She could still taste his lips and the damned warm, sweet liquor that flavored them.

  Her body ached, despite the cold water. She couldn’t calm her racing heart, couldn’t temper back the desire in her belly. As she lathered soap over her skin, the sensations only became worse. The same thing happened as she washed her hair. Deciding the cold shower wasn’t going to do the trick, she got out. Pulling a soft pink robe around her arms, she stumbled weakly from the bathroom.

  Not bothering to brush her hair, she fell onto the soft feather mattress of her bed. Even the suppleness against her back was a caress, driving her senses over the edge. Before she could think to stop herself, she was wiggling, parting her thighs. Her robe fell open, exposing her body.

  “Erik,” she whispered, desperately wishing he was with her. Instantly her body heated, no longer cold from her long shower. It was as if she’d never taken it.

  The scent of him came to mind. With one hand she pinched her nipples, running the other down her stomach to her sex. Parting her wet folds, she bit her lip. She never remembered being so aroused before. Her finger glided in th
e moist heat, and she found her swollen bud buried in the velvet folds.

  What would his body feel like prying her open? At that she shivered. Maybe he would be too big.

  “It’s not like I’m ever going to find out,” she promised herself, not daring to give credence to the disappointment the words caused her.

  The early evening sky darkened considerably outside her window, as if a cloud passed over the setting sun. Lace curtains blew inward, carrying with them the smell of fresh air. She wondered what it would be like to have him there, strong hands gripping her hips to keep her from squirming, warm lips tasting and licking every inch of her.

  Automatically, she knew he’d be demanding in bed, conquering her as he saw fit. He was so bold, so confident. And why not? He had the body of a god to back it up.

  It was like Charlotte always said. Men weren’t confident anymore. There were no more warriors, no impossibly dominant males who fiercely protected their women. Society had driven fear into men, fear that they’d be arrested for allowing their base urges to roam free. Not that taking a woman against her will was acceptable. Somehow, Lydia doubted Erik would be the type to need to ask for permission to be a real man.

  Whatever was going on inside her today was definitely working. Tension built where her fingers touched, spreading uncontrollably over her taut flesh. Her skin was so sensitive and firm, her breathing ragged. Lydia closed her eyes, arching back on the bed. Self-pleasure had never done this to her before.

  “Erik,” she cried softly, closing her eyes tight. Her hands flew back over her head. The sensations only continued. It was like she could feel his mouth on her. Lydia was too afraid to look down, afraid that if she saw no one was there that the feelings would stop.

  Her thighs and stomach tightened. Tensing from head to toe, she met with release. A soft caress brushed her thigh, causing her to shiver in the aftermath. Gradually, she opened her eyes and looked down. She was alone in the bedroom.