Mills & Boon : Seducing The Jackal (3 page)

“Markus.”

He blinked away his memories to the past and focused on the
here and now. The rich smell of incense wafted through the room, pulling him
back once again to an older time. “You have
kyphi
incense?”

“Yes, mostly. A lot of the ancient ingredients and recipes are
lost.” She whispered a few words under her breath as she used a white ostrich
plume to fan through both occupied cells the smoke of the incense pellets held
in a small alabaster bowl. “Frankincense is good too, but I figured the
kapet
was better since it’s after nightfall.”

Rashon, the second jackal, already seemed calmer, his breaths
deeper, twitches less frequent. Guilt pricked Markus. He should have thought of
procuring and lighting traditional incense to create a sacred space for the men.
He was old enough to know better.

He looked to Tia, grateful that he’d made the decision to take
her, though now he wondered if she would have come willingly had he asked her
properly. She stared at him, her dark eyes luminous, her lips a full ripe blend
of honey and raspberry. “What can I do?”

“You as a warrior lead the Sons of Anubis against the Lost
Ones, but you are their spiritual head, as well,” she explained. “I need you to
invoke the presence of your patron god. Whatever prayers of protection you use
before you go into battle should be a good beginning.”

That he could do. He dropped to his knees between the cages,
the remaining jackals in the room following suit. Stilling his mind, he began to
recite the ancient prayer. “Lord Anubis, Anapa, Guardian of the Dead, He Who
Sits upon the Mountain, hear the prayers of your humble servant.”

He continued the prayers of thanksgiving, praise and
protection, his words echoed by his men. Power gathered in the room as Tia mixed
oils and herbs in a large bowl. As she worked, she began to sing. He recognized
the song as a hymn to Isis, and somehow it melded with their chants to become
something more powerful, more potent.

Markus couldn’t take his eyes off Tia. Grace filled every
movement she made, like a ballet of magic. Her magic called to him and his body
responded. Need, unexpected and sharp, bit deep.

His voice faltered, but he blamed it on the sudden music
flowing into the room. The recorded sounds of drums and sistrums were no less
visceral than if musicians had been in the chamber. The beat threaded through
the incense and sorcery, weaving the masculine and feminine halves into a
powerful whole.

Blessed Anubis, he wanted her.

She lifted a large bowl in both hands. “Markus, please open the
cell.”

“No.” Shaking his head for emphasis, he shoved his need down.
“They become violent and try to escape. As far as we can tell, the curse seems
to transmit through a bite. I can’t risk more of my men.”

Instead of arguing, she turned to the cage. “Alonso. Look at
me, Alonso.”

The stricken jackal slowly turned his head, moaning as if even
that simple movement caused agony.

“Alonso. Anubis stands beside you, Isis holds you in her arms.
We are here to aid you and break this curse, to lead you back whole and hearty
to the sun. You will help us help you.”

The cursed jackal struggled to work his jaw to form words.
After an eternity he managed to push words out. “Yes, priestess.”

A garbled sound tripped from Hector’s throat. “He hasn’t spoken
in days. No matter how I begged, he wouldn’t answer me. But he answered
you.”

Tia’s eyes glowed with power—or perhaps, the power of her
personality. “It means that your brother is strong and willing to fight. Markus,
if you would please?”

Markus unlocked the cage then stepped through. Though Alonso’s
gaze never left Tia as she entered the cell, he made no move toward her. When
she looked to Markus in question, he shut the cell door. “I won’t have you say
that I sent you in unprotected.”

He took the large basin from her. “I’ll hold this for you. Is
this for what I think it is?”

“If you think we’re going to give Alonso a sponge bath, then
yes, you’re right,” she answered, kneeling beside the jackal’s head. “We’re
anointing his body with this healing mixture as we offer prayers and blessings
for him.”

Markus blanched. When one of his men died in battle, it fell to
him to prepare their bodies, assuming the role of a high priest of Anubis. “It’s
too much like a burial ritual.”

“It’s exactly like a burial ritual,” she told him, “except
Alonso is still alive. This purification ritual will go far in helping us keep
him that way.”

Markus didn’t know if Tia actually knew what she was doing or
grasped at any straw she could out of desperation. Considering that he’d grabbed
her for a desperate cause, he’d grasp those same straws and they could burn or
fly together.

“Okay. Let’s get started.”

Chapter Four

“Tia.”

A growl of a voice, close to her right ear, pulled Tia slowly
up through the intricate pattern of the spell weaving itself into the jackal’s
life force. “Hmm?”

“Tia.” This time a hard hand to the shoulder, shaking her. “You
need to stop.”

She blinked, and the blurred image finally focused. Markus. He
didn’t look happy, not that she expected him to. She wasn’t even close to
pulling off a miracle for his men. “What?”

“You need to stop.”

“Can’t.” Was that scratchy mewl of a sound her voice?

“Can.” His hand slid from her shoulder to her forearm. She
didn’t feel the same tingle she had before, a sure indication of how depleted
she was. “You’ve been at this for hours. Your voice is all but gone and so’s
your energy. No one will be helped if you pass out.”

“Just a little more,” she insisted. “I’ve never experienced a
spell so intricate. It has a Daughter’s touch, but there’s much more to it,
something I’ve never seen before. If I pick at it a little longer, I should be
able to find the master thread.”

“As much as I want you to continue, I don’t want you or my
jackals hurt,” he told her. “You can start again after you’re rested.”

The unexpected concern touched her. He had a point though. She
needed food, rest—ugh, a shower—and some way to replenish her magical reserves.
At this point, she’d do more harm than good by continuing. “’Kay.”

Bracing her hands against the mattress, she attempted to push
herself to her feet. Her arms shook with the effort and she couldn’t unfold her
legs enough to stand.

An arm snagged her about the waist, hauling her off the floor.
Her body flew horizontal and she found herself cradled against a very hard and
very warm body. Despite her fatigue, her nerve endings sang, sensing the vast
resources of strength and power thrumming through the jackal. Her magic stirred,
recognizing a perfect energy source. His power tasted potent, smooth as quality
whiskey, and it made her wonder what the skin at his throat tasted like.

“Nice,” she said without thinking. “Bet you make all the girl
jackals howl.”

Someone choked on a laugh. “Now I know you’re exhausted.”
Markus’s voice rumbled deep in his chest. “You’re actually being nice to
me.”

Oh, yeah. That was probably not the smart thing to do,
considering he’d kidnapped her and all. “We’re under a truce, aren’t we? I think
it’s okay to be nice to each other. I’ll even give you a compliment. Did you
know that you give good frown?” Especially with those tasty-looking lips.

Another smothered snort. “You’ve gone from exhausted to
delirious,” he rumbled, carrying her out of the cell and toward the door. He
paused beside Hector. “Send the next shift in, and tell them to keep the incense
and music going and notify me immediately if there’s any change. See about some
food, then take yourself off to bed.”

“A bacon cheeseburger and cheese fries would be great,” she
piped up, her stomach yowling a protest at the mention of food. “Or pancakes,
bacon, sausage and eggs if it’s breakfast time.”

Markus frowned down at her again. “What?” she asked, defensive.
“I get horny when I heal someone. Sue me.”

He stopped in his tracks. “You mean ‘hungry,’ right?”

“That’s what I said.”
Isn’t
it
?

“If you say so.” He carried her back down the hall to the room
in which she’d awakened. As they passed through a door at the rear of the room,
she noticed her duffel bag atop the chest of drawers. Good. Besides a change of
clothes, her go-bag carried a few necessary things that helped her replenish her
energy. She wondered if Markus had rifled through it. Probably. He didn’t seem
the sort to leave anything to chance.

He took her into the surprisingly large bathroom and placed her
atop the closed commode. A luxurious glassed-in shower dominated the space, its
sand beige tiles interspersed with cobalt and turquoise squares imprinted with
gold lotus flowers. So, not a cell at all. “This is your room, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“Why no windows in the bedroom?”

“I live here to be available for the clan,” he answered. “I
catch sleep when I can, and having no windows makes that easier.” He opened the
glass door and reached for the water handle. “I’ll start it for you.”

“Thank you.” Tia watched the muscles play over his back as he
twisted the handle, sending water gushing into the enclosed space. The jackal
was a fine specimen of a man with his wide shoulders, tight buns and powerful
legs. Lethal grace and strength wrapped a keen mind and a fierce spirit, all
very attractive qualities that called to her. Her magic stirred again, rumbling
in harmony with her empty stomach. What would it be like, she wondered, to blend
their magics together, to feel his body moving with hers?

“Tia?” Roughness filled his voice, though his tone sounded as
if he’d called her name more than once.

She forced herself to raise her gaze from his body to his face.
Mmm, his lips looked tasty, too. “Yes?”

“Are you okay?” Concern darkened his topaz gaze.

No, she wasn’t. She’d always had a healthy sex drive, but being
close to Markus was like adding gas to a fire. “I need,” she explained, knowing
it wasn’t much of an explanation at all. She tried again. “I need to replenish.
Untying the curse is more draining than I expected.”

She didn’t want to tell him that the quickest way for her to
replenish was through sex. Each Daughter of Isis manifested different aspects of
the goddess at the onset of puberty. Unfortunately for Tia, hers manifested
primarily as sexual creative energy with a smaller gift of healing. While she’d
been part of the coven she hadn’t had sex, so her power had never been great. It
was only after leaving for college that she’d had her sexual and magical
awakening.

“Ah.” His expression cleared. “The food should be here by the
time you finish your shower. Then you can eat and rest while we gather more
supplies. How long do you need?”

“More time than you probably want me to take, if all I can do
is eat and rest.”

The greater the magical work, the greater the amount of energy
expended. Her coven, of course, could spread the energy toll over the circle, so
no one witch was depleted. Since she didn’t have her coven to rely on, she had
to parse her magical work out carefully, saving any greater spell-casting for
situations when she knew she’d be able to rejuvenate completely. Stuck in the
jackal’s den without her usual outlet, she ran the risk of draining her magic
completely. She doubted Markus would give her the two days she needed to
recuperate without sex.

Not that she could tell Markus that, of course. It wasn’t as if
he’d offer to help her out in that regard. Or would he?

“We’ll figure something out. I know you’re doing everything you
can.” He reached his hand into the spray, testing the temperature. “How do you
like it?”

Damn. She gritted her teeth, biting back all the suggestive
responses to his innocent question. Angry Markus she could withstand. This
Markus, nice Markus, was too close to her type. Usually when she needed sex to
recharge, she went for betas—men who had no problem with casual hookups and her
lack of interest in long-term relationships. Men like Markus—gorgeous alpha
males with fierce loyalty, intensity and protective streaks—those were the men
she fantasized about alone in her bed.

She licked her lips. “A cold shower will work.”

He turned to her then stopped, his smile slipping from his
lips. His gaze dropped from her face to her chest and caught there. “I think...I
think you’re already cold.”

Gods. Her nipples, already tight and sensitive against the thin
material of her gown, peaked further beneath the heated weight of his gaze.
“Actually, I’m burning up.”

His nostrils flared as his gaze roamed her body again like a
wandering hand. Desire coiled deep inside her, tightening her body as she
matched his frank perusal. Tension built with the eddying steam in the suddenly
small room. Tia’s lips parted as she caught the sharp licorice liqueur edge of
his need burning its way into her senses. Her own need rose in response, sharp,
painful and necessary, slicking her core.

Desire met desire, magic met magic, obliterating her fatigue.
Nothing mattered but getting a taste of him. She stretched out a hand, putting
all her need into her Voice. “Markus.”

Instantly he closed the distance between them, grabbing her
hand before hauling her up and molding her to his body. Amber eyes glittered
with barely banked hunger, then he crushed his mouth to hers.

Yes! Throwing her arms around his neck, Tia matched his
wildness, giving herself over to the kiss and the dizzying sensations that
buffeted her. A duel of lips and teeth and tongue curled her toes and left her
moaning for more. The feel of the hard ridge of his cock pressing so sweetly
between them made her breathless.

His hands palmed her ass, lifting her so that her pussy could
ride the bulge in his jeans. She groaned again, rubbing against him, silently
pleading for more.

A growl cut the air as Markus broke the kiss. Golden eyes
dilated, canines peeking from lips curled in a snarl, breathing harsh over the
sound of running water, he stared down at her. He was magnificent.

And pissed.

“Are you trying to put a spell on me?” he demanded, his hands
scooping her up under her arms, his fingers biting into her shoulders as he held
her off the floor.

She licked her lips, enjoying his taste and wanting more.
“Spell you? No. Seduce you? Yes.”

His breath hitched and he placed her back on her feet.
“Why?”

Her turn to frown. “After that kiss, you have to ask me why?
Look at you! I’m attracted to you in every sense of the word. My magic likes the
taste of yours. My body likes the feel of yours. And if that kiss is anything to
go by, the rest of it is going to be amazing.”

“Tia.” Warning, demand and desire lowered his voice to a bass
rumble. He took a deep breath. “I’m not going to impregnate you.”

“Who the hell said anything about getting pregnant?” she
demanded, drawing back from him. “I’m on birth control and have condoms in my
go-bag. I’m talking about sex, not babies!”

Relief, disappointment and curiosity all flew across his face.
“You said you get horny when you heal someone. You also said you need to
replenish. So this—” he waved a hand between them “—is a way to do that? Using
sex to reenergize?”

“Yes.” Hot and smart, damn him. “Each of the Daughters
manifests a different aspect of Isis when she reaches puberty. I was expected to
have more power than most because I’m the seventh Daughter of a seventh
Daughter. I manifested healing early but had no more power than any other
Daughter of Isis. Some would say less.”

Understanding lit his eyes. “That’s why you left your
coven.”

She nodded, her desire banked. “It wasn’t until my sophomore
year at college that I realized my second aspect is a more lustful facet of
Isis. I tend to channel it as creative energy, fertile feminine energy that acts
like a battery and can also serve as inspiration.”

“And when the magical battery runs down, you need to recharge
it. With sex.”

Again she nodded. “That’s pretty much it.”

He remained silent, though his frown and his grip eased.
Finally, he turned her toward the shower. “Go on, take your shower. I’ll be
back.”

“Markus, what the hell?”

“Go.” A gentle shove had her just outside the glass door. “I’ll
be back soon.” He left.

Well, then. Stung, Tia discarded her sweaty nightgown and
panties, made use of the commode, then toddled her way into the shower. A sigh
seeped from her as the warm water sluiced over her sensitized skin. Somehow
Markus had set the water to the perfect temperature. Damn him again. How could
he be so considerate one moment, fry her senses with an amazing kiss the next
and afterward turn around to leave as if his tail was on fire?

The rejection cut, dammit! Granted, it wasn’t her best attempt
at seduction, but she wasn’t usually so...depleted. All right, needy. Tapping
her magical reserves was a stupid move on her part, but she couldn’t let those
jackals continue to suffer. She’d given herself to unraveling the spell just as
she’d ignored her empty stomach and exhausted muscles. The least Markus could do
was help her gain some of her energy back.

A knock came on the outer door. “Tia?”

Markus. She ignored the little flip of excitement deep in her
belly and concentrated on the irritation. She’d been so focused on his rejection
she hadn’t reached for the soap yet. “I’m not done.”

“Good.” The door closed, and a dark mass moved beyond the
shower glass, finally resolving itself into Markus. “Have you changed your
mind?”

“About healing your men? Of course not.”

“Thank you for that. But that’s not what I meant.”

“Oh, you mean have I changed my mind about you being an
ass?”

Warm laughter filtered through the room, sending a delicious
shiver up her spine. “I said I’d be back. Speaking of back, why don’t I help you
scrub yours?”

She wiped at the condensation opaquing the glass. Markus stood
just on the other side of the door, perfectly naked and gloriously aroused. Holy
mother goddess. “What if I said no?”

He bared his teeth. “Then I’d have to convince you.”

It wouldn’t take much to convince her, and she knew he knew it.
Without another word, she stepped back, giving him room to enter.

* * *

Anticipation gripped Markus as he opened the thick glass
door, stepping into the steam-filled shower. Magic, desire and appreciation
sparked in Tia’s eyes, and he couldn’t help staring back at her. The thin cotton
nightgown she’d worn had done little to conceal her curves, but seeing her lush
skin bared to his gaze sharpened his need even more. The dark-tipped nipples
that begged for his tongue jutted proudly from lush breasts that perfectly
balanced the sweet flare of her hips and thighs. Just like a goddess.