Mists of Velvet

here.”
    Rowan felt his hands moving along her back till they made their way into her hair. He rubbed her scalp and pressed his mouth to her temple. The tip of his cock nudged against her jeans, and she almost melted at feeling him grow against her.
    “Wh-what are you doing?” she gasped as she felt his lips against her cheek.
    “Relaxing you.”
    Oh, God, her heart was beating too fast and she couldn’t catch her breath, and it was not because she was remembering, but because she wanted this. She wanted him.
    “Will you give me something?” he murmured. His deep voice sent tremors through her.
    Anything , she almost cried, but instead she nodded, slowly. A little unsure. Pressing her closer, he brushed his mouth against her ear. His breath was moist, hot, and it made her belly flip.
    “Give me your trust, Rowan. I would never, ever hurt you. I want only to take you somewhere.”
    “Where?”
    His palm slid down her back until his fingers rested low on the waistband of her jeans. “A place only for us.”
    Oh, God, was it possible he was thinking what she was thinking? Pulling away from her, he brought her down to the floor so that she lay on the satin. She was on her back, gazing up at him, her heart pounding and her blood rushing in her ears. “There’s something I’ve wanted to ask you to do for a long time.” He smiled and brushed his hand along her shoulder.
    “To take this journey?”
    “Yes.”
    “Where are we going?”
    “I don’t know. I’ve never done this before.”
    Instantly, Rowan’s enthusiasm deflated. He wasn’t here for what she foolishly thought—obviously. Because there was no way Keir had never done that before.
    “Oh,” she muttered, shifting her body on the robe. Evidently her idea of a mystical journey was a lot different than his.
    “You have powers, Rowan; I know you do. We just have to tap into them. You can’t get at them because of your fears, which are understandable, of course. But I believe we can access them together.”
    “If I do have powers, what do you want with them?”
    He looked startled. “Nothing.”
    “Then why bother?”
    “It will tell us about your past.”
    She shook her head. “The past is not happy, Keir. I don’t need powers to tell me that. Nor do I want to rehash a whole bunch of drama from my childhood.”
    “But you do know you’re not fully human?”
    “Suriel. Now you. What is it with you? What interests you about what I might or might not be?”
    His hands gripped hers, and he lowered himself to the carpet. His wide shoulders were between her knees, and Rowan had the mad urge to run her hands through his dark hair.
    “I am hoping there is something in your past that might change your future.” Rowan watched him swallow hard. He never blinked, keeping his gaze trained on her face. “I want to help you. I want to save you.”
    She couldn’t help herself any longer. She ran her fingers through his hair and marveled at how silky it felt. “I’m beyond saving. You know that.”
    “I don’t think so. I believe I know a way—through magick. Will you let me?”
    How could she refuse a face like that? With a quick nod, she accepted.
    Reaching for the quartz that hung around his neck, he lifted it and showed it to her. “This is a talisman. In meditation, you need something to hold on to. Use this—and I’ll always be able to find you, wherever you are.”
    “Why quartz?” she asked, smoothing her finger over the glossy surface.
    “Quartz is the gem that rules divination. It is a balancer between beauty and peace. When worn, it aligns mental, emotional, and astral bodies. When you wear this, and clear your mind, you can call upon me, and I can come to you.”
    “Do you mean like astral projection?”
    “Yes. But spiritually as well.”
    Rowan bent her head as Keir removed the necklace and placed it on her. The warm quartz nestled between her breasts, and Keir let his fingers linger over the stone. Holding her breath, she waited for him to touch her; to brush his fingertips over her breasts. But the touch never came.
    “Have you ever heard of scrying?”
    “No.”
    “Let me show you something.” With a wave of his hand, a mirror magically appeared before them, and he helped her up so that they stood before it. She gazed at them in the mirror’s reflection. He stood behind her, dwarfing her despite her voluptuous proportions. His arms snaked around her waist, and he pulled her back to him.
    “Scrying is a method of