He waited no longer. His lips smashed into hers as she pressed just as hungrily. Her arms curled around him, light fingers tracing the emerald runes incised along his knotted muscles. Her touch burned sweetly. When his head buried in her neck licking the soft flesh there, she coughed lightly and her hands stilled.
He pulled back, fearful that she had changed her mind. “What is it?”
Her eyes were staring at the lantern by the bedside. “They’re watching us.”
The brownies had stopped their chattering and were pressed up against the glass curiously.
With an annoyed curse, Simon yanked off her nightgown with a firm tug. Kate gasped more out of surprise than impropriety as the cool night air hit her bare skin. An accurate toss later, and the shift landed over the lantern, draping it completely. One by one the grumpy lights went out until the lantern was silent and dark.
Then his lips were on her again, his broad hands spreading out on either side of her as he rose over her exquisite form, marred by only one small mark. His mark. He gazed down into her eyes, as fathomless as a midnight forest. But from their depths a light shone like a candle in a distant window, calling him home. Her warm breath brushed against his skin. She raised her arms and encircled his neck, drawing him down until their bodies melded. And the world shifted.
Aether filled the room, flooding it with serene light that only they could see. It coalesced around them, filling the space, filling them, blown about by the winds of possibility.
Chapter 13
Simon was briefly disoriented from passing through the portal, but it cleared quickly. Kate was alert, as was Penny; they had all used the portal before. Malcolm and Nick were not so fresh. Nick leaned near a shuttered window in the stifling room with an astonished grin on his face. Malcolm was squatting in a corner, groaning and sick, with a shaking hand on the back of his head.
“Steady,” Simon soothed. “It can be a bit of a shock the first time through.”
“Jesus,” the Scotsman breathed. “That’s unnatural.”
“But it is a fast way to get about.” Penny rubbed his back.
“No excuse.” Malcolm massaged his forehead. “God created distance and time for a reason.” He moaned again as the room suddenly filled with sunlight.
“We’re in Paris!” Nick announced triumphantly from the open window. Distant sounds of conversation and laughter wafted in. “Good God. We just stepped from Surrey to Paris.”
“Yes.” Simon joined him at the window.
Penny crowded in between them and gazed out with wonder on a vast tree-filled quadrangle bordered by columned galleries with a large fountain in the center. It was crowded with strollers and sellers.
“Charles will be so jealous!” she exclaimed, then she paused. “What am I looking at?”
Simon smiled and looked at the beautiful yellowish Baroque architecture and grey slate roof around the attic window where he stood. “It’s the Palais-Royal.”
“You’re damn right it is!” Nick laughed and pointed out. “The Café de la Rotonde is just there. We met many a lovely lady there. Remember, Simon?”
Kate looked out on the gardens with a crooked smile. “You’ve never mentioned you spent time in Paris, Simon.”
“I’ve never mentioned almost everything. And it wasn’t much time. A few days.”
“And nights,” Nick added, still taking in the scene below.
“Quiet,” Simon warned. “Nick and I passed a week here on the way to Italy. The Grand Tour.”
Nick sat on the windowsill. “Remember Florence?”
“Florence?” Kate inquired deadpan. “Would that be the city or a chambermaid?”
“The city, darling,” Simon said as he shoved Nick aside and closed the shutters. “The chambermaid was in Grenoble. And our tour was purely functional. Nick was showing me important magical objects and locations.”
“Oh Jesus!” Nick guffawed. “Parma! I can’t believe you’re not still in prison.”
Simon put an arm over his friend. “I really must insist you recall I have my powers back and am capable of killing you should you go on.”
“Sure.” Nick patted Simon’s chest. “Kate, I applaud your father’s choice of rooms here in Paris. There is little in life a man can’t find at the Palais-Royal.”
Kate arched a stern eyebrow at Nick. “Don’t drag my father into your tales of debauchery. Unlike you and Mr. Archer, my father surely chose this place for its strategic location in the city.”
“Strategy.” Simon nodded. “No doubt.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “Simon, please tell me we’ll have time for a few gambling houses.”
“No. We’re here on a mission. Our goal is to get in, scout the prison, and get out.”
Nick watched the gold key dangling from Simon’s hand. “I might need to borrow that bauble at some point. I didn’t know it was so convenient.”
“In due time.” Simon reached into his pocket and pulled out a wallet full of francs. He distributed them around.