“You are a very unusual woman, Marina Fae of the Isle of Magic,” Ashure casually commented later that evening.

Marina lifted her chin and turned at the sound of Ashure’s voice. Her back was pressed against the stone balcony railing. Behind her, the beautiful palace gardens were coming alive with twinkling lights as the night blooming flowers opened up to catch the moon beams shining down from the nearly full moon.

She had stepped outside to revel in the beauty of the night and the fact that she didn’t feel drained by Magna’s horrible spell. It seemed a lifetime since she had been able to enjoy the daytime, much less the suffocating tiredness of nightfall. Mike was still inside, talking with Carly and Jenny. She had quietly slipped away, afraid that he would talk about returning to his world.

Marina studied Ashure’s aura. It was once again the faint yet colorful hue that was nonthreatening. In the background, she could hear the others quietly talking. The open door and voices reassured her that she wasn’t alone. Still, she couldn’t quite keep her fingers from itching to call for Mr. Bow. Her gaze moved to where he was hanging near the door to the dining room.

“I am but a simple witch, your Majesty,” Marina replied, turning back to stare out at the garden.

“Not so simple, I would argue,” he said, coming to stand next to her.

He reached out and gripped the railing. His gaze moved over the garden, watching as the flowers lit up in a wide, vivid display of color. He took a deep breath.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she lied.

Ashure chuckled and glanced at her before returning his attention to the garden. “You should never lie to a pirate, my dear. We are gifted with the ability to smell a lie,” he said, briefly touching his nose with one finger.

“I may have certain talents,” she finally admitted.

“Powerful ones that are very dangerous to some people,” he murmured with a slight thread of steel in his voice.

Marina didn’t reply. While his words might have sounded threatening, neither his aura, which she could see out of the corner of her eye, or his tone made her feel as if he was a danger to her. Still, she could not erase the memory of tortured faces and beseeching hands reaching for her.

“How… How can you stand it?” she wondered aloud, unsure of how to finish her question.

Ashure dryly chuckled. “We are not always given a choice as to what happens to us in our lives. It is how we deal with what we are given that defines who we are and who we are to become,” he replied.

Marina thought about what Ashure had said. For a man who liked to appear light-hearted and unconcerned, his response was perceptive. She could appreciate his insight. Growing up, she had thought of her ability to see other people’s magic as a burden.

“Grandmother warned me to make sure that the evil inside Magna does not touch the Keeper of Lost Souls. You are the Keeper, aren’t you?” she quietly asked, turning her head to look at Ashure’s face.

His face hardened for a moment before he relaxed. “I am many things, Marina. Some might call me a keeper. Some accuse me of keeping them prisoner—while others call me a thief,” he replied with a shrug.

“What would you call yourself?” she asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

Ashure flashed her a brief smile. “All of the above and a great lover,” he replied. He said the last part slightly louder and turned at the same time. Marina stood still when he grabbed her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it before releasing it. “If you ever tire of your human, I would be happy to console you should you need a diversion, my powerful and noble witch.”

Marina blinked in surprise and pulled her hand away. Ashure nodded to Mike and murmured that it was a beautiful night before disappearing back inside. Her gaze followed the Pirate King. He was a very complex man under his elegant coat.

“What was all that about?” Mike asked, following her gaze.

“Accepting the gifts we have been given by the Goddess, even if they feel more like a curse,” she replied in a distracted voice.

* * *

Alone later that evening, Marina sat at the dressing table brushing her hair. Placing the brush on the table, she divided her hair into four sections and began braiding it. In the mirror, she could see Mike sitting on the end of their bed, inspecting the weapon from his world.

“What will you do if we survive this?” she quietly asked, tying off the end of her hair and letting her hands fall to her lap.

Mike looked up at her and frowned. He shook his head and smiled. His gaze was deadly serious when he answered her.

“Not if, when we free your people, I’m not sure. I honestly haven’t thought that far with everything going on,” he confessed, rising off the bed and replacing his weapon in the leather holster.

“Will you return to your world?” she asked.

Mike’s expression grew thoughtful. She could see that he wasn’t sure how to answer her. Turning on the seat, she rose and walked toward him. Doubt grew inside her at his continued silence.

“Marina…,” he started to say.

She stopped in front of him and searched his eyes, seeing the frustration and indecision in them. Biting her lip, she placed her hand on his chest over his heart.

“You know that I love you, and I know that you love me, but is our love enough that you would stay in my world?” she asked, fingering the buttons on his shirt.

Mike captured her hand. Bringing it to his lips, he pressed a kiss to her fingertips. Desire pulled at Marina when he reached out with his other hand and slid it along her waist.

“I do care about you. Hell, I more than care—I meant it when I said that I love you,” he replied in a rough voice.

Marina slid her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, loving the warmth of his body against hers. Yet, doubt continued to plague her even with his words. If he loved her, why would he hesitate to tell her whether he planned to stay or leave her?

“But—you still plan to return to your world, don’t you?” she murmured.

Mike pulled back and raised his hands to cup her face. She returned his steady gaze. There was an intensity to him, a determination that told her that he did plan to leave. A stifled cry of denial slipped out before she could contain it. Pulling away, she shook her head and backed up several feet. Trembling, she fought to control her rising panic.

“I have to go back,” he said in a grim tone.

Marina wrapped her arms around her waist. Her eyes burned, but she refused to allow any tears to fall. She would not attempt to hold him to her if he did not wish to be there. Unfortunately, she couldn’t hide the distress on her face at his grimly spoken words.

“Then, you should go before we leave,” she said in a trembling voice.

Mike blinked in surprise. “What?”

Marina dropped her arms to her side and clenched her hands into tight fists. Lifting her chin, she drew on the strength she had developed over the past year. She would not allow him to see how much this was tearing her apart.

“I said you should leave now. I will ask Orion if he can create a portal so you may return to your world. If he can’t, I’m sure that one of the others can. They are very powerful, much more than I. You should not risk your life for people you don’t know,” she stated.

Mike stared at her like she had lost her mind. Marina didn’t care. She would rather he left before there was a chance of something happening to him. At least if he returned to his world, she would know he was safe. There was no need for him to remain anyway. The combined strength of the remaining rulers and their armies were surely strong enough to defeat Magna and her creatures, especially if they attacked before dawn when her magic was weak.

“No,” he replied between gritted teeth.

Marina blinked. “What do you mean no? This is not your fight, Mike. You have done enough. There is no need for you to risk your… life.” She pursed her lips and shook her head when her voice broke on the last word.

Bowing her head, she closed her eyes. She had to get out of the room. The fragile hold she had on her emotions was quickly dissolving. If she didn’t leave now, she would make a fool of herself and beg him to tell her why he didn’t want to stay with her if he loved her.

“I plan to come back, Marina,” Mike said, taking a step closer to her. “I have to return, but only so that I can say goodbye.”

Marina slowly lifted her head and opened her eyes. Tears glittered in them, hanging onto her lower lashes but not falling. Lifting a hand, she brushed it across her pale cheek.

“Goodbye?” she repeated.

Mike’s expression softened at her whispered word. He cupped her face again. His eyes searched her face. He must have seen the uncertainty, fear, and despair in her eyes because he bent his head and brushed a rough kiss across her lips. Pulling back, he made sure she understood what he was telling her.

“I told you a little about my life back there and about my sister Ruth. I know she is probably getting frantic. She will tear Yachats State Park apart, stone by stone if I know her. I’m all the family she has, and until I met you, Geoff, and Erin, she was all the family I had—well, except for Charlie, but that is a different story,” he muttered.

“I understand. I feel the same way about my parents and brothers,” she replied.

“I need to let her know that I’m okay. That—hell, I don’t know what I’ll tell her; but essentially, I’ll let her know she doesn’t have to worry about me. I know it isn’t safe to take you back with me. I won’t risk anything happening to you, but I sure as hell will be coming back. I love you, damn it. I love you.”

Marina met his lips when he bent his head to kiss her again. Their breaths came in rough, uneven gasps as the heat inside them built. She pulled away with a gasp when she felt the cool air on her breasts. During their kiss, Mike had been busy undoing the clasps on the forest green blouse Kelia had given her this morning.

“I want you,” he said, pressing kisses along her jaw.

A soft moan slipped from her lips when he cupped her breasts in his hands. She frantically fumbled to open his shirt. A groan of frustration resounded through the room when she realized that the buttons only went half way down the front. She would need to pull his shirt over his head to strip it from him.

He reached down, grabbed the bottom of his shirt, and pulled it over his head. His muscles rippled as he tossed it to the side. He deftly removed her blouse and the black bra under it.

“It only seems fair,” he teased, cupping her breasts.

Marina lowered her eyelids and moaned as he played with her hardening nipples. “How is it that you affect me like this? I can already feel the warmth between my legs as my body gets ready for you,” she confessed.

Mike paused for a brief second before he cursed. “Damn, woman, you say the sexiest things,” he said in a deep voice.

“Sexy?” she repeated.

Bending forward, he began undoing her pants when she didn’t move fast enough. “You make me wish that I brought my handcuffs. I’d love to tie you up,” he muttered, pushing her pants down.

“I do not know what handcuffs are, but would a belt work?” she asked, glancing over at the robe lying across the back of the chair.

Mike froze. He didn’t mean to say that out loud. He’d planned to work his way up to some of the more risqué ways of making love after he felt confident that Marina was ready. He wasn’t into the hardcore bondage stuff, but he wasn’t opposed to having a little fun in the bedroom.

He followed her gaze and saw what she was talking about. Heat flared inside him, and he knew that this time was going to be fast, dirty, and very pleasurable. Bending, he swept her off her feet.

“Mike!”

He gave her a fierce glance before he strode over to the bed. He was thankful that the covers were already turned down for the night. Placing a knee on the bed, he gently laid her down on the light blue linens.

“Stay like that,” he ordered in a soft, firm voice.

Marina nodded. He could feel her eyes on him as he undressed. Placing his trousers on the chair, he pulled the belt free from the silk robe. He grimaced when he felt his body’s immediate reaction.

“Uh, Mike…,” Marina called, interrupting his thoughts.

He turned his head to look at her. She remained where he had told her to, but her gaze kept moving toward the table near the balcony doors. He frowned and glanced over. He slowly smiled in understanding and nodded at her silent plea.

Gripping the belt in one hand, he walked over to Mr. Bow where it lay on a small table humming. He picked up the bow and held it in his other hand, turned back, and crossed the room. A low groan escaped the bow.

“I was being good,” Mr. Bow complained. “I was minding my own business.”

“It doesn’t matter. Marina is uncomfortable,” Mike chuckled.

“Do you have any idea how long I was around before I was a bow? I’ve seen things you and Marina could only dream of doing! If you want some advice, I can tell you….”

Mike bent over, placed the bow in the closet, and shut the door, cutting off Mr. Bow’s words of wisdom. It would be a cold day in hell before he let a tree tell him how to make love to his woman. He walked back over to the bed.

“Thank you,” she said, blushing.

Mike climbed up on the bed and straddled her waist. Her eyes widened when he held out his hand and allowed the belt to unfurl from his fingers. He gave her a wicked smile and motioned for her to lift her arms.

“You can thank me afterwards,” he informed her.

If he thought she would be intimidated, he was wrong. Instead, she lifted her wrists up and rolled her hips under his buttocks. Leaning forward, he caught her wrists and wrapped the silk around them. Reaching up, he looped the other end around the headboard of the bed. What he did not anticipate was that the angle would align his cock with her lips.

The moment he felt her warm breath and moist tongue against the tip of his cock he knew he had lost control of the situation. His plans to tease her, make her come, and tease her again dissolved into mindless pleasure when she suddenly wrapped her lips around the end of his cock, rose her head up, and slid it further into her mouth.

He gripped the headboard of the bed, the end of the belt still in his hands and looked down. Marina was beautiful as she sucked on him. He moved His hips back and forth in unison. Reaching down next to her, he pulled a pillow up under her head.

He curled his fingers as he slowly slid his cock back and forth. The mesmerizing feel and sight of her lips around him were captivating. He finished tying off the belt so her arms were above her head. Once he was finished, he lowered his hands behind his back and found her swollen nub.

She moaned around his cock, and he swore the vibration traveled in a direct line to his balls. Realizing he was very close to coming, he pulled free. Her soft words of protest echoed through the room. He ignored them as he slid down her body and between her legs.

“Mike,” she whimpered, twisting against the covers.

The belt was loose enough that she could pull her hands free if she wanted, but she didn’t. Instead, she gripped the strap, her body arching in need. Lifting her legs, he placed one over each of his shoulders, pressing a kiss to the inside of each one as he did it.

Her body arched again, lifting her soft curls up to him in invitation even as her heels pressed against his back. Spreading her folds, he bent forward and caught the small nub between his lips and began sucking. She stiffened, her back arched and her head thrown back as her hands twisted and fought to control the intense pleasure engulfing her.

“Come for me, baby,” he murmured, teasing her clit with his tongue. “Come all over my mouth.”

Marina’s loud pants increased. Her breasts swayed, and her body trembled as he increased his attack on her core with a combination of finger fucking, licks, and hard sucking. Her lips parted and she turned her face into her arm, releasing a scream as she came hard.

Mike lapped up her release, coaxing from her a series of mini orgasms. He could feel her channel squeezing his fingers. The need to feel that same tightness around his cock drove him to his knees. Her legs slipped off his shoulders, and he caught them in his arms as he prepared to enter her.

Still trapped in the aftermath of her orgasm, Mike thrust his cock as deep as he could before pulling out and doing it again and again. He kept her legs trapped in his arms, her hips raised, and his gaze locked on the mindless ecstasy that she was experiencing.

He could feel the change in her body when she realized that he wasn’t finished with her yet. Marina was struggling to release her wrists, but she ended up twisting them tighter. Mike rocked his hips forward harder and deeper with each thrust as his fragile control snapped.

Marina’s body began to glow with the colors of her magic. Mike could feel the tingling of her aura against his skin, wrapping around him. He fell forward when she finally released her wrists and reached for him. Wrapping her legs around his hips as he leaned over her, she pulled his head down and captured his lips. The combined taste of their lovemaking mixed on their breath as they kissed.

Mike could feel his release build to a breaking point. Sliding his arms underneath her, he drove his hips hard enough that the massive bed shook. He broke their kiss and buried his face in her neck as he came. He shook from the force and fought to catch his breath. Every muscle strained to hold Marina closer and bury himself deeper inside her. Their hips ground together as his cock pulsed his seed deep into her womb.

They lay like that, still connected to each other, his face buried against her neck. In all honesty, he didn’t think he could have pulled free of her. His cock was still massively hard and thick and her canal held him in a tight fist.

Breathing heavily, he pressed kisses to her passion-damp skin. Unable to resist, he nipped at her neck. He wanted to leave his mark on her.

“You make me want to do crazy things,” he finally murmured.

“Mm… Like what?” she asked in a sleepy voice.

He pulled back and gazed down at her with a serious expression. “Like asking you to be my wife,” he said.

Marina turned her head and gazed up at him. The sleepy, satiated look faded and her eyes cleared. He could see her confusion.

“What are you saying, Mike?” she asked.

Mike brushed a kiss across her lips before leaning his weight onto his right side and reaching for her hand. He brought it to his lips and pressed a kiss to her fingers.

“Marina Fae of the Isle of Magic, I’m asking if you would do me the pleasure of becoming my wife,” he repeated.

Marina’s eyes shimmered with tears before she gave him a trembling smile. “Yes, Mike Hallbook. My answer is yes,” she whispered before pulling his head down and capturing his lips again.