“Is that a yes?” I asked, coming up for air. A tiny tremor shook my voice. “You’re okay with me, knowing the truth?”
His eyes searched mine. “Tessa, how can you not know how much I love you? I’ve wanted to tell you multiple times, but you never let me get a word in. There’s no one else for me. Explode a hundred pumpkins if you have to, make mistakes. Just make them with me.”
“You might regret it.”
“Never.” He brushed my mouth with another kiss.
“I’ll remember you said that, Detective.”
“Derrick,” he growled.
“Huh?”
“New rule. When we’re alone together, you call me Derrick.”
I grinned. “Finally, a rule I intend to follow.” Going up on my toes, I wound my arms around his neck and dragged his mouth to mine.
Derrick groaned low in his throat, hands circling my waist. Delicious friction exploded my nerve endings as he locked me firmly against the solid planes of his chest. The scent of his skin filled my senses, drugging me faster than any poison. His tongue touched mine when I opened for him, and heat surged in my belly, moving lower.
I matched his groan with one of my own, desire swirling within my body. He backed us up until my legs bumped the bed, his ruined jacket dropping to the floor when I slid my fingers under the heavy fabric to push it over his shoulders. He was never wearing that one again. I kicked it away. His shirt came next, and the air burned in my lungs as my palms swept the hard ridges of his abdomen.
Dropping an urgent kiss along my jawline, he spoke hoarse in my ear, “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Don’t you dare deny a dying girl.”
He laughed and nipped the sensitive skin of my neck, teeth skimming my earlobe. “You’re not dying.”
“I fainted. That has to—”
“It counts for something.” Hands at my waist, he lifted me and eased me back onto the mattress. My shift bunched around my hips, and I arched my back so his fingers could skate across my ribcage, light as mist. Pleasure tightened my stomach when his thumb brushed my nipple. He did it again, a slow circle that made sparks tingle at my fingertips. The current raced over my heated skin, transferring to his.
Derrick’s breathing stopped, his eyes darkening at the sensation. Okay, so I wasn’t bad at all magic. A possessive growl vibrated his chest, and he ground his hips into mine, teasing my mouth with a hungry kiss. Need pooled in my veins, thick and sluggish, in total contrast to the bruising pound of my heart. Merciful spellbooks…He was wicked. His mouth slanted to take me deeper.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured as he sunk his hands into my hair. His kiss turned achingly tender, breaking my heart and mending it back together.
Acceptance softened my edges, rinsing away years of regret and failed spells.
My shift landed next to Derrick’s destroyed jacket. The rest of his clothes followed, the action separating us for too long. Wretched clothes. I searched for his mouth, melting when his tongue stroked mine. He entered me in a slow thrust that made the first round of sparks seem like a mere flicker. My fingers splayed over his back, sending little jolts into his skin.
Arms like iron, Derrick’s whole body tightened, and he wrapped me in an embrace as he found a breathless rhythm. Pleasure spiraled in my core then broke on a wave. He caught my quick inhale with his mouth, following me over the edge. My name was a reverent rasp from his lips.
Holy enchanted moonstones…
Time passed slowly. I snuggled into the crook of his arm, savoring the simple satisfaction of lying next to him. Somehow, minutes burned into an hour, and my eyes grew heavy with sleep.
I was absentmindedly gliding my fingernails over his abdomen when Derrick captured my hand and brought my palm to his mouth. I giggled and tried to tug it away.
“That tickles.”
“Yeah? So did your fingernails.”
I rolled onto my side and propped my head up on my hand. “What happens tomorrow, Derrick?”
He smiled. “I really like the new rule.”
“It’s my current favorite, though I have a newfound appreciation for rule number one—always stay by your side.”
“The rule is actually don’t investigate alone, but your version is better.” He sighed. “Tomorrow, we interview Helen to find out her role in the murder.”
“I don’t think she was working alone. She may have been partly responsible for Jane and Ella’s deaths, but I doubt she knew Sophie.”
“Me neither. There’s someone else out there, but we’ll find him.”
“Do you think she’ll talk?”
“I don’t know. If not to me, maybe she’ll talk to her mother. We’ll bring Olivia to the agency. We need to question her anyway, find out if she knew what her daughter was up to.”
I sank against the pillow. “That whole family has been shattered. What a waste. How do you handle the devastation this job uncovers?”
“It’s not easy. I’d say you get used to it, but I don’t want that for you. I’ve been numb for so long. It’s no way to live.”
I suppressed a grin. “I guess it’s a good thing I came along and obliterated all that.”
He laughed and tucked me closer to his side. “Get some sleep.”
“Will you stay?”
“Depends on whether your friend curses me with a spirit if she finds us together in the morning.”
My silence made him squirm.
“Tessa, tell me that won’t happen.”
“Get some sleep.” I kissed his cheek and pulled the blanket up to my ears. The weight of his arm draped over my middle mixed with the heat from his body made sleep an easy target.
Derrick nudged my shoulder. One of my eyes snapped open.
“What?”
“I forgot to ask you something.”
“Is it important?”
He nodded, nuzzling his forehead against my hair. “I think so.”
“Okay, ask.”
“Did you really start the plague?”
Damn. I shouldn’t have mentioned that.
“Yes, and I’ll do it again if you tell anyone my secret. You’ll be patient zero.” I rolled over in a huff, but he dragged me back, anchoring me to his side.
“That’s my witch.”
Chapter 28
Vivian did not sic a spirit on him in the morning, but that might have had more to do with Derrick complimenting her baking skills than any affront to finding him with me.
She eyed us over the rim of her teacup. “Can I offer anyone another scone?”
He plucked a cranberry biscuit from the plate and dug in, his eyes half-mast as he devoured the pastry. “This is delicious. The best scones I’ve ever tasted. You’re a wizard in the kitchen.”
Vivian preened, smoothing a hand over her glossy locks.
I rolled my eyes. “It’s a mix. She buys it from the market. Don’t get so excited.”
Viv kicked my shin under the table at the same time Derrick bumped my knee. “Hush,” he whispered. “I want your friend to like me.”
“She likes you fine, and will both of you stop hitting me? I’m still in recovery from my harrowing ordeal.”
Now, it was their turn to roll their eyes. I might have milked my less-than-near-death experience for as long as possible. It had lost its effectiveness even with Derrick.
Eh, it was nice while it lasted.
“We should get to the agency so we can question Helen.”
Derrick nodded in agreement, brushing the crumbs from his fingers. Vivian cleared away the plates, still giving me the eye for betraying her secret recipe. I smiled anyway. It was nice to share breakfast with Derrick and my best friend. After everything we’d gone through, I relished the quiet moment.
I helped her to finish the dishes while Derrick arranged for a carriage. She nudged me with her hip and flicked water in my face.
“What was that for?” I wiped the droplets away.
“I’m happy for you, Tess, and I’m proud of yo
u. I hope you finally see in yourself what we see.”
I stacked the plates in the cupboard and leaned against the counter. “All right, go ahead, I know you’re dying to say it. I’m shocked you’ve waited this long.”
Vivian blinked her eyes innocently. “I don’t have the slightest idea what you mean. Here I am, congratulating my friend who, against all odds, managed to repair her relationship. It’s almost as if she was given sage advice…from a goddess, perhaps?”
“Goddess? Please, try a meddler. You know, one day, our roles will be reversed, and I plan to return the favor twofold.”
She snorted. “We’ll see.”
More water hit my face. “Stop that!”
Viv grinned and pulled me into a hug, then dried her wet hands on the back of my dress. I laughed and did the same.
***
The agency waiting room was quieter than usual. Estelle greeted us from her post as we walked in.
“Good morning, Detective. The director wants to speak with you first thing. He’s waiting in his office.” Her eyes flashed with interest. “Tessa, it’s nice to see you. Does this mean…?”
Derrick nudged me past her desk without an answer. Estelle’s chest deflated with a sigh. Still, I caught her eye before we turned down the hall and gave her a wink and a thumbs-up. Relief washed over her features, and she beamed.
“I thought I told you to go easy on her.” I elbowed Derrick as we walked to his office.
“I did. She’s on probation for a week.”
“That’s not fair. She was trying to bring us together. It was sweet.”
He paused in front of his door. “Regardless of her intentions, she sent you into an unfamiliar building. It was reckless. You could have been hurt.”
“Come on, Detective.” I smoothed my palms over his shirt and played with his collar. “She sent me into a room full of tea. That’s hardly a den of peril.”
“I don’t care if the room was full of puppies.” He caught my fingers. “Stop playing with my collar, you’re not getting your way. She stays on probation until the end of the week.”
“Fine, be surly about it.”
“I will.” He pulled me into his office and shut the door, then backed me against the wall. His fingers slid through my hair, tugging the strands until I tilted my head to meet his gaze. “I’m feeling very surly at the moment. You’re not following the rules.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Which rules, Detective?”
“You know which one.” He ground his hips into mine, and I sucked in a breath.
“Didn’t I tell you to write them down if you want me to remember them, Detective?”
“Tessa, I’m warning you, I have five minutes before I need to go and meet the director, and seeing as we’re alone, I want to hear you say it. Now.”
“You’re looking at me the way you looked at the cranberry scones, Derrick. Never thought I’d be jealous of a—”
He cut me off, his mouth capturing mine. “You taste better,” he growled.
My stomach flipped, and I leaned into him, letting him press his thumbs against my jaw to hold me in place as he savored my lips. I was going to have a hard time looking at breakfast items from now on. Derrick’s mouth dropped to my collarbone.
“If you kiss me every time I say your name, I might end up wearing it out.”
“That’s my plan.” He pressed our foreheads together. “Wait for me here. I’ll speak with the director, and then we’ll interview Helen.”
I teased the hair at the nape of his neck. “Can I sit behind your desk while I wait?”
He tapped his knuckle under my chin. “Don’t push it.”
“Yes, Detective.”
Derrick eyes narrowed dangerously but dragged himself away to grab a stack of files from his desk. The door closed firmly behind him, and I covered my face with my hands, determined not to let him hear my squeal of happiness. A witch didn’t squeal. Ever. But if she did, it would sound a lot like the noise I tried to hide.
Today was a new beginning. It was time to say goodbye to past insecurities. My magic might never be perfect, but it didn’t have to be. It was enough.
I was enough.
All morning, I’d been thinking of new ways to adapt my spells to better fit the agency’s goals. The possibilities were endless. I sat in the chair across from Derrick’s desk and searched for his notebook, wanting to jot down a few ideas. It was buried beneath a stack of unopened letters. The top envelope caught my eye, and I picked it up, noticing it had been forwarded by the Ever Gazette. Was this a response to our ad?
Removing the letter, I scanned its contents. My nerve endings tingled to life. The ad had worked! We had a lead on the rose. A man named Theo Beckett wanted to meet with us to discuss the plant’s origin. I glanced at the address and wrinkled my brow. It wasn’t too far from the palace, but the area was remote.
The office door opened, and I looked up to find Derrick. His features were drawn, and there was tension in every step as he entered the room. He dropped his files onto the desk and sank in his chair. His hand scrubbed roughly over his face.
A moment passed before he slammed a fist onto the desk. “Damn it!”
“What happened?” Dread coiled in my stomach when he didn’t answer right away. “Derrick, talk to me.”
His eyes met mine. “Helen’s dead.”
“What? How? She was locked up, under guard.”
“Someone didn’t search her well enough. They found her in the cell before dawn. There were poisonous berries in her hand.” His eyes closed, and he took a harsh breath. “It’s over, Tessa. The king spoke with my superior. He’s closing the case. They’re putting the blame for Ella’s death at Helen’s feet and walking away.”
I shoved out of the chair. “They can’t do that! What about the other murders?”
“They’re turning a blind eye. Helen’s connection to the murder of her stepsister is enough to remove suspicion from the prince. It’s the only move the king has, unless he’s willing to exile his son if this continues and he’s found guilty.”
I scoffed and turned on my heel, pacing the floor. “Are we sure Helen killed herself? The whole thing sounds suspect.”
“I agree, but there are no witnesses and no proof. Helen was our only lead. Without her, and without the backing from the agency, my hands are tied. I’ll be reassigned.” Derrick’s voice was tight with fury. “Sophie’s killer is out there. I thought we were getting closer. I thought—”
“Hey, it’s not over.” I rounded the desk and took his face in my hands. “We’re not giving up. We’re going to find Sophie’s killer and bring justice to Jane and Ella. I’m not stopping until we do, and neither are you.”
“Tessa, it’s not that simple. I’d have to go behind the agency’s back.”
“Okay, let me know when there’s a problem.”
His mouth hitched. “I’ll lose my job.”
“Then I’ll hire you at the magic shop, and if I have to sell it, we’ll peddle potions out of a caravan. Besides, I know you. When you care about something, nothing stands in your way. The same goes for me, so let’s do this together. Partners till the end. Always.”
He pulled me onto his lap, settling his hands on my hips. “I love you, Tessa.”
I wiggled my eyebrows. “You say that now, but you’ll love me even more when I show you this.” Reaching across the desk, I grabbed the letter from Theo Beckett. “We had a response from the ad in the Gazette. It came in this morning. There’s someone who knows where the roses came from, and all we have to do is meet with him. What do you say, Detective? Want to keep hunting killers with me?”
He grinned. “Always.”
***
Theo Beckett had a limp. He also had white hair that curled around his ears and a bald spot on the top of his head. His gnarled hands were tanned from the sun, and dirt was embedded in his fingernails.
We found him in his vegetable garden, sowing seeds that would survive the winter. He stood
and held out a hand.
“What can I do for you, Detective?”
“We’re here because you sent a letter to the Gazette about a specific type of rose.”
Theo scratched his chin, leaving behind a dirt smudge. “Yeah, that’s right. I used to work for the palace, taking care of the grounds. I recognized the drawing from the paper. The flower is an Aster Mauve. It’s been years since I’ve seen one.”
“An Aster Mauve? I’ve never heard of it,” I said, making a note.
“They’re exceedingly rare and aren’t local to this region. What makes them distinctive is their heart-shaped petals and hearty growth cycle. They’re known to last through heavy frost and even through part of the winter.”
“And when was the last time you saw one?” Derrick asked.
Theo furrowed his brow. “Years ago. There was a young woman who worked for me, tending the palace gardens. She had seedlings shipped from overseas, and we grew them in the palace greenhouse with thoughts of transplanting them on castle grounds.”
I looked up from the notebook. “Palace greenhouse? I wasn’t aware there was such a thing.”
“There isn’t anymore. It’s been abandoned for years, but it’s about half a mile from here. There were rumors back then that the king was having an affair. It wasn’t any of my business, but the young woman—Diane was her name—got caught up in the rumor. Then, one day, she vanished. Never saw her again. It wasn’t long after that we stopped using the greenhouse. I never did transplant those roses.”
Derrick caught my eye. He had the same question I did.
“Do you think Diane had an affair with the king?”
“It’s possible. I always wondered what happened to her, but to be honest, there was a lot of turnover in the palace staff back then, so someone leaving wasn’t out of the norm.” He picked up a pair of gardening gloves and gathered a trowel. “Come with me, I’ll take you up to the greenhouse so you can have a look.”
We traveled the half-mile, the brush getting thicker as we went. The path winded through a dense forest then opened onto a clearing, where a massive glass building resided, it’s vaulted ceiling reaching up into the trees. The greenhouse was decrepit. Cracked windows smeared with years of grime peered back at us. Rusted iron trimmed the glass panes and formed an ornamental design along the roof. It looked ready to collapse if not for the overgrown branches holding it in place. Weeds and tangled vines choked the walls and the inside of the structure.
Spellbound After Midnight (Ever Dark, Ever Deadly Book 1) Page 25