Yes, he should leave but he couldn’t. He was thoroughly entrapped by her beauty and the mystical actions she performed.
His eyes drank in the beauty of her moonlit body. His feelings went far beyond merely wanting to hold that remarkable body next to his, beyond even the desire to make love to her until they were both satiated, body and soul. The emotions that flowed through him were more profound than any he had ever experienced.
Something in Cassie’s actions told Mac that her ritual was ending. He stepped back further into the shadows. For the first time in his life he felt shame at having invaded someone’s privacy. He feared that if she knew he had been there she would hate him even more.
And yet he could not bring himself to leave. Not until she had returned to her home, shutting herself away from him once again. It was as if a magical spell had been cast upon him, holding him firmly in its mystical grip.
And then Cassie turned toward him. Something in her manner suggested that she had known he had been there from the beginning. With slow, deliberate steps, she walked to him. Her eyes were leveled directly at him. Was it possible she could see in the dark? Step by step, she drew nearer, until she was close enough for him to reach out and touch her.
Holding his gaze with her mesmerizing eyes, she stopped before him, not speaking yet communicating her pure love so forcefully it threatened to overwhelm him.
“Cassie, I ...“
Reaching out her hand, she placed her fingers tips lightly on his lips. Whatever words he had been about to speak slipped from his mind as Cassie took him by both hands and, backing slowly, deliberately, her golden gaze never leaving his eyes, led him to the soft grass of the meadow.
Once again the rays of the full moon bathed her body. Mac’s breath caught at the sight of her opalescent skin, the glints of diamonds as they glittered on the dew in her hair. He felt his soul being drawn into the very depths of her through glowing, smoldering topaz eyes.
If she had cast a spell over him, so be it, he thought as she began to unbutton his shirt. It dropped to the earth unnoticed as she reached down to unfasten his belt.
After freeing him of his clothes, she reached up both arms, encircling his neck. Her gentle pull brought his mouth down to her waiting lips. They parted under the heat of his desire.
And suddenly nothing else existed. They were two souls sharing the most profound intimacies possible. Together they sank to the soft grass, their bodies glorifying in the sensuous feel of its cool dampness next to their heated skin. The moon bathed their bodies in its glorious light as they lost themselves in each other.
If this was what witchcraft was all about, so be it, was Mac’s last conscious thought as he sank deep into the warmth of her inviting body.
Chapter 7
Mac buried himself deeper into the warm blankets. Had he ever felt so absolutely perfect? A sense of total contentment filled his body, drenching each thirsty cell until they nearly overflowed with its subtle warmth. Keeping his eyes shut tightly, he savored the moment. This must be what heaven feels like, he thought with a lazy smile.
The early morning silence was broken by the sound of Sarge’s soft snoring as he slept on the floor beside the bed. Soon an enterprisingly early bird began twittering outside the window.
Although he would have preferred to stay right where he was, Mac realized that was not an option. Resigned to the fact that real life could be put off only so long, he rolled onto his side and opened his eyes, prepared to face another problem-filled day. The vision that greeted him, illuminated by the weak early morning light, was quite possibly the most gorgeous sight this side of heaven.
Propping himself up on one elbow, he gazed at the luscious creature who lay beside him. With a sigh of pure contentment, he allowed his eyes to feast upon the gorgeous woman who slept so peacefully there.
An extraordinary mixture of love and desired swept over him. His eyes could not capture enough of her. He wanted to take her into his arms and hold her so near she would become a part of him. He wanted all of her. He wanted her soul to enter him, mingling with his, making them one entity.
Everything about her was magic. She completely enchanted him. She was his only heaven.
Cassie lay on her back, one arm resting on the pillow behind her head. Her fingers were slightly curled in a curiously vulnerable pose. Her other arm lay across her abdomen, partially covered by the rumpled sheet that had slipped down revealing one perfectly formed breast.
Its sweet peak tempted Mac’s hungry lips. Though he longed to lean over and take its sweetness into his mouth, he resisted. When he took her it would only be with her full consent.
But there was nothing to stop him from taking pleasure in the sight of her. His gaze lingered on her slender neck as he watched the rhythmic pulse beat at her throat. He examined the tiny dimple in her chin, the apricot blush of her cheeks. The delicate fan of lashes, barely visible through tumbled coppery curls, intrigued him.
Impulsively, he reached out his hand to brush the hair that covered her brow. He couldn’t stop himself. The need to gaze at the splendor of her face was too great. He would have been happy worshipping at the altar of her beauty for the rest of his life.
Cassie lay there, still more asleep than awake. She knew if she opened her eyes it would be time to begin the new day. She resisted. The bed felt too wonderful. Well, no, it wasn’t just the warmth and softness of the bed. What she felt went far beyond that sensation you experience when you first wake from a good night’s sleep. This went deeper, much deeper.
And then the memories of the past night’s delights flooded into her consciousness. A slow smile crept across her face as she recalled the delicious lovemaking she had shared with Mac on the cool, moonlit grass the night before. Stretching languidly, she allowed herself to relive each sensual caress, each passionate kiss.
And later they had come here, to her bed. He had been her gift from the Goddess as he once again made her body come alive. She recalled the heat of his touch, her body responding with a sudden need both primal and urgent. Her breath caught as a shiver of sexual desire rippled through her like the cascade of a mountain waterfall.
Opening her eyes, she found herself gazing directly into Mac’s chocolate brown eyes. She would have willingly drowned in their liquid depths. Slipping her arms around his neck, she drew his body close to hers as he covered her mouth with his. She snuggled closer still, fusing their bodies until his warmth was hers. Oh, if only they could stay here, in this bed, making love forever.
When she felt him begin to pull away, her arms tightened, but then she let go. Whatever they had together must always come from their mutual desires, she resolved, never from just her own need.
“We’ve got to talk.”
She recognized the resignation in his voice. It wasn’t what he wanted either, she realized. Of course, he was right. They did need to talk. And they would. Soon. But couldn’t talking wait just a bit longer, she asked herself as the corners of her mouth lifted in a seductive smile.
“Yes, we need to talk,” she whispered as she nipped playfully at his ear. “And we will,” she said as she slid her hands over his body, touching places she knew would send him over the edge of desire. “Soon,” was the last word she spoke before she found a use for her mouth that far surpassed any words she might have spoken.
Before, when they had made love, they had been filled with a wildness, hot and passionate. But now the loving was warm, and sweet, and oh, so delicious. The rest of the world ceased to exist. Time was meaningless. There was only now. And in all the universe, there were only the two of them.
He kissed and caressed her body until she wanted to beg him to take her, to bring her to the highest plateau of their passion. But she said nothing, sensing that he wanted - no needed - to bring her even higher.
And then it was her turn to tease him with her lips, her tongue, to touch and caress with her fingertips. She watched his face, gauging his reactions. She wanted to bring him to the same heigh
ts he had brought her. She wanted him to want her beyond all reason, to ache with desire.
At last, not daring to wait another moment, Mac buried himself deep within her, until they became one. He gloried in the feel of her as he took slow, deliberate strokes, prolonging the exquisite torture. Cassie’s breath caught as she felt the tension mounting deep within her body. Clinging to him, she gloried in the wild, wonderful sensations as together their world exploded into a million brilliant stars.
Mac sat at the table in Cassie’s kitchen watching her as she prepared their breakfast. Though her hair was still tousled from the bed, and her terrycloth robe had seen better days, to his eyes she was the ultimate expression of womanhood. He couldn’t remember ever seeing anything lovelier than his little Cassie.
The silence was companionable, the sort of thing that happens with people who are totally comfortable with one another. Every now and then Mac picked up snatches of a tune she hummed under her breath. He thought it was ‘Here Comes the Sun’, but he couldn’t hear enough of it to be sure.
It would be appropriate, though, he thought as he glanced out the window. Rays of early morning light streamed through the trees, promising a beautiful day. He caught himself silently praying that it really would be a good day. They were all in desperate need of at least one good day after all that had happened in the past week.
Cassie set Mac’s coffee before him. She lifted her eyes to his, the corners of her mouth curved in a shy, tentative smile. His response was to place a sweet, chaste kiss upon her lips. Their gaze held as she pulled away, the expression in their eyes saying more than words ever could.
Mac would never be sure if it was that soft, loving expression in her eyes, the taste of her lips that still lingered on his, or the afterglow of the loving they had just shared, but it was at that very moment that he came to realize that he was totally and forever in love with Cassie Adams. He hadn’t a clue how it would affect the rest of their lives; all he knew for certain was that for the first time in his life he had given his heart wholly and with no reservations. It was both a liberating and a terrifying realization.
How can I love him so much? Cassie wondered as she gazed into his smiling eyes. She wanted to lose herself forever in their velvety chocolate depths. For a few brief moments she opened herself to the new emotions he awoke in her, to receive the love she saw reflected in his eyes, willing the moment to never end, knowing that it would be all too brief.
Soon he will go away, she told herself, already feeling the pain of his leaving. But she pushed the thought aside, telling herself to take what she could of him, to absorb his very essence so she would always have him with her, no matter how far apart they might be physically.
Still not speaking, she sank to her knees beside him, circling his waist with her arms and cradling her head in the curve of his shoulder.
“I can’t believe how much I love you,” Mac whispered, his breath stirring the hair just above her forehead.
She raised her face to his, unshed tears of happiness sparking in her eyes. “Do you mean it?” she asked, pleasure and amazement obvious in her airy voice.
“Oh, I mean it. I only wish I had the words to tell you how much I mean it.”
“You don’t need words,” she smiled. “Not with me, anyway.”
“I wouldn’t have thought I’d ever want anyone to be able to read my mind. But since it’s you, I like it just fine. It means you will always know me better than anyone else ever could.”
“It’s not so much that I can read your mind, it’s more that I feel what you feel. It’s as if we have a unique psychic connection. I feel a stronger connection with you than anyone I’ve ever known.”
His arms tightened around her as he bent to kiss the top of her head. “I think I like that,” he murmured. “Yes, I think I like that very much.”
She turned her face up to his, making it easier for him to drop a kiss on her waiting lips, then pulled away. She rose to her feet, stepped over to the window and turned her face into the warmth of the morning sunlight. She paused there for a moment before turning back to face him.
“I owe you an apology for the way I acted yesterday.” She raised her hand to stop the protest that rose to his lips. “No, I do. If you wrote that story, you must have had a good reason. I believe in you. I know you would never do anything that would hurt me.”
“But I didn’t write it.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I didn’t write the story.”
“But who ...? Why ...? I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I, but I intend to find out.” Then he told her how he had called his editor but had only ended up more confused than ever. “It’s a mystery. Somebody faxed in that story under my by-line, but I can’t for the life of me figure out who or why. I don’t know, maybe someone thought they were doing me a favor. But that’s pretty hard to buy. As far as I know, there’s no one in town who would care one way or the other if I fell flat on my face at The Inquisitor. And I can’t think of any other reason why anyone would submit a story under my name. It’s so damn unprofessional!”
“Unprofessional and weird. Why would someone do it, I wonder.”
She stood there for a moment thinking, and then her eyes widened as she said, “You don’t think somebody did it to turn us against one another? I mean, if one of the other reporters happened to notice all the time we’ve been spending together, they might not have liked the idea that you’re closer to the story than they are. Maybe one of them did it.”
Mac nodded sagely. Cassie might very well have hit on the answer. Such antics were not entirely unheard of among his cohorts. Hell, given the circumstances, he might have done the same thing himself.
“But we’re not going to let them win, are we?” Cassie grinned as she closed the gap between them once again. “Nothing could ever convince me that you would deliberately hurt me.”
Mac felt a tightening deep within him, though he tried to hide it from Cassie. No one had ever had such faith in him before. He wasn’t all that sure that he could be worthy of such trust.
“After I’d fumed and fussed about the story for a few minutes, I came to my senses and realized that it all had to have been a mistake. I wanted to apologize to you then, to at least get your side of it, but I didn’t know where you’d gone. I had actually thought I’d go looking for you, but a bunch of Samuel Hicks’ groupies got in the way.”
“What do you mean ‘got in the way’?” Mac’s dark eyebrows came together in a scowl.
“Oh, it wasn’t anything really. Luckily, Father Sullivan had stopped by the shop, and when he saw what was going on, he called the Sheriff’s office. Even though there’s no love lost between the priest and Sheriff Whitaker, the sheriff came by and made them go away.”
“I think you’d better tell me everything that happened and let me decide. I may just have to have a talk with that Hicks character.”
Mac’s dark scowl almost made Cassie laugh. She had never had a man who wanted to protect her before and she discovered that she liked it very much. However, she thought it best to diffuse the bomb before it did any irreparable damage.
“Really, it wasn’t anything. Some of Reverend Hicks’ people were hanging around outside the store with their stupid placards. I wasn’t even sure Samuel was aware of what they were doing until one of the women mentioned that they were expecting him to join them soon. But he never did show up.”
“But the Sheriff did, right?”
“Yes, along with a couple of his deputies. They said that they had received some calls. I guess some of the local businessmen were afraid there was going to be a riot. They probably weren’t too thrilled with all the yelling going on. It can’t be good for their businesses either. In fact, that’s pretty much the gist of what Walt told Shelly and me after he cleared everyone away. As far as he’s concerned, she and I would be doing everyone a favor if we’d just locked the shop up and quietly faded into the woodwork.”
“
He said that?” Mac asked incredulously.
“Well, not in so many words, but that was his meaning. Believe me, he didn’t leave a lot of room for doubt.”
“I can’t believe the guy. First he tells you you can’t leave town, then he tells you to make it look as if you had. What the hell does he want from you?”
“I suppose what he wants is for all of this to simply disappear. He’d like nothing more than to have his own little town back to where it was before. In fact, I think he’d rather have it back to what it was before we came, high crime rate and all, just so he wouldn’t have to deal with the coven anymore.”
“You’ll let me know if he starts harassing you, won’t you? He strikes me as the kind of guy who gets his kicks pushing people around and I’ll be damned if I let him start in on you.”
“Say, I think I like the idea of having my very own knight in shining armor,” Cassie said, smiling broadly. “It’s pretty nice. It’s kind of like how Alan is with Mom. Only I like my knight best.” Mac wasn’t so sure he liked being compared to Alan in this context. As far as he was concerned Alan’s armor was decidedly tarnished. “At least, Alan used to be Mom’s champion. I’m not so sure now.” The laughter left her eyes as she was drawn back to the ugliness of reality. “I just can’t figure him out anymore.”
“I don’t think he can himself,” Mac responded. “After I left you yesterday, I bumped into him at Pete’s Bar, down the street. Man, was he plastered. Reminded me of my good old days.”
“Alan? Down at Pete’s? I wouldn’t have thought he would ever go in there. I’ve never seen him drink anything but wine. And believe me, he only drinks the very best. I can’t imagine Pete’s stock measuring up to Alan’s standards.”
“I don’t imagine Alan cared much what he was drinking yesterday. All he wanted was to get as drunk as he could as fast as he could. And, all in all, I’d say he accomplished his purpose quite admirably.”
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