Hidden Worlds

by Kristie Cook

  Screw my one and done rule. Tonight I was in desperate need of fun and relaxation and maybe a little something else. Maybe …

  “Here you go,” I said, holding up a glass between the two of us while at the same time holding my breath.

  Kace smirked at me. “Thanks,” he said as he took it from my fingertips, being sure to brush his fingers against mine.

  One thing I’d learned about him in the short time I’d known him was any time he could touch me, he would. Maybe the feel of contact with me was just as good for him. After a few glasses of wine, it would definitely be something I’d ask him.

  Kace poured us each a glass of wine and then raised his for a toast. “To keeping you safe, even if it means I have to spend the night. Every night.” His eyes glittered as he said the words, and he tipped the glass to his lips, never removing them from mine.

  I felt my heart skip a beat. He had no idea how good him spending the night sounded to me right about now.

  “To the first part, yes. To the second part, not so much.” I tipped my glass back and drank. Vera would be proud; I was playing hard to get. At least I thought I was.

  I spun and headed back into the gaudy red room that was the dining room, hurrying to get away from the sexier than sin look Kace was giving me. I set out the food he’d ordered for us, curious to see what it was. Removing the lid from a circular container, I smiled.

  “Baked ziti?” I’d expected something more sophisticated and gourmet now that I knew all about Collette’s and their type of food.

  Kace shrugged as he sat down at the table beside me. “What can I say? I’m a man who enjoys the simple things in life.”

  “Is that so?” I questioned as I scooped some of the pasta onto my plate.

  A boyish smirk twisted his lips, and I’d never wanted to kiss him more than I did right then. “It is.”

  “Tell me about you,” I said as I sat down and took a long sip of the incredible wine he’d gotten us.

  “Tell you about me? What do you want to know?”

  “Nope, none of that deflector crap.”

  He chuckled. “Well, you sort of put me on the spot. I mean, that’s a broad sort of question.”

  I rolled my eyes and took another sip. “Fine, I’ll make it easy then. What’s your favorite color?”

  He stopped scooping pasta and looked me directly in the eyes. “Green, like the color in your eyes.”

  “Corny.” I chuckled.

  He shook his head and smiled. “No, seriously. Green is my favorite color, and it just happens to be one of the colors swirled in your eyes.”

  “Yeah, sure, whatever you say.” I dragged the words out, enjoying teasing him. “Favorite type of music?”

  “Anything besides classical and country.”

  “So that means you like opera, didn’t think you were the type.”

  “Ha, funny,” he said, cocking his head to the side. “Your turn. If you could go to any place in the world right now, where would you go?”

  “Ireland,” I said without hesitation. It had been at the top of my list of places to visit since I was like seven.

  “Ireland, huh? I figured you’d be more of a beachy destination type of girl.”

  “And why is that?”

  He took a sip of his wine, staring at me over the rim of his glass before answering. “Because you seem like the type to enjoy being in a bathing suit.”

  “Ha, I think you’d just like to see me in a bathing suit.”

  He leaned across the table, a devilish smirk twisting his full lips. “Or, a little less.”

  “That could be arranged,” I teased with a wicked grin of my own.

  God, what was I saying? I blushed and tipped my wineglass back, finishing its contents. Kace poured me another before I could tell him no.

  “No need to blush. We’re all adults here,” he said with a heated look, which only made my cheeks flame even more.

  I tipped the glass he’d just refilled back and took a long swig. “I’m not blushing. It’s the alcohol,” I lied. Partly.

  Kace didn’t say a word. He reached for my chair and jerked it closer to his with one deliberate motion. I watched as the muscles in his bicep bulged beneath his T-shirt. My eyes were still open when his lips came crashing down against mine. They slanted across them, soft and warm. His arm circled my waist as he drew me in closer toward him.

  I closed my eyes once I felt his tongue flick against my bottom lip. Opening my mouth, I allowed him the access to the deepest parts he seemed to want. My hands gripped his biceps, and I felt his muscles grow ridged and taut from my touch. Warmth swam though me, clouding my mind more than the alcohol. The two made for a dizzying haze. His lips left mine in favor of the sensitive skin along my neck. I thought of what we were doing and how we should probably stop, but then Kace’s lips found mine once again and I was drowning in that haze once more. The words I had planned on saying were forgotten.

  A sigh escaped from me as his warm hand slipped beneath my tank top and along my ribs. Kace moaned in delight at the sound. He scooped me up, cupping my rear, and pulled me into his lap faster than I thought possible. I ran my hands up over the cotton of his T-shirt, focusing on the feel of his solidness beneath, and then back down, stopping just above the waistband of his shorts. Pulling at the edges of his shirt, I slipped it up and over his head, then tossed it on the floor.

  I probably should have been embarrassed for the aggressive role I was taking in this moment, but I wasn’t. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was due to the pent-up sexual tension that had been between us from the start, or maybe it was the magick that bubbled beneath my skin from the feel of his touch urging me for more, I couldn’t be sure. One thing I did know though, I didn’t want to stop what we were doing.

  Kace trailed kisses along my jawline again, this time nibbling and sucking as he went. He stopped to tease the curve of my neck, and I tipped my head back while lacing my fingers in his thick hair. Another whimper escaped me as his lips traveled closer to the tops of my breasts. He lifted his head to look at me, his icy eyes flashing with satisfaction at the sounds he was luring from within me. He eased my tank top up over my chest, and I lifted my arms so he could pull it off with ease.

  His lips slid up my throat, and I tilted my head back again to allow him more access. They trailed up over my jaw and back to my lips where they hovered, barely touching mine, not quite kissing me. The sensation of his warm breath across them was nearly overwhelming. I intertwined my fingers in his hair again and pressed my lips to his, hard. I could feel him smile as I heard him groan in pleasure from my sudden dominance.

  “Up,” he demanded, slapping my butt with enough force to startle me.

  I stood, my legs feeling like Jell-O beneath me. Kace gripped my hand and pulled me into the living room where he thrust me down on the couch and leaned over me, forcing me to lie back as he covered my body with his. His lips found their way to mine again as his hands slid across my bare stomach.

  “As much as I’m enjoying this,” he said between kisses, “if at any time you want me to stop, just say so.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck, forcing his lips against mine again. “Yeah, I don’t think that will be happening.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - One of Those

  Kace was in my bed, wrapped around me when I woke the next morning. His arm lay draped over my side, his bare chest snuggled tightly against my back, and our legs were intertwined with each other’s. I smiled and closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of waking up in someone’s arms. The few times I’d spent the night with Ryan, I’d come to realize he wasn’t much of a cuddler, at least not when it came to me. He sure could cuddle the shit out of a body pillow at night though.

  Last night had been amazing. I’d forgotten how nice being with someone that way could make a person feel. How it numbed your mind to everything except pleasure. The blissful, overworked sensation that tired out your muscles. The intense emotional connection that tethered you to the other
person. Sex with Kace had been incredible, unlike anything I’d ever experienced before, and I wasn’t giving all the credit to the magick flowing beneath our skin from contact.

  I snuggled against him a little more and drifted back to sleep, feeling that warmth of my magick reaching out to brush against his.

  ***

  When I woke again, it was to the sensation of someone staring at me. I opened my eyes slowly. Kace lay with his head propped up by his hand, grinning wickedly at me.

  “Morning, sunshine,” he said in a low, husky voice.

  “Morning,” I replied as I stretched my sore limbs out.

  “I learned something about you last night.”

  “Really, and what’s that?” I grinned a little lopsidedly, expecting some smartass comment regarding what we’d been doing last night that would no doubt make me blush.

  “You snore.”

  “What!” I sat up in bed some. “I do not.”

  Kace laughed loudly, the rich rumble vibrated through my chest. “I’m teasing. Well, not really … you are sort of a mouth breather.”

  Laughing, I slapped him on the chest, harder than I’d intended, and crawled out of bed. The desire to cover myself up with a sheet or something before walking to my dresser for some clothes gnawed at my insides, but I suppressed it and straightened my back as I crossed the room. Kace’s eyes were on me, I could feel them, and I prayed my face didn’t betray me with a tinge of color when I turned back around. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t seen last night, but still. There was something embarrassing about it. I’d never been one who oozed confidence in her body, especially not while naked.

  “And where are you going?” he asked.

  “To take a shower,” I said as I riffled through my underwear drawer, searching for something a little sexier than the granny panties that rested on top.

  “Can I join you?”

  I bit my bottom lip to suppress a smile. “I guess.”

  ***

  After our shower, and a repeat of last night, Kace took me to breakfast at a little restaurant called Putman’s Diner. It was small and reminded me of the mom and pop style diners back home.

  “So, is this place magickal too?” I asked as we seated ourselves at a booth near the back close to a window.

  Kace shook his head. “Nope, not at all, just plain good food.”

  I glanced around at the place. It was a little old-fashioned, a little run-down, but homey feeling as well. The floors were a fifties-style black and white tile. The beige walls—that could use another coat or two of paint—were framed with black wainscoting in places, and there wasn’t a single ocean-themed decoration in the entire restaurant. This seemed refreshing to me, because I’d always thought the whole beach theme was overrated, and in some cases just plain tacky, especially when in a beach town.

  I liked the place already and I hadn’t tasted a single bite of food yet.

  “Must be a pretty good place to eat since it’s still open then,” I said quietly as I continued to look around.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Kace asked, sounding a little thrown off.

  I looked at him. His brows were drawn together, and I thought he’d never looked sexier than he did now, while he was all confused.

  “I just mean, with all of the unfair advantages Collette’s and Paisley’s have over it, it would have to be good food to stay open.”

  Kace nodded. “True, I’ve never really thought about it that way.”

  Our waitress came and took our drink orders, while handing us two menus. Everything sounded good to me right about now; I was famished. Settling on a stack of blueberry pancakes with syrup and butter on top, I took a sip of my orange juice through a straw and began to study Kace instead of the menu.

  “Still like what you see as much as you did last night?” he asked with a smile, his eyes never leaving his menu while he spoke.

  “I’m still undecided,” I teased as I sat back against the booth and crossed my arms over my chest.

  His mouth dropped open in mock hurt, and he set his menu down to lean against the table. “Ouch, most girls at least try me out twice before they decide there must be a glitch in me someplace and hit the road before I reveal it.”

  “You sound bitter,” I noticed and wondered if he was feeling a little insecure today. This made me smile. It wasn’t every day you saw a guy as good-looking as him feeling insecure.

  “Nah, not bitter. Just honest.” He leaned back and cleared his throat as his right hand smoothed over his stubbly chin. “So, what’s your answer? Don’t just leave me hanging.”

  “Jury is still out,” I said in a teasing tone, enjoying toying with him and watching him squirm. “Maybe I’ll let you know after breakfast.”

  “Ah, so you’re one of those, are you?” He shook his finger at me and grinned.

  “Enlighten me on what one of those I am this time.”

  “The type who likes to get a free meal the next morning before they bolt. Which is also the type who keeps all gifts given during the relationship no matter what. Sound like you?”

  I flashed him my most sinful look. “Not necessarily.”

  Our waitress came to take our order before Kace could respond, but from the look on his face, I could tell it had been something cocky.

  “Wouldn’t matter even if you were. I’m willing to take my chances with you,” he whispered once our waitress had walked away.

  I smiled and dropped my eyes to my orange juice, but didn’t respond. God, I was falling fast. I wished Vera was here to tell me if this was just a typical rebound relationship, or if it was actually leaning toward something more. Right now, I couldn’t be sure, and she had always been an expert of sorts in that area.

  “So … do you work or are you in school?” I asked as I twirled my straw around in my orange juice.

  Kace cocked an eyebrow at me. “Ah, so you wanna get to know me a little better so you can decide whether to keep me or not. I see where this is going.” He grinned. “I work at my parents’ hotel down by the beach, but I’ll be attending college again in the fall.”

  My stomach sank. Everyone seemed to have a plan except me.

  “What are you going for?” I couldn’t remember the name of the college, but I did remember passing signs for one on my way here.

  “Business, of course. I’ll probably just end up taking over my parents’ hotel in a few years.”

  “Gee, don’t sound so excited about it,” I teased.

  Kace shrugged. “Well, there really isn’t anything I want to do at the moment, and taking over for them seems like an easy future. I don’t want to waste my time being undecided, you know? Might as well do something while I try to figure everything else out.”

  I knew exactly what he meant. Problem was I didn’t just want to fall back on my family’s business. I guess I was one of those who was content to just waste time while what I wanted to do in life came to me. It was better than going to school for something I didn’t really want to do or going to school just for the sake of filling in that time of my day. I didn’t want to be the type who spent ten years of their life in school only to finally graduate with a cosmetology degree or something else that would have taken a fraction of the time and money they’d spent to get it.

  “What about you? What are your plans for the future?” Kace asked.

  “I really don’t know. All I know for sure is I’m here for the summer. After that, well … I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.” Part lie. Part truth. I’d thought about after; I just hadn’t decided on anything worth mentioning yet.

  “Well, maybe you’ll figure it out while you’re here. Craven isn’t the best school in the U.S., but it is decent. For a junior college, that is.”

  “I might look into it.” I shrugged, wishing we could talk about something else now. College talk always seemed to make me nervous.

  It felt like once I’d graduated high school, everyone instantly began to harp on me about what I planned on doing next,
like I wasn’t allowed to breathe for a moment and enjoy the fact that high school was over and I had survived. Nope. Everyone expected me to just jump headfirst into the next phase of my life. Since I didn’t, I was positive I’d been labeled a slacker. Maybe I was a slacker when it came to life. So what. Aren’t we all allowed to have our moments?

  “I think Callie is the only one of us who’s going for something unrelated to business. She decided a while back she wasn’t taking over her mom’s shop. Instead, she’s going to open up her own vet place, or so she says. This fall will be her first semester at Craven,” Kace continued.

  “That’s cool,” I said as I watched our food make its way toward our table and hoped a change of subject would come along with it.

  ***

  After breakfast, Kace held my hand in his as we exited the diner and headed toward his car. The warmth his touch always awakened inside of me wrapped around my hand and began to travel up my arm. A light breeze blew, ruffling my hair and caressing my skin. The smell of seafood mixed with some kind of bread clung heavily to the air, and I wondered where it was coming from. It was then that I realized which restaurant we were just down the street from—Fisherman’s Brew. A slight shiver ran down my spine as I glanced at the building.

  I caught sight of Theo as he climbed out of a black truck. It looked familiar somehow. Suddenly it dawned on me why: I’d seen it in my vision. Theo turned and looked directly at me, almost as though he could feel my eyes on him even with the distance between us. I didn’t have to be close to him to know how dangerously dark his caramel-colored eyes would be right now. A coldness slithered through me at the thought of what he’d left on my doorstep. He’d been in my house while I was there, and I hadn’t even known it.

  “What’s the matter? Why did you stop?” Kace asked. I hadn’t realized I’d stopped walking until he’d said something. He followed my gaze. “Oh. You know, I really should go over there and say something to that son of a bitch.”

  The anger flaring in Kace’s words startled me. There was nothing I wanted more than to march over there and ask Theo who he’d done the Hotfoot spell for—his family or someone else—but something kept me at bay. The sinister disposition of his features, maybe. The fear that confronting him would only instigate the situation further. Both of those things combined together most likely.