Be Careful What You Wish For
Page 27
“Twice,” Rory added, also fighting her way through.
“This is completely unacceptable!” Jake’s face was like a thundercloud. He was wearing another one of his immaculate suites, Cass noticed. She really hoped she hadn’t called him out of court again.
“Tell me about it,” she said. “I’m sorry I had to call you but I didn’t know what else to do.”
“No, no—you did the right thing,” Jake assured her. He scanned the crowd of milling clones and then looked up at the fairy godmother.
“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded. “Why have you filled the house with naked men?”
“Who are you and what business is it of yours?” Breena snapped from her secure vantage point near the ceiling.
“I am the Swann Sisters’ court-appointed elf,” Jake growled. “And I’m here to be certain their magical rights aren’t trampled on. Are you the new fairy godmother that Judge StoneThroat appointed to them? If so, I can’t say I think much of the job you’re doing so far.”
“I’m new at this!” Breena exclaimed, her pink eyes suddenly filling with tears. “This is my very first job—there’s no need to be so mean about it!”
Jake was absolutely unmoved—his face like granite.
“If you’re that inexperienced you shouldn’t have been appointed to such a difficult case. Do you want me to go before the judge and ask for a different fairy godmother?”
“So I look like a failure on my very first try?” Breena cried. “I’ll have you know I didn’t complain a bit when Judge StoneThroat chose me to help these girls. Even if they are half-breeds and a little slow I agreed to do my duty by them and I’m doing my very best.”
“Hey!” Rory exclaimed. “We are not slow!”
“And if this is your very best maybe it’s time to try a different line of work,” Cass pointed out. “Although she was able to reverse the main part of the FG’s wish,” she added grudgingly to Jake. “So at least I can paint again.”
“Is that so?” He looked pleased. “Very good. Now then…” He looked up at the new FG.
“Breena—her name is Breena,” Cass supplied under her breath.
“Now, Breena,” Jake went on. “Good work on reversing Cassandra’s birthday wish—well done, you! But something has got to be done about the overabundance of naked men in this hallway.”
“I don’t know what to do, all right?” Breena stormed, her wand shooting bright pink sparks. “I need to go consult with one of my professors. Maybe she can give me some answers. Until then, I’m afraid you’ll just have to wait.”
“But what are we supposed to do with ten naked clones until you come back?” Rory demanded.
“Anything but feed them!” Breena snapped. “It’s because you fed the first one so much human food that he’s nearly impossible to get rid of! I have to go get some answers—you’re on your own.”
And with a snap of her fingers and a poof of sparkly pink smoke, she disappeared leaving nothing but a cloud of silver-pink glitter which rained from the ceiling and coated them all—the clones included.
“Well that was kind of a failure,” Rory remarked gloomily, shaking glitter out of her long red hair. “What are we going to do now? I don’t care what she said about not feeding them—it’s the only way to keep them quiet!”
Cass could tell her sister was right. Now that the fascinating sight of the pretty pink fairy was gone, the clones were getting restless and calling for cookies in louder and more strident voices than before. What were they going to do? She turned to Jake.
“Can you help us? I know this is above and beyond your, uh, duties but, well—”
“Say no more, Cassandra—I am happy to help. Do you have an empty room where we can store them?”
“Oh yes—the spare room!” Rory fought her way through the clones and down the hallway where she flung open the door leaning into the guest bedroom their grandmother always kept for visitors.
“Hmm…” Jake pushed his way through the clones as well, with Cass in his wake, and peered inside. “It’s going to be a tight fit but it should do.” He spoke a word of power and suddenly all the clones were packed into the small room like people crammed in an overloaded elevator.
The clones didn’t like this at all. They stared around in confusion and started pushing and shoving each other, crying for cookies in hoarse, angry voices.
But before the situation could get truly out of hand, Jake spoke another word and all ten of them froze.
“Wow…” Cass stared into the crowded spare room in awe. “They look like statues or wax figurines.”
“They are in a state of suspended animation,” Jake said. “But the stasis spell I placed on them will only hold as long as no one touches them.” He frowned at Rory and Cass. “I highly recommend you shut and lock this door and don’t let anyone enter it for any reason.”
“You got it,” Rory promised. She shut the door carefully. “Absolutely nobody goes in.”
“How long will it last?” Cass asked. “The new fairy godmother seems kind of flighty. Who knows when she’ll come back to fix this mess?”
“Yes, that does seem to be a problem.” Jake frowned. “Do you want me to go before Judge StoneThroat and ask for a replacement?”
“No, no,” Cass said quickly. “Please, don’t do that! Please just stay away from that awful man, er, troll!” She gripped Jake’s sleeve and lowered her voice. “I don’t want you to get hurt again on my account.”
His stern expression softened somewhat.
“I will be fine, Cassandra. Please don’t worry about me—I only want what is best for you and your sisters.”
“Well…maybe we should give Brenna another chance,” Rory said. “After all, she did reverse the FG’s painting wish on Cass. Maybe she’s right and all the Oreos I fed the first clone are weighing him down—making it hard for her to poof him away.”
“Do you wish to give your new fairy godmother another chance as well?” Jake asked, raising an eyebrow at Cass.
She nodded.
“Yeah, maybe we were a little hard on her. Although her attitude towards humans is almost as hard to take as the original FG’s. She seems to think we’re stupid or ‘disadvantaged’ because we can’t do magic or fly.”
“Unfortunately, the idea that you are magically disadvantaged is not an uncommon assumption about humans in the Realm of the Fae,” Jake remarked. “But fairies in general are more apt to look down on other species—even other fae. They are at the very top of the social order and they will never let anyone else forget it.”
The slight bitterness in his voice reminded Cass that he had good reason to know about fairies and their prejudices against others.
She felt a surge of indignation when she thought of the snotty Glorianna who had broken the big elf’s heart. What a bitch! She hoped she could make the fairy g irl nice and jealous when she went to the Summer’s End ball with Jake—it would serve her right!
“Well, if you change your mind, I will be happy to go before the judge once more and ask for a different fairy godmother for you,” Jake said. He looked at Cass. “And in the meantime, now that you can paint again without, er, dire consequences, do you wish to come back to the Realm with me?”
“Oh, uh…” Cass bit her lip. “I’d like to but it’s only been an hour since I saw you—even though it’s been a day for you—and I’m really tired, Jake.” She had to suppress a yawn as she spoke. Between the traumatic courtroom appearance, the trouble with the bikers, the disastrous new fairy godmother and the multiplying clones, it had been a hell of a long day. She really was exhausted.
“You can sleep at my home,” Jake offered quietly. “Just sleep—nothing else,” he added quickly. “It will take less time than if you slept in your own realm, which will give you more time for painting and getting ready for the ball.”
“That’s a really good point,” Cass admitted. “Well…if you don’t mind waiting while I get some clothes and supplies together…”
“I’ll help you pack,” Rory added, following Cass into her room. “Wow, it’s really neat in here!” she exclaimed as she shut the door behind them. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the carpet in your room before—it’s usually covered in a layer of clothes.”
“Jake did a housekeeping spell—the same one he did downstairs,” Cass told her as she grabbed a duffel bag and started throwing clothes and art supplies into it.
“Oh, the one he’s going to try and teach you?” Rory sighed. “If he does, I wish you’d teach it to me. Just think how much faster my work at the kennels would be if I could snap my fingers and say a spell to get rid of all the dog poop!”
“Only a confirmed animal lover like you would think of that,” Cass said dryly. “Speaking of animals, do you want me to ask Jake about the dreams you’re having? You know, of the phooka guy?”
“No, no!” Rory said quickly, her face going pale. “I…I’d rather you didn’t mention it. I’m sure they’re just dreams—it’s no big deal.”
“Well…” Cass frowned. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.” Rory nodded emphatically. “Please don’t say anything.”
“All right, if you say so.” Cass zipped up her duffle and turned to her little sister. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone and I don’t think cell phones work in the Realm of the Fae. Can I leave my cell with you in case Albert from the I.C.U calls?”
“Sure but I’m not sure what I’ll say if he does.” Rory shrugged.
“Just tell him I’m hard at work in the studio and I can’t be disturbed,” Cass suggested, although she wasn’t sure that would satisfy the prissy little gallery owner. Still, it was better than letting her cell ring and ring so that he thought she was ignoring him.
“All right,” Rory said doubtfully. “I’ll do my best.”
“Hopefully I’ll be home in time for the gallery showing with a fresh painting to show him,” Cass said. “Can you hold down the fort here while I’m gone?”
“Sure.” Rory sighed. “Providing Nana doesn’t end up hosting anymore conventions in the house.”
“Fingers crossed on that one.” Cass gave her a quick hug. “See you later, okay?”
“See you,” Rory echoed. She lowered her voice. “And have fun with our court-appointed elf.”
“Shhh!” Cass made a shushing motion at her and then opened the door. She was only going with Jake to fulfill the deal they had made, she told herself. He would teach her the housekeeping spell and let her paint him and in return, she would be his date to the Summer’s End Ball and make Glorianna green with envy. It was an equitable arrangement and there was no reason to think there was anything else to it.
No reason except the fact that he’s made you come twice in the past two days and you returned the favor not that long ago, whispered a guilty little voice in her head.
Cass pushed it away.
Everything will be fine, she told herself. There’s no reason for this arrangement with Jake to be anything but friendly.
But as she turned the knob and stepped out the door, she couldn’t wait to feel his arms around her again, or smell his wild, spicy scent as he murmured in her ear,
“Come home with me, Cassandra.”
Thirty
“Make yourself at home—you know where the bedroom is,” Jake said, as he—reluctantly, Cass thought—released her from his embrace after transporting her back to his place.
Once more she stepped into the dim golden warmth of his twilight home and thought how nice and soothing it was. She liked the idea of a house that was always at the same time. Looking out the window she saw the evening star shining high in the sky—the source of Jake’s power. The big elf seemed more relaxed and less formal here than he did in the courtroom where he was all business.
“This is nice,” she sighed happily, looking towards the crackling fireplace with its blue-green flames. “I mean, your home is so relaxing and quiet. Twilight has always been my favorite time of day.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Jake smiled at her. “And I hate to leave you to enjoy it alone, but I am actually due back in court quite soon.”
“I didn’t call you out of court, did I?” Cass asked anxiously. “I mean, you’re not going to be uh, ‘sanctioned’ again, are you?”
“No.” He smiled. “I was having lunch with a client but he was understanding when I had to go.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” But she couldn’t help feeling relieved that he wasn’t going to be punished for coming to help her this time.
“Don’t worry about it—I’m glad you called me.” Jake hesitated a moment. “I was…hoping to hear from you sooner rather than later.”
“Oh…” Cass felt her heart thumping against her ribs as she looked up at the big elf. “So…you really have to go now?” she asked.
“I thought you were tired?” His deep voice was a low, intimate murmur that made Cass feel like she was melting. She never felt that way around Brandon…
Brandon, whispered the voice of guilt in her head. Remember you’re still dating Brandon!
“Uh, right. I really am,” she said quickly, and manufactured a yawn. “Maybe I’ll just take a nap on the couch.”
“Nonsense,” Jake said sternly. “You can sleep in the bed, of course.” He frowned. “I haven’t had time to change the sheets, unfortunately. I can do it now, though—”
“No, wait,” Cass stopped him before he could say the word of power that would activate the housekeeping spell.
“You don’t want me to change the sheets for you?” Jake raised an eyebrow in apparent surprise.
“I…well…” Cass bit her lip, trying to think how she could explain without sounding weird. “I don’t mind sleeping…where you slept.” Smelling your warm, spicy scent on the pillow, whispered a little voice in her head but she wasn’t quite brave enough to say that out loud. It would sound way too stalker-y and she and Jake really hadn’t known each other that long and had only been intimate for the purposes of healing.
Her court-appointed elf shrugged his broad shoulders.
“Very well—whatever you like. I really need to get back to the courthouse now but maybe when I get home this evening you’ll feel like painting?”
He made it a question and Cass nodded eagerly. Now that she could create art again without fear of the consequences, her fingers itched for a paintbrush. She wanted to try and capture Jake’s stern but arresting features on the canvas she had brought with her.
“All right, then I’ll see you tonight.” His words were final but he hesitated, as though uncertain of how to end their encounter. Finally he stepped towards her and kissed her lightly on the forehead. “Sweet dreams, Cassandra,” he murmured. Then he was gone in his usual puff of navy-blue smoke, leaving Cass with a tangled knot of emotions inside.
On one hand, though Jake had driven her crazy with irritation at first, she was beginning to really have some serious feelings for the big elf. Feelings she’d never had for anyone before—even Brandon. Especially Brandon.
On the other hand, she was still technically with her boyfriend, which made anything she did with Jake cheating—and Cass liked to think of herself as a straight shooter, not a cheater. If things were going to get serious with Jake, she needed to call Brandon and break things off permanently.
On the other other hand, was she really ready for a serious relationship? Because she couldn’t see Jake wanting a fling or anything casual like what she had with Brandon. The big elf was all business and she could already tell he was the possessive type. If she wound up with him, would it change her? Would it—
Stop it, Cass! she told herself in exasperation. You’re acting like Jake asked you to get married or something. All he did was invite you into his home to stay a while so you could get some painting done and go to the ball with him to make his ex jealous. It’s not a big deal so stop treating it like one!
Right�
�she needed to get over herself and get some sleep as Jake had suggested. That way when he got home she would be ready to start sketching and painting right away, which was what she was here for.
Lugging her duffle bag and art supplies into the bedroom, Cass told herself firmly that she was going to put the big elf completely out of her mind and get some sleep.
But when she snuggled down between the silvery bedspread and the cool, silky gray sheets, wearing her favorite black lace sleep nighty, she couldn’t help remembering the last time she’d been in this room with Jake and the things they had done together. And when she smelled his spicy scent on the pillow, she felt her nipples get tight and achy and her pussy get wet.
His hands on me…the way he touched me…tasted me…
She tossed restlessly. God, she couldn’t sleep like this! Being in this bed, smelling Jake’s scent—it made her feel so restless. So…so…
So horny, whispered the little voice in her head.
Damn, that was true, Cass had to acknowledge. She was horny—thinking about Jake wearing only his sleep trousers and cradling her in his lap while she rubbed against him was doing all kinds of things to her—all of them naughty and forbidden.
Maybe I should get off—just to help me settle down and sleep, Cass thought. The idea appealed to her—she liked the idea of making herself come in Jake’s bed. But the covers were too hot.
Throwing off the silver bedspread and gray sheet, she tugged down the black lace panties that went with her nighty and spread her legs. She hadn’t brought a vibrator with her but she didn’t really need one—she’d always been more of a hands-on kind of girl.
With a little moan, she parted the swollen lips of her pussy and began to stroke with a light, swift touch, circling her clit with her fingertips in the way that always brought her to the edge.
God, that felt good! Cass closed her eyes and tried to think of Brandon but it was Jake’s face that rose in her mind’s eye—his broad shoulders and muscular chest and the smoldering look in his pale green eyes that made her crazy…