by Deanna Chase
Austin placed Carrie on the crocheted bedspread and turned to Quinton. “She’s been spelled.”
He waved a hand, indicating he didn’t want to be disturbed, and went back to puffing on his pipe. Austin ground his teeth together and clenched his fists, trying his best to keep his temper in check.
“Come, dear,” his mother said, taking him by the hand. “Quinton is listening to the spirits. Once he finds his answer, he’ll be able to help your friend.”
Girlfriend. The word was on the tip of Austin’s tongue, but he swallowed it, not wanting to explain his relationship status to his mother. She was likely to pull out all her astrology charts and start analyzing their compatibility. He didn’t exactly believe in any of that stuff, and even if he did, he didn’t need some chart to tell him Carrie was the one for him.
His mom led him to a deck overlooking the trees and sat cross-legged near the edge. She rested her hands on her knees, palms up, and said, “Sit and listen to the night. It’s where you’ll find answers.”
He suppressed a disbelieving snort and recalled the time she’d sat in that very same place, listening to the birds. She’d climbed up on the railing and announced the birds had told her she could fly. She’d been about to jump, but Quinton had stopped her just in time. He’d also taken away the magical mushrooms she’d ingested so she wouldn’t hear the “birds” talking again.
“Do you really think that’s a good idea? You’re not on anything are you?” he asked.
“Austin, please,” she said, sounding annoyed. “The mushroom incident was just that one time. There’s nothing wrong with listening to the universe.”
She was right of course. He listened to the earth all the time when he was growing his flowers. But he’d never found himself ready to dive head-first into the forest either. “I just want to be close to Carrie when she wakes up.”
“Quinton will come get you when he’s done,” she said, giving him a sympathetic smile.
“I’m sure he will, but I won’t be able to relax until I know she’s all right.”
His mother nodded and got to her feet. “Okay. I hear you.”
He led the way back to the guest room and stood in the doorway as he watched Quinton use a sage stick to smudge the negative energy from the room. Dammit, he thought. This isn’t helping. She’s not possessed. “Quinton—”
“Your friend is very peaceful in her sleep,” he said, “but she’s also been put under against her will.”
“Yes,” Austin confirmed. “An old girlfriend of mine did it to get her out of the way.”
Quinton’s head jerked up. “Do you know where this old girlfriend is?”
“Yes. Why?”
“We’re going to need her if we’re going to reverse this spell.” Quinton placed the smudge stick into a ceramic bowl and grabbed a crocheted poncho. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Once Austin had Carrie back in his truck, he sped back to his house with his mother and Quinton following him in their brand-new Subaru Outback. He’d laughed when he first saw it, wondering when they’d turned into Mr. and Mrs. Brady with their station wagon, but his mother had chastised him and said she needed reliable wheels to haul her pottery down to the farmer’s market every week. He’d promptly shut his trap and nodded his approval. It might have been the first responsible decision his mother had made on her own in the last twenty years. It was a behavior he wanted to encourage.
Chapter 10
With Carrie in his arms, Austin followed his mother and Quinton into his house, his nerves on-edge. Everything was quiet. Too quiet for comfort. He knew Brinn and Darwin must still be there because the red convertible they’d rented was still parked at the curb and his place was too far in the woods for them to walk anywhere.
“Oh… whoa,” his mother said, pressing one hand to her chest as she peered around the corner into his living room. “That’s quite… something.”
Quinton, who stood next to her, chuckled. “Whatever gets them off, I guess.”
“Oh hell,” Austin muttered. What had they walked in on? He really didn’t want to know, but he had no choice. Clutching Carrie to his chest, he sucked in a deep breath and forced himself into the other room. What he saw made his stomach turn.
Brinn was naked and lying spread eagle on his carpet with green and orange smears of what appeared to be baby food all over her body. Darwin was kneeling beside her, smearing green paste on one of her nipples.
“I always did love peas,” he said to her.
She gazed up at him, lust in her eyes as she said, “I can’t wait to suck your sweet potato.”
Austin nearly gagged. “Excuse us,” he said. “I think it’s best you get dressed now.”
Brinn glanced over at him. “Maybe you should just join us. I have some mashed carrots with your name on them.”
“That is never going to happen,” he said coolly and placed Carrie on his couch, praying they hadn’t used it for any of their sexcapades. Then he turned his attention to his mother. “Mom, will you get two towels out of my hall closet? These two are going to need to cover up.”
“It’s just mashed vegetables, darling,” she said. “Sex and nutrition. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Except they’re doing it in my living room,” he all but snarled.
“Right.” She nodded. “I can see how that might bother you. You’re not as free as I am.”
Brinn sat straight up, pushing Darwin out of the way. “You’re Austin’s mother?”
Penny McKee paused and glanced back at the baby food-painted woman. “That’s correct. And you’re Brinn, right?”
“Yes.” She climbed to her feet and clasped her hands together as she bounced like a little girl. Her large breasts bobbed up and down and became the center of attention for everyone in the room.
“My, those are certainly impressive,” Penny said, admiring the other woman’s bare breasts. “I always wished mine were bigger, but Quinton says a handful is enough.”
Brinn cupped both breasts and squeezed them together, creating an impressive show of cleavage. “Yes, I always did think they were my nicest asset. Well, besides my ass.” She turned around and popped her rear end in the air. Green baby food was smeared down her left butt cheek, and Austin tried not to think about his cleaning bill. Every square inch of his living room was going to need to be sanitized.
“Brinn,” Darwin whined. “I thought you were going to suck my sweet potato.” He glanced down at his unimpressive erection. “I’m dying over here.”
“Not in front of Austin’s mother, Darwin,” she said in a hushed whisper.
“Oh, don’t worry about me,” Penny said, waving an unconcerned hand. “I’m all for a healthy sex life.”
“Mother!” Austin said. “Do not encourage this.”
Brinn leaned into his mom, letting one breast brush up against her arm and whispered, “He’s so uptight. Did you breast feed?”
“Of course.” His mother shook her head sadly. “Sometimes no matter what you do, you just can’t save them from themselves. You’ll understand when you’re a mother.”
“Just go get the towels,” Austin said to his mother. “The last thing I need is for you and Brinn to bond over failed breastfeeding stories.”
“Okay, okay. Keep your pants on… or not,” she said with a wink.
Brinn giggled.
Austin groaned and turned to Quinton. “Can we get this started please?”
“Certainly.” He walked over to Brinn and held his hand out. “Hello. I understand you’ve been affected by a love spell that connects you to Austin.”
“It’s not a spell. We’re soul mates,” she said, taking his hand. “He’s destined to be with me and Darwin.”
“Right.” Quinton pulled his hand back and made no bones about wiping it on his pant leg. “Well, it seems Austin doesn’t share your view, and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I have to say that he’s correct. Due to an overzealous love spell, what you’re feeling isn’t real. Austin was
never really yours, and if you want your relationship to work with… um, did you say his name is Darwin?”
Brinn nodded and smiled at the man who was still staring down at his penis like he was waiting for it to do something. “Yes. That’s my Darwin. Isn’t he handsome?”
Quinton ignored her question and continued on. “If you want your relationship with Darwin to work, you’re going to have to let Austin go. Even in your love spell haze, you have to see that he’s never going to be compatible with the lifestyle you two have chosen. He’s vanilla, and you’re rainbow sherbet with chunks of bubble gum and sprinkles.”
“But I love vanilla,” she whined.
“I’m betting you only love it when it’s paired with a rich crème brûlée or a three-berry pie.”
She let out a huff but didn’t deny his claim. Austin had to admit that Quinton was handling this far better than he’d hoped. He actually was reasoning with the unreasonable.
“You and Darwin appear to be a match made in heaven. You don’t want to lose that do you?” he said. “If you don’t let Austin go, that’s exactly what will happen.”
Penny had returned and handed a towel to Darwin. He got to his feet and covered himself, then glanced over at Brinn before glaring at Austin. “He’s right, Brinn. Austin just ruins everything. And I’m done sharing you with him.”
“But you said—” she started.
“Forget what I said. I was just trying to make you happy. I spent all night in this man’s house role playing with you, but the minute he steps back in the door, he’s all you care about. I’m done.” He strode toward the door, his ass hanging out of the too-small towel.
Austin had to admit, he wasn’t sorry to see the man go. If he never saw him again, it would be too soon.
“Wait!” Brinn cried. “Don’t go.”
Darwin paused. “Why shouldn’t I?”
She straightened her shoulders and said, “Because I’m your dom and I said so.”
He shook his head. “That only works if I trust you, and I’m not so sure I do anymore. Get back to me when you’re done playing with the straightlaced one.”
“Okay, okay! I’m done. I’ll give him up.”
“Do you mean that?” Austin and Darwin said at the same time.
With tears in her eyes, she nodded. “If this old man can free me of the curse, I will happily give myself to you,” she said to Darwin. “No more Austin. No more threesomes, unless that’s what you want.”
“Oh, I’m always down for a good threesome,” he said good naturedly then pointed at Austin. “But not with that one. He’s a stick in the mud.”
“Fine. Anything you want,” she said, relief shining in her dark eyes. Then she turned to Quinton. “What do I need to do?”
Quinton gave her a reassuring smile. “I just need your permission to kiss you.”
Was he serious? Austin shook his head, half-convinced Quinton was full of shit. His mother usually was, so why not her fake shaman of a boyfriend? But Austin had witnessed Quinton heal a bird’s broken wing once before, so he knew the man wasn’t a complete charlatan.
Brinn glanced at Darwin.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Go for it. I don’t care.”
A small smile tugged at her lips. “That’s why I adore you.”
“And don’t you forget it,” he said.
Brinn turned to Quinton, closed her eyes, spread her arms wide, and said, “I’m ready.”
Quinton grimaced, and Austin let out a small chuckle.
“Watch it school-boy,” Darwin said.
“Or what? You’ll force me to eat baby food?”
The other man’s face turned a deep shade of maroon, but he refused to let Austin get away with shaming him. “That baby food role play netted me three orgasms and a promise for more later. Don’t judge what you don’t understand.”
Three orgasms? In less than an hour and a half? Damn. Impressive. Austin gave the man a look of respect and turned his attention back to Quinton and Brinn.
Quinton moved in and slipped one hand around the back of her head as he lowered his lips to hers. It was strange for Austin to watch his mother’s boyfriend kiss his ex, but at least there wasn’t anything romantic about it. Quinton had his eyes open, and he seemed to be sucking in her air more than kissing her. Then almost as soon as the kiss started, Quinton let her go and ran outside.
Austin rushed after him, with Penny on his heels. Quinton stumbled off the porch, clutching his stomach. Then suddenly he straightened and arched his back. His mouth opened, and hundreds of tiny black flies flew out of his mouth.
“Oh no,” his mother said, one hand pressed to her stomach.
“Black magic,” Austin said, feeling sick.
Quinton bent over, coughed up two more flies, then stood and faced them. “It’s over. She’s no longer cursed.”
Penny ran over to him. “Are you all right?”
He nodded. “I’ve run into that swamp witch before. She uses a combination of black magic and voodoo. The spells are very potent.” He met Austin’s gaze. “You’re lucky the spell wasn’t worse.”
Austin hung his head. “Brinn might no longer be cursed, but I am.”
“You don’t have to be,” Quinton said. “You just have to make her an offering. It’s a love spell, right?”
Austin lifted his head and eyed Quinton. “Yes. What kind of offering?”
He gave Austin a patient smile. “One to the love gods. You just need to bring someone who loves you to the magical river and give a blood sacrifice and prove your love. Once you do that, you’ll be free.”
“I’ll do it,” Carrie said from her spot on the front porch.
Austin jerked his head in her direction, joy filling up all of his empty places at seeing her awake and smiling at him.
“No, I will,” Brinn said from behind her. But as soon as the words left her mouth, a disgusted look flashed over her features and she shook her head. “No, I can’t do that. I don’t love you at all.” She stared at Austin then shook her head again. “What did I ever see in you anyway?”
“That’s a complete mystery,” Darwin said, joining her on the porch. Brinn glanced up at him and shrugged.
Without another thought, Austin strode over to Carrie and encased her in his arms. “You’re okay. Thank the gods.”
She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight. “I always was okay. Brinn just put me into a temporary magical coma. She released me after the curse on her was lifted. It’s fine. Everything’s fine now.”
Everything was not fine. It wouldn’t be until he was free of the damned curse. He tightened his hold on her and looked over her shoulder at Brinn. The other witch had her arm around Darwin, and she mouthed, I’m sorry.
He couldn’t be mad at her. Not when all of this was his fault. He nodded and mouthed back, Me too.
But then Brinn strode forward and smacked him in the forehead.
He released Carrie and got in Brinn’s face, all of his guilt vanishing as his skull pulsed with pain. “What the hell was that for?”
“For fucking up so much of my time these last years and for jeopardizing my relationship with Darwin. Hurry up and get yourself un-cursed before you ruin someone else’s love life.”
“I’m working on it, jeez,” he said, rubbing his head.
She turned to Darwin and said, “Come on. We need to work on what you’re going to wear to the wedding tomorrow.”
“I’ve already got a tux,” Darwin said, slipping his arm around her waist as they headed for the red convertible.
“Yes, but I’m talking about your undergarments. I have a special fur-lined G-string and some diamond nipple clamps for you to wear as we’re saying our I-dos.”
He gazed down at her, his eyes sparkling. “That’s the girl I know and love.”
“Damn. I like her,” Penny said to Quinton. “She’s my kind of girl. All she needs is a paddle, and it’d be just like that night in Salem two years ago.”
Quinton chuckled
.
Austin groaned. “Mother please. I’m standing right here.”
Carrie glanced up at Austin, and the two shared a disturbed glance at the idea of his mother and Quinton messing with nipple clamps, fur-lined G-strings, and some sort of spanking device.
“I’m in my fifties, Austin. I’m not dead,” Penny said indignantly.
“I never said you were,” he said. “I just don’t want to hear about it.”
“Like I said earlier, Penny,” Brinn called, “he’s a prude.”
Austin ignored them all and focused on Carrie. All he wanted in that moment was to be alone with her. Nothing more, nothing less.
Then Carrie slipped from Austin’s embrace and took a few steps forward. “Brinn?”
The witch in question paused and glanced back at Carrie over her shoulder. “Yeah?”
“I can’t help but wonder why you wanted those how-to books. It seems that you, um, are pretty advanced in your sexual knowledge.”
“Damned straight she is,” Darwin said proudly.
Brinn giggled and playfully swatted her fiancé. “I was looking for some wedding night ideas. You know, something a little more traditional, considering I’m planning to wear white. But, now that I’ve had some time to think about it, I doubt that’s a good idea. It just wouldn’t be us.”
Darwin nodded his agreement. “You’re right. It wouldn’t.”
She grinned up at him. “What do you think about trying it in a hammock?”
He frowned. “Didn’t we do that last year when we were in the Bahamas?”
“Did we?” She tapped a finger to her chin. “Oh, I guess we did. But I was thinking I could tie you up this time, just to make sure you don’t fall out.” She winked at him. “I get to be on top.”
“You always do,” he said.
Laughing, they made their way to the car and drove off into the night.
“Well, that was certainly instructive,” Penny said, grabbing Quinton’s hand. “I think Brinn might be on to something there.”
“About what?” Quinton asked her.
“The hammock. We have that one at the base of the treehouse. It hasn’t been christened yet. What do you say?”