Chick with a Charm

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  Lily decided that she and her dad needed a change of venue. “Let’s go see what Anica and Mom are up to in the kitchen,” she said.

  “You go ahead. I want to finish cataloging everything on this bookshelf.” He turned and picked up a particularly ugly carving of a llama.

  “That one has Anica’s name written all over it,” Lily said.

  “I think you’re right,” he said with complete seriousness. “I’ll make a note.”

  A rush of tenderness for her goofy, anal father brought tears to Lily’s eyes. She turned away so he wouldn’t see. How could she tell him what she’d done? How could she ruin his newfound faith in her?

  Now she wanted to hold on to Griffin for two reasons—because she was crazy about him, and because her father probably saw in him a vision of the son he’d never had. Yes, using that elixir had been underhanded, but if she hadn’t done that, her father and Griffin would never have gotten to know each other. She had a feeling they could be great friends, and didn’t that count for something?

  Kevin had insisted on coming over to Griffin’s apartment to strategize, and nothing Griffin could say made any difference. Miles would have been there, too, except that he’d hooked up with the clerk at the natural foods store and they were spending the day at her place.

  “Typical,” Kevin said over beer and burgers. “My friends are both getting laid while I, the one with the most outstanding package, sit home alone.”

  “At the moment you’re sitting on my couch watching baseball with me,” Griffin pointed out. “But if that’s not exciting enough for you, I can find out if Lily knows any other witches.”

  “I almost wish you could, but I don’t think you want to tip your hand and admit you know she’s a witch.”

  “I think she knows I know, which makes for some interesting sex.”

  Kevin picked up his bottle of beer. “So you’ve said.” He tipped the bottle in Griffin’s direction. “You’ve also admitted to a serious lapse in judgment last night, and I blame that potion she gave you. You’re in dangerous territory, buddy.”

  “Yeah, but I think the salt helped. Last night I didn’t know it was a stupid thing to do. This morning I did.”

  Kevin swallowed a mouthful of beer and shook his head. “It’s still too close for comfort. I worry that you’ll buy two tickets to Vegas and get married by Elvis.”

  Griffin choked on his bite of hamburger.

  “You’ve already considered it, haven’t you? Good God. We need something more powerful than a few handfuls of salt.”

  Griffin cleared his throat and took a swig of his beer. “Like what?”

  “This is the point where you’ll be happy to have a friend who graduated summa cum laude, because I’ve applied my considerable brain power to this problem, and I have some ideas.”

  “Do tell.” Griffin took another bite of his burger.

  “You could sound a little more grateful and eager about hearing them.”

  Griffin finished chewing and swallowed. “It’s tough to get motivated when the sex is better than anything I’ve ever had.”

  “Yes, but don’t forget that was your parents’ downfall.”

  Griffin went completely still. “You’re right. Jesus, you’re absolutely right. Give me what you’ve got.”

  “Two things. The first is this.” Kevin reached in his pocket and pulled out a polished black stone about the size of a silver dollar. “I got it at a New Age store.”

  “Yeah, and what do I do with that?”

  “Put it in your pocket. It’s called jet, and it protects you when your emotions are out of control. At least that’s what the woman told me. Just my luck she was old enough to be my mother.”

  “What about when I don’t have a pocket, if you get my meaning?”

  Kevin rolled his eyes. “Rub it in. You’re getting naked with a gorgeous woman and I’m not.”

  “I think you should see if Debbie’s interested.”

  “Maybe I will. Anyway, when you don’t have a pocket for this, I guess you could slip it into the pillowcase.” He handed the stone to Griffin.

  The stone fit neatly into his palm, and as his fingers closed over it, the stone grew warm. He wondered if something that small could handle a craving so big.

  “I don’t think the jet alone is enough to solve the problem, if that’s what you’re wondering,” Kevin said.

  “I was, yeah.”

  “I thought it would make a good stopgap measure. If you really want some help, you should go to Jasper Danes.”

  “Anica’s fiancé?”

  Kevin nodded. “I don’t know if you remember, but Miles and I met him a few weeks ago. He came in the bar with Anica.”

  “Right!” Griffin had been having his usual happy hour with Miles and Kevin. Jasper had come over claiming to know him from the gym where Griffin used to go. Griffin didn’t remember Jasper at all, but it didn’t matter. They could have once belonged to the same gym.

  “You’ll see him Sunday, obviously.”

  “I think that’s a given.”

  Kevin picked up the last of his hamburger. “He’s about to marry Lily’s sister. Chances are he knows Anica’s a witch and probably has some pointers.”

  “I have to admit that’s brilliant.”

  His mouth full, Kevin simply nodded his agreement.

  Griffin smiled. No false modesty for his buddy Kev. “I think you’re on to something,” he said. “Those two sisters are close. I’ll bet Anica knows about the potion. The night Lily gave it to me, Anica called her twice that I know of. I don’t think she wanted Lily to have sex with me.”

  Kevin swallowed. “That’s the rest of my theory. From what I read online when I was researching this stuff, I’ll bet every time you have sex with Lily, the spell gets stronger.”

  Griffin thought back over the past few days. That theory made a lot of sense. “Are you saying that in order to break the spell, I need to stop having sex with her?” Even though Lily wasn’t with him, his body cried out in protest.

  “Even I wouldn’t expect that kind of sacrifice,” Kevin said. “After the fun you’ve had, you can’t go cold turkey. But maybe the salt and the jet will help you taper off.”

  Griffin sighed and slipped the smooth piece of black stone in his pocket. “Do you think there are couples who have great sex and a dynamite relationship?”

  “I’m sure there are,” Kevin said. “But when you’re under a magic spell, there’s no way you can evaluate whether you have the good relationship to go along with the fantastic sex. You’re not playing on a level field.”

  Griffin gave him a long look.

  “I mean that in the most helpful way.”

  “Right.”

  “Seriously, Griff. If you ever want to find out whether you have something special with Lily, you have to break the spell.”

  “Yeah.” Griffin blew out a breath. “And I may never forgive her for putting it on me in the first place.”

  Lily realized she’d never seen Griffin in the bar on a Saturday night, so she had no idea when to expect him. When he was coming from work, he and his buddies would arrive sometime between five and six. But he wasn’t coming from work and she doubted he’d show up with his friends, either.

  She tried not to watch the door, but that proved difficult. Every time it opened, she glanced over, hoping to see Griffin. She suspected he’d conferred with his buddies today and might have more plans for how to counteract the effects of the elixir.

  Well, bring it on. For every measure he took to break the spell, she’d ramp up the sexual excitement. Her father had said they’d make a good combination. Her instincts had told her so from the beginning, but her dad was a smart man. If he thought she and Griffin fit together, she’d work all the harder to make it happen.

  But first he had to show up. She couldn’t believe he’d be able to affect the spell so strongly that he wouldn’t feel the urge to be with her. Even without the spell, he had the promise of sex without condoms, w
hich should be enough to bring him back to her tonight.

  He was taking his own sweet time, though. Nine o’clock came and went with no Griffin. The bar was full of people, but not the one person she wanted to see. She was so distracted that she messed up an order, something she never did.

  Sherman stopped back to get the revised tray of drinks. “You okay?”

  “Sure. I just—”

  “You wonder where Griffin is. I’ve seen you watching the door. Is he due at a certain time?”

  She shook her head. “We didn’t set a time. It’s only that he’s usually here by now.”

  “So call him on his cell. Tell him to get his butt down here.”

  “Yes, maybe I will.” But she was embarrassed to admit to Sherman that she didn’t have Griffin’s cell number. She’d had to use her crystal ball to get his work number. Their relationship had moved so fast and he’d been so devoted, coming by the bar every night, that she hadn’t thought to ask how to get in touch with him.

  For that matter, he didn’t have her cell phone number. She realized that if he simply failed to show up, she would have only one point of contact for him—his office—and that would do her no good on the weekend. She had no home address and no cell phone number. He was the most important man in her life right now, the most important man in her life ever, and she couldn’t get in touch with him unless she did another spell with her crystal ball.

  As she was in the midst of vowing to find out his cell number the first chance she had, her own cell rang from the pocket of her backpack. It was the generic, unassigned ring, so she knew it wasn’t anybody she usually talked to. She checked the number and didn’t recognize it, so that might mean . . .

  Her heart beat faster as she tucked the phone against her shoulder so she could continue making drinks while she talked. She’d have to keep a sharp eye out for Devon, who would fire her if he found her talking on her cell phone when she was supposed to be concentrating on her job.

  She hardly ever did that, but if the voice on the other end was the right one . . . and it was.

  “You’re probably wondering why I’m not there yet,” Griffin said.

  “It’s good to hear your voice.” Then she cringed. What a teenage-crush sort of thing to say. “What I mean is, it’s good to hear from you.”

  “I wanted you to know what I was up to.”

  “That’s nice. How did you get my number?”

  “Detective work. I went back to the office this afternoon and checked the phone log. Because you called the office yesterday, I was able to get the number.”

  “Ingenious.” She couldn’t help noticing that he’d checked the phone log this afternoon, but he hadn’t contacted her until almost ten at night. It looked as if he’d found more remedies for the spell and was using them to keep from hanging around like a puppy. “Where are you?” She hoped he was in a cab headed toward the Bubbling Cauldron.

  “Out on a walk with Daisy.”

  “You are?”

  “I hope you don’t mind. I’m sure you’re really busy down there, considering it’s Saturday night. You wouldn’t have time to talk to me, anyway.”

  “That’s true.” She ducked behind the counter when she saw Devon come out of his office. “In fact, I have to hang up now.”

  “Okay.” He didn’t sound upset. “I’ll see you when you get home.”

  She stood, the phone still in her hand, and Devon was right there, staring at her.

  He popped his gum and leered at her. “You wouldn’t be taking personal phone calls during work, would you, Lily?”

  She adopted her haughtiest manner. “There are party details to iron out. I want everything to be right, especially because Anica invited Dorcas and Ambrose Lowell.” All of that was true, even if the phone call hadn’t been related to any of it.

  Mention of the Lowells wiped the leer off his face. “Right, right. It’ll be a good party. With Dorcas and Ambrose here, I figure it’ll get a mention in Wizard World. I’ll send the editors a few pictures, in case they want to run those.”

  “They might at that.” Personally, Lily wasn’t looking forward to interacting with the Lowells tomorrow. Dorcas would have too many questions.

  “I want to make sure I get a picture of me with them,” Devon said. “You’ll do that for me, right?”

  “Sure, Devon. I’ll do that.” But for the most part she planned to avoid the Lowells. Maybe they wouldn’t say anything incriminating in front of her parents, but they’d probably be evaluating the situation with Griffin. She knew they didn’t approve because they’d tried to enlist Anica to stop her.

  Everything should be fine if she stayed away from them and made sure Griffin did, too. Fortunately he didn’t know anything about them. To him they’d just be another couple at the party, somebody he met once at the beginning of the festivities and then promptly forgot, because she’d steer him in another direction. She’d been to plenty of parties in her life. She ought to be able to manage this one.

  Chapter 22

  Griffin was impressed with how the polished black stone in his jeans pocket had affected him. He was still eager to see Lily, and he was really excited about having sex without bothering with a condom, but he wasn’t feeling obsessed about any of it anymore. He’d even called Kevin to report on the effect of the stone.

  But the power of the stone was about to be tested. Lily was due home any minute, and he’d stashed the jet inside the pillowcase on the right side of the bed, where he’d slept each time he’d spent the night in her apartment. Other than that, he hadn’t set the scene, hadn’t provided flowers or wine.

  He had spent more time reading her magic books, though, but now those were all carefully put away so she wouldn’t suspect he’d been gathering more information. He’d concluded that Kevin was right—he had to find out how to break the spell. Being tied to Lily because he had no choice wasn’t good.

  She kept a basket full of magazines in one corner, and he’d settled on the couch to read one about dogs when he sensed that Lily was near. A moment later he heard steps in the hallway, and Daisy left her spot by his feet to stand near the front door, tail wagging. Griffin found it amazing that he’d known Lily was home before Daisy had sensed it.

  The key turned in the lock, and his heart rate went up. He’d managed to get through the evening without needing to be with her, but now that she was here, all he could think about was holding her, kissing her, making love to her until they were both exhausted. He tossed aside the magazine and stood.

  She came through the door with a smile that made his breath hitch. Logically he knew there were women out there more beautiful than Lily, but at the moment, he couldn’t imagine how that could be. He would never tire of looking at her.

  Shrugging out of her backpack, she dropped it to the floor and greeted Daisy.

  He waited, letting Daisy have her moment.

  Once Lily had finished petting the dog, she straightened and gazed at him, her eyes shining. “Hi, stranger.”

  He swallowed. “Dear God, I’ve missed you.” Closing the distance between them, he pulled her into his arms and groaned with relief as he held her tight and lowered his mouth to hers. One kiss and he was desperate for her.

  She seemed equally desperate, backing him toward the bedroom as she fumbled with the buttons of his chambray shirt.

  They’d become more efficient at undressing each other, and soon they were both naked and rolling together on the bed, each of them laughing with joy. Griffin stroked and kissed every part of her he could reach before changing positions so he could stroke and kiss whatever he’d missed.

  They tumbled about on the bed, teasing each other with the promise of what was to come. At last he pinned her down, unable to wait another second. The laughter faded from her eyes, replaced by smoldering heat.

  Slowly he lowered his head and kissed her, giving her his tongue as he probed her wetness with his cock. With a soft moan she lifted her hips in invitation, and he thrust deep. His he
artbeat thundered in his ears as he reveled in the glory of making that connection.

  And yet there was a subtle difference. Tonight he wasn’t crazed by the need to drive into her. Tonight he had no dreamy illusions that he should spill his seed and make her pregnant. Tonight was about pleasure, not obsession.

  As he began a lazy rhythm he lifted his head to gaze into her eyes.

  She was watching him, almost as if she sensed the difference, the added control he had over his emotions. “Something’s changed,” she murmured.

  “Has it?” He angled his hips, increasing the friction. Tonight he had the presence of mind to make those slight adjustments. Tonight he was less of a wild man and more of a lover.

  “Yes.” She arched her back so his strokes came in closer contact with her clit. “I can feel you . . . thinking.”

  “I am thinking.” He moved a little faster. “I’m thinking about making you come.”

  She gasped. “Exactly.”

  He looked deep into her eyes, wanting her to hear him. “I can’t let you be in charge forever, Lily.”

  Her gaze didn’t waver as she dug her fingers into his hips and met him thrust for thrust. “I know.”

  “Then let go.”

  She was breathing hard. “I want to.”

  “And you will.” Pumping faster, he tilted a fraction more, and felt the first ripple move over his cock. He’d brought her there without losing his mind, without letting a haze of lust obscure everything. As the first ripple turned into waves, as she cried out in surrender, he allowed himself to come.

  It was good . . . very good . . . but not like before. He would miss that hedonistic rush that had claimed him when he was fully under the spell. But the price for that kind of tumultuous passion was losing control of his body, his mind, perhaps even his soul. And that was a price he was unwilling to pay.

  They made love again that night, and Lily could tell that Griffin was less in control the second time. He’d weakened the effect of the elixir with some sort of countercharm earlier that day, but apparently good sex would eventually tip the balance in the other direction. He would need to keep using countercharms to keep the spell from overwhelming him. . . . Or give up sex.