Chapter 6
The digital clock showed 3.30 a.m. Jake slept beside her, his arms curled around her middle. That encounter had been an amazing experience. One could easily get addicted to it, to Jake.
Despite his alluring energy, she had to remember they were from different worlds. It was an accident. Not to be repeated.
Even knowing that, she desired his touch as if he had woken a part of her that had been lying dormant all her life. How happy she was to discover she had a sensual side. Now that she understood that, she couldn’t deny it.
Perhaps she would have to date Drew, the grumpy warlock, after all, and give him a chance. He might be a jerk, but maybe he was good in bed. What choice did she have? It would break Elvira’s heart if she ran off with a human and further weakened the coven. That would make her as bad as her mother.
It was difficult to sleep with Jake beside her. She’d never slept with a man in her bed before. How could she relax with him touching her, his small twitches and movements, and the sound of his breathing? She lay there watching the clock, anticipating no sleep and secretly enjoying the feel of his body against hers.
* * * *
Sleep must have claimed her, because she was waking up with the most stimulating sensations running through her. Her breasts were being caressed, while one nipple was being deliciously suckled. Her back arched, giving Jake greater access. He switched nipples and his hand slid between her moist folds. Already, she was slick with arousal. How did that happen? She’d been asleep.
He worked over her breast, drawing her nipple deep until it hurt, giving both pleasure and pain. He moved up her body and caught her gasp between his lips, sending his tongue to meet her own.
How did this start again? It was not meant to happen.
His fingers slid inside. Her whole body bucked as he probed her depths, seeking to give pleasure as he dragged kiss after kiss from her. This guy was an expert, she thought. Her sex throbbed.
If her thoughts weren’t in disarray she could have spelled him, just enough to allow her to escape from the bed. However, he kept her occupied, attacking her erogenous zones with practiced flair. He kissed down the column of her throat and then bit her gently at the juncture of her neck. Her back arched off the bed and then he was on top of her.
‘Ready?’ he asked, his voice hoarse with passion.
‘Oh, goddess,’ was all she could get out before he nudged her legs apart and speared her. Her body was so sensitised, she almost came as his heavy erection pierced her sex. A few lunges and she was making that noise again, the incoherent cries and groans of pleasure. These seemed to egg him on. His rhythm increased.
He stopped, and, keeping himself inside her, he lifted her hips as he adjusted his position, bringing his knees further up the bed so that he had to lift her to thrust. She was putty, like something he could reform at will.
The thrusting started again, only more vigorous, and faster. His hands on her hips sent all kind of flutters into her belly. He was so dominant, lifting her easily and impaling her with his impressive cock. Her pleasure was intense. She reached up and held onto the bedhead as he plunged into her, their flesh meeting with satisfying ease. Her eyes closed as she lost herself in the rhythm of their joining.
Suddenly, he stopped. Her eyes flew open. There was a smirk on his face. She lifted her head and met his heated gaze. He disengaged, moving further down the bed. As he dragged her down to align her hips to his face, her soul surrendered.
‘You’re delicious,’ he said as he put his hot mouth on her. Her body jerked as his tongue teased, sliding silkily between her engorged labia. How powerful was the sensation of his tongue running over that sensitised flesh? A deep, gut-wrenching groan escaped from her throat when he latched onto her clitoris and suckled gently. An orgasm overtook her in moments, waves of ecstasy swamping her again and again.
Next, he was plunging inside of her before the orgasm faded, drawing her up a rung or two of pleasure. She grabbed onto him, wanting to touch him, wanting the exquisite feel of his firm flesh beneath her hands. He radiated heat, and lust, and joy. In this moment of contact, she could feel those deep emotions from him. He was honestly and truly enjoying fucking her.
Taking the initiative, she drew herself up and kissed him savagely. That emotional connection could not be denied. He may be spelled, but he was enjoying her at the most basic level. Later, there might be recriminations, but right then, they didn’t come into it. She ended up on his lap. They both brought abdominal muscles into play as they immersed themselves in a sensual dance. He held her as she arched her back, surrendering to her orgasm. With a few well-timed jerks of his hips, he came too.
He fell onto the mattress, bringing her with him. ‘God,’ he said. ‘Oh, God.’
Elena’s mind floated somewhere out of reach. ‘Mmm?’ was all the response she could muster.
‘That was intense — so intense.’
‘It was…’
Looking down the length of his body, she noticed he’d been wearing a condom. ‘Where did you get that from?’ She didn’t have a supply. She passed him a tissue so he could dispose of it.
‘I have a pocket in my boxers, just the right size for a little stockpile.’
Her brow furrowed. ‘Why?’
He grinned. ‘You never know when you are going to have the opportunity.’
She frowned and looked at him sideways. ‘I see. So, you have sex with a lot of women?’ It made sense. He was good at it, and had a hot body, along with a certain amount of charm.
‘It’s not politically correct to talk about the women you’ve had to the woman you’re with. Besides, they meant nothing to me.’ He grabbed her to him. ‘You, on the other hand, mean everything.’ He gazed at her at length, until she lowered her lashes. How could she bear that look, knowing it was a spell? She had to stop this right now. Maybe he would sue her for gross embarrassment when the spell was removed.
Chapter 7
Elena must have dozed off because she woke to the sound of someone knocking on the front door. The bed was empty. She blinked away confusion and sleep.
The sound of the shower running reached her. She wrapped a sheet around herself and went to see who had come calling. Grace’s silhouette showed through the frosted glass. A quick glance at the microwave display, and she frowned. Surely the markets weren’t over yet.
Opening the door with a spell, she met Gracie’s smirk as she came in. ‘No need to ask what you’ve been doing. You look well and truly ravished.’
Elena straightened up. ‘Very funny. What are you doing here? I thought you were tending my stall.’
Gracie sat herself down on the sofa, groped around in her purse and held up a wad of money. ‘I did, and you sold out about an hour ago. Those Rozelle markets are really good. I bought heaps of things for myself. Out of your takings, of course.’
‘Sold out. You’re sure?’
‘Yes. I have orders for fifteen more. I wrote them in your book.’
Elena plonked herself down next to Gracie. ‘That’s not happened before.’ She pushed her tangled hair out of her face and eyed the cash. Her stall was really taking off.
‘A lot of people said they’d heard about your good health charms and came to the markets especially. One guy had come out on the early morning train from the Blue Mountains. I was impressed, even though he was a little weird. He said they had real magic in them.’
‘That’s good, I suppose. Good that people are buying them. Not good that someone is saying out loud they have real magic in them.’ Grace dropped the money in her lap — over $2000. Elena picked up the cash and stared at it.
Jake walked into the room, wearing his Armani trousers and nothing else. Grace took him in from head to toe, her eyes lighting up. She leaped up from the couch and put out her hand. ‘Hello, I’m Grace Riordon.’
‘Riordon? Ah yes, the development.’ Jake had a big smile on his face, like he had got all the cream. He took her hand and shook it decisively.
‘So, did Elena tell you about my proposal?’
Jake looked wide-eyed and innocent. He had barely listened to her when the spell hit. Elena found herself gritting her teeth. It was plain wrong to talk to him, wrong, like her sleeping with him. Oh, goddess help me, she thought, staring at the ceiling.
‘A little…we became occupied by other things. Although, I will turn my mind to it shortly.’ He sat on the couch but his eyes never strayed from Elena’s face. They were like hot coals, searing a path to arousal. Elena tried to break eye contact. It was ridiculous. She wasn’t affected by the spell, so why was she reacting like this?
Grace looked like she was about to say more until Elena threw up her hands. ‘No, don’t go there. Look, I’m hungry and in funds. Let’s go up to Balmain Road and have brunch.’
Grace pouted. ‘I’m sorry. I can’t. I have an errand to run for you, remember?’
‘But Grace, this is important.’ Elena looked meaningfully at her and waggled her eyebrows. ‘You can entertain Jake while I have a shower.’
Grace grinned at Jake and gave a little shake of her shoulders.
‘I can keep you company in the shower,’ Jake said. Elena caught his look, his eyes, dark with lust. She shuddered, as if he had stroked her clitoris. What is wrong with me? I’ve never been in lust this bad before. Maybe a cold shower would work, and a little more determination. She couldn’t sleep with him again.
Grace came to her rescue. ‘Okay, I’ll stay a bit longer. Keep Jake company.’
Fel jumped up on the sofa. Grace’s mouth dropped open and then clicked shut. ‘Is that Fel?’
The cat meowed and did a convincing job of pretending to be a real cat by rubbing itself against her hand. Grace narrowed her eyes as Fel purred loudly.
‘Don’t ask.’
Grace leaned in closer to the cat. ‘How odd. What on earth are you doing, Fel?’
The cat meowed again, then curled up on the arm of the sofa and went to sleep. Grace blinked a few times as the cat thought something at her. Elena couldn’t catch it. Fel’s barbs were always one on one.
Jake glanced at the cat with a smirk on his face. Fel had given him a lucky break.
After frowning at the cat a bit longer, Grace tossed her dark hair over her shoulder.
‘Any chance someone could make a coffee?’
Jake shot up off the sofa. ‘Yes, wait there. You, Elena?’ The way he said her name made her melt on the inside.
‘No, I’m fine. Shower.’ She jerked a thumb over her shoulder to indicate where she was going. She backed out of the room, praying that nothing would go wrong. Grace was a much better witch than she was; maybe she could learn something about Jake’s condition and the spell while Elena showered.
It was a warmish day. Elena turned the hot down low and had an almost cold shower. Washing herself only reminded her of their lovemaking — no, sex. There had to be emotion involved to use the word love. Jake may think he was in love but he knew women, and he knew how to the play them. She had to remember he was going to wake up, recover from the spell, and be bitter about wasting his time with her.
The big question was whether she was going to regret the encounter.
Chapter 8
Mild sunlight bathed them as they sat on the street side of the De Fleur cafe, one of Balmain’s better eateries, watching other locals do their shopping or drink coffee. Normally Elena would find it relaxing, but every time she looked across the table at Jake, he was gazing at her intently, making her sex throb.
Grace had decided that she was famished and joined them for brunch, although she had made a couple of calls in the backyard while Elena dressed in a pink sundress and strappy sandals.
Picking up her cup, Elena took another sip of her café latte. When she put it down, Jake reached for her hand again, rubbing his thumb along hers and sending all kinds of sparks through her skin. Given she was so affected by his touch, she again considered the possibility she had been spelled after all. Surely all this lust wasn’t coming from her.
‘Jake, could you excuse Grace and me for a moment?’ She stood up, and jerked her head in the direction of the toilets. Grace, seeing her intention, stood and grabbed her purse before following.
‘Won’t be long,’ Grace said to Jake, flashing him a broad grin. Elena could tell that her cousin liked Jake, and appreciated his physique.
Elena pushed through the doors to the ladies and whirled around.
‘What is it?’ Grace asked.
‘Grace, am I under a spell too?’
Grace placed some of her dark shoulder length hair behind her left ear, and closed her eyes. The light touch of Grace’s magic flowed over her. Elena gasped when Grace probed deeper. ‘You don’t appear to be affected. You seem quite happy. Why do you ask? All that hot-blooded man boiling your blood?’
Elena turned away and checked her face in the mirror. ‘You could say that. I tried to keep it platonic, but he outmanoeuvred me. Now all he has to do is look at me and I’m ready to jump him.’
Grace leaned back against one of the washbasins. ‘I remember what that was like. Declan was particularly devious in gaining my attention. Once we grew up, I mean. He had to work hard for me to take him seriously, but when I noticed him…’ She fanned her face, her expression one of contentment.
Elena sighed. She had witnessed the emotion, the lust, and ultimately the love that bound her cousin to her mate. ‘That’s all right for you. Declan is a warlock, and, hence, acceptable. Jake is not acceptable.’ She closed her eyes and pushed down the emotions she was feeling. There was no future. He was a womaniser, and a human. As soon as the spell was lifted, he’d see her with different eyes. He’d be angry and hurt. She hadn’t done right by him, but she was at a loss to know how she could have done better. An expert at working her defences, it was if, around him, she didn’t have any. Putting on a bright smile, she said, ‘Now, any leads for me on those ingredients?’
Gracie gasped. ‘I forgot. I have a list of names.’ She pulled out a scrap of paper and ran her forefinger along the list as she showed it to Elena. ‘These seven people recently bought three of the ingredients commonly used in love spells.’
Grabbing the list, Elena ran her eyes down it. Mary Jo Kemp, a 65-year-old witch, who wouldn’t hurt a fly, and Geoff Sanders, a middling warlock, but one she didn’t know well. There didn’t appear to be any strong connection between them. The other names meant nothing until she reached the last one. ‘Rory Penderton?’
‘Drew’s father,’ Grace replied, nodding, her dark eyes serious. ‘He lives out Homebush way.’
Elena lifted her head and stared into the middle distance. ‘I’ve not met him.’ Her gaze shifted back to Grace. ‘But that’s too close a connection, don’t you think? Drew’s father. Me, love spell?’
Grace shrugged. ‘What would it gain him to spell someone other than his son? I can understand if the date had been with Drew…not very fair, mind you.’
Elena finger combed her hair. ‘Let me see, there are stacks of motivations: humiliation, or revenge for spurning his son’s advances.’
Grace stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, rolling her tongue inside her mouth. ‘That is possible, I suppose. I don’t know Penderton well at all. Mother doesn’t like him much. Something about the past…’
‘We better join Jake before he runs off.’
Grace chuckled. ‘That’s not likely is it? Not the way he eats you with his eyes.’
Elena paused, remembering how he’d gawked at her over her coffee. If only that look was real…and possible.
‘Look, I’ll try Penderton, can you check these other two? Harris and Beckford? I don’t know them either. If we have no luck, we’ll try the others, as unlikely as it seems at this moment.’
‘Sure. I have time before Declan comes home. Still no word from mother.’
>
Elena repressed a sigh. Typical. Elvira was slippery at the best of times, and when you needed her was her best time to be absent. Her aunt called it character building when they were growing up. Problems that needed solving were their own responsibility. Rarely did she have to intervene once Grace and Elena had sorted something out.
When they returned to the table, Jake was on the phone, talking business. Elena panicked. She couldn’t have him negotiating a deal while under the influence. What could she do though?
‘Yes, I’d appreciate it,’ Jake said into the phone.
She reached out and touched his hair. He paused, turned slightly, and smiled. It was dazzling. The voice on the phone was still talking. ‘I’ll remember the favour come bonus time. Thanks. Drop them off to the address I told you. Bye, and thanks.’
He ended the call. Elena lifted a curious eyebrow. ‘Everything all right with you?’ she asked carefully.
He stood up and stroked her face, bringing his forehead to rest against hers. ‘It is now.’
A shiver passed through her, sending a jolt through her sex. She stepped away from her seat, her labia engorged and throbbing. Swallowing, she managed to say, ‘Grace is heading off now.’
Smiling, he held out his hand. ‘It was lovely to meet you, Grace.’
Her cousin held out her hand and sent Elena that look. The look that said ‘Goddess! He’s gorgeous and have a great time.’ Elena returned the smile weakly. The day was going to be exquisite torture.
After they waved Grace off, she turned to him. ‘I have an errand to run out to Homebush. Would you like to join me?’
‘Sure, I’ll drive us out there. It’s time I gave my car a decent run. Short city trips do it no good at all.’
‘Ready?’ she asked, as he drank the last of his second espresso. She swirled her hair into a bun and clipped it for the journey.
He nodded decisively and helped her from her chair. Elena paid the bill before they headed back to her place and Jake’s car.
The spell didn’t seem to affect Jake’s ability to drive. He was wily and skilled, negotiating the traffic through to Victoria Road. He had the top down and wisps of hair escaped from her bun. She clawed the strands from her face and tried to see how close they were on Jake’s GPS. Jake took another turn and cast a glance her way.
Bespelled Page 5