Bespelled

by Dani Kristoff

  ‘Sure I can. I’m off. I hope to see you Monday sometime. Tuesday, at the latest. After that, there are no guarantees that I can hold back the horde of clients wanting you to do some work.’

  Pen hopped into her little car and sped away. Elena took in the overnight bag in Jake’s hand. She guessed he’d arranged it while she was in the ladies room with Grace. It made sense that he needed clothes, and things to be comfortable, yet the thought of spending another night with him was daunting. She had to take a firm stand, or she’d be so deep she would have no control over the situation. Once was a mistake, twice was inappropriate and three times would be criminal.

  She needed to talk to Aunt Elvira, urgently. Grace? We need to talk. Is Aunt Elvira back yet? She sent her message by hail to save time. Grace?

  Blast, she wasn’t answering. She’d call her instead, if Grace wanted to play that game. Usually they could hail within the distance of their homes.

  Grabbing her keys, she moved forward to open the door. ‘Are you okay?’ Jake asked, as he followed her inside.

  ‘Yes, fine. You can put your stuff in the spare room. I need a few minutes.’ She picked up the phone and went to her bedroom, calling Grace on the speed dial.

  ‘Hi, dear. I got your hail, but I was napping. What did you find out?’

  ‘More than I expected. You?’

  ‘I spoke to four people on that list.’ Grace’s voice came through slightly muffled, around a yawn. ‘That’s why I was napping. It took a lot out of me. Three of them were working on different potions that used the same ingredients. The other wasn’t nice.’

  ‘I’m sorry to put you through that. Thank you following those leads for me.’ How did she break it to Grace about Penderton? Elena thought of a gentle way to tell her, despite the turmoil inside. If she didn’t have to worry about Jake, she’d probably fall in an emotional heap. Yet she couldn’t regret finding her father.

  ‘How did you go? Did the old man hex Jake?’

  ‘No, I don’t think he did. It’s possibly Drew but I can’t be sure. Penderton said he hadn’t seen Drew for over a week. Aunt Elvira?’

  Gracie yawned loudly. Elena could hear the sounds she made while stretching. ‘She hasn’t surfaced yet. Maybe tomorrow.’ Grace sounded hopeful and, at that moment, Elena wished her aunt was there for many reasons, and not only the Jake situation. She needed to know the story about her mother and Penderton. She was certain her aunt knew it all.

  There was no choice but for her to sort through the mess herself. She thought back to the restaurant, to the pimply-faced waiter. Maybe she could talk to him and ask who had prepared the wine.

  Yet, how did anyone know she would be there, unless they’d followed her? Still, even then it would take planning. Unless her house was bugged? She shook her head, no, not that. A warlock could have listened in on her making the appointment, though. She didn’t keep wards so she wouldn’t have known if they were close by, particularly if they were good at shielding themselves. It never occurred to her that someone would bother eavesdropping on her life. Perhaps they had.

  Not completely convinced of her theory, she started to think outside the magical sphere. Could it be an enemy of Jake’s? Maybe some very naughty warlock or witch sold their services to place the hex. She’d have to work on that possibility. She’d try Pen on Monday if the situation hadn’t resolved itself by then.

  Grace had started to talk. Elena shook herself out of her reverie, not realising she’d left her cousin hanging. ‘Sorry, Grace. I didn’t catch that.’

  ‘So cranky warlock is still a candidate? You don’t sound yourself, what’s up? Royston too much for you? Want me to come over and ride shotgun?’

  ‘Yes, I do. Bring dinner, a movie, a board game…anything that will provide a distraction.’

  ‘What is it? It’s in your voice.’ Grace had her pinned. She always knew how to wheedle information from Elena. She dreaded the next words. ‘There’s something you’re not telling me.’

  Grace’s probing brought back all the memories; the trauma of her adolescence, learning about magic, learning about herself. She let out a sudden sob, holding it back with her hand.

  ‘Elena?’

  Tears dripped down her checks to drip off her chin. ‘Oh Grace. Penderton is my father.’

  A sharp intake of breath and Grace exclaimed. ‘What? Heavens, no.’

  She sniffed loudly. ‘Yes. He told me…told me he made the charm I wear. When I really looked at him, into him — oh, goddess, I knew he was too.’

  Grace sighed loudly. ‘That makes sense then about Drew. He’d likely make you vomit if he so much as looked at you. Hang on. I’ll be there quick as I can.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  Elena hung up the phone and stared at it for a moment. Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, she sniffed noisily. About to go in search of a tissue, she noticed her door was swinging open. Jake stood there, concern creasing his brow. His look stripped away the last of her defences. He stepped forward, opened his arms, and she threw herself onto his chest and sobbed. He’d put on a clean t-shirt, but soon it was soaking up her tears.

  ‘There, there,’ he said softly, rubbing his strong hand along her back. ‘Cry it out. No point in keeping it in.’

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said through her sobs. ‘It’s such a shock. It’s like half my life has been unbuckled.’ She looked up at him and wiped at her tears. ‘It’s all folding up.’ She hiccupped. ‘Destabilising…everything.’

  ‘You are still you—beautiful and sweet. In those essentials you will never change. Finding a father only adds to your life. He seemed like a good man.’

  Her eyes burned from crying. ‘Yes, he did.’

  No longer able to hold his gaze, she stared at his chest while trying to get her unruly emotions under control. Crying in front of someone was embarrassing. She hated it. It bared one’s soul. Jake stroked her hair, and her control slipped. ‘It’s okay,’ he said in a gentle voice. ‘I’m here with you. Don’t worry about a thing.’ He held her until she stopped crying. ‘So, Grace is bringing dinner?’ he asked over her head.

  She nodded against his chest and then dissolved into more tears. What else had he heard? After a few minutes, she’d had her cry out and let Jake go. Not quite able to look him in the face, she rubbed her eyes and stared at the ground. Lifting her chin, he gave her a peck on the lips, and smoothed the hair out of her eyes.

  ‘I’ll make us both a coffee. By then Grace will be here.’

  She nodded and sniffed loudly. ‘I’ll go wash my face.’

  He called to her as she was stepping into the bathroom. ‘So what kind of board game is Grace likely to bring?’ There was mischievous glint to his eye.

  A laugh bubbled up inside of her. ‘I don’t know. We never play them.’ Her mood lifted, and she smiled. ‘It was something I threw out there — something to keep us occupied and entertained.’

  ‘Good.’ He nodded, then paused, before moving out of view. ‘If you’re desperate for a game to play, I have a deck of cards in my glove box.’

  ‘Oh, what were you thinking?’

  ‘Strip poker,’ he replied his expression deadly serious.

  ‘Oh?’ Heat pooled in her belly and her face burned. Desperate to escape to the bathroom, she added, ‘We’ll manage without games.’

  After shutting the door, she gaped at her appalling reflection in the mirror. Her hair was standing on end, stiff from the wind. Her face was blotchy; her eyes swollen. She’d have to take a shower and hope the traces of her crying fit would fade. Jake had seen her looking like this? Gracious, how embarrassing. Another quick glance and she realised she couldn’t face Grace either. She looked a mess.

  * * * *

  Feeling refreshed and somewhat more emotionally stable, Elena entered the living room wearing pale blue track bottoms and a clean white t-shirt. The smell of coffee was enticing. Jake handed her a small cup straight away. Grace poked her head out of the kitchen.

  ‘Dinner is
in progress. Take a seat. I brought wine.’

  ‘That’s good of you, thanks.’

  Jake dawdled in the kitchen, until he was shooed out by Grace. ‘It’s under control. Go keep Elena company. Here, take her this.’ She poured some red wine into a large glass. ‘This one is for you.’ She extracted another glass and gave him a large portion.

  Jake winked. ‘You having some?’

  ‘No. Not in my condition.’ Grace patted her belly fondly and took a mouthful of orange juice.

  Jake chuckled. Elena realised they were getting on well. They had an easy camaraderie that Elena envied. That was good for the evening. Not so good in the long run. There was no long run.

  If only he hadn’t been hexed, this evening might have been in their future.

  Grace came and joined them in the lounge. The beef goulash simmered in the oven and the tantalising aroma wafted around the room like a hearth-warming spell. Not only was Grace a talented witch, she could cook like a pro. Elena could only imitate, and right then she didn’t want to try. Perhaps later she would garner the energy to open a can of peaches and scoop out some vanilla ice cream for dessert.

  ‘Jake tells me that Rory Penderton seemed like a nice man,’ Grace said, an easy smile on her face. She blinked at Elena, and sipped her orange juice.

  Elena’s gaze met Jake’s and then slid to Grace. So they had been talking. She guessed she couldn’t blame them. ‘Yes, in his way. Sort of reclusive, I thought. A bit closed in, avoiding pain.’

  ‘He’s had it rough, from what I’ve heard. Drew’s mother fairly ruined him financially, socially, and any other way she could. Didn’t know your mother was in the mix, too. That surprises me.’

  ‘Apparently Elvira is involved somehow.’

  Grace’s forehead creased. ‘Could be. She loathes him. I wonder what happened back then. She usually likes any man. Hardly any broken bridges in her past, if you know what I mean.’

  Elena nodded, she did know.

  ‘She sounds interesting,’ Jake chimed in. He inched a bit closer to Elena on the sofa. She didn’t move away. Too bad if it was a spell. She’d take comfort from Jake tonight, if only the platonic kind. She was determined that he’d be sleeping on his own, though.

  Grace filling them in on Declan, his new bike, the trip away and the baby, took until dinner. Grace had outdone herself, with roast potatoes cooked in garlic and rosemary to go with the tender goulash, flavoured with caraway seeds. Jake complimented her cooking at least three times. Grace fairly purred at his compliments. Elena couldn’t stop smiling. The food was delicious, and the meal and the company took her mind off her troubles.

  Grace had brought a couple of DVDs that she thought would amuse Jake, but they had no need for them as they talked till very late in the evening. Grace kept topping up her wine glass so Elena didn’t really have an idea of how much she’d drunk.

  With a big yawn, Grace stood up and stretched. ‘I better go now. I’ll drop by tomorrow.’

  Jake stood up and thanked her for the meal and her company. Elena walked Grace to the door. With her dark eyes, which missed nothing, Grace assessed Elena’s face and touched her cheek lightly.

  ‘It’ll be fine. You’ll see, it’ll work out. Jake’s great. Perhaps you can keep him. I’m sure Mother won’t mind that he’s human.’

  Elena cast a quick look over her shoulder. Jake was picking up their glasses and taking them into the kitchen to stack the dishwasher. She turned back to Grace. ‘I’m in serious trouble. I really, really like him and he is so…so…’

  Grace kissed her on the cheek. ‘I know.’

  After the door closed, Elena paused there, staring at nothing. She had to negotiate the next half hour or so carefully, and it was going to be so hard. He’d gotten to her already. He was kind, considerate, intelligent and sensitive, on top of being hot as all hell. Rejecting his advances was going to hurt more than his pride. She shook her head. Was she even up for that?

  Chapter 11

  Jake came up behind her, put his arms around her and drew her close. His embrace was warm, and firm, and strong. It was so right being held like that, being held by him.

  That feeling of rightness flicked on switches inside. With a sigh, she relaxed into his body. It was wrong, but his allure was too overpowering. She’d be stronger later. Maybe, when the wine she’d drunk wore off, she could spell him again — spell him good, and hope that Fel didn’t come back and ruin it all by waking him up. ‘Where is the cat?’ she asked.

  Jake let her lean out of his arms as she looked around the room. He shrugged a shoulder. ‘I haven’t seen it.’

  There was a meow and Fel strode into the room, as if on cue.

  ‘She must be hungry. I didn’t see any cat food.’

  Elena fought the wine buzz in her head. ‘There’s leftover goulash. I must be out of cat food.’ She over-pronounced ‘cat food’ so Fel would take the hint. Ghost cats didn’t eat.

  ‘I’ll get some for her.’ Jake went into the kitchen. Elena leaned down to speak to the cat. ‘What do you think you are doing? This isn’t funny.’

  It’s extremely amusing. I like your tom.

  Her eyebrows rose. ‘He’s not my tom.’

  ‘I’m sorry, did you say something?’ Jake asked from the kitchen.

  Elena stared blankly at him, unable to respond. He smiled at her, a brief flash of even white teeth and those intense blue eyes.

  He caught sight of Fel. ‘Here, kitty.’

  Fel flicked her tail and waltzed into the kitchen to eat. How did a ghost cat make itself alive? Definitely your tom, the cat thought at her.

  ‘What shall we do now?’ Jake asked, his gaze travelling all over her, heating her blood. Elena swore she could feel a pulse in her sex. Throb, throb.

  ‘Oh, well,’ she said around a yawn, ‘I’m going to turn in.’ She went to take a step on unsteady legs, not sure if it was the wine or the arousal that was causing her loss of balance.

  ‘Wait,’ Jake said in a low, sexy voice that sent prickles along her skin and little blades of excitement trekking up her back. It was as if he had the ability to put a spell on her. She couldn’t take another step and slowly turned to face him.

  ‘Now Jake — ’

  He cut her off with his mouth descending on hers. His hot tongue duelled with her own as she opened to him. She melted into the kiss, but in the back of her mind she was jumping up and down and waving her hands screaming — stop it, stop it now, before it’s too late. She mentally turned away from those warnings. The way he held her up close and tight, moulding her to his body, melted any resistance. His firm pecs pressed up against her taut nipples. The muscles along his back quivered as her fingers danced over them.

  Free of her moral bindings, she kissed him back. Grabbing the back of his neck, she pulled him into her. Opening herself, she crushed his lips with her own, sent her tongue aggressively into his mouth and plastered her body against his. Head spinning from the dizzy contact, she backed off and licked along his lower lip. Jake shivered, and let out a low groan. He leant back, his eyes heavy with arousal. With a smile, Elena reached up and drew him down for another kiss. She wasn’t fighting the spell now. She wasn’t surrendering to Jake either. She was going for it, because she needed, wanted and had to have what he was offering.

  Soon she was pulling up his t-shirt and trying to drag it over his head. He laughed softly at her efforts. Meanwhile, he had shoved down her trackpants so they puddled around her feet, and he had his hot mouth on her left nipple, and his hand squeezing her right butt cheek. Her bra was somewhere in the vicinity of the kitchen where Jake had flung it. No, she had flung it, theatrically. He broke the kiss long enough to shuck his t-shirt.

  Diving forward, Elena nibbled across his chest, lathing each nipple with her tongue, grinning when he groaned. Her hands slid down his sides, anchoring on his hips as she rubbed herself against him. In reaction to her boldness, he lunged for her neck and sucked, making her gasp before he kissed her soundly all
over again.

  ‘I love the feel of you,’ he said. ‘I like the way you make me feel when our skin meets, when our lips join.’ His eyes rolled up. ‘I love being inside you.’

  The timbre of his voice slid along her nerves, snatching her breath and kicking up her heart rate. She wanted him inside her, too.

  Elena’s hands strayed lower, unbuttoning his jeans and then lowering the zip gently to spring him free. She pushed his jeans down, tugging them to the floor. She knelt and helped him step out of them, reaching up to drag the boxers down too. On standing, hot taut flesh met her eager hands. He was engorged and ready. She wanted to taste him. Closing her eyes, she kissed him hard and full on the mouth.

  His hands held her head as his tongue explored, enlivening her passion until she could no longer hold back.

  How much wine had she drunk? Previously, she could say he outmanoeuvred her, that she’d succumbed to him. But this was aggression on her part. She was actively pursuing this encounter.

  She was going to be sorry. Well, if she had to pay a price, she was going to earn the punishment. Breaking the kiss, she pushed him back toward the sofa. He dropped into the seat, his eyes dark with lust. She ran her gaze over his body. Bold and naked, she stood before him drinking in his wide shoulders, narrow hips and succulent-looking cock.

  He’d given her pleasure and she wanted to return it. She nudged his knees apart and settled between them, taking him in her hand. Lowering her head, she slow-licked the tip of his erection. Jake gasped. Then she took him all in, deep as she could go, cupping his balls in her hands. She licked him like he was an ice cream. She wasn’t experienced, but she had read about sex. Inexperienced, but not ignorant, she thought as she pleasured him, egged on by the sounds he made. He called out her name and a dozen other things as she brought him close and then eased off. His reaction was turning her on, making her wet.

  Sitting back on her heels, she watched as she continued to stroke him. His chest heaved, a sprinkling of sweat across his skin. His eyes were darting around as he moaned. How she loved to have this power over him. She’d never sought to be so blatant in a sexual act before. The wine had certainly lowered her inhibitions, but it was more. It was him, and how he treated her, and reacted to her. They had a secret language.