‘Jake,’ she called.
This time he heard her, and turned around. Elena stood stock-still, shocked by how much his face had changed. As well as an emotional effect, the spell going bad had physical repercussions. His eyes were encircled with dark shadows, his cheeks sunken and drawn. ‘Stay where you are.’ Even his voice sounded empty.
‘Jake, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said.’
His intense gaze held her. ‘It’s too late now.’
‘No, not too late. I’m here. I can make it right. Please.’
He shook his head. She could tell her words had no effect. It was as if his skin was ice and she was sleet sliding off him.
‘It’s over. It doesn’t matter.’
Choking back a wail, she protested, ‘No, it’s not over. It does matter. Please forgive me.’
He shook his head again and used his hand to chop down empathically. ‘There’s nothing to forgive. You see, I know. I know I don’t matter.’
Elena let out a growl. She wanted to kick and scream and rant at him, at anyone. How wrong were these words coming out of his mouth? These thoughts and feelings were not natural to him. He had drive and stamina and ambition, and this spell had taken it out of him and screwed it all up into something miserable, something without hope.
‘It does matter. I know you don’t believe me about the spell but it’s true. It’s not you feeling this way. It’s the spell. It’s gone bad; it’s festering inside of you.’
‘What does it matter to you why I feel this way? You don’t care.’
She took an impulsive step toward him. ‘I do care.’ He grew rigid and wary. She pressed her point. ‘Would I be here talking to you if I didn’t care? Goddess, I’m so far gone on you, I can’t think straight. I seduced you because I wanted you. I was so remorseful about it afterwards, but not because I don’t care for you. I was wrong to take advantage of you. I wish there was no spell, that you could love me honestly and truly.’
His features stayed perfectly composed in that state of misery and wretchedness she’d found him in. There wasn’t even a hint of a smile at her declaration. She was running out of ideas, and logic didn’t seem to be working. ‘Please listen to me, Jake. I do care. I’m afraid, being up here on this building. I’m here for you.’
His eyes travelled from her head to her toes. She couldn’t tell what emotions were there inside him. She’d have to be touching him to do that.
‘Prove it,’ he said. There was a trace of the Jake she knew in that command.
Elena looked at the sky for inspiration. How was she going to prove that she loved him? Nothing came to mind, so she had to ask. ‘How? Will you let me come over there to be near you?’
He shook his head. ‘No.’
‘What then? What can I do to prove what I say?’
‘Take off your bra.’
‘What?’
The wind had whipped up. She wasn’t quite sure what he’d said.
‘Take off your bra. Toss it.’
If she wasn’t so scared, she would have laughed. Typical Jake; it was a reference to his strip poker suggestion from the previous night. Would he always get his way, no matter what? At least it was better than, ‘Throw yourself off the building to prove yourself.’
When she didn’t move straight away, he turned from her and leaned over the side of the building. ‘No! Wait,’ she cried out.
She started fumbling with her clothes. ‘I’m doing it. Give me a minute.’
He held onto the rail and turned towards her, the wind making his short dark hair stand on end.
It wasn’t easy to get the bra off while she was still wearing her sundress. She had to put her handbag down, and her phone. After she unclasped it, she got the straps off her shoulders and pulled them over her elbow. Lifting her hand under the skirt of her dress, she reached up and tugged the bra off. She brandished the orange and lace confection before him, and then tossed it as he’d requested.
He was looking at her. She knelt down and pressed Drew’s number. She was desperate to fix this. ‘Can you step away from the barrier?’ She watched him take a step toward her. The tightness in her chest lessened.
‘I’m trying to get this spell fixed. Give me a moment. I need to speak to this jerk on the phone.’ She held up a hand, fingers splayed. ‘Please, five minutes, that’s all I’m asking.’
He nodded, and then looked around him. It was as if there was nothing to interest him. His gaze returned to her bra and his face clouded. Was that longing in his expression?
Drew picked up. ‘Elena.’
‘Yes, it’s me. You’ve got to remove the spell.’
‘Why would I do that? You’re having so much fun.’
So the bastard had been eavesdropping on her apartment. She hoped he got a lot out of it. May he live to regret it.
‘Look, I can’t talk about that now. You need to take the spell off — it’s gone bad. He’s going to jump off a building. He is suicidal.’
‘That’s odd. What did you do to him? Never mind, I think I know. You turned all cold-hearted bitch on him, didn’t you?’
She closed her eyes. His criticism stung. ‘I rejected him, yes.’
‘Why, for goddess sake? From what I could tell you were really enjoying it. Really enjoying him getting into you. Are you so chicken-hearted, then? Afraid he might want companionship, a commitment, children?’
‘Not chicken-hearted, you bastard. I was enjoying being with him, but it was wrong. He wouldn’t have wanted me without the spell.’
Drew had the audacity to laugh. ‘You think?’
Elena rubbed her forehead and snuck a look at Jake. He’d taken a step away from the barrier and was watching her warily.
She smiled reassuringly. He frowned back at her.
‘Hang on a minute,’ she said into the phone.
‘Jake?’
He was stepping backwards. He was in danger of falling over the railing. ‘Stop!’
Her hand extended toward him, even though the difference was too great.
‘I want to see them?’
‘Them?’
‘Your breasts. When I said to take off your bra it was so I could see your breasts. If you loved me, you would do this.’
Groaning, she put the phone on speaker and knelt down, making out like she was taking off her dress. ‘Drew, this is very serious. The reason I didn’t go for you is that we have a blood bond. You have heard that siblings get sick, nauseated, if they try to be romantic? I met your father. He is also my father. Please, for your father’s sake, stop this.’
Her voice was muffled as she tried to work out how to take off her dress. She had one failed attempt lifting the skirt over her head. ‘What are you doing?’ Drew asked.
Elena ground her teeth. She wanted to scream at him, but losing it wasn’t going to make him listen. ‘I’m taking off my dress on top of this building to stop this man from ending his life because of your stupid, vindictive spell. End it now.’
She hung up. There was no point continuing. She’d have to stand to get the dress off.
Jake’s gaze was fixed on her she took a couple of steps closer. ‘I’m taking my dress off now. No more distractions.’
She kept her gaze on him, hoping to keep him focused on her. Perhaps he’d be tempted to step forward and touch her. The dress came up when she tugged it. The garment eased over her head, and she tossed it. A gust of wind billowed the skirt and then swooped the whole dress over the side of the building. Great, she thought. I’m in my undies in the middle of the city. Getting home is going to be fun.
Jake’s gaze travelled all over her. ‘You’re so beautiful. Looking at you is painful.’
He turned away suddenly. She lunged forward. ‘No, please. Touch me. I want you to touch me. I will be with you as long as you want me.’
Facing her again, he held out a hand. She reached for him, closing her eyes, when their fingers touched. Thank the goddess. ‘A few more steps, Jake.’
She brought
his hand toward her, placing it so that he cupped her breast. A ghost of a smile played around his lips.
Stepping back she brought him with her. He moved forward, his gaze locked with hers and then stopped. There was such devotion in his eyes, and sadness too. How she hated to have that power over him. The spell had definitely gone bad. He may have had the puppy dog expression before, but not this ‘I live because you notice me’ look.
His hand was cool on her breast. The wind whipped up her hair. She wanted to spill her heart to him. Then something moved, something within her perception, like a tug. Drew had removed the spell.
Jake stumbled, like he’d had a moment of faintness. His hand dropped from her breast and went to his forehead. He staggered, but kept his feet. Then he shook himself like a dog shaking off water.
When he looked up at her again his gaze was hard. He gaped at her, and then took in his surroundings: the large metal shed that housed the air-conditioning units, the hub of the elevator and the breeze that tugged at his clothes and hair. His eyes travelled down her next-to-naked body, furrows marring his brow.
‘Jake?’
He let out a roar and fell to his knees, his voice full of misery. Elena jumped, despite herself. Leaning over, he put his hands on the ground and dry-retched. He was in that space where he had all the memories of the last few days, but they were being viewed by his normal self. It must have been strange for him. A hard light licked his eyes as he angled his head toward her. Jake looked around him, shook himself one more time as he gazed out to the harbour, his expression distant.
‘What happened?’
A heavy sigh escaped her. ‘Drew ended the spell.’
Shaking his head he rubbed his temples. ‘I feel like shit. I can’t put it all together — the last couple of days.’
‘I hope you’ll feel yourself again soon.’
He let out a heartfelt groan. It made goosebumps erupt on her skin. The aftermath must be bad.
She reached for him but he waved her off. ‘Don’t touch me.’
His gaze raked over her and then speared out over the side of the building. She could see the bewilderment, the tremors of his anger.
‘I wanted to end it. I was so…’ He seemed lost. He looked around, his expression full of revulsion.
Shaking his head, he ran his hand over his head. ‘Did you drug me or something?’
‘No. I…’ She wanted to say she had done nothing, that it wasn’t her fault, but couldn’t in all justice say so. She’d taken advantage of him, hurt him when he was vulnerable. ‘I didn’t put the spell on you. My actions didn’t help. I’m sorry.’
‘You still going on about that spell. You’re nuts. Just leave me alone.’
The wind picked up and she hugged herself.
‘Why don’t you get dressed?” he asked her, shoulders stiff, fingers clenched.
‘My dress blew away.’
His gaze scanned the rooftop. He nodded, rubbing his hand along his jaw. After glancing at her once under the shade of his dark brows, he climbed to his feet and shrugged off his jacket. Wordlessly, he handed it to her, and then scraped his t-shirt over his head and tossed it to her, too.
‘You look cold.’ There was no warmth in his voice. The chivalry was instinctive. Damn it all. She worked her head and arms into his clothes. Trying not to read too much into it, she admonished herself. Once she’d pulled the t-shirt on, she grimaced. It smelled of him. She closed her eyes, fighting the memories that the scent evoked.
‘What about you?’ she asked.
‘I’ve spare clothes in my office.’
He wouldn’t allow her to approach. She couldn’t tell what he was feeling using magic. His forehead was clouded with anger and every movement and expression confirmed it, from the hard slant of his mouth to the clench of his jaw. His eyes, though, were the worst — the blue had turned to grey ice.
‘Can we go inside, please?’ she asked, hugging the jacket to herself, glad of the sweep of the t-shirt along her upper thighs.
After taking in the roof again, he nodded. A sigh left him as he began to walk toward the door. He rolled his shoulders. She couldn’t help noticing his shoulder blades moving under the smooth skin of his back and the curve of the muscles of his upper arms.
As they walked together, she felt a sense of control emanating from him now, the vulnerability buried. He was probably filing the whole episode away under delusion or drug-induced psychosis. Hopefully, by the end of the day it would be a faint recollection, filed away in his logical, legal mind. It was all right for him. She had to live with the memories.
He held the door for her. ‘We’re done. I want you out of my life.’
The sting of tears made her blink. She wouldn’t fall to pieces in front of him. He had every right to be angry, and yet this was the moment she had been trying to avoid. She could forgive his anger, could forgive him hurting her, but couldn’t forgive herself falling in love with him. That had been stupidity.
Jake had a security pass so he could access the lifts after-hours. He said nothing to her, didn’t even look at her while they rode the lift.
He stopped the lift suddenly. ‘What are you doing?’ she asked.
‘I’ve changed my mind. I was going to take you to my office first. Now, I’m taking you downstairs so you can leave.’ He punched the lift button.
‘But…we should talk more. I can explain.’
He looked at her, anger drawing his lips thin. ‘No, you can’t. I want you gone. Don’t you understand? You made me believe you cared. It wasn’t real. It was some kind of sick joke.’
‘I do care. I’m so sorry about all of this. Please believe me.’
He straightened as the lift hit the ground floor and the door flew open. ‘I don’t believe anything you say. You need help, Elena. Serious help.’
Tears blossomed in her eyes as she stepped out of the lift. She didn’t want him seeing her cry so she turned her head away. She deserved his anger, his scorn. She was lucky he hadn’t called the police. She wasn’t sure on what charges, but he was a top lawyer, so he could probably come up with something.
The green marble flooring of the building’s reception area was cool under her tender feet. A lone security guard looked up from his desk and stared. Jake’s jacket came to just below her buttocks. She held it around her shoulders so that the sleeves were loose. Thankfully, the t-shirt came lower and provided some sense of decency. She adjusted her handbag, keeping the phone inside, and stopped before she reached the doors. Jake didn’t even check his stride.
She quickly put on the jacket correctly and buttoned it up. If she were lucky there might a taxi, or maybe she could summon someone from the coven quickly. She hoped Drew kept out of her way because she was quite ready to scratch his eyes out.
Jake held the door open for her so she could pass in front of him. She turned around, trying to see some warmth in his expression. He wouldn’t even look at her and turned away.
‘Jake, please.’
He hesitated, but didn’t turn around. ‘I’m sorry. I really am sorry I hurt you. I like you. This isn’t easy for me either.’
‘Yeah, well aren’t you to be pitied. See you.’
He shut the door and it locked behind him automatically. She stood there, watching him growing smaller as he walked along the foyer and re-entered the lift.
The sounds of traffic passing behind reminded her that she was standing in the middle of Sydney, partially-dressed. It was Sydney and stranger things had happened, she supposed. There was probably a shop open down near the quay where she could buy a new dress.
A little black hatchback pulled up. ‘Get in, Elena,’ said a male voice.
Thank God one of the coven had come to help her. On autopilot, she jumped in, desperate to escape her heartbreak, her embarrassment.
The car lurched forward. She turned to thank her rescuer. ‘You!’
Chapter 15
Jake Royston sagged against the wall of the lift as he headed back to his f
loor. His mind was in turmoil; his emotional control had never been so shattered. He was adrift, he was hurting, he was wounded, pride, soul and heart. He didn’t think there would be any coming back from this.
What had caused his brain meltdown? Drugs? No drug he’d ever heard of would have had him in the space he was in. Yet it was possible — a spiked drink, maybe more than one. As soon as he thought of it he discounted the idea. Drugs seemed so opposite to Elena’s style of life, her beliefs. He could not believe her capable of doing that.
He had to accept that he’d loved and lost. The loving had been golden. Now there was nothing but black-tinged grime in his heart. Was it a spell, like she kept saying? Or was it that her spell over him had shattered, shattered in time to save him from killing himself?
He’d never let a woman into his heart. He’d let her, and she had massacred it. What a fool he’d been. The delicious sexual encounters he remembered in great detail — the lovely shape of her mouth, the dimple and the wide green eyes. Her sorrow and joy on finding her father was part of his make-up now. What did it all mean? It was real, the encounter, the feelings of love.
He let himself into his office and stopped by the door. There were her sandals. He frowned as he picked them up. She must have been looking for him. He stood there contemplating her shoes, trying to repress the memory of seeing her wearing them.
She had no security pass so she must have snuck in up the stairwell. Didn’t that mean she cared? It was too confusing. How was he to make sense of it all? He’d let her go, too, dressed in nothing but his jacket and t-shirt. What an ass he was. Yet she was so curled up in this dark grime coating his insides that he couldn’t see clearly. He hated the confusion, the uncertainty. He launched himself at the window and scanned the street below. No sign of her. She was gone.
There was nothing he could do now. Closing his eyes, he rested his head on the windowpane. It was too much. He couldn’t deal with it. The only thing he could do was forget the turmoil inside. He was in his office, his work surrounding him. It would help, burying himself in casework until he could face things.
The office computer hummed to life as he powered it up. There was a pile of files on his desk, left there by Pen in anticipation of his return. Shaking his head, he took a seat. Work would see him through this.
Bespelled Page 11