by Sarah Bailey
“Am… am I doing this right?” she asked.
“Mmm, I need to kiss you again to give an accurate assessment.”
“Why do you want to kiss me?”
“Because you’re beautiful.”
She turned her face back towards him with disbelief written all over it.
“You don’t have to make stuff up.”
“I’m not.”
“Right and I’m the pope.”
“I should hope you aren’t. I’m not much of a fan of frumpy, old men.”
That brought a smile to her face.
“Be serious.”
“I like you, Grace.”
It went against his better judgement. He shouldn’t like the daughter of his coven’s mortal enemy or be helping her out of her contract with Hell. He shouldn’t have her in his lap right now. Nor should he kiss her again or take her to his bed. He wasn’t known for using his better judgement.
“You don’t know me.”
“Does that mean I can’t like you? Does it have to be complicated?”
She swung her legs, which were dangling either side of him.
“No, I suppose it doesn’t.”
The sound of music tinkled from inside his pocket as his phone vibrated. He pulled it out and looked down at it, cursing under his breath.
“I need to take this.”
“I should go,” she said.
She started to move, but he put a hand on her arm.
“Don’t. This won’t take long. Just don’t make a sound, okay?”
“Um, okay.”
He pressed to answer the call, placing it on speakerphone so he didn’t have to put it to his ear. He’d rather not have his eardrum burst from the impending lecture.
“Hello, Mother, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
“I don’t have time for your games. You know exactly why I’m calling,” his mother replied.
Grace’s eyes widened, confusion marring her features.
“Is it because I didn’t come to dinner last week?”
“I’ve told you a hundred times, stop breaking into Quincy’s house. What were you doing there this time?”
“Browsing.”
He heard his mother’s frustrated sigh down the phone. Grace shifted in his lap. He put a hand on her side, holding her still. If she kept at that, he wouldn’t be able to concentrate. She had no idea what her proximity was doing to him. It was a blessing she was only sitting on the edge of his knees, any closer and she’d know exactly how much he wanted her.
“Alistair…”
“Quincy is making a fuss over nothing. He doesn’t have a leg to stand on.”
“It isn’t what you took I’m concerned about.”
He didn’t like where this line of conversation was going.
“He said you had an accomplice. A girl.”
“So, I brought along a lady friend. Is that a crime?”
“He said the girl looked familiar. Do you have any idea why that might be?”
“Quincy will say anything to pit you against me, Mother.”
His fingers crept underneath Grace’s shirt, brushing against her bare skin. A small gasp escaped her lips. Her skin was so soft. He wanted to touch more of it. Even talking to his mother, he couldn’t keep his hands off the girl in his lap. If only she wasn’t so innocent.
“Who is she?”
“Just a client, nothing more.”
He rarely lied to his mother.
“Fine, just don’t expect me to bail you out again. I’ve had enough of Quincy’s phone calls.”
Grace’s breath was coming a little faster as his fingers continued to brush against her side.
“He’ll get over it.”
“Your father says you have a new girlfriend.”
He froze. Grace’s eyes almost popped out of her skull, her mouth falling open. Trust his mother to say something like that over the phone.
“Where did he get an idea like that?”
“He saw it in one of his visions.”
“I don’t know why you insist on listening to him.”
“Well, do you? Are we going to meet this one?”
He wanted to get his mother off the phone before she did any further damage.
“No and no. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do.”
“Alistair, you know Lacey is a ver—”
“I’m hanging up now.”
He didn’t wait for her to say anything else as he ended the call and slammed the phone on the desk in frustration.
“Who’s Lacey?” Grace asked.
“The girl my mother wishes I’d settle down and have babies with.”
“And that’s not what you want?”
“Do you think I want my parents setting me up with a bulldog from the right bloodline?”
“A bulldog?”
Lacey Lux was predatory. If she had her way, she’d dig her claws in him and never let go. He kept as far away from her as possible.
“She is an acquired taste.”
“So, you don’t want to marry a girl named Lacey and you don’t have a girlfriend.”
“That’s correct.”
“Just wanted to be clear.”
She was smiling at him.
“Care to elaborate as to why?”
“Well, I probably would’ve slapped you if I found you had a girlfriend and you’ve just been kissing me.”
“I suppose it’d be no less than I’d deserve. Do you make a habit of slapping rogues?”
“No.” She flushed. “I don’t make a habit of getting close enough to anyone to do such a thing.”
“You’re awfully close to me.”
“You’re the one who put me in your lap.”
“I don’t recall you complaining.”
“I… I… I should be going.”
She shifted off him, stumbling slightly. He watched her with some amusement. It was adorable how flustered she got over him.
“Um… well, I suppose you’ll call me.”
He stood, towering over her. She gulped.
“When I have the required tools, yes.”
“Then, I’ll see you. I guess.”
He tucked a finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him.
“You most definitely will.”
His eyes went to her mouth again. Goddess, that delightful mouth of hers. She stepped away from him and hurried to the door, not looking back. When she was gone, he slumped back in the chair, shaking his head.
Just what had he gotten himself into?
Chapter Five
“Grace the Ace, you’re out late again,” Josh said as soon as she opened the front door.
Grace jumped. She was still flustered from her evening with Alistair and her first kiss, quickly followed by a second and a third. Oh gods!
“You know how it is, stuff to do.”
Josh frowned at her as she walked past, intending to go straight to her room.
“It’s not like you to be out two nights in a row.”
She paused.
“I was at my dad’s last night.”
“And after that?”
She’d forgotten Josh had been home and made dinner when she’d dropped in to change.
“You know what, Josh, I’m beat. We can talk about this tomorrow.”
She dashed into the hall and then into her room before he had a chance to reply. Josh prying into her life was not what she needed right now. Where was Amelia when she needed her? Her other flatmate always took centre stage.
She was too restless to get anything done despite her mounting workload. She flopped face down on her bed, groaning. Why had she liked kissing Alistair so much? She barely knew the man. He was only helping her get out of this deal with the Devil. She could still feel his mouth on hers and the distracting touch of his fingers on her skin. It’d given her all sorts of alien feelings. Ones she didn’t want to be familiar with.
Although, she was realising what all the fuss was about. Why humans wer
e inclined to be close to one another. She shook herself, aware she was heading into dangerous territory with that line of thought.
The loud shrill from her phone startled her. She rolled over, fishing it out of her bag.
“Hello?”
“Grace,” came the hushed tones of her friend, Amelia. “I don’t know where I am.”
“What do you mean?”
“Every… thing is hazy. I feel funny. I… Grace, someone slipped me something. I can’t move properly.”
Amelia was slurring her words. Grace’s blood ran cold.
“I can’t get up. Please, please help me.”
“Where are you?”
“I can’t remember. Some club, in the toilet.”
“Okay. Okay. Stay where you are.”
She hurried out into the living room. Josh was still on the sofa.
“Josh, Amelia’s in trouble. I… I don’t know what to do.”
“What? Is that her on the phone?” he asked.
“Yes, she thinks someone slipped something into her drink, but she doesn’t know where she is.”
“Shit. Oh, shit.”
What could they do? How were they going to find her? She paced the room. There were too many possibilities. Oh gods! Oh gods! She stopped dead. She knew someone who could help her. Even if she didn’t want to go there, what other choice did she have?
“Grace, please, help me,” came Amelia’s pleading voice down the phone.
“Josh, phone Amelia. I need you to stay on the line with her.”
Josh pulled out his phone and dialled.
“Amelia, I need you to answer the phone to Josh, okay?”
“Okay.”
Josh gave her the thumbs up when he’d got through. She hung up her own call and dialled another number whilst Josh spoke to Amelia in low tones. She moved further away, not wanting him to eavesdrop.
“Well, have you not had enough of me yet?”
“Alistair, I don’t have time for jokes.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I… gods.”
The reality of her friend’s situation came crashing down. Someone was planning to assault Amelia. Isn’t that what people did when they spiked someone’s drink?
“Grace?”
“My friend is in trouble. I… I don’t know what to do. She doesn’t know where she is… gods… and she thinks someone put something in her drink. I… I’m freaking out.”
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“Give me your address.”
She told him without thinking.
“What if they find her? What if the person who did this attacks her?”
She couldn’t help the questions tumbling out, terrified for Amelia’s safety.
“Hey, hey, we won’t let that happen.”
“We?”
“Well, I’m assuming you called me because you want my help finding her.”
“I… well, I guess so. Wait, are you coming here?”
“Yes, I need something of hers or the spell won’t work.”
“Oh… Oh gods. Josh is here, he doesn’t know anything about you.”
She heard his laughter ringing down the phone.
“That’s what you’re concerned about? Your friend finding out about your illicit affair with me.”
“Oh, shut up.”
He was back to being his irritating self again. Why had she even considered the possibility he could be someone she actually liked?
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell him you kissed me in a cupboard.”
“You know that was an accident.”
“And the other times?”
“I… just, just shut up. I’m so going to regret ever meeting you.”
“Oh, Grace, you wound me.”
She rolled her eyes. Honestly, the man knew no bounds. He was trying her patience.
“I swear to god, Alistair, if I didn’t need your help right now, I’d never want to see your face again.”
“Well, that’s hardly the worst thing a girl has said to me.”
She let out a little mewl of frustration. Gods, he is so annoying.
“Do you fancy buzzing me in? You know, it’s awfully cruel to make a guy wait outside your door for too long.”
She stomped over to the intercom and pressed the button for the door. She didn’t care how he’d got here so fast. For all she knew, he’d opened another portal.
“I’m quite sure some of them must’ve thrown you out on your ear.”
“Well, there was this one time…”
A knock sounded at the door. She opened it. There he was, piercing sapphire eyes and all. Her mouth went dry. Why the hell did he make her feel all kinds of weird?
“You can hang up now.”
She glared at him before doing just that.
“Oh, just come in already,” she said, waving a hand at him and moving out the way.
He stepped into the room, looking around with interest as she shut the door behind him. Josh looked up, eyes widening at the sight of the newcomer.
“You said you needed something of hers, right?” she asked.
“Yes,” Alistair said, his eyes falling on Josh.
She took him by the arm, dragging him away.
“Grace? Who’s this?” Josh asked.
She stopped, pointing between the two of them.
“Josh, Alistair. Alistair, Josh.”
She tugged on Alistair’s sleeve again. His eyes were still on her flatmate as they disappeared into the hall together. She opened the door to Amelia’s room and pulled him inside.
“What kind of thing do you need?”
He pouted.
“Here I thought you were dragging me away to your room to have your wicked way with me.”
She threw her hands up. She didn’t have time for his games.
“Alistair!”
He grinned at her. She wanted to slap that smile off his face.
“A piece of clothing will do just fine.”
She opened Amelia’s wardrobe, pulling out the first thing that came to hand. She gave it to him. He held it up with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh, well, this is… interesting.”
A baby pink nighty with lace. She flushed a deep shade of red at the realisation. Oh gods!
“Now, I wouldn’t mind seeing you in something like this.”
“In your dreams,” she retorted, taking his hand.
“Where are we going? You know, you’re right, I will be dreaming about you in nothing but black lace.”
She didn’t dignify his comment with a response. She tugged him back into the hall and down to her own room. She stepped in, feeling more than a little embarrassed. She’d never had a guy in here. Not even Josh.
He looked around, his eyes falling on her three monitors on her desk.
“Your home office, I assume.”
“Can you do whatever it is you need to do to track Amelia here?”
He was looking at her bed, a smile appearing on his lips.
“Alistair… I know it might be exciting for you to be the first guy I’ve had in here, but Amelia is in trouble.”
“Of course,” he said, eyes twinkling as he turned to her. “Wait, the first guy? Has your little friend out there never been in here?”
“No. Now, please will you help me find Amelia?”
“Since you asked so nicely.”
He pulled out her desk chair and sat down, placing the pink nighty on the desk. Wisps of blue smoke curled around in a circle, manipulated by his hands. When it cleared, there were four candles and a bowl sitting on her desk.
“You’ve really never been with anyone before?”
“That’s none of your business.”
Why was he even asking that? Why did he care? Besides, she thought she’d already made it pretty clear she hadn’t.
“I’ll take it from your response I’m correct.”
“Do you ever stop talking?”
He took a few things out of hi
s pockets and placed them in the bowl.
“I think you know how to get me to stop talking.”
“Oh, for the love of… you really are impossible.”
“And you’re far too easy to tease.”
“Just get on with it already.”
She folded her arms across her chest, scowling at him.
“Come here.”
“Why?”
“I thought you might like to see how it works.”
She had to admit she was a little curious. She’d only learnt magic existed yesterday, but she’d already seen him do more than she could’ve imagined. She uncrossed her arms and went over to him. He snagged a hand around her waist and pulled her into his lap. She squeaked in surprise. What does he think he’s doing? He leant over her shoulder, looking down at the bowl.
“The candles represent the elements. Air, fire, water, earth.”
He clicked his fingers. One by one, each candle lit up in turn. He picked up the nighty, placing it in the centre of the bowl, nestled amongst various things she didn’t want to look too closely at.
“What now?” she asked.
“The incantation.”
“How will we know if it’s worked?”
“You’ll know.”
She was about to ask what he meant by that when he muttered a series of unintelligible words. The burning candles fluttered slightly as if someone was blowing on them. His hand curled around her stomach, she felt it tighten. She looked back at him, but he had his eyes closed. The things inside the bowl started to crackle and burn, drawing her eyes back to it. She yelped, gripping his hand. What on earth? He stiffened for a moment before relaxing. The four candles went out.
“By the goddess, what is she doing there?” he murmured.
“Doing where?”
“Somewhere she should most definitely not be right now.” He shifted, encouraging her to get up. “Come on, we need to go.”
“Where is she?” she asked as she got off.
“No time for explanations.”
He took her hand, dragging her back out into the living room.
“Where are we going?”
“Grace, what’s going on? Amelia isn’t responding anymore, I think she’s passed out,” Josh said as he stood up from the sofa.
Alistair seemed to be concentrating. Blue wisps of smoke appeared from his fingertips.
“What the hell?” Josh exclaimed.
“If he’s coming with, you better take his hand,” Alistair said.
She was becoming used to his portals as the purple light appeared in front of them.