by Sarah Bailey
“Alistair, please, I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
The pleading note in her voice had him pausing. His mother drove him to distraction, but he didn’t want to hurt her. He knew she hated the fact that he didn’t visit very often.
“Fine, I will stay for dinner. I’m telling you though, drop this notion that I have any interest in Lacey. Understood?”
She frowned at him but nodded.
“Well, I suppose I better go apologise for slamming the door in her face.”
“Oh, Alistair, you didn’t.”
“Don’t even start.”
He walked out of the kitchen and opened the front door again. Lacey was still standing there, her face red with anger.
“Lacey, please excuse me for my lack of manners. My mother is in the kitchen and will be delighted to see you.”
She tried to smile, but it was clear she was put out by his behaviour. He didn’t care one iota about her opinion of him, but he would be polite for his mother’s sake.
“Well, now, you must’ve been playing some sort of joke on me, right?”
“Oh yes, that’s me all right.”
He rolled his eyes and stepped out of the way. She walked in, her hips swaying in a way she thought was seductive. He wanted to tell her that wouldn’t work on him, but he kept his mouth shut. Lacey had nothing on Grace. His chest constricted at the thought of her. He was desperate to know how she was, but she’d made it very clear she didn’t want anything to do with him.
Shutting the door behind Lacey, he followed her into the kitchen.
“Lacey, how is your mother?” Henrietta said, her smile so wide he thought she might get her face stuck in that position.
“She’s fine, busy with her potions business. I’m so pleased you invited me to dinner, Etta. It has been such a long time since I’ve seen you and your husband and, of course, Alistair.”
“Oh, it is our pleasure.” His mother turned to him. “Alistair, go be a dear and tell your father it’s ready.”
He sighed and left the room. His mother could entertain the bulldog. He had no interest in dealing with annoying small talk. He stuck his head around the door of his father’s study.
“Dinner’s ready. Mother says our presence is required at the table.”
“Be right there,” his father replied.
When they were all seated and served, his mother making small talk with Lacey, his father leant over to him.
“About earlier, I still wanted to talk to you.”
“Go on then.”
“The girl in my vision, she looked like—”
A jolt went through him. Something was very wrong.
“What the hell?”
“Alistair?” his father asked, confused by the interruption.
“I have to go.”
He stood up from the table.
“What are you doing?” his mother asked.
“I’m sorry, please excuse me. I’ll make this up to you, but I have to go.”
He strode from the room and out the front door, blue smoke trailing from his fingertips. Someone or something had gotten through the wards at his house. He intended to find out what the hell was going on.
§
Grace sat curled up under a blanket on the sofa with Josh next to her. They were watching a film, but she wasn’t really paying it much attention. She felt so alone. Her father was gone, and she missed Alistair terribly. She wished she hadn’t told him she never wanted to see him again. She wanted to see his piercing sapphire eyes twinkling with amusement when he teased her. She wanted him to hold her, to kiss her. He had well and truly gotten under her skin.
“Are you alright?” Josh asked.
She looked over at him, shaking her head.
“No.”
“Is it your dad?”
“No.”
She wished it was, but she’d accepted her father was dead. The funeral had been and gone. Only a few people had attended.
“Is it that guy?”
“Josh…”
“It is, isn’t it?”
She sighed. She’d told Josh some of the story, but not everything. She hadn’t told him about the kissing and the way Alistair made her feel. She was pretty sure Josh had put two and two together anyway.
“I know you don’t want to talk about it, but you like him, don’t you? I saw the way you looked at each other.”
“And?”
“You’re miserable. The whole time I’ve known you, you’ve never expressed any interest in a guy. Never. Not once. That was okay, Grace. What’s not okay is you avoiding the only guy you’ve ever allowed close to you. I mean you let him in your room and you only let Amelia in there, not even me.”
“I can’t. It’s too complicated.”
“Because he’s a witch?”
And because she was technically a witch too. And his family and their coven would use her against the mother who’d left her. And she was sure said mother would want to see her. She wasn’t ready for that. Not at all. Not one bit.
“I don’t care what he is.”
“Then what is it? I wish you’d tell me what really happened.”
She’d been reluctant to tell anyone the full story.
“I just… I can’t. It would never work.”
Josh stood, pacing the room. He looked irritated.
“You know what, I don’t accept that.”
“It’s not for you to decide.”
“Do you know how long I’ve wished, hoped, dreamed you’d look at me in the same way you look at him?”
Her heart stopped. What was Josh saying?
“I’ve always liked you, but I accept that you see me as your friend. So, I’m calling you out on your bullshit. Stop moping around the flat, pining after a guy you can have. He likes you. Don’t be me and love your best friend from afar.”
Josh had been in love with her this whole time. She hadn’t seen it. Hadn’t realised. Oh gods! Her best friend.
“Josh…”
He put a hand up.
“No, don’t worry about me. All I want is for you to be happy and it’s clear he does that for you.”
“He thinks I hate him.”
“Go make him see that you don’t.”
She wanted to, but she was worried he’d shut the door in her face.
“I don’t know, Josh.”
“Do you like him? I mean really like him. Can’t get him off your mind, want to see him all the time like him?”
“Well, yes… that’s exactly it.”
“Then stop being an idiot. Go and tell him how you feel. It’s never too late.”
She knew Josh wasn’t going to drop this until she did, and she had to admit she wanted to see Alistair. She stood up, throwing the blanket off her.
“Okay, but… I need to change first.”
She was wearing tracksuit bottoms and an old t-shirt. Josh smiled.
“Go make him see what he’s missing.”
She spent half an hour looking through her clothes and wasn’t anywhere close to deciding what to wear. She knew he wouldn’t expect her to wear something fancy, but she wanted to look nice for him. She’d put on her sexiest underwear set, blushing when she remembered he’d told her he’d like to see her in black lace. She didn’t know if she’d let him get that far, but it was better to be prepared.
She finally decided on an outfit of a plain black blouse, skinny jeans and a pale blue cardigan. She went back out into the living room and showed Josh.
“You look beautiful.”
“Do you think it’s okay?”
“More than okay. Now, go and get your man.”
“Josh!”
He smiled.
“Just be happy. That’s all that matters.”
She slipped on her ballet flats and a coat before making her way out the flat and up the road to the Underground.
Forty minutes later she was standing outside Alistair’s door. She felt butterflies in her stomach. She was going to see him again a
fter three weeks. Three weeks too long. She raised her hand, knocking on the door. She waited. Nothing. She rang the doorbell. Nothing. Was he even here? She faltered. Maybe this had been a bad idea. She should’ve checked if he was home. She wanted to turn back, but Josh’s words rang in her ears. It’s never too late.
If he was home, he was ignoring her, and she decided she wasn’t going to have that. She needed to talk to him. She’d come all this way and made an effort. She’d even left her hair down because she knew he liked it that way.
She hadn’t tried to use her magic since that day, but she’d seen how he’d unlocked Quincy’s door. She looked at the locks, concentrating on them. She felt a stirring inside her. She didn’t know how to do this. How to make her magic respond. She repeated the words in her head. Unlock the door. Unlock the door. Unlock the door. Green smoke curled out of her fingertips. It rushed forward into the locks. She heard them turning and the door swung open on its hinges.
She stared at it. It worked? Gods, it worked!
She walked in, shutting the door behind her.
“Alistair?” she called.
The house was still and quiet. She went into the living room, looking around. There were books strewn all over the floor and sofa as if he’d thrown them around. The place was a mess. She frowned. She didn’t like all this untidiness. It was clear he wasn’t here, but she could wait for him. She wasn’t ready to give up. She began to pick up the books, putting them back on the bookshelves in some semblance of order.
She’d just placed the last book on the shelf when she saw a purple light out of the corner of her eye. She turned as Alistair stepped out of the portal. He looked around. When his eyes fell on her, they widened in shock.
“Grace?”
Chapter Ten
Seeing him again made Grace’s chest ache with longing. She’d missed him, but this brought home just how much. She regretted everything about their last conversation.
She moved, striding towards him with determination in her eyes. He let out a small grunt of surprise when she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting her lips on his.
It only took a few seconds for him to recover from his initial shock before he was kissing her back. His hands were under her coat, holding her close. Her whole body was aflame. She’d never wanted someone the way she wanted Alistair. She kissed him like she was drowning in him.
“I missed you,” she whispered when she finally drew away. “Gods, I’ve hated every moment. I’m sorry, I’m sorry I said all those things. I didn’t mean them.”
“Did you break into my house?”
“Yes. I copied what you did when we broke into Quincy’s.”
There was no point denying it, but she wasn’t sure why he was asking her.
“Thank the goddess. I thought someone else had tripped my wards, but it’s only you.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
He smiled at her.
“I missed you too, Grace.”
“Oh.”
“And I see you tidied my living room.”
“I just put the books away, hardly counts as tidying.”
He cupped her face with both hands.
“I can’t believe you’re here. I thought you didn’t want to see me.”
“I said some stupid things that day.”
“Well, I think I can let you off given the circumstances.”
She took a deep breath as he dropped his hands from her face.
“I’m here because you asked me if I wanted to be with you and well, I have an answer now.”
“And that is?”
He was smiling. He already knew from her enthusiastic hello, but she needed to say it anyway. She wanted to make sure they were clear on where they stood with each other.
“I want to be with you. I want to be able to call you my… boyfriend.”
Heat crept up her neck and face. Had she said too much? His smile widened.
“Oh, well, that can be arranged.”
“Is it what you want too?”
“To be your boyfriend? I think that’s obvious. I wanted you the first time you looked at me like I was some crazy weirdo for talking to you.”
“Even though I’m completely new at this?”
“Oh, that makes it all the more exciting. I get to show you all the things you’ve been missing out on.”
He brushed his knuckles across her cheek.
“Does one of those things include… me not wearing anything?”
He stilled, looking at her with a wary expression.
“I told you I wouldn’t presume anything of the sort.”
“What if I want you to be my first?”
“Do you?”
His expression turned hopeful, his eyes darkening at the prospect. She’d told him she never wanted to sleep with him, but things were different now.
“Well, I’d expect dinner first.”
“Grace…”
“Yes?”
“You need to say yes or no.”
“I…”
Her face burned brighter. She knew the answer to that question but saying it was harder than she expected.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I still expect you to make me dinner like you promised though.”
His sapphire eyes lit up, his mouth curving up into a smile.
“If that’s what the lady wishes, then that’s what she’ll get. Although, I must tell you that your little breaking and entering stunt interrupted a family dinner. I’m sure my mother will be lambasting me for quite some time.”
“Oh! Oh gods, I’m so sorry.”
He unbuttoned her coat and slipped it off her shoulders. He looked down at her outfit, his eyes roaming over her with unconcealed admiration.
“You’re so beautiful.”
“I… thank you.”
He took her hand, leading her from the room. He hung her coat up in the hall before taking her into the kitchen and making her sit at the table.
“I really am sorry for interrupting your family thing.”
Watching him pull out various bits and pieces from the fridge, she propped her chin on her hand.
“Oh, don’t worry. You actually saved me from a very awkward situation.”
“Why, what happened?”
“My mother invited Lacey to dinner without telling me.”
“The bulldog?”
He looked over at her, grinning.
“Yes. I slammed the door in her face. A gesture my mother did not appreciate in the slightest. She’s finally got it through her head I won’t be marrying Lacey.”
“I should hope not.”
He put down the knife he was holding and walked over to her, squatting down so they were eye level.
“I am yours. No one else will have me as long as you’re in my life, do you understand?”
“I think I need you to kiss me, so I can be sure.”
“I plan on doing much more than just that.”
He leant forward and kissed her, his hand tangling in her hair. Her heart fluttered in her chest.
“I promised you dinner, first.”
§
Curled up next to Alistair on the sofa with a film on after dinner, Grace felt content. She rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the savouring warmth of his arm wrapped around her.
He’d made her a simple pasta carbonara, but it had been delicious. They’d talked about her father’s funeral. She was still not ready to scatter his ashes where he’d asked her to. Alistair said he’d take her when she felt it was time.
He’d been terribly sweet to her all evening with the occasional teasing thrown in.
“Grace.”
“Yes?”
She turned her head, looking up at him.
“I don’t want you to feel like you have to do anything when you’re not ready, okay?”
“You are referring to sex, right?”
“Well, there’s a word I didn’t expect to hear out of your mouth.”
> He raised an eyebrow at her.
“I’m only worried about the effect the overload on my senses will cause. I’m not scared of sex itself, especially not with you.”
“You’re not?”
“No. You make me feel safe.”
“Then I’ll have to do my utmost to be worthy of your trust in me.”
She didn’t respond. Instead she closed the distance between them, letting go of his hand to curl hers around his neck. She felt a little awkward at this angle. She crawled into his lap, straddling him.
“Goddess, how do you expect me to think straight when you’re on my lap?”
She rolled her eyes. Trust him to say something like that.
“Alistair, will you stop talking, for once, please?”
He grinned.
“I can do that.”
“Good, start now.”
He slipped his hands under her cardigan, tugging it off her. Fingers ran down the bare skin of her arms, leaving goose pimples in their wake.
“Am I really not allowed to tell you how utterly enthralling I find you?” he asked.
She flushed, feeling self-conscious all of a sudden.
“I guess that’s okay.”
He leant towards her, running his tongue down the side of her throat. Her breath came faster. He was making her feel so alive. His fingers fell to the top button of her blouse.
“Can I?”
She gulped, nodding.
“Are you sure?”
“I… I think so.”
“Would it make you more comfortable if I took mine off first?”
She hadn’t thought about what it’d be like to see Alistair shirtless. She’d barely got her head around him touching her. This was so far outside her comfort zone. She was determined to overcome her aversion to being close to anyone.
She reached up, undoing the top button of his blue shirt which matched his eyes. He said nothing as she undid the next one, merely watching her progress with interest. She worked her way down until she could see his bare torso peeking through the opening. She swallowed hard, reaching out again to push back both sides, giving her a full view of his toned physique. Oh gods! He’s eye-wateringly attractive.
She had no idea what he saw in her. She felt a little plain in comparison. She could feel heat rushing to her neck and cheeks.