by Sarah Bailey
“Grace?”
She met his gaze.
“I… gods, you’re… Wow.”
He took one of her hands, smiling. He placed it on his chest, right on top of his heart. She could feel it thundering.
“You do that to me. Every time I look at you. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”
“Well,” she whispered. “You know it’s the first time I’ve felt this way too.”
She trailed her fingers down his chest and stomach, feeling his muscles tense under her fingertips. She hoped that was a good sign, but he hadn’t asked her to stop. Tucking her hands under his shirt, he let her push it off him. She ran her fingers through the thatch of dark hair on his chest. She smiled, biting her lip. She hadn’t realised just how much she wanted to touch him too.
She took his hands, placing them back on the top of her blouse. He hesitated for a moment, looking into her eyes. He flicked open the first button, followed by the next. She held her breath, tensing a little. Terrified he wouldn’t like what he saw.
When he’d finished unbuttoning her blouse, he pushed it off her shoulders. It floated to the floor. She heard the harsh intake of his breath before she looked at him. His piercing blue eyes were dark with an emotion she couldn’t recognise.
“By the goddess,” he whispered. “I’ve imagined seeing you so many times, but it all pales in comparison to the real thing.”
She hugged her arms around her waist, feeling incredibly embarrassed. Did he really think that much of her? He tucked a hand under her chin, brushing his thumb over her bottom lip.
“Hey, look at me.”
She met his eyes, her whole body trembling.
“Do you want to stop?”
She didn’t. She moved her arms away, taking one of his hands and placing it on her side. His fingers brushed against her skin, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. She took his other hand, taking a deep breath before she placed it directly on her lace covered breast. His thumb brushed over the sensitive skin just above the line of her bra.
“You remembered I wanted to see you in black lace.”
She nodded, completely rendered of speech. Her skin was burning. He continued his path along her side. His other hand caressing her breast before he peeled down the lace, exposing it to the air. His thumb ran over the nub, causing her to moan a little.
“Don’t… don’t stop.”
He pulled down the strap, brushing his fingers over her shoulder. He leant towards her, capturing her nipple in his mouth. She gripped his shoulders, arching up against him. Her body was flaming. She needed a release. She knew the only way she was going to get it was by continuing down this tortuous path with him.
“Alistair, please.”
He stilled his swirling tongue. She whimpered in response.
“Do you need me to stop?”
“No… I…”
She was too embarrassed to ask for what she wanted. He’d do anything she asked, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
“Grace?”
“No, please don’t stop. I… gods… I want…”
He looked up at her, blue eyes full of desire.
“You want me to give you more?”
She nodded, biting her lip.
“Mmm, I’d much rather make love to you in my bed.”
“Make… make love?”
“Did you want me to be crude about it?”
She shook her head, trying not to smile. He sat back, grinning at her. He was too far away now. Feeling a little bereft, she leant forward and kissed him, her hands in his hair. He held her close, hands running down her back. She didn’t want to wait any longer. She was sure she wanted Alistair to be the one to show her all the things she’d been missing.
“Take me to bed,” she whispered against his mouth before she kissed him again.
He stood up with her still in his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist. He started to move towards the hall to take her upstairs but a loud ‘ding dong’ echoed through the room.
She pulled away, looking at him
“Are you expecting someone?”
“No. Whoever it is can go away.”
“Are you sure?”
The doorbell went again, followed by banging. He sighed.
“I cannot catch a break today.”
She slipped down him as he let go of her. Picking up her blouse, he handed it to her before snagging his own shirt from the sofa. She adjusted her bra before slipping her blouse back on and starting on the buttons. He put his shirt on and walked towards the door, his fingers making quick work of the buttons. He turned back to look at her, his expression dark.
“If this isn’t important, I’m going to be pissed.”
“I’m not going anywhere. You have me all night.”
His eyebrows shot up before he strode back towards her, capturing her back up in his arms.
“You have no idea how much I want to ignore that stupid doorbell and take you right here.”
She gulped, a little taken aback. She had no idea what this hold she had over him was. She didn’t rate herself that high, but then she’d never had anyone show any interest in her before.
The door banged again, the bell going off several times. He groaned before he planted a quick kiss on her mouth, letting go and shuffling back towards the hall. She finished buttoning up her blouse. She heard the door opening followed by Alistair’s voice.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Alistair, you left so abruptly. We didn’t have time to talk,” a whiney, shrill female voice replied.
She froze. Was that who she thought it was?
Chapter Eleven
Alistair stared at Lacey with unconcealed contempt. He couldn’t believe she’d come all this way from Newbury. Lacey wasn’t the most powerful witch. She didn’t have the ability to create portals like he did.
“I don’t know how the hell you managed to find out where I live, but you can leave right now.”
“Don’t be like that.”
She reached out, running her red fingernail down his shirt.
“I suggest you take your hand off me before I forcibly remove it from your wrist.”
She frowned, continuing to touch him. He clenched his fists. She was trying his patience.
“You say the strangest things. Can I come in?”
“No. You most definitely cannot. What do you want?”
“You must know our parents promised us to each other when we were children. I’ve been waiting for you to come back home, Alistair. It’s time we made arrangements.”
He was going to slam the door shut in her face again. His mother might have wanted him to marry Lacey, but his father would never agree to such an arrangement.
“I have never had any interest in being shackled to you regardless of what your parents wish.”
She pouted.
“I don’t believe that.”
He almost laughed. Did she think that would work on him?
“You are fucking delusional.”
Her expression turned vicious.
“I don’t know who you think you are. You should be honoured to have me.”
He rolled his eyes, done with this conversation. He wanted to get back to Grace.
“Goodbye, Lacey. Don’t fucking darken my door again.”
He was about to shut the door, when she stepped in, preventing him from doing so.
“Now, you listen here, Alistair. You will marry me, and you will come home to Newbury.”
“I didn’t say you could come in.”
“I don’t care. You are mine.”
She pushed past him and walked into his house. He followed her, trying to grab her arm.
“Lacey.”
She stopped dead when she entered the living room. He almost barrelled into her. Grace was standing there, green eyes wide with confusion.
“Who the fuck is this?” Lacey screeched.
He could see Grace’s hands shaking. He wanted to go to
her, but he had to get rid of Lacey.
“Lacey, you need to leave.”
“No. Who is she?”
Lacey peered at Grace again. Recognition sparked in her eyes, blood draining from her face.
“Why the fuck does she look exactly like Ophelia?”
“This is none of your business. You need to go, right now.”
He grabbed Lacey’s arm, intending to remove her from his house. She turned to him.
“That’s her daughter, isn’t it? Why do you have Ophelia’s daughter in your house? Why haven’t you told Bree and the coven? You know we need every advantage.”
“She has nothing to do with any of this. You are going to forget you saw her. I mean it, Lacey. If you go to Bree with this, I will hunt you down.”
A vicious smile appeared on her lips.
“Oh, I see how it is. You want all the glory for yourself, don’t you? You want to be the one to shove Ophelia’s daughter in her face.”
“Do you think I care about any of the stupid shit involving the coven? Why do you think I’m here and not in Newbury?”
“Then why is she here? What reason do you have to not hand her over to the coven?”
“Alistair?” Grace said.
He turned his head, taking in her terrified expression. He wanted to go to her, to hold her until she stopped shaking. He dropped Lacey’s arm, taking a step towards Grace.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, but he knew she wasn’t being honest.
“You want to know why I’m here?” Grace asked, looking at Lacey.
“Well, if he’s not going to tell me,” Lacey spat back.
“You know why he won’t tell you?”
Lacey looked at Grace expectantly.
“Because he’s right, it is none of your business. You can’t come barging your way into someone’s house demanding answers when it’s clear you weren’t invited.”
His eyebrows shot up. Grace talking back to Lacey? That was a new one on him. She was usually nervous and shy, even around him. Lacey must’ve rubbed her up the wrong way.
“I suggest you do as he says and leave before he makes you.”
“Alistair,” Lacey whined. “Are you going to let her speak to me like that?”
“She can speak to you whatever way she wants. It’s a free country.”
Lacey stomped her foot, huffing.
“Why are you being like this?”
“Because you won’t get it into your thick skull. I am not your lapdog. Go back to Newbury and find some other sad sap to do your bidding.”
Lacey’s mouth dropped open.
“How dare you!”
“How dare I? You’re the one who forced your way into my house and you’ve been rude to the both of us. I don’t think I should offer you any sort of courtesies.”
“You’ll regret this, Alistair.”
“I don’t think I will.”
Lacey looked between him and Grace for a moment.
“Oh. Oh, this is too rich. I can’t believe you.”
A furrow appeared on his brow. What was she on about now?
“Her? You and her? That’s why you don’t want me to tell the coven.”
“Lacey…”
“Just you wait until your mother hears about this.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “I’m sure she’d love to know who her son has been cosying up to.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, you just wait.” She paused, a smile appearing on her face. “Or perhaps I should end her here and now.”
Before he had a chance to move, purple smoke shot out of Lacey’s fingertips and headed straight for Grace.
“Grace!”
She was staring at the fast approaching smoke, terror in her eyes. She flinched back, her hands curling around her head. He ran towards her, blue smoke shooting out of his fingertips, but he knew it would be too late. Lacey’s magic slammed into a barrier before it dissipated. He skidded to a halt before he ran into it himself. Green smoke swirled around Grace in waves.
“She… she has magic?” Lacey asked, her voice going up an octave.
“Grace, are you okay? Grace?”
He couldn’t see her beyond the smoke and the barrier. She’d lost control of the magic inside her. He needed to get to her, to calm her down.
“Alistair, if you come back with me now, I won’t tell them about her.”
“Go fuck yourself, Lacey,” he said without turning around.
“Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. This little love affair is doomed between the two of you, and you know it.”
He should stop her, but he was more concerned about Grace. He barely registered Lacey stomping from the room and the front door slamming behind her.
He put his hand on the barrier she’d erected. It was solid. She was still shrouded in smoke. He needed to teach her how to control her magic now they knew she had it.
“Grace?”
A muffled sound came from within the barrier. He pushed against it with his own magic. He knew without a doubt, Grace was freaking out. The barrier buckled. He channelled more magic until the barrier shattered under his hands. The green smoke still swirled around her. He stepped into it, reaching out for her. When his hands connected with her arms, he pulled her into his own, holding her to his chest.
“I’ve got you. It’s okay. I’m here. I’ve got you.”
She clutched his shirt, bunching it in her fists. She was shaking all over. He stroked her hair, trying to soothe her.
“I’ve got you.”
“Alistair?” she whispered.
The green smoke began to thin out and in the next moment, it was gone. He breathed a sigh of relief. Grace was calming down finally.
“I’m here.”
“Is… is she gone?”
“Yes.”
“She’s going to tell the coven, isn’t she?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you go after her?”
She was still shaking, but she loosened her grip on his shirt.
“Because you needed me.”
She pulled away, looking up at him with those forest green eyes of hers.
“What are we going to do?”
All his earlier plans had completely gone out the window. All he wanted was to hold her in his arms and never let go.
“I don’t know. I had hoped to have more time with you before we had to deal with the covens.”
His mother was going to have a fit, not to mention how much of a bollocking he would get from Bree. He might not get involved in coven business, but he was still affiliated with them. He looked down at Grace. She looked so defeated.
“I don’t want to lose you,” she whispered.
His heart broke a little at her words.
“Why would you think that?”
“Because this is impossible. What happens when my mother finds out I have magic?”
“You don’t owe Ophelia anything.”
“Your parents won’t approve of me.”
His parents. He needed to speak to them. If anyone could help them out of this mess, it was his father. He froze. His father had wanted to talk to him about his vision and the girl he’d seen.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. My father isn’t like my mother. I should call him.”
“What, now?”
“Yes. He’ll know what to do.”
He moved, pulling her with him as he sat down on the sofa. She curled up in his lap, her head resting on his shoulder, her arms wrapped around his neck. For a girl who didn’t like anyone being close to her, she’d certainly done a one-eighty when it came to him.
“Are you all right?”
She shook her head, pressing herself ever closer to him.
“You know, it is a little surprising you don’t seem to want to let go of me. Do you really like me that much?”
“Shut up,” she muttered.
He smiled, stroking her hair. He shifted, pulling his phone out of the pocket of
his chinos and dialling his father’s mobile.
“Your mother has been driving me to distraction.”
“Listen, I’m sorry about earlier. My wards were disrupted and I’m sure you’ll understand why I had to come home.”
“Is everything all right?”
“No, Dad. Everything’s not all right, but before I get into that you wanted to talk to me about your vision.”
“I hoped to have this discussion in person.”
“I can’t really come home right now. You mentioned a girl.”
Grace turned her head, looking up at him with a frown.
“The girl who wears the same face as Ophelia Delacroix.”
His father had seen Grace in his vision. Then he knew. He knew his son was falling for Ophelia’s daughter.
“What exactly did you see?”
His arms tightened around Grace. His father began to describe in detail Lacey turning up at his door, the ensuing argument and the other details of the evening that had befallen them.
“I did not know what to make of it. Honestly, I’m not sure it will come to pass, but if it is true and Ophelia had a daughter in secret, then we have a problem.”
“Dad… your vision has already occurred. This evening.”
There was no way around it. If he was going to keep Grace safe, then he had to be honest with his father. There was silence for a long moment.
“What’s her name?”
“Grace.”
“How much does Grace know about Ophelia?”
“Almost nothing. She’s been raised solely by her father since she was a baby.”
He explained how he’d met Grace and the events leading up to Lacey discovering her existence.
Grace hadn’t said a word throughout. She held onto him, stroking the back of his neck with her fingertips.
“Will you bring her tomorrow?”
“Will Mother be there?”
“No. She is going out shopping with Bree.”
“How is my aunt?”
His father’s sister was head of their coven and had been since his grandmother had died four years ago.
“She’s fine. The only issue we have now is Lacey informing them about you and Grace.”
“She has nothing to do with the feud between the covens.”
“You know I won’t let my sister use her to get to Ophelia. Your happiness is more important to me than coven loyalties. You’re my son.”